“I will say Tu felix, Mashko, nube!” (Thou, Mashko, art fortunate in marriage!)
Then all began to offer congratulations, which he received with full weight of dignity; at the end he said,—
“My dear friends, I thank you from my whole heart; and, since ye all know my betrothed, I have no doubt of the sincerity of your wishes.”
“Do not permit thyself one,” said Bukatski.
“But Kremen came to thee in season,” interjected Pan Stanislav.
Indeed, Kremen had come to Mashko in season, for without it he might not have been accepted. But for that very cause the remark was not agreeable; hence he made a wry face, and answered,—
“Thou didst make that purchase easy; sometimes I am thankful to thee, and sometimes I curse thee.”
“Why so?”
“For thy dear Uncle Plavitski is the most annoying, the most unendurable figure on earth, omitting thy cousin, who is a charming young lady; but from morning till evening she rings changes on her never to be sufficiently regretted Kremen, through all the seven notes, adding at each one a tear. Thou art seldom at their house; but, believe me, to be there is uncommonly wearisome.”
Pan Stanislav looked into his eyes and answered, “Listen, Mashko: against my uncle I have said everything that could hit him; but it does not follow, therefore, that I am to listen patiently if another attacks Plavitski, especially a man who has made profit by him. As to Panna Marynia, she is sorry, I know, for Kremen; but this proves that she is not an empty puppet, or a manikin, but a woman with a heart; dost understand me?”