Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/300

276 his breast, and through his head darker and darker thoughts flew, like clouds which, driven by a storm one after another, hide the light of day and extinguish all earthly pleasure. Zbyshko understood, as well as the princess, that if Danusia went to Spyhov she would be the same as lost to him. "Here," thought he, "all wish me well; there Yurand may not even receive me, or listen to me, especially if a vow or some unknown reason binds him. Besides, how can I go to Spyhov when I am sick and barely able to move on this bed." A few days before, by the favor of the prince, golden spurs with the belt of a knight had been given him. He thought on receiving them that joy would overcome sickness, and he prayed with his whole soul to rise quickly and measure himself with the Knights of the Order, but now he lost every hope, for he felt that if Danusia were absent from his bedside, desire to live would be absent and the strength to struggle with death would be absent also. To-morrow would come, and the day after, and the eves of festivals, and the festivals themselves; his bones would pain him in just the same way, and in just the same way would faintness seize him, and that brightness would not be near him, which spread through the whole room from Danusia, nor would that delight for the eyes which looked at her. What a consolation, what a solace to ask a number of times every day, "Am I dear to thee?" and to see her as, laughing and confused, she covered her eyes with her hands, or bent down and answered, "Who could be dear if not Zbyshko?" Sickness will stay behind, and pain and grief, happiness will go, and not return to him.

Tears gleamed in Zbyshko's eyes and flowed over his cheeks slowly; then he turned to the princess and said,—

"Gracious lady, I think that I shall never see Danusia in this life again."

"Wert thou to die from grief it would not be a wonder," answered the princess, herself full of sorrow. "But the Lord Jesus is merciful."

After a while, wishing to strengthen him even a little, she added,—

"Though if Yurand were to die before thee, without giving this as an example, guardianship would come to the prince and to me, and we should give thee the maiden immediately."

"If he dies!" answered Zbyshko.

But all at once some new thought flashed through his head,