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The first person whom the very reverend gentleman called up that afternoon was the young wife of Valentine Kalondai. Milly rose from her place and stepped modestly but fearlessly forward. She felt quite secure, for she knew her whole catechism by heart. It came as easy to her as the Paternoster.
And that Kalondai settled this complicated matter also in the wisest possible way is sufficiently obvious from the fact that neither party was quite contented with his decision. Last of all, it occurred to him that there was still someone standing behind him the headsman.
Thus there arose two fiercely antagonistic parties, neither of which would give way a hair's breadth to the other. The president alone was silent. At last the superrector turned to him and asked him for his opinion. "Well, if you want to know what I think," began Kalondai, "let me tell you that I do not agree with either opinion.
He was far too jealous of her, and however kindly the young woman might treat him, he felt that it was deception, every bit of it, and did not trust her. Besides, he feared that Valentine Kalondai might be among the crowds which flocked from every quarter toward Eperies. Barbara Pirka was charged to remain at home, and on no account quit the house till they all returned.
Three weeks later he united pretty Michal and Henry Catsrider in holy wedlock, and gave them both his parental as well as his sacerdotal blessing. Valentine Kalondai had had no opportunity of doing anything desperate in the meantime.
Ex moribus in morals there was also all the difference in the world between the two students. Valentine Kalondai was no despiser of wine and music. He even lived on friendly terms with folks like the Silesian Simplicissimus, whom everyone else looked down upon as a loafing vagabond, who could do absolutely nothing but blow the trumpet; while Catsrider was the model of a well ordered youth.
Even if he had worn no hangman's weeds, all the world might have read his frightful profession from his face. As he approached, everyone timidly made way for him. And if there was anyone who had as much cause to shudder at the appearance of this shape, as if the skeleton with the scythe had suddenly sprung up out of the ground before him, it was certainly Valentine Kalondai.