you that four years ago lie came to us at Orsha. Then he promised me your ladyship, and showed a portrait about which I sighed in the night-time. I wished to come sooner, but war is not a mother: she makes matches for men with death only."
This bold speech confused the lady somewhat. Wishing to change the subject, she said, "Then you have not seen Lyubich yet?"
"There will be time for that. My first service is here; and here the dearest inheritance, which I wish to receive first. But you turned from the hearth, so that to this moment I have not been able to look you in the eye — that's the way! Turn, and I will stand next the hearth; that's the way!"
Thus speaking, the daring soldier seized by the hand Olenka, [1] who did not expect such an act, and brought her face toward the fire, turning her like a top. She was still more confused, and covering her eyes with her long lashes, stood abashed by the light and her own beauty. Kmita released her at last, and struck himself on the doublet.
"As God is dear to me, a beauty! I'll have a hundred Masses said for my benefactor because he left you to me. When the betrothal?"
"Not yet awhile; I am not yours yet," said Olenka.
"But you will be, even if I have to burn this house! As God lives, I thought the portrait flattered. I see that the painter aimed high, but missed. A thousand lashes to such an artist, and stoves to paint, not beauties, with which eyes are feasted! Oh, 't is a delight to be the heir to such an inheritance, may the bullets strike me!"
"My late grandfather told me that you were very hot-headed."
"All are that way with us in Smolensk ; not like your Jmud people. One, two! and it must be as we want; if not, then death."
Olenka laughed, and said with a voice now more confident, raising her eyes to the cavalier, "Then it must be that Tartars dwell among you?"
"All one! but you are mine by the will of parents and by your heart."
"By my heart? That I know not yet."
"Should you not be, I would thrust myself with a knife!"
"You say that laughing. But we are still in the servants'
- ↑ The diminutive or more familiar form for Aleksandra. It is used frequently in this book.
