"I know of everything. I was angry at first that you did that without my permission, but in truth there was no time, for I was then in Warsaw, where I intended to pass the holidays. Finally, it is known that if a woman undertakes a thing, better not oppose her; for thou wilt effect nothing. The princess wishes as well to you as if she were your mother, and I prefer always to please rather than oppose her; for I wish to spare her tears and sadness."
Zbyshko bent a second time to the knees of the prince.
"God grant me to serve your princely Grace sufficiently."
"Praise to His name that thou art well. Tell the princess how kindly I have received thee. She will be gladdened. As God lives, her pleasure is my pleasure! And to Yurand I will say a good word in thy favor, and I think that he will give his permission; for he too loves the princess."
"Even should he be unwilling to give it, my right is the first."
"Thy right is the first, and he must agree; but he may withhold his blessing. No man can wrest that by force from him; and without a parent's blessing there is no blessing from God."
Zbyshko grew sad when he heard these words; for up to that time he had not thought of this. At that moment, however, the princess came in with Yagenka of Velgolas and other damsels; so he sprang forward to pay homage to the lady. She greeted him still more graciously than had the prince, and began at once to tell him of the expected arrival of Yurand. "Here are plates set for them, and men are sent to bring them out of the storm. It is not according to decorum to delay the Christmas eve supper, for 'the lord' does not like that; but they will come surely before the end of supper."
"As to Yurand," said the princess, "it will be as God inspires. Either I shall tell him everything to-day or to-morrow after mass, and the prince has promised to add his word also. Yurand is self-willed, but not toward those whom he loves, and to whom he is under obligation."
Then she told Zbyshko how he was to bear himself toward his father-in-law, not to offend him—God forbid that!—and not to lead him to stubbornness. In general, she was of good hope; but a person knowing the world better and looking at it more quickly than Zbyshko, would have noted a certain alarm in her speech. Perhaps it was there because the lord of Spyhov was in general not an easy man, and
