Part 62 (1/2)

”Gracious lady! Gracious lady!” begged Zbyszko.

”Gracious lady!” repeated Da.n.u.sia, embracing the princess' knees.

”How could it be done without her father's permission?”

”G.o.d's law is the stronger!” answered Zbyszko.

”For heaven's sake!”

”Who is the father, if not the prince? Who is the mother, if not you, gracious lady?”

And Da.n.u.sia added:

”Dearest _matuchna_!”[104]

”It is true, that I have been and am still like a mother to her,” said the princess, ”and Jurand received his wife from my hand. It is true! And if you are once married--everything is ended. Perhaps Jurand will be angry, but he must be obedient to the commands of the prince, his lord.

Then, no one need tell him immediately, only if he wanted to give the girl to another, or to make her a nun; and if he has made some vow, it will not be his fault that he cannot fulfill it. n.o.body can act against G.o.d's will--perhaps it is G.o.d's will!”

”It cannot be otherwise!” exclaimed Zbyszko.

But the princess, still very much excited, said:

”Wait, I must collect my thoughts. If the prince were here, I would go to him immediately and would ask him: 'May I give Da.n.u.sia to Zbyszko or not?' But I am afraid without him, and there is not much time to spare, because the girl must go to-morrow! Oh, sweet Jesus, let her go married--then there will be peace. But I cannot recover my senses again--and then I am afraid of something. And you Da.n.u.sia, are you not afraid?--Speak!”

”I will die without that!” interrupted Zbyszko.

Da.n.u.sia arose from the princess' knees; she was not only really on confidential terms with the good lady, but also much spoiled by her; therefore she seized her around the neck, and began to hug her.

But the princess said:

”I will not promise you anything without Father Wyszoniek. Run for him immediately!”

Da.n.u.sia went after Father Wyszoniek; Zbyszko turned his pale face toward the princess, and said:

”What the Lord Jesus has destined for me will happen; but for this consolation, may G.o.d reward you, gracious lady.”

”Do not bless me yet,” answered the princess, ”because we do not know what will happen. You must swear to me upon you honor, that if you are married, you will not prevent the girl from going to her father, or else you will draw his curse upon her and yourself.

”Upon my honor!” said Zbyszko.

”Remember then! And the girl must not tell Jurand immediately. We will send for him from Ciechanow, and make him come with Da.n.u.sia, and then I will tell him myself, or I will ask the prince to do it. When he sees that there is no remedy, he will consent. He did not dislike you?”

”No,” said Zbyszko, ”he did not dislike me; perhaps he will be pleased when Da.n.u.sia is mine. If he made a vow, it will not be his fault that he could not keep it.”

The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Da.n.u.sia and the _ksiondz_ Wyszoniek. The princess immediately asked his advice and began to tell him with great enthusiasm about Zbyszko's plan; but as soon as he heard about it, he made the sign of the cross from astonishment and said:

”In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost! How can I do it? It is advent!”

”For G.o.d's sake! That is true!” exclaimed the princess.

Then there was silence; only their sorrowful faces showed what a blow those words of the _ksiondz_ Wyszoniek were to all of them.