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"Certainly! to-morrow at dawn, so that all may know. To-morrow they will think at Zgorzelice that I am your guest, and they will not notice it till the day after to-morrow. Sieciechowa and Jasiek know it. But Jasko promised, upon knightly honor, that he will tell only then, when the people begin to be restless. How is it you did not recognize me?" Now it was Macko's turn to laugh.
"My God!" said the overjoyed Macko. "She looks like some marvelous young lady or like a flower, or something else!" "And this one here I am sure it must also be somebody in disguise?" "This is Sieciechowa," answered Jagienka. "It would be improper for me to be alone among you. How could I? Therefore I have taken Anulka with me so that two courageous women will be of help and service.
Sieciechowa did not reply, but instead, pressed her lips to the cheeks of her mistress and showered kisses upon them. At Anulka's kisses, poor Jagienka's breast heaved. "Oh, I understand, I understand," she whispered, so low that Anulka's ear scarcely caught her words. After a mild and foggy night, a windy and gloomy day came.
But Macko, although he knew that there was the old lady, Sieciechowa, at Zgorzelice, who could easily fulfil Jagienka's duties, did not persuade her to remain, for he knew that sorrow does not like the light on human tears, and that a man is like a fish, when it feels the penetrating harpoon in its body it sinks to the depths.
"No." "Why?" "Because you have returned." Then the Bohemian looked at her with gratitude, smiled, and said: "Bah! If we kept on talking in that manner we might have continued till morning. What a smart woman you are!" "Make no fun of me," quietly replied Sieciechowa. In fact she was as smart as any woman; and Hlawa who was himself a cunning fellow understood it well.
It is a pity," replied the Bohemian, apparently vexed. "Don't fear. Then they, including Jagienka, began to take counsel among themselves concerning further action. Macko thought of leaving Jagienka and Sieciechowa with Princess Alexandra at Plock, owing to the abbot's will, which was in the possession of the bishop.
Neither fell asleep readily, especially Sieciechowa, who was restless and turned from side to side. At length Jagienka moved her head toward Anulka and whispered: "Anulka?" "What is it?" "It seems to me that you are much taken with that Bohemian.... Is it so?" Her question remained unanswered. But Jagienka whispered again: "I understand it all.... Tell me."
Behind him were Macko and Jagienka on horseback; some distance behind them were the Bohemian and Sieciechowa, and farther back were the wagons surrounded by armed men. It was an exquisite morning. The rosy glow had not yet disappeared from the horizon, although the sun had already risen and changed into opals the dewdrops upon the trees and grasses.
Hlawa, after having kissed the hand of Jagienka, lifted in turn the hand of Sieciechowa to his lips and said: "Not only need you not fear me, but whilst you are with me you need fear nothing, for I shall not give you to anybody." Then the men went into the front room whilst Jagienka and Anulka retired to the alcove and slept together in a wide and comfortable bed.
Then Jagienka smiled that all of them took the pitch-burner to be the devil, and he thought them to be the same. Anulka and Sieciechowa laughed at Macko's words, when he said: "Your eyes are not yet dry from weeping for Hlawa; now you are laughing?" The Bohemian looked at the girl, he observed her eyelids which were still moist, then he asked: "Did you cry for me?"
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