Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/516

78 Do not refuse this! You may be sure that the hour of battle harvest is approaching, and Saint George is my witness that I shall be at the front, and not in the rear ranks of it."

"For what keepsake do you ask?" inquired Yagenka, somewhat astonished.

"Provide me with any little scrap for the road, so that should it happen me to die, it would be easier for me to die beneath your ensign."

Again he bowed to her feet, and a second time he joined his hands and entreated, looking into her eyes; but on Yagenka's face sad distress appeared, and after a moment she answered, as with an outburst of involuntary sorrow,—

"But, my dear, do not ask me for that, for nothing could come of a gift from me. Whoever is happy, let her give a gift to thee, for that person might bring thee happiness. But to speak truth, what is there in me?—nothing but sadness! And what is there before me?—nothing save misery! Oi! I cannot get happiness for thee, or for any one, since I do not possess it myself, and I cannot bestow it. Oh, my poor Hlava! it is evil in the world at this time, it is, it is—"

She stopped suddenly, feeling that if she were to say one word more she would burst into weeping; and, as it was, something like a cloud passed before her eyesight. Hlava was moved immensely, for he understood that it was bitter for her to go home to the neighborhood of the attacking Stan and Vilk, and also bitter to remain in Spyhov, to which place earlier or later Zbyshko might return with Danusia. Hlava understood perfectly what was passing in the heart of the maiden, but he saw no help for her misfortune, hence he only embraced her feet again, repeating,—

"Hei! if I could die for you! If I could die for you! "

But she said,—

"Rise! Let Anulka gird thee for battle, or give thee some other remembrance, for she looks on thee gladly this long time."

And she called her. Anulka came out soon from the adjoining chamber, for, listening near the door, she had failed to show herself merely through timidity, since the wish of taking farewell of the shapely attendant was seething in the maiden. Hence she came out confused, frightened, with throbbing heart, with eyes in which there were