"Then, what do you want?"
And she replied in a low tone:
"Take me with you."
Then Macko, although he easily understood the drift of the conversation, was much surprised. He checked his horse, and exclaimed:
"Fear God, Jagienka."
But she dropped her head and replied bashfully and sadly:
"You may think so, but as far as myself is concerned, I would rather speak out than be silent. Hlawa and yourself said that Zbyszko will never find Danusia, and the Bohemian's hope of finding her is even less. God is my witness that I do not wish her evil in the least. Let the mother of God watch over that poor girl and keep her. Zbyszko loved her more than myself. Well, I cannot help it. Such is my lot. But observe this, so long as Zbyszko does not find her, or as you believe, he will never find her, then, then …"
"What then?" asked Macko, seeing that the girl was getting more and more confused and stammering.
"Then I do not wish to be Madame Cztan, nor Madame Wilk, nor madame anybody."
Macko breathed freely.