grant him a long life!—he is a very kind master, and we live happy under him and sing all the day long." 66 Yes, yes, we have great cause to sing, truly !" rejoined Chomiak," when the last sheep is taken from us." "Wilt thou hold thy impudent tongue, thou blockhead?" said the gray-headed man; "thou wilt get thy head broken one of these days.-Believe not a word of what he says, honest man, he knows not of what he is talking, and speaks like a fool." "Be not afraid, grandfather," said Kirsha, smiling. "I am a stranger, and have no business with thy master. Has he got many children?" "Only one daughter," answered the old man, "Anastasia Timofeowna-quite an angel!" 66 Ah, that is indeed true," said the first peasant; "she is not at all like her father, so good, so kind-as fair as the morning sun!-Indeed, she would be the fairest of the fair, if God would but bless her with health." 66 Look, look here !" cried the old man; "here is the Diak with the promised spouse in our Boyard's sledge;-take off your hats, boys!" continued he. The procession had by this time got near the church. Two bridegroom's men were first seen on horseback, dressed in light blue caftans, and white ribands round their shoulders: behind them, in a small sledge, was the young brother of the bride, who carried the holy picture. Next came the bride herself, with her father, in a large red-coloured sledge, lined with crimson damask: under their feet lay a white bear's skin, and the horses were decorated with a number of foxtails. Then followed different sledges containing the relations of the bride and the intended husband, with many people on foot and on horseback; among whom was seen the bridegroom upon a white steed, whose harness was studded with tufts of various colours. Instead of the bridle he held a copper chain, a sort of luxuriant appendage, which the common people imitated, on some occasions, from the mighty Boyards, who had these chains not only of silver but often even of the purest gold. Kirsha by degrees pushed into the church along with the procession. It soon became so crowded that it was with difficulty the ceremony could be performed; but notwithstanding the multitude of spectators, all was conducted with great propriety, and the peasants were silent and respectful. At the conclusion of the ceremony, when, according to the custom of the times, the bridegroom threw the wineglass on the ground and stamped upon it--after he and his bride had drank out of it by turns, and after they had walked hand-in-hand round the altar,—the silence was broken by a general whispering; each one saying to the other, "Make room, make room, here is Archip Koudimitch!" The crowd fell back on each side, and a tall peasant, with a large red beard, was seen at the entrance. His countenance had nothing majestic in it; but the fear which the sight of him inspired, as well as his name, convinced Kirsha that he was the same man in whose house his life had hung upon a hair. Koudimitch did not advance, but cast a quick glance round the church; and his eye resting on Fedka Chomiak, he smiled so maliciously, that Kirsha determined to save the poor innocent peasant, and discover the wickedness of the sorcerer. The ceremony being concluded, the new-married pair returned in the same manner as they came to the house of the steward. Koudimitch was desired by the bridegroom to follow them; and Kirsha, though uninvited, went with the company to the marriage feast. When they were about half-way, a peasant girl came running to the steward's sledge and whispered something in his ear: the procession stopped. The steward became very pale, and called Koudimitch; who, after a few moments, conversation, said, 66 I will go first, fear nothing, for I know what to do!" The procession again moved on, and the crowd followed close; each anxious to be admitted into the court-yard to see the feast, and to congratulate the new-married couple. CHAPTER VIII. A BOYARD'S MANSION. The serfs are glad through Laia's wide domain, There be bright faces in the busy hall, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall.-BYRON. We left Youry and his faithful Alexis in no very pleasant predicament, in sight of the enemy, and with every prospect of shortly becoming prisoners; but the Poles were deceived, and their supposed prey escaped. The road was circuitous and narrow, and did not admit of two abreast; so that if it impeded the escape in one respect, it assisted it in another; for the Poles, by their numbers, became frequently embarrassed, and at last gave up the pursuit. Our travellers, after having rode many wersts, now began to slacken their pace; for the general stillness around convinced them the Polanders had retired, and that for the present they were safe. "Well, master," said Alexis, "God has at length delivered us!" "But poor Kirsha!" observed Youry. "Pooh! pooh! Youry Demetrich," said Alexis; "he is a cunning fellow, and has given them the slip." "But supposing him to be wounded?" observed the Boyard; "what will become of him?" "God is merciful!" returned Alexis; "He will save him from all danger." “I would give much to be sure of that," said Youry. "Now then, Alexis, art thou not ashamed of thy suspicions? Didst thou not question poor Kirsha's fidelity?" "I confess I did, Boyard," replied Alexis, "I was guilty towards him; but you know that he is a Zaporojetz.” "Of what consequence is that?" returned his master, "there are good men of all nations." "As for thee, Boyard," replied the squire, "I should not wonder if thou thinkest there are good people even among the Poles." 66 Why not?" said the Boyard, "there are many Poles whom I should like to resemble." "And wouldst thou, like them, pursue the traveller to plunder and to pillage ?" inquired Alexis. "Neither Russian nor Polish robbers ought to make any difference in our opinion of the nation," returned Youry; no, Alexis, I will always honour the noble and the brave, be he a Polander or not. The time will come when they themselves will feel and remember that the blood of their common ancestors, the Slavons, runs still in their veins: our grandchildren will probably embrace them as brothers, and these two mighty branches of the powers of the North will grow together, becoming one great and invincible nation."* "Ah! Boyard," said Alexis, with a sigh, "thou hast lived so much among these Poles that thou hast become a great deal too wise for me. But let it be as thou wishest; what will happen in future, God only knows; but it would be well in our days if these unwelcome visiters would return to their homes. Thy late honoured father, Heaven rest his soul ! did not think like thee. When he lost his noble wife, thine own mother, he was then alone in the world-with only thee; thou wert the apple of his eye, and yet he oftentimes said he would rather see thee, thee his only son, sink into an early and untimely grave, than be a slave to a Polish king, or the husband of a Polish wife." 66 "A husband!" interrupted Youry, in a stifled voice, and with a countenance overwhelmed with grief; no, my good Alexis, God has not vouchsafed to grant me her whom my heart had fixed upon; therefore my days must run in hopeless celibacy to the last hour of my life." "Eh! Boyard, Boyard," exclaimed Alexis, "there are more than one star in the firmament, and more than one *The reader will observe that these are the words of a Russian writer, who seems to have shut his eyes on the fact, that-ever since the dismemberment of their kingdom until the late revolution-the Poles have been treated by the Russian government with a degree of savage barbarity which no right of conquest can warrant. beauty in holy Russia. Dost thou still think of that blackeyed fair one whom we so often met in Moscow, in the church of Spass-na-Borou ?* It was thine own fault not to inquire who she was; day after day didst thou see her, until that dark evening when she came not, and since then thou hast not cheered thy eyes by gazing upon hers: but is that a reason sufficient for a Boyard to sink into despondency?— to pine away in the flower of manhood?-Say only to the world that thou wouldst marry, and thou wilt see such a number of brides that the choice would be difficult; and perhaps -who knows but thy black-eyed beauty may appear among them?" "Yes, as the wife of some other person!" interrupted the Boyard: 66 no; better never to meet her, than to see her wear a wedding-ring that she has exchanged with another." "What God ordains will surely happen," returned Alexis; meantime, Boyard, here are two roads; which shall we take? But see, here is a peasant with a load of dry branches. Holloa! Dedushka,† which road must we take to the estate of Boyard Kroutchina Schalonsky?" 66 As soon as he heard this name, the peasant took off his cap, and bowing respectfully, pointed silently to the left-hand. In half an hour our travellers cleared the wood, and a long street of low isbas, standing near a small river, appeared not far distant. A wide road led to the church, and on the opposite side of the river, upon a small eminence, was seen a wooden roof, and the fine-looking Teremt of a Boyard's house, surrounded by palisades, and resembling a fortification. Near the house were several inferior buildings for the serfs, with a very spacious yard for cattle, containing also kennels and stables; these buildings and out-houses occupied a large space, and at first sight appeared like a second village. Our travellers, having passed a bridge built upon strong piles, ascended a hill, and entered the Boyard's court-yard. The house was about fifty fathoms long, but disproportionately low; the windows were small and square; the shutters * That is, the church of "the Saviour on the hill." + Grandfather. An apartment on the upper floor, principally intended for the females of the family. There was also the Svetlitza—a large room frequently divided into three smaller ones. |