The betrothal took place yesterday. Dinner was served at the usual hour.
When Barbara entered the saloon my mother gave her a ball of silk to
untwist; she was red as fire, and her eyes were fixed on the ground. The
starost did not leave her a moment. Our little Matthias laughed with his
malicious air, and gave vent to a thousand pleasantries, which diverted
every one exceedingly; all laughed aloud, and although I did not
understand the meaning of his jests, I laughed more than any one else.
After dinner, Barbara seated herself in the recess by the window; the
starost approached her, and said, aloud:
'Is it indeed true, mademoiselle, that you will oppose no obstacles to
my happiness?'
Barbara replied, in a low and trembling voice:
'My parents' will has always been for me a sacred duty.'
Here the conversation ended.
When the chamberlains, attendants, and servants had retired, the
palatine, followed by the Abbe Vincent, conducted the starost to my
parents, who were seated on a sofa. The palatine addressed my father in
the following words:
'My heart is penetrated with the sincerest affection and most
profound esteem for the illustrious house of the Corvini
Krasinski; I have always ardently desired that the modest arms
of Polkozie might be united with the glorious and illustrious
arms of Slepowron. My happiness is at its height on beholding
that your highnesses will deign to grant me this great honor.
Your daughter Barbara is a model of virtue and grace; my son
Michael is the glory and consolation of my life; deign, then,
to consent to the union of this young couple; deign to confirm
your promise on this very day. Behold the ring which I received
from my parents: I placed it upon the hand of my betrothed, who
is, alas! now no more, but who will live eternally in my heart.
Permit, then, that during a similar ceremony my son may offer
it to your daughter, as a token of his affection and
unalterable attachment.'
As he said these words, he placed the ring upon a silver dish held by
the Abbe Vincent. The abbe also made a discourse, but he put so much
Latin into it that I could not understand it.
My father replied to the two speeches in the following terms:
'I am most happy to confirm the promise I have made to you; I
consent to the marriage of my daughter with the starost; I give
her my blessing, and surrender to your honorable son all the
rights I possess over her.'
'I unite in the desires and intentions of my husband,' added my
mother. 'I give this ring to my daughter; it is the most
precious jewel of our house. My father, Stephen Humiecki,
received it from the hand of Augustus II, when he had
fortunately succeeded in concluding the peace of Carlowitz, by
which the Turks restored the fortress of Kamieniec-Podolski to
the Poles. With this ring, which recalls so many dear
remembrances, was I myself betrothed; I give it to my eldest
daughter, with my blessing, and the hope that she may be as
happy as I have been since my marriage.'
Thus saying, she placed on the dish a ring set with superb diamonds,
enclosing a miniature of Augustus II.
'Barbara, come to me,' said my father; but the poor child was so
confused, so agitated and trembling, that she could scarcely walk; I
cannot understand how she moved even those few paces. At last, however,
she placed herself at my father's side, and the Abbe Vincent gave them
his benediction in Latin. One of the rings was given to the starost, and
the other to my sister; her betrothed placed it upon the little finger
of her left hand, called the heart finger (serdeczny). He then kissed
Barbara's hand, and she in her turn presented her ring; but she was so
much overcome that she found great difficulty in encircling the end of
his finger with the glittering hoop. The starost again kissed her hand,
after which he threw himself at my parents' feet, and swore to watch
over the happiness of their beloved daughter.
The palatine kissed Barbara on the forehead, while the colonel and the
abbe made her a thousand compliments, each more beautiful than the last.
My father filled a great goblet with old Hungarian wine; he toasted the
new couple, and all who were present drank by turns out of the same cup.
All this passed so solemnly and tenderly that I wept unrestrainedly.
'Do not weep, little Frances,' said Matthias, who was present at this
scene; 'a year hence it will be your turn.'
A year would be too soon; but if it were in two years, I would not be
sorry.
The whole Swidzinski family are so kind and attentive to Barbara! and my
parents for the first time kissed her face when she bade them good
night. Since yesterday, every one in the castle treats her with the
greatest respect; all congratulate her, and she is overwhelmed with
homage and compliments. Each one would like to be employed in her
establishment; my father has given 1,000 Holland ducats to my mother,
recommending her to do all for her daughter that she may think
necessary. They consulted a long time over the trousseau that should be
given to her. To-morrow Miss Zawistowska will go to Warsaw with the
commissary, to make purchases. This Miss Zawistowska is a very
respectable person; she is about thirty, and has lived in the castle
ever since she was a child. There are in the storeroom four large chests
filled with silver, destined for our use. My father had Barbara's
brought to him and examined it carefully; this chest will be sent to
Warsaw, that the silver may be cleaned.
The palatine and the starost leave us to-morrow. They go to Sulgostow,
where they will make all the preparations necessary for Barbara's
reception.
My father has had the customary letters written to announce the
marriage, and will send them by the chamberlains to the various parts of
Poland. The most distinguished among our chamberlains, and an equerry
richly equipped, will depart in two days to carry letters to the king,
the princes his sons, the primate, and the principal senators. My father
announces the marriage, and begs them to give it their benediction; if
he does not exactly invite them, he gives them to understand that he
would feel highly honored by their presence. Ah! if one of the princes
were to come--the Duke of Courland, for example--what a lustre it would
throw upon the wedding! But they will merely send their representatives,
as is usual upon such occasions.
The castle is in a state of constant activity; great preparations are
making for the approaching festivities. The starost has displayed an
unexampled generosity; he has made us all the most beautiful presents.
He has given me a turquoise pin; Sophia has received a ruby cross; Mary,
a Venetian chain, and even my parents have condescended to accept gifts
from him. My father has a silver-gilt goblet, admirably chased; and my
mother, a beautiful box made of mother-of-pearl mounted in gold. Even
madame has not been forgotten, for she found a blonde mantle on her bed
this morning; she praises the generosity of the Polish lords to the
skies. But this is the only virtue she concedes to our nation, so that I
cannot love madame; her injustice toward my countrymen repels me. We had
yesterday a grand state supper; the orchestra played unceasingly, toasts
were drunk in honor of the happy couple, and the dragoons fired
numberless volleys of musketry; their captain gave them as their
watchword for the day, 'Michael and Barbara.'
Barbara begins to take courage; she only blushes now when she looks at
her ring; she hides it as much as she can; but it is of no use, for
every one sees it, and the brilliants sparkle like stars.
This morning all the court went hunting, in accordance with the old
custom, which renders this action of good omen to the wedded pair.
Formerly before they set out, the betrothed was obliged to display her
ankle to the hunters. God be praised that this custom no longer exists,
for I am sure Barbara would have died of shame. But our little Matthias
insisted upon the performance of this ceremony, saying that if it were
omitted the chase would certainly be unfortunate. For once his prophecy
failed; they killed a wild boar, two bucks, an elk, and many hares. The
starost killed the wild boar with his own hand, and laid it at Barbara's
feet.
My father had all the horses brought out of his stables for the hunters
to ride upon. Among them was one of exceeding beauty, but so
unmanageable that the best groom had never yet been able to mount him.
The starost was confident he could control him, and, notwithstanding
the terror of the spectators, he leaped on his back and guided him three
times round the castle of Maleszow. It was truly a noble sight. Barbara
was very pale; she trembled for her betrothed; but when she saw him so
firmly seated on the fiery animal, the bright color returned to her
cheek. From that moment I felt reconciled to the starost. In truth, he
is not so bad; he looks well on horseback, and possesses that dauntless
courage so dear to the heart of a woman. I must then forgive his
ignorance of the minuet and quadrilles. My father gave the starost the
horse he had so well merited, completely caparisoned, and with a groom
to take care of him.