so. More than one towel have I wet with
burning tears. I am sad, I am heavy at heart. And my own father is my
enemy. I will not marry that Pole, whom I do not love. Tell him they
are preparing a wedding, but there will be no music at our wedding:
ecclesiastics will sing instead of pipes and kobzas.[10] I shall not
dance with my bridegroom: they will carry me out. Dark, dark will be
my dwelling,--of maple wood; and, instead of chimneys, a cross will
stand upon the roof."

[10] Eight-stringed musical instrument.

Petro stood petrified, without moving from the spot, when the innocent
child lisped out Pidorka's words to him. "And I, unhappy man, thought
to go to the Crimea and Turkey, win gold and return to thee, my
beauty! But it may not be. The evil eye has seen us. I will have a
wedding, too, dear little fish, I, too; but no ecclesiastics will be
at that wedding. The black crow will caw, instead of the pope, over
me; the smooth field will be my dwelling; the dark blue clouds my
roof-tree. The eagle will claw out my brown eyes: the rain will wash
the Cossack's bones, and the whirlwinds will dry them. But what am I?
Of whom, to whom, am I complaining? 'Tis plain, God willed it so. If I
am to be lost, then so be it!" and he went straight to the tavern.

My late grandfather's aunt was somewhat surprised on seeing Petrus in
the tavern, and at an hour when good men go to morning mass; and she
stared at him as though in a dream, when he demanded a jug of brandy,
about half a pailful. But the poor fellow tried in vain to drown his
woe. The vodka stung his tongue like nettles, and tasted more bitter
than wormwood. He flung the jug from him upon the ground. "You have
sorrowed enough, Cossack," growled a bass voice behind him. He looked
round--Basavriuk! Ugh, what a face! His hair was like a brush, his
eyes like those of a bull. "I know what you lack: here it is." Then
he jingled a leather purse which hung from his girdle, and smiled
diabolically. Petro shuddered. "He, he, he! yes, how it shines!" he
roared, shaking out ducats into his hand: "he, he, he! and how it
jingles! And I only ask one thing for a whole pile of such
shiners."--"It is the Evil One!" exclaimed Petro:--"Give them here! I
am ready for anything!" They struck hands upon it. "See here, Petro,
you are ripe just in time: tomorrow is St. John the Baptist's day.
Only on this one night in the year does the fern blossom. Delay not. I
will await thee at midnight in