Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/206

182 and sounded a second time, in sign that mass was about to begin.

"What shall we do?" repeated Vilk. "Go to mass; what God gives will come."

Stan was pleased with this wise answer.

"Maybe the Lord Jesus will inspire us," said he.

"And bless us," added Vilk.

"According to justice."

They went to the church, and after they had heard mass piously they received consolation. They did not lose their heads even when Yagenka, after mass, took holy water again from Zbyshko's hand at the entrance. In the graveyard at the gate they fell at the feet of Zyh and Yagenka, though the abbot was old Vilk's enemy, they fell also at his feet. They looked at Zbyshko with a frown, it is true; but neither one grumbled, though the hearts in their breasts were whining from anger, from pain, and from jealousy, for never had Yagenka seemed to them so queenlike, so wonderful. Only when the brilliant company moved homeward, and when from afar the gladsome song of the wandering clerics came to them, did Stan wipe the sweat from his face with young beard on it, and snort as a horse might. But Vilk gnashed his teeth and said,—

"To the inn! to the inn! Woe to me!"

Remembering then what had eased them before, they seized the stone a second time, and rolled it to its former place, passionately.

Zbyshko rode at Yagenka s side listening to the songs of the abbot's playmen; but when they had gone about the third of a mile, he reined in his horse suddenly,—

"Oh, I was to have a mass said for my uncle's health," cried he; "but forgot it, I am going back."

"Do not go!" said Yagenka, "we can send from Zgorzelitse."

"I will return; do not wait for me. Farewell!"

"Farewell!" said the abbot. "Go back!"

And his face became gladsome. When Zbyshko had vanished from their sight, he punched Zyh in the side slightly, and added,—

"Dost understand?"

"What am I to understand?"

"He will fight Vilk and Stan in Kresnia, as sure as there is amen in Our Father; that is what I wanted, and that is what I have brought about."