Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/218

194 from this wound of which thou hast cured me, if he had only taken thee, and not another."

Hereupon came to Yagenka one of those moments of grief and sorrow in which one can make no concealment.

"I shall never see him again, or if I see him it will be with Yurand's daughter, and I would rather cry my eyes out than see them," said she, raising a corner of her apron, and covering her tearful eyes with it.

"Be quiet!" said Matsko. "He has gone; but with God's favor he will not bring Yurand's daughter back with him."

"Why should he not?" asked Yagenka, from under her apron.

"Because Yurand will not give her to him."

Yagenka uncovered her face suddenly, and, turning to Matsko, inquired with vivacity,—

"He told me that, but is it true?"

"True, as God is in heaven."

"But why?"

"Who knows. Some vow, and for a vow there is no remedy! Zbyshko pleased him in so far as he promised to aid him in seeking revenge, but even that did not help. The intercession of Princess Anna was useless. Yurand would not listen to prayer, persuasion, or command. He said that he could not. Well, it is clear that the cause is such that he cannot; and he is a firm man, who does not change what he says. Do not lose courage, girl, and be strong. In truth, the boy had to go, for he swore in the church to get peacock-plumes; the girl, too, covered him with a veil, in sign that she wanted him for husband, without which they would have cut off his head,—for this he is indebted to her; there is nothing to be said on that point. She will not be his, God grant, but according to law he is hers. Zyh is angry with him; the abbot will be sure to take revenge on him till his skin smarts; I am sorry for this affair, too: still, when we look over everything, what was Zbyshko to do? Since he was indebted to that girl, he had to go to her. Besides, he is a noble. I will tell thee this though, that unless the Germans in those parts maim him, he will return as he went,—and will return not only to me, old man, not only to Bogdanets,but to thee, for he is wonderfully glad to see thee."

"Glad to see me?" Then she pushed up to Matsko, and touching him with her elbow, asked,—