Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/298

274 seem to a woman that a brother of the Order wished to do something evil, she must leave judgment to God; she is not to oppose, for should she oppose a Knight of the Cross, or a Brother, God's anger would blast her."

Danusia listened to those words with disgust and with fear; the sister, however, sighed, and continued,—

"I am not old even to-day, barely thirty; but God, when He took the use of my hand from me, took my youth also and beauty."

"If your hand had not been taken," said Danusia, "you might live without complaint."

After that, followed silence. Then the sister, as if calling something to mind, said,—

"But I dreamt that some knight wrapped you in a white mantle on the snow; he was a Knight of the Cross, perhaps, they wear white mantles."

"I want neither the Knights of the Cross nor their mantles," answered the maiden.

Further conversation was stopped by the priest, who entered the hall, nodded at Danusia, and said,—

"Praise God, and go to Zbyshko. He is awake, and wishes to eat. He is much better."

Such was the case in reality. Zbyshko's health had improved, and Father Vyshonek felt almost certain that he would recover, when all at once an unexpected event disturbed all combinations and hopes. Messengers from Yurand came to the princess with a letter which contained the worst and most terrible tidings. A part of Yurand's castle in Spyhov had caught fire. He himself, while trying to save the building, had been crushed by a burning beam. Father Kaleb, who had written the letter in Yurand's name, declared, it is true, that Yurand might recover, but that the sparks and coals had so burnt his sound eye, that not much sight was left in it, and inevitable blindness threatened him.

For this reason Yurand summoned his daughter to come quickly to Spyhov; he wished to see her once more before blindness seized him. He said, too, that she would remain thenceforth with him; for if even blind men who go out to beg bread have each of them a child to lead him and show the way, why should he be deprived of this last consolation, and die among strangers? The letter contained also profound thanks to the princess, who had reared the girl as if she had been her mother, and at the end Yurand promised