the ladies and cavaliers, for more than one soldier heart
was cut by the thought that he would soon have to leave
the chosen one, for whom he wished to live, fight, and die;
more than one pair of bright or dark maiden eyes were
filled with tears of sorrow because "he is going to the war
among bullets and swords, among Cossacks and wild Tar-
tars, -- is going and may not return."

When the prince began to speak in taking farewell of
his wife and court, the young ladies fell to crying one
after another as plaintively as kittens; but the knights,
being of sterner stuff, rose from their places, and seizing
the hilts of their swords, shouted in unison, --

"We will conquer and return!"

"God give you strength!" answered the princess.

Then there rose a shout that made the walls and windows
tremble.

"Long life to the princess! Long life to our mother and
benefactress! Long life to her! long life to her!"

The officers loved her for her love to them, for her great-
ness of soul, her liberality and kindness, for her care of
their families. Prince Yeremi loved her above all things;
for theirs were two natures created as it were for each other,
as much alike as two goblets of gold and bronze.

Then all went up to her, and each one knelt with his
goblet before her chair, and she, embracing the head of
each one, spoke some word of kindness. But to Skshetuski
she said,--

"It is likely that more than one knight here will receive
a scapula or a ribbon at parting; and since you have not
here the one from whom most of all you would wish to
receive a memento, take this from me as from a mother."

While saying this, she removed a golden cross set with
turquoise and hung it upon his neck. He kissed her hands
with reverence.

It was evident that the prince was greatly pleased at this
attention shown Skshetuski; for of late he had given him
increased affection because in his mission to the Saitch
he had upheld the dignity of the prince and refused to
take letters from Hmelnitski. They rose from the table.
The young ladies, catching on the wing the words of the
princess spoken to Pan Yan and receiving them as a
sign of approval and permission, began immediately to
bring, one a scapula, another a scarf, a third a cross,
which seeing, the knights present approached, if not his