CHAPTER XI.
The old man was not mistaken when he said that Zbyshko and Yagenka were glad to be together, and even that they yearned for each other. Yagenka, under pretext of visiting the sick Matsko, came frequently to Bogdanets, with her father or alone. Zbyshko, through simple gratitude, looked in from time to time at Zyh's, so that soon in the course of days close intimacy and friendship grew up between them. They began to like each other and to consult together willingly, which meant "to talk" about everything which could concern them. There was also a little mutual admiration in this friendship. For the young, stately Zbyshko, who had distinguished himself in war, taken part in tournaments, and been in kings' chambers, seemed to the girl a real courtly knight, almost a king's son in comparison with Stan or Vilk; and he at times was astonished at the beauty of Yageuka. He remembered his Danusia faithfully, but more than once when he looked at Yagenka on a sudden, whether in the house or the forest, he said to himself involuntarily, "Ei! that's a deer!" but when he caught her by the waist, placed her on horseback, and felt under his hands her body firm as if cut from stone, disquiet took hold of him, and as Matsko said, "shivers" seized the youth, and something passed through his bones and deadened him like a dream.
Yagenka, haughty by nature, quick to laugh, and even to attack, grew more obedient to him gradually, altogether like a servant who only looks into the eyes to learn how to serve and to please. He understood this great inclination of hers, he was grateful, and it was more and more agreeable for him to be with her. At last, especially since Matsko had begun to drink bear's fat, they saw each other almost daily, and after the arrow splinter came out they went together for a beaver to get fresh fat, greatly needed to heal the wound.
They took crossbows, mounted their horses, and rode on, first to Mochydoly, which was to be Yagenka's dower, then toward the forest, where they left the horses with a servant, and went farther on foot, since it was difficult to ride through swamps and thickets. On the road Yagenka pointed
