Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/157

Rh sort of God's creature from the rest of us, and far above all other nobles' wives and their maiden daughters."

With glowing amazement did the maiden listen, all ear, losing no single word, to this frank, sincere language, in which, as in a mirror, the strong, young spirit was reflected; and each simple word of this speech, uttered in a voice which winged its way straight to the depths of the heart, was clothed with power. And she bent forward her beautiful face, pushed back her troublesome hair, opened her mouth, and gazed long, with parted lips. Then she tried to say something, but suddenly paused, remembering that the knight came in a different class, that his father, brethren, country stood behind him as grim avengers; that the Zaporozhtzi who were besieging the city were terrible men, and a cruel death awaited all who were in the place… And her eyes suddenly filled with tears. She caught up a handkerchief embroidered in silks, and threw it over her face, and in a moment it was all wet; she sat long with her beautiful head thrown back, her snowy teeth set on her lovely under-lip, as though she had suddenly felt the sting of a poisonous serpent, and without removing the handkerchief from her face, lest he should see her broken with grief.

"Speak one word to me!" entreated Andríi,