"She came in just before the doctor; you yourself accompanied her."
The old man stared at Bellacic.
"She is the one who came in dressed in boy's clothes; the midwife's daughter accompanied her as far as the——"
"What! do you mean to say that there are three women, and that one of them is a midwife?" quoth the monk, shocked.
Bellacic explained matters. The caloyer consented that Danilo Kvekvic should be sent for to perform the wedding rites in extremis, provided Milena left the convent together with Mara that very evening, and did not return again on the morrow. Bellacic, moreover, having promised to give the church a fine painting, representing the Virgin Mary as she had appeared to Uros the evening before, the whole affair was settled to everyone's perfect satisfaction.
Mara, who had taken Milena into the adjoining room, said to her:
"Uros has made his father a strange request, and Bellacic has consented; for who can gainsay a dying man's wish?"
"I know," said Milena, whose lips were twitching nervously.
"He wishes to be married to you."
Milena fell into Mara's arms and began to sob.