Pagina 562 di 788

"I myself, thirty years ago, had a great passion for Panna Marta,

whose heart I won; we were betrothed, but God did not bless that

union; he left me alone on earth, taking to his glory the fair

daughter of my friend the Seneschal Hreczecha. There was left to

me only the memory of her virtues and her charms, and this golden

wedding ring. Whenever I have looked upon it, the hapless girl

has always appeared before my eyes; and thus, by the grace of

God, I have preserved till now my plighted faith, and, without

ever having been a husband, I am now an old widower, though the

Seneschal has another daughter, very fair and very like my

beloved Marta:"

So saying, he gazed tenderly at the ring, and wiped the tears

from his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Brother, what think you?" he concluded. "Shall we betroth them?

He loves her, and I have the consent of the aunt and of the

girl."

But Thaddeus, stepping quickly up to him, said eagerly:-