"What is that?" "Shut the door!" "The candles are dying!" said a number of voices.
But with the wind had rushed into the hall, as it were, some unknown terror. Pani Vinnitski, who was superstitious and timid, began then to cross herself audibly.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost--"
"Woman! be silent!" commanded Pan Gideon.
Then turning to Panna Sieninski he kissed her hand.
"A quenched candle cannot trouble my gladness," said he, "and God grant me to be as happy to the end of my days as I am at this moment. Is that not right, my Anulka?"
"Yes, guardian," said she, bending toward his hand.
"Amen!" ended the prelate, who rose to address them.
"Gracious ladies and gentlemen, since that unexpected sound stopped, as is evident, Pan Krepetski's ideas let me be the earliest expounder of those feelings with which our hearts are warmed toward the future wife and her husband. Hence, ere we cry out O Hymen, O Hymenaios, before we, in Roman fashion, begin to call Thalassius, the beautiful youth who God grant may appear at the earliest, let us raise ex imo this first toast to their prosperity and coming happiness: Vivant, crescant, floreant" (may they live, increase, flourish).
"Vivant! Vivant!" thundered all guests.