Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/642

 204 birth and high blood, such repose was there in her face. Zbyshko noted also that her former gladsomeness had vanished; but he wondered less at this, for he had heard of her father's death. He was astonished still more by that peculiar dignity of hers, and at first it seemed to him that her garments gave this appearance. So he looked in turn at the golden circlet which surrounded her forehead white as snow, and her dark hair falling in two tresses to her shoulders, then on her blue, closely fitting robe embroidered with a purple strip, beneath which was indicated clearly her arrowy form and her maiden bosom. "A real princess." But he saw afterward that it was not her dress alone which had caused the change, and that though she were to put on a simple sheep-skin at that time, he could not consider her so lightly and bear himself with her so freely as in past time.

He noticed also that various young men, and even older knights, gazed at her eagerly and with attention; and once, when he was changing the plate before the princess, he saw Pan de Lorche lost in gazing at her, and, as it were, rapt into Paradise. And at this sight he felt anger in his soul at him. The knight of Guelders did not escape the watchfulness of Princess Anna Danuta, who, recognizing him, said quickly,—

"See Pan de Lorche! He is falling in love again surely, for he is dazed altogether."

Then bending over the table somewhat, she glanced toward Yagenka sidewise.

"By my faith," said she, "other lights will pale before this torch."

Zbyshko was drawn toward Yagenka, for she seemed to him like a beloved and loving kinswoman, and he felt that a safer confidant for his sorrow he could not find, nor could he find more compassion in any heart; but he had no chance to speak to her that evening, for first he was occupied with service, and, second, during the whole time of the feast the chorus sang songs, or the trumpets made such loud music that even those who sat side by side could hardly hear one another. The princesses and ladies left the feast earlier than the king, princes, and knights, whose custom it was to amuse themselves at goblets till late hours. Yagenka carried a cushion for the princess, so it was not possible to delay; she, too, departed, but in going she smiled at Zbyshko a second time, and bowed to him.

It was almost daylight when the young knight, Pan de