CHAPTER V.

WHEN he arrived, at Lubni, Pan Yan did not find the
prince, who had gone to a christening at the house of
an old attendant of his, Pan Sufchinski, at Senchy, taking
with him the princess, two young princesses Zbaraskie, and
many persons of the castle. Word was sent to Senchy of
the lieutenant's return from the Crimea, and of the arrival
of the envoy.

Meanwhile Skshetuski's acquaintances and comrades
greeted him joyfully after his long journey; and especially
Pan Volodyovski, who had been the most intimate of all since
their last duel. This cavalier was noted for being always
in love. After he had convinced himself of the insincerity
of Anusia Borzobogata, he turned his sensitive heart to
Angela Lenska, one of the attendants of the princess; and
when she, a month before, became engaged to Pan Stani-
shevski, Volodyovski, to console himself, began to sigh after
Anna, the eldest princess Zbaraska, niece of Prince Yeremi.

But he understood himself that he had raised his eyes so
high that he could not strengthen himself with the least
hope, especially since Pan Bodzynski and Pan Lyassota
came to make proposals for the princess in the name of Pan
Pshiyemski, son of the voevoda of Lenchitsk. The unfor-
tunate Volodyovski therefore told his new troubles to the
lieutenant, initiating him into all the affairs and secrets of
the castle, to which he listened with half an ear, since his
mind and heart were otherwise occupied. Had it not been
for that mental disquiet which always attends even mutual
love, Skshetuski would have felt himself happy on return-
ing, after a long absence, to Lubni, where he was sur-
rounded by friendly faces and that bustle of military life to
which he had long grown accustomed. Though Lubni, as
a lordly residence, was equal in grandeur to any of the
seats of the "kinglets," still it was different from them in
this,--that its life was stern, really of the camp. A visitor
unacquainted with its usages and order, and coming, even in
time of profoundest peace, might suppose that some mili-
tary expedition was on foot. The soldier there was above
the courtier, iron above gold, the trumpet-call louder