‘Ours is a fallen country,’ said the lady despondingly. ‘As for myself,’ she added, ‘I am obliged to live on the bounty of the man who is desirous of holding my country in a state of thraldom; but the circumstances which led to it are these:—Your father and the Czar met in early youth; and your father had then an opportunity of rendering the Emperor an essential service, which was repaid by an act of equal generosity. Thus they were bound together by ties of gratitude.’
‘Ah! and the ties of gratitude are strong,’ Gerald warmly interposed.
‘They are, my son,’ said the lady. ‘Many years after, when Peter of Russia and Charles of Sweden first contended for mastery over our fallen country, your father and the Czar met once more. Your father was then a prisoner in Peter’s camp, and I and my three children were without a home. Under these circumstances, the Czar contrived to get our children on board one of his ships, which was then about to sail up the Baltic. I purposed joining them; but an accident preventing, the ship set sail without me; and the children were only under the care of a female slave who was their nurse. The next tidings I heard was, that the vessel had been wrecked, and that every one on board had perished.’
Madame Koski wept as she related these particulars; nor could Gerald listen to them without shedding tears also. ‘Then what became of my father?’ he asked, with breathless interest.
‘The Czar generously gave him his liberty. Your father,’ she continued, ‘was one of those patriots who did not take part with either the Swedes or the Russians; but who nobly stood out for Polish independence and the right of electing a king for ourselves. This being the case, he fared ill when Charles of Sweden got the mastery; and he would have done the same when Peter of Russia had the supreme power, but for the private friendship which I told you existed between him and the Czar. He fell at last, however,’ and as she ceased, the lady buried her face in her hands and wept afresh.
‘He fell in the defence of his country,’ asked Gerald.
‘He did, dear boy.’
‘I have told the Czar that I am desirous of pursuing a studious life, and he has offered to place me in the University he has recently founded in this city. But your tale, dear mother,’ added Gerald, ‘has stirred feelings within me, which I scarcely knew that I possessed. Surely it would be ignoble for me to live at ease in an enemy’s land, when my own requires my services.’
‘I should have thought as you do, at one time, my son,’ replied the lady; ‘but now I view the matter otherwise. Though there are many gallant spirits still in Poland, the power of our conquerors is too great for us. Nothing can be done for our unhappy country now, her freedom is entirely lost.’