“I fear that I could scarce disobey your wishes, sweet lady,” said Thaddeus; “then pray do not bid me act against my conscience.”
“I would not do as you fear,” answered Ina. “But among the sons of the Attèghèi the claims of friendship are paramount to every other. Surely you would not quit my brother’s side in the battle-field. His foes should be your foes, and his friends your friends.”
“Cease, lady, cease,” exclaimed Thaddeus earnestly; “or you will gain too quick a victory. The sweet tones of your voice alone are too eloquent to be withstood.”
“Silence, my friend,” interrupted Selem, in Russian smiling. “You bring, indeed, the courtly style of St. Petersburg with you, when you commence by paying compliments. I must assert a brother’s privilege to stop such language, or you may turn my gentle sister’s head. Remember that she is unaccustomed to phrases of flattery.”
“Her looks bespeak her to be far too sensible to be influenced by terms of compliment,” answered Thaddeus.
“There breathes no woman of any clime, and but few of the nobler sex even, who are uninfluenced by flattery,” returned Selem. Then speaking again in his own language, “Pardon me, my sister, for speaking in a language you understand not. I was but scolding my friend for paying the empty compliments which the fair ones of the cities of Frangistan receive as of sterling value.”
“Your friend, my brother, would not surely use phrases unbecoming a mountain girl to hear. He looks too wise, too good,” said Ina, blushing as she spoke.
Another messenger now approached to summon the hero of the day, the young Circassian Chief, and his Polish friend, to the feast, where the other chieftains were waiting their arrival. Great however was the disappointment of both, when they found that the chief ornaments would be wanting; for though the most chivalrous devotion is paid to the fair sex, such is the custom of the country, that no woman may be present at the festive board, except on private occasions when in attendance on their lords.
Most unwillingly, therefore, Selem was obliged to part from his newly-found beautiful sister, and many an enraptured glance did the young Pole cast towards her as she retired with her women and the daughters of the host; while the two friends followed the gallant chief, Arslan Gherrei (his heart beating with happiness at the restoration of his son), as he led the way to the scene of festivity.