fences, but this old house remained. People said that it did not burn because of the abundance of moss on the roof, but I think that the favor of God and His will were in this occurrence, so that we should return here and increase again out of the old house. During the time of our campaigning I complained more than once that we had nothing to which we might return, but not altogether justly did I say that. By my faith, there was nothing to keep house herewith, and as to putting something into one's mouth—but there was a place in which to take refuge. Well, for the young people it is quite different, but I think this, since that old house has not left us, it is not proper for me to leave it."
And he remained. But he liked to visit the castle, so as to look at its grandeur and greatness in comparison with the old dwelling, and at the same time to look at Zbyshko and Yagenka, and at his "grandsons." All that he saw was in considerable part his own work; but it filled him with pride, and admiration. Sometimes old Vilk visited him to "chat" at the fireside, or he visited Vilk in Brozova for the same purpose. So once he explained to him his ideas touching "the new order."
"You know," said he, "it is strange to me sometimes. Though in truth Zbyshko, even in Cracow, was at the king's castle—why! they came near cutting his head off there!—and in Mazovia, and at Malborg, and with Prince Yanush. Yagenka was reared also in wealth, but they had not their own castle. Now, however, it is as if they had never lived in another way. They walk, I tell you, they walk in the chambers, walk,—and give commands to the servants, and when they are tired they sit down. A real castellan and his lady! They have also a chamber in which they dine with mayors, managers, and dependants, and in it there are higher seats for him and for her; others have lower seats and they wait till the master and mistress have been served properly. That is court usage, but I am to remember that they are not some great lords, but a nephew and a nephew's wife, who take me, their old pet, and seat me in the first place, and call me benefactor."
"For that reason the Lord Jesus blesses them," remarked old Vilk.
Then, nodding his head in sadness, he drank a little mead, stirred brands in the fire with an iron poker, and said,—
"But my boy is dead!"
"God's will."
