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diff --git a/36660-h/36660-h.htm b/36660-h/36660-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed5ecc8 --- /dev/null +++ b/36660-h/36660-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5783 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Journal Of COUNTESS FRANÇOISE KRASINSKA, translated by KASIMIR DZIEKONSKA. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1 { + text-align: left; /* Heading one - left aligned */ + clear: both; +} + + h2 { + text-align: center; /* Heading 2 centered */ + clear: both; +} + + h3 { + font-weight: 500; + text-align: right; + margin-top:1em; + margin-right:1.5em; + font-size:1.3em; +} + +h4 { + font-weight: 500; + text-align: right; + font-size:1.3em; + line-height:5% +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +h1.cap { + text-indent: 0em; + padding-top: 0.5em; + width: 15em; + margin-left:auto; + margin-right:auto; +} + +h1.cap:first-letter { + float: left; /* drop caps */ + margin: 1px 3px 0px 0px; + width: 1em; + padding: 0px; + line-height: .8em; font-size: 300%; + /* html for first letter - p class="cap" */ +} + +hr { + width: 45%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.narrow { + width: 15%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.pagenum {/* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /*visibility: hidden;*/ + position: absolute; + left: 95%; + font-size: 10px; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + color: #999999; + background-color: #ffffff; +} /* page numbers */ + +.center { + text-align: center; +} + +.smcap { + font-variant: small-caps; +} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes { +border: dashed 1px; +} + +.footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} + +.footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +.fnp1 { + margin-top: 0.75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 0em; + margin-bottom: 1em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Journal of Countess Françoise Krasinska, by +Kasimir Dziekonska (translator) + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Journal of Countess Françoise Krasinska + Great Grandmother of Victor Emmanuel + +Author: Kasimir Dziekonska (translator) + +Translator: Kasimir Dziekonska + +Release Date: July 8, 2011 [EBook #36660] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOURNAL OF COUNTESS *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> + <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="511" alt="Colour pic of Book Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1 class="cap">THE <span class="smcap">Journal of </span>COUNTESS + FRANÇOISE KRASINSKA + <span class="smcap">great grandmother of victor emmanuel</span><br/><br/><br/> +</h1> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">translated from the polish <br/> + by <br/></span> + KASIMIR DZIEKONSKA<br/><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">eighth edition</span><br/><br/><br/> +</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 298px;"> + <img src="images/title.jpg" width="149" height="144" alt="A C McClurg Logo" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"><br/><br/><br/>CHICAGO <br/> + A. C. McCLURG & CO.<br/> + 1907<br/><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +</p> + +<p class="center"> + <span class="smcap">Copyright, <br/> + By A. C. McClurg & Co. <br/> + A.D. 1895. + </span><br/><br/><br/> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +</p> + +<h2> + THE JOURNAL <br/> + <span class="smcap"> + of <br/> + </span> + COUNTESS FRANÇOISE KRASINSKA <br/> + <span class="smcap"> + in the eighteenth century. + </span> +</h2> + +<hr class="narrow" /> + +<h3> + <span class="smcap">In the Castle of Maleszow</span>, +<br /> +<i>Monday</i>, January 1, 1759.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>One week ago—it was Christmas day—my +honored Father ordered to be brought +to him a huge book, in which for many +years he has written with his own hand all +the important things which have happened +in our country; also copies of the notable +pamphlets, speeches, manifestoes, public +and private letters, occasional poems, etc., +and having placed everything in the order +of its date, he showed us this precious collection +and read to us some extracts. I +was much pleased with his idea of recording +interesting facts and circumstances; +and as I know how to write pretty well in +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +Polish and in French, and have heard that +in France some women have written their +memoirs, I thought, "Why should not I try +to do something of the kind?"</p> + +<p>So I have made a big copy-book by fastening +together many sheets of paper, and +I shall note down, as accurately as I am +able, everything which may happen to me +and to my family, and I shall also mention +public affairs as they happen, as far as I +may be acquainted with them.</p> + +<p>To-day is New Year's Day and Monday, +a very proper season to begin something +new. I am at leisure; the morning Service +is finished, I am dressed and my hair is +curled; ten is just striking on the castle +clock, so I have two hours till dinner time. +Well, I begin.</p> + +<p>I was born in 1742, so I am just past +my sixteenth birthday. I received at the +christening the name of Françoise. I have +heard more than once that I am pretty, +and sometimes looking in the mirror, I +think so myself. "One has to thank God, +and not to boast," says my gracious +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +Mother; +"it is He that hath made us and +not we ourselves." I have black hair and +eyes, a fair complexion and rosy cheeks. +I should like to be a little taller, but they +frighten me by saying I shall not grow any +more. I am descended from the not only +noble, but very old and illustrious family of +Korwin Krasinski. God forbid I should +ever tarnish the glorious name I am fortunate +enough to bear! on the contrary I +should like much to add to its fame, and I +am often sorry I am not a man, as I should +then have more opportunities.</p> + +<p>The Count, my honored Father, and the +Countess, are so sensible of the grandeur +of the Korwin Krasinski family, and they +so often speak of it,—not only they, but our +courtiers and our guests as well,—and it is +thought by all to be such a great reproach +not to know precisely about our ancestors, +that we all have our heads full of that kind +of information. I can recite the genealogy +of the Krasinskis and the history of each +of them as perfectly as my morning prayer, +and I think that I should have more difficulty +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +in telling the names of our Polish +kings in chronological order than in telling +those of my ancestors. The pictures of +the most illustrious are in our hall, +<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +but it would take too long to write about each of +them. The first of whom we know anything +was Warcislaus Korwin, from the old +Roman family of Corvinus, who, in the +eleventh century, came from Hungary to +Poland and was appointed the Hetman +(General-in-chief) of the army of King +Boleslaus II.</p> + +<p>Having espoused a noble lady of the +name of Pobog, Korwin united his crest—a +raven holding a ring—to that of the +Pobogs—a hand grasping a sabre—and +such is still our cognizance. His grandson +was the first to take the name Krasinski, +that is, <i>of Krasin</i>, from an estate bestowed +upon him by the King as a reward for his +bravery; and from that time forward many +hetmans, castellans, woivodes,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> bishops, etc., +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +made the Krasinski name famous in Polish +history.</p> + +<p>One of them, Alexander, in this very +same Maleszow Castle where I am now +quietly writing, resisted so bravely a great +Tartar army, in one of its plundering excursions +from Asia, that the chief was +obliged to retreat; but before leaving, he +sent to the valorous castellan, as a token of +his admiration, the most precious thing he +possessed,—namely, a clock, of very simple +construction, it is true, but a great wonder +at that time. This curious relic, this gift +from an enemy,—and he a Tartar, more +accustomed to take than to give,—is still +preserved with great care in our family; +I have seen it but twice in my life, my +honored Father keeping it so carefully, and +I am sure he would not exchange it for ten +Paris clocks with all their chimes.</p> + +<p>This valiant ancestor of mine was killed +in a war with Russia, and left no son. His +nephew John built in Warsaw a magnificent +palace in the Italian style, which is said to +be more beautiful than the King's Castle; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +but I have not seen it, as I have never been +in our capital.</p> + +<p>John's brother, Alexander, the castellan +of Sandomir, was my own grandfather. His +son, Stanislaus, the Staroste +<a name="FNanchor_1_3" id="FNanchor_1_3"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> of Nova Wies +and Uscie, is my honored and beloved +Father; he married Angela Humiecka, the +daughter of the famous Woivode of Podole, +my honored and beloved Mother. But, to +my great sorrow, this line of the Krasinski +family will become extinct with the Count, +my Father, as he has four daughters, but +no son: Basia (a pet name for Barbara) +is the eldest; I am the second; then +comes Kasia (Katherine); and Marynia +(Mary) is the youngest.</p> + +<p>The courtiers tell me often I am the +handsomest, but I am sure I do not see it; +we all have the bearing becoming young +ladies of high station, daughters of a Staroste; +we are straight as poplars, with complexions +white as snow and cheeks pink as +roses; our waists, especially when Madame +ties us fast in our stays, can be, as they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +say, "clasped with one hand." In the +parlor before guests we know how to make +our courtesy, low or <i>dégagé</i>, according to +their importance; we have been taught to +sit quiet on the very edge of a stool, with +our eyes cast down and our hands folded, +so that one might think we were not able +to count three or were too prim even to +walk out of the room easily. But people +would think differently if they saw us on a +summer morning, when we are allowed to +go to the woods in morning gowns and +without stays, puffs, coiffures, or high-heeled +shoes: oh! how we climb the steep hillsides, +and run and shout and sing, till our +poor Madame is quite out of breath from +running and calling after us.</p> + +<p>As yet I and my two younger sisters have +seldom left home: Konskie, the home of +our aunt, the Woivodine<a name="FNanchor_1_4" id="FNanchor_1_4"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> Malachowska, +whom we visit twice a year; Piotrowice, +where my honored Father, after his return +from Italy, built a beautiful chapel, like the +one in Loretto; Lisow, where stands our +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +parish church,—these bound all our experiences +in travelling. But Basia, as the eldest, +has already seen a good part of this +world: she has been twice to Opole, visiting +our aunt, the Princess Lubomirska, +Woivodine of Lublin, whom my Father +loves and venerates as a mother rather +than as an elder sister. Basia has spent +also one year in the convent of the Ladies +of the Visitation at Warsaw, and so, of +course, she knows more than any of us: her +courtesies are the lowest, and her manners +the most stately.</p> + +<p>My honored Parents are thinking now of +sending me also somewhere to finish my +education; I am expecting every day to +see the carriage drive up to the door, and +then my gracious Mother will tell me to sit +beside her, and she will take me either to +Warsaw or to Cracow. I am perfectly +happy at home, but Basia liked the convent +very much, so I hope that I shall; and +then I shall improve in the French language, +which is now indispensable for a +lady; also in music and in dancing, and<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +besides that I shall see a great town, our +capital.</p> + +<p>As I have not seen many castles besides +Maleszow, I cannot judge whether it is +pretty or not. I only know that I like it +very much. Some people think that our +castle, with its four stories and its four bastions, +surrounded with a moat full of water +crossed by a drawbridge, and situated +amidst forests in a rocky country, looks +rather gloomy, but I do not think so at all. +I am so happy here that I should like to +sing and dance all day long. I hear my +honored Parents complaining sometimes +that they are not quite comfortable here. +It is true that, although on each floor there +are besides the parlor, six large rooms and +four smaller ones in the bastions, we cannot +all be accommodated on the same +floor, as we are a very numerous family. +The dining-rooms are on the first, the +dancing hall on the second, and we girls +have to occupy the third floor. My honored +Parents are no longer young, and it +fatigues them to go up and down every<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +day, but for me these stairs are just my +delight! Often, when I have not yet all +my puffs on, I grasp the stair-rail and I am +down in one second without my foot once +touching the steps. Oh! it is such fun!</p> + +<p>It is true our many guests may sometimes +be crowded a little in their sleeping +rooms, but nevertheless, they visit us often, +and I do not know that we could amuse +ourselves better in a more spacious palace. +I think the Maleszow Castle, if three times +as large, could not be more magnificent; +it is so gay and lively that the neighbors +often call it little Paris. We are especially +gay when winter comes; then the captain +of our dragoons does not lift up the drawbridge +until night, so many people are continually +driving in and out, and our court-band +has enough to do playing every day +for us to dance.</p> + +<p>But I ought not to forget to speak about +the retinue of our Castle, which, in accordance +with the rank of my honored Parents, +is very numerous and stately.</p> + +<p>There are two classes of courtiers,—the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +honorary and the salaried ones, all alike +nobles, with the sword at their side. The +first are about twenty in number; their +duties are to wait in the morning for the +Count's entrance, to be ready for any service +he may require, to accompany him +when visiting or riding, to defend him in +case of need, to give him their voice at the +Diet, and to play cards and amuse him and +his guests. This last duty is best performed +by our Matenko (Mathias), the +fool or court jester, as the other courtiers +call him; but he does not at all deserve +that sobriquet, as his judgment is very +correct and his repartees are very witty. +Of all the courtiers he is the most privileged, +being allowed to speak whenever he +chooses and to tell the truth frankly.</p> + +<p>To the honorary members of our court +belong also six girls of good family, who +live on the same floor with us under the +superintendence of our Madame, and also +two dwarfs. One of the latter is about +forty, but of the size of a four-year-old +child; he is dressed as a Turk. The other,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +still smaller and very graceful and pretty, +is eighteen years old, and they dress him +as a Cossack. Sometimes, for sport, my +honored Mother orders him to be put on +the dinner table, and he walks about among +the bottles and the plates as easily as if he +were in a garden.</p> + +<p>The honorary courtiers receive no pay, +almost all of them being the sons and +daughters of rather wealthy parents, who +send them to our castle for training in +courtly etiquette. The men receive, nevertheless, +provision for two horses, and two +florins<a name="FNanchor_1_5" id="FNanchor_1_5"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> weekly for their valets. These servants +are dressed, some as Cossacks, some as +Hungarians, and stand behind their masters' +chairs at meals. There is no special dinner +table for them, but they must be satisfied +with what their masters leave on their plates, +and you should see how they follow with a +covetous eye each morsel on its way from +the plate to the master's mouth! I do not +dare to look at them, partly from fear of +laughing, and partly out of pity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> +<p>The salaried courtiers are much more +numerous. They do not come to our table, +except the chaplain, the physician and the +secretary. The marshal and the butler +walk around the table watching if anything +is wanted; they pour the wine into the +glasses, often replenishing for the guests, +but only on feast days keeping the glass +full for the courtiers. The commissary, +the treasurer, the equerry, the gentleman +usher, the masters of the wardrobe, all dine +at the marshal's table. To tell the truth, +those who sit at our table have more honor +than profit, for they do not always have +the same kind of food that we have, +although it comes from the same dish. +For instance, when the meats are brought +in, there will be on the dish game or domestic +fowl on the top, and plain roast +beef, or roast pork, underneath. Each +course is brought on two enormous dishes, +and it seems almost impossible such heaps +could disappear; yet the last man served +gets often but scanty bits of food, and +whether there are four courses, as on<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +week days, or seven, as on Sundays, or +twelve, as on festivals, I do not remember +having seen anything left on our table.</p> + +<p>The salaried courtiers receive quite high +pay, from three hundred to a thousand +florins annually, also provender for two +horses each, and the livery for their valets; +but then the Count expects them all to +present themselves well dressed. When +he is especially pleased with one of them +he rewards him generously, and every year +on the Count's birthday, rich presents in +dresses and money are distributed.</p> + +<p>But this is not our whole retinue; there +are also the chamberlains,—young boys +from fifteen to twenty years of age, of noble +families, who perform a kind of novitiate in +our service. Their duties are to be always +in attendance, to accompany our carriage on +horseback, and to be ready for all kinds of +errands; thus if my honored Parents have +letters to be carried in haste, or presents +or invitations to be sent, they always send +the chamberlains. One of them, Michael +Chronowski, will finish his novitiate on<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +Epiphany, and then will come the ceremony +of liberation, which I shall describe +in its place.</p> + +<p>As for other people belonging to our +retinue, it would be difficult to enumerate +them; I am sure I do not know how +many there are of musicians, cooks, linkboys, +cossacks, hostlers, valets, chamberlains, +and boy and girl servants. I know +only there are five different dinner tables, +and two stewards are busy from morning +till night, giving out the provisions for +the meals. Very often, especially when +fresh supplies are brought in, my honored +Mother is herself present in the storeroom; +she also keeps the keys of the +medicine closet, where spices, dainties, and +sweet liquors are kept. Every morning +the marshal brings to her the dinner and +supper menu, which she, with the advice +of my honored Father, either changes or +approves.</p> + +<p>The arrangement of our day's occupation +is as follows: we rise at six o'clock +in summer, at seven in winter. All four of<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +us sleep in the same room with Madame, +and each has an iron bedstead with +curtains around it. Basia, as the eldest, +has two pillows and a silk coverlet; we, +the younger, have but one pillow and a +woollen blanket. Having said a French +prayer with Madame, we begin our lessons +at once. At first the chaplain taught us +the catechism, and with our tutor we +learned how to read and write in Polish; +but now he teaches only my two younger +sisters, for Basia and I study with Madame +only. We learn vocabularies, dialogues, and +anecdotes by heart from a text-book. At +eight we go downstairs to wish our honored +Parents good-morning and to have breakfast. +Then we go to the chapel, where, +after the mass, the chaplain reads Latin +prayers, which we all repeat after him +aloud. Returning to our room, we learn +German vocabularies, we write letters and +exercises, and Madame dictates to us the +verses of a French poet, Malesherbes. We +have a spinet and are taught to play upon +it by a German teacher, who directs our<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +orchestra; for this service he receives three +hundred florins annually. We all study +music and Basia plays not badly at all.</p> + +<p>When our lessons are over we put on +wrappers and the coiffeur comes to dress +our hair, beginning with the eldest. This +is a long and often painful operation, +especially when he is inventing some new +coiffure. As my hair is the thickest and the +longest (it drags on the floor when I am +sitting before the dressing-table), it is on +my head that he generally makes his experiments. +It is true that he does make +very beautiful and wonderful coiffures; +for instance, the one I have to-day, is so +pretty, having a <i>laisser aller</i> effect: all +my hair is lifted up very high; half of it +is arranged in puffs on the top of the head, +and the other half falls in loose curls on +the neck and the shoulders; there must +have been at least a half-pound of powder +used in it. Our dressing takes two or +three hours, during which Madame reads +to us a new French book, the "Magasin +des Enfants" by Madame Beaumont. +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>At noon, at the Angelus bell, we go +down to dinner, and then, our honored +Parents allow us to remain with them for +the rest of the day. We sit generally two +hours at table; after that if the weather +is favorable we take a walk; if not, we +always have some needle-work on hand for +our church in Piotrowice. We sit at our +embroidery frames as long as we can see, +and when the lights are brought in, we +make netting or do some such light work. +There are always many wax tapers burning +in silver candelabra, and although they are +rather yellow, being home-made from our +own wax, they give a very bright light.</p> + +<p>Supper is at seven, and afterwards the +evening is given to amusement. Sometimes +we play cards, "Marriage" or "Drujbart," +and it is such fun to see the faces Matenko +makes, according as he gets a seven or a +trump!</p> + +<p>Once a week a chamberlain goes to +Warsaw to bring the newspapers and letters, +and then the chaplain reads aloud the +"Gazette" and the "Courier." At times<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +my honored Father reads the old chronicles +to us; sometimes they are very dull, and +sometimes very interesting. During the +Carnival, there is seldom any reading, but +there are games, music, and dances. I +cannot imagine how they can amuse themselves +better at the court in Warsaw; how +can it be anywhere gayer than in our +Maleszow? Still, I should like so much, +if only out of curiosity, to have just a taste +of that court life. But what do I hear? +There is the noon bell! I must say the +Angelus in haste, see if my coiffure is in +order, and run downstairs, leaving for +to-morrow all that I intended to write +to-day.</p> + +<h3> +<i>Tuesday</i>, January 2.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Yesterday, I wrote about myself and my +home; to-day I want to write about my +country. I should not be a worthy Pole if +I were not interested in what happens in +my own land. People in our house talk +much about Poland, and I have always +listened attentively, but much more so +since I resolved to write this journal.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our present king is Augustus III., Elector +of Saxony, son and successor of Augustus +II. On the seventeenth of this month, +it will be twenty-five years since the Bishop +of Cracow crowned him King of Poland +and Lithuania.<a name="FNanchor_1_6" id="FNanchor_1_6"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> It is said that he was +rather indifferent to the Polish crown, when +by his father's death the chance was opened +to him; but he was persuaded to become a +candidate by his wife, Marie Josephine, +daughter of the German Emperor Maximilian. +This royal lady was very much +beloved by the Poles: she had a very good +influence over the king, her husband, and +never meddled with any court intrigues; +she was charitable, beneficent, pious, a +good wife and a good mother, and fully +deserved to be called a model of feminine +virtues. She died in Dresden two years +ago, and I remember well the great sorrow +caused by the news of her death. In all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +the churches there were grand funeral services, +also in our Piotrowice, and all the +poor people cried and lamented, having +lost in her a real mother. She had fourteen +children, of whom eleven are living: +four sons and seven daughters.</p> + + +<p>The king is said to be of a kindly but +rather weak character, and he has the +greatest confidence in his minister Brühl, +who in reality is the ruler both of Poland +and Saxony. It is said affairs are going +all wrong in Saxony, and not much better +in our country. I have often heard people +say: "We need a Frederic the Great, with +a strong head and an iron will;" and as +our king is old, they are all looking forward +and planning already for his successor. +There are two prominent candidates for +the throne: one is Stanislaus Poniatowski, +who was educated in France, spent four +years in Russia as the envoy of Poland, +and there became the favorite of the +Empress Catherine II. The other candidate +is Duke Charles, twenty-six years +old, the most beloved of the sons of<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +our present king. People say he has a +real gift for attracting all hearts to him; he +is very handsome, very stately in figure, and +very courteous in manner; and having +spent almost his whole life in Poland, he +knows our language perfectly. I have +heard so much of his good qualities that +my best wishes are for him, although +Poniatowski is my countryman.</p> + +<p>This day will be a memorable one for Duke +Charles. A few weeks ago he was elected +Duke of Courland, which is a tributary of +Poland, and to-day occurs the "investiture," +that is, the giving possession. The +king is so happy about the good fortune of +his beloved son, that he is said to look ten +years younger. What festivals there will +be in Warsaw! How I should like to be +there now, and to see the grand doings, +but especially to see the royal prince. We +shall, at least, drink his health here and +cry, "Long life to Duke Charles!"<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +January 3.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Yesterday, just when we were drinking to +the health of the Duke of Courland, and +our band was doing its best, and our company +of dragoons were firing salutes,—at +that very moment the chamberlain, who +had been sent to Warsaw, returned with the +news that on account of the indisposition +of the duke, the ceremonies of the investiture +had to be postponed. "Bad omen," +said Matenko; "as the mitre slips, so the +crown will slip." I felt like crying, but +there was no time for that, as many guests +were present; among others, the Woivode +of Craclaw, Swidinski, with his nephew +Father Albert, a Jesuit, whom my honored +Parents like and respect greatly. Basia is +his special favorite; he brought her a +rosary and a prayer book,—"La Journée +du Chrétien,"—and he spoke several times +to her at supper. But then, Basia is the +eldest; no wonder everybody pays most +attention to her.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<i>Friday</i>, January 5.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The Woivode and Father Albert are +still here, and to-day the two sons of the +former are expected. I am very anxious +to know them, as they have both been educated +in France, at Luneville, at the court +of Stanislaus Leszczynski.<a name="FNanchor_1_7" id="FNanchor_1_7"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> This nobleman, +although his country has proved faithless to +him, tries to be useful to it, and he has always +some young Poles at his court, where +they receive the best education. The sons +of our first families court this great honor, +and there is not a better recommendation +for a young man than to say of him: +"He has been brought up in the court of +Luneville." He is sure then to be refined, +to speak French well, and to dance the +minuet gracefully; therefore all gentlemen +brought up at that court are great favorites +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +of the ladies. Oh! how curious I am to +see these two!</p> + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, January 6.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>They arrived yesterday, but I cannot say +they are quite as I expected, especially the +elder, the Staroste of Radom. I thought I +should see a fine young cavalier, like the +Prince Cheri, so beautifully depicted +by Madame de Beaumont, but the Staroste +is not at all like him; first, he is +not very young,—he is about thirty; then +he is rather stout, and therefore, perhaps, +he is not fond of dancing. As to his Parisian +accent, I cannot judge about that, as +he did not say one French word, but mixes +his Polish and Latin quite as the old gentlemen +do. His brother, who is a colonel +in the king's army, pleased me a little +more; he has, at least, a fine uniform. +To-day, the ceremony of liberation of the +Chamberlain Chronowski will take place. +Besides that, as it is customary on Epiphany, +they are baking an enormous cake +with an almond in it, and whoever gets the +almond will be the Twelfth Night king or<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +queen. Oh! if it only came to me! A +crown would be put on my head and I +should have all the ordering of the dances; +then what dancing there would be! Still, +I think, there will be enough in any case, +for many guests are expected. Our old +butler, Peter, was muttering to himself this +morning that around the church in Piotrowice +there are said to be ever so many +coaches and curricles. Poor man! he is +expecting more work, so he grumbles; +but I feel my heart jumping, and my feet +are dancing already. How often in this +world the same thing brings trouble to one +and joy to another!</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, January 7.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Well, yes, they did come, and many of +them are still here. Old Peter has two +wrinkles more on his forehead, but we +amused ourselves royally. Basia, not I, +was the queen, but it was just as well. +When at the end of the dinner the cake +was cut, Basia glancing at her piece became +red as a pink, and Madame, sitting next to<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +her, announced: "Mademoiselle Basia has +the almond!" Then all the people cried, +"Long live the queen!" and Matenko +added, smiling: "The almond is here, the +husband is near." Would it not be nice to +have a wedding in our house!</p> + +<p>Decidedly I do not like the Staroste; +he is so grave! Yesterday he danced the +Polonaise only. He never looks at us +girls, nor speaks a word to one of us; he +converses with my honored Parents only, +or plays cards, or reads the "Gazette;" so, +really, I cannot find him very entertaining.</p> + +<p>But I am forgetting to speak about +Michael Chronowski's liberation. Soon +after dinner we went to the banquet hall +with our guests, and all sat around in a large +circle, my honored Father in the middle, +on a higher chair. The folding doors were +thrown open, and the marshal with other +courtiers led in the young man, dressed no +more in livery, but in a rich Polish costume. +He knelt down before the Count, +who gave him a light blow on the cheek in +token that he has been novitiate boy here,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +then a sword was fastened to his side and +his health was drunk in a cup of wine. +The Count made him a present of a purse +filled with gold, and of two horses which +were already waiting in the courtyard for +their new master. Invited to remain here +as a guest till the end of the carnival, +Chronowski accepted the invitation with +gratitude, and having saluted my honored +Parents and kissed the hands of all the +ladies, was admitted to our society and +danced with us the whole evening.</p> + + +<h3> +January 8.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The prophecy of Matenko proved true, +for Basia will be married before the carnival +is over. Last night the Staroste Swidinski +asked my honored Parents for her +hand; they sent for her this morning, told +her about it, and the betrothal will take +place to-morrow. Basia came back in +tears to our room, telling us that she +dreaded the marriage, and would always +regret her old home, but that it was not +possible to refuse such a match, as both<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +our honored Parents wished it, and told +her she would be very happy. The Staroste +is, they say, a most honorable man, +religious, and of a kind disposition; his +family is also old and very wealthy. His +father has allotted him a large estate, +"Sulgostow," with a beautiful palace, and +the king has given him the appointment of +staroste with the expectation of being soon +named castellan. For a long time the +Woivode and Father Albert had been planning +this marriage, and they came here for +the purpose of effecting it.</p> + +<p>And so we shall have a wedding here, in +Maleszow Castle, on the 25th of February, +at the very end of the carnival. Will there +not be dancing! Basia will become +Madame Starostine; only, it is a pity we +shall not be allowed to call her "Basia" +any more. I am very sorry to have written +about the Staroste as I did, but then +it is not I that is to marry him, and if he +pleases Basia, that is enough. She says +she has always been afraid of young men, +she likes serious ones better; and our honored<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +Mother tells her that those make the +best husbands. Perhaps so, but as for me +... well, it is of no use to think about it +at present.</p> + +<p>Oh! but I must not forget: the investiture +of Duke Charles will certainly take +place in Warsaw to-day. Colonel Swidinski, +who knows him personally, has not +words enough to tell how charming he is. +I wonder if I shall ever see him.</p> + + +<h3> +January 10.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The betrothal took place yesterday. In +the morning, when we came down, my +honored Mother gave Basia a skein of +tangled silk to wind.<a name="FNanchor_1_8" id="FNanchor_1_8"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> The poor girl, with +flushing cheeks, began the task, not daring +to look up from her work, for she knew +that all eyes, especially those of the Staroste, +were fixed upon her; and besides, +that mischievous Matenko was teasing her +without end, making all the people laugh.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> +<p>After dinner, when she sat again before +her winding-frame, the Staroste came near +and asked in a voice loud enough for all to +hear: "May I believe that your ladyship's +will is favorable to my desires?" "The +will of my honored Parents," answered +Basia, with a trembling voice, "has ever +been a sacred law to me." And that was +the whole of the conversation between the +betrothed.</p> + +<p>When the courtiers had left the room +and we were alone with our guests, the +Woivode and Father Albert arose, the +former taking by the hand the Staroste, +and standing before my honored Parents +he thus addressed them: "For a long +time my heart has been filled with the +most sincere affection and profound veneration +for the illustrious family of Korwin +Krasinski; for a long time I have desired +fervently that my modest name be united +with your glorious one, and I cannot +express the great satisfaction which I feel +in knowing that your Grace is willing to +grant me this favor. You have a most<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +honorable daughter, Barbara; I have this +son, Michael, who is my comfort and my +pride; are you willing to renew to-day +your promise to join this young pair for +their lifetime? Here is the ring which I +received on a like occasion from my +honored Parents, in order to give it to +my wife, who is, alas! no more in this +world, but who still lives in my heart. Will +you allow my son to offer it now to your +daughter as a pledge of a closer tie?" +Saying this he laid a costly diamond ring +on a little silver tray which Father Albert +was holding. The latter also made a +speech, but he used so many Latin words +that I could not make anything of it.</p> + +<p>My honored Father rose and answered: +"I repeat now what I told you yesterday, +that I consent to the marriage of my +daughter with the most honorable Staroste; +I give her to him with my sincere blessing, +and I transfer to him all my rights as a +Father." "I do the same, and with my +whole heart," added my honored Mother. +"Here is a ring, the most precious jewel in<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +my house; my Father, the Woivode of +Podole, received it after his victory over +the Turks, from the hands of our late king, +Augustus II. This was my betrothal ring, +and I give it now to my eldest daughter, +with a Mother's blessing, and with a prayer +to the Almighty that she may be as happy +as I have been." She then placed on the +tray a ring with a very large diamond, +which, being raised, disclosed the miniature +of the late king.</p> + +<p>"Basia! come here, my girl," said my +honored Father. She rose and advanced, +but was so confused and trembling that I +wonder how she ever reached the spot. +Father Albert blessed the rings, and gave +the first one to the Staroste, who, having +kissed my sister's hand, placed the ring on +her fourth finger; Basia, in her turn, gave +him the ring with the portrait, and had her +hand kissed once more. Then the Staroste +fell at the feet of my honored Parents, +thanking them, and calling God to witness +that he would do all in his power to make +their daughter happy; in the mean time<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +the Woivode kissed the trembling Basia on +the brow, while Father Albert and the +colonel paid her many fine compliments.</p> + +<p>At the end my honored Father took a +large cup, filled it with old Hungarian wine, +and drank the young couple's health; and +all the gentlemen did the same.</p> + +<p>The whole ceremony was so solemn and +so touching that I could not keep back my +tears. "Do not weep, Frances," said +Matenko, who still remained in the room +and for once was serious, "do not weep; +in less than one year it will be your ladyship's +turn." In one year? ... no, that +would be too soon, but in a few years, +perhaps....</p> + +<p>Everybody in the house is now paying +so much attention to Basia! My honored +Parents kissed her on the cheek when she +wished them good-night, and all the people +are congratulating her and recommending +themselves to her, as many wish that she +would take them to her new court.</p> + +<p>My honored Father brought out a bag +containing a thousand ducats, which he<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +gave my honored Mother for the trousseau, +and during several hours they discussed +together its details. To-morrow Mlle. +Zawistoska, a very respectable woman, who +has been brought up in our castle and will +be Basia's lady's maid, is going with the +commissary to Warsaw to make the necessary +purchases.</p> + +<p>In our store-house there are four big +trunks with silver plate, one for each of us. +The Count ordered the one which is designed +for Basia to be opened; examined +each piece himself, and those which need +repairs or alteration are to be sent to +Warsaw.</p> + +<p>The letters to announce the approaching +marriage are already being written, and the +chamberlains will take them to all parts of +Poland, to all relatives and friends, inviting +them to the wedding. But the most stately +of our courtiers, the equerry, will go to +Warsaw with letters to the king, the royal +princes, the primate, and the chief senators. +In these missives the Count gives +notice of his daughter's intended marriage,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +but sends no invitations, as the presence of +those persons will depend upon their own +pleasure. Oh! if one of them, for instance +the Duke of Courland, should come here, +what grandeur would be added to the wedding; +but more probably they will send +their envoys only, who, in that case, receive +all the honors due to those they +represent.</p> + +<p>The Staroste gave handsome tokens of +remembrance to each of us sisters. I +received a costly brooch with turquoises; +Mary, a ruby cross; Kasia, a Venetian +chain. Also he offered presents to my +honored Parents, which they deigned to +accept,—the Count, a golden cup; the +Countess, a work-box, in which all the implements +are of mother-of-pearl and gold. He +did not forget even our Madame, who +found this morning a lace shawl on her +bed; so she also highly praises our Polish +generosity.</p> + +<p>Last night we had a grand supper. The +music was beautiful, the dragoons fired +salutes, and the captain gave to the guard<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +for a watchword the names Michael and +Barbara.</p> + +<p>This morning there was given a great +hunting-party, for Basia's good luck, and +it was unusually successful; they brought +home one boar, two deer, four hinds, and +many hares. The boar was killed by the +Staroste himself, who laid his trophy at +Basia's feet. I have learned to-day what +a brave man the Staroste is. My honored +Father ordered for the hunters all the +horses from the stables, and among others +there was one, a great beauty, but very +wild; even the equerry does not dare to ride +him. The Staroste said, however, that he +would try him, and notwithstanding all the +remonstrances, he sat upon him with ease +and held him with such a clever and strong +hand that, in spite of all the animal's +prancing and jumping, he rode three times +around the castle. It was beautiful to see. +Basia turned pale at first, but when she saw +how he was able to manage the horse, and +when loud bravos began to resound, then +deep blushes covered her cheeks, especially<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +when all eyes turned towards her. By this +act the Staroste quite gained my favor; +one who is so brave and so strong, can be +pardoned even if he does not like to dance +the minuet. The Count presented the +horse to his future son-in-law, adding a rich +equipment and a groom; he deserved it.</p> + +<p>To-morrow the Woivode and the Staroste +are going away, in order to prepare the +Sulgostow house for its new mistress.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, January 20.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>During more than a week I have not +opened my diary, for we are very busy. +The afternoons and evenings are spent with +our guests, and the mornings are given to +work, as each sister wishes to make something +with her own hands for Basia's trousseau. +I am embroidering a dishabille with +flowers in lace-stitch, and I have to get up +very early in the morning and work even by +candle-light in order to be ready in season. +Mary is making a very pretty scarf; it will +have an arabesque embroidered on fine +muslin in dark silks and gold; Kasia is<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +knitting a cover for the dressing table; so +all the lessons are put aside, and even +Madame de Beaumont is forgotten.</p> + +<p>From the early morning, my honored +Mother is busy, unlocking the trunks, the +drawers, and the cupboards,—taking out +linen, silks, furs, carpets, rugs, curtains, etc. +She has many things still remaining from +her own trousseau, and many others bought +later, as during all these years she has been +gathering all kinds of beautiful things for +our marriage outfits; really they are well +worth seeing. Sometimes she deigns to +call me to assist her, and it is quite touching +to see her anxiety to do right by each +of us; she divides all these treasures in +four portions, and sometimes she even asks +my honored Father and the chaplain to +give their opinion whether the shares are +quite of equal value.</p> + +<p>A tailor and a furrier have come from +Warsaw, and there is so much to be done +that they will not have finished for a month. +Fortunately, almost all the linen is ready, +our sewing-girls having worked upon it for<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +these last two years, and now they are marking +it with blue cotton.</p> + +<p>Basia wonders what she will do with all +the new dresses they are making for her; +until now we had never more than four at +the same time, two dark woollen ones for +every day, and two white ones, one in +cotton for Sundays, another in batiste for +great occasions. But my honored Mother +says that what is good enough for a young +girl would not be proper for a married +lady.</p> + +<p>Basia has wound the tangled silk with +such patience that, although green, it has +not in the least changed its color; even +Matenko acknowledges that she is fit to be +married. She is now knitting from that +silk a purse for the Staroste by my honored +Mother's direction.</p> + +<p>The equerry and the chamberlain are +gone with the invitations. On the 8th of +January the investiture of the royal prince +took place at last. The night before, my +uncle the Prince Lubomirski, Woivode of +Lublin, who is also the marshal to the royal<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +prince, gave a great ball; other festivals, +dinners, and balls followed for more than a +week. The new duke made a speech in +the Polish language, which pleased immensely; +he is now treated quite as a +crowned prince. In the "Courier" there +is a full account of the ceremonies. It +is very interesting; I should like to copy it +here, but I have not the time.</p> + + +<h3> +January 25.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The Staroste arrived last night, and this +morning Basia found on her work-table two +large silver baskets with oranges and bonbons, +which she distributed among us and +our court ladies. Our work is progressing +rapidly and my <i>négligé</i> is half done.</p> + +<p>Basia will be provided with feather-beds +from her own household, for to each of +us daughters has been allotted for many +years a certain number of geese and swans. +There is among the servants a poor, stupid +girl who is not able to do anything but +pluck the feathers, and each of us has a +separate barrel for feathers and a bag for<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +down. Basia, out of her share, will have +two feather-beds, eight big pillows filled +with goose-down, and four small ones of +swan's-down. The pillows will be made +of red silk, and the cases of Holland linen +lawn embroidered.</p> + + +<h3> +February 2.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The Staroste stayed nearly a week and +departed yesterday; the next time he will +not go away alone, but Basia will go with +him. It seems to me quite impossible that +she will leave us and go alone with a man! +Basia's friendship and esteem for the +Staroste grows every day, although he +never speaks with her; all his conversation +is with my honored Parents, and all his attentions +are paid to them. They say it +ought to be so in an honorable courtship, +for is there a better way of gaining the +heart of the daughter than by pleasing the +Parents?</p> + +<p>The wedding will be in three weeks; we +shall have new dresses as well as the court +ladies; all these will be Basia's gift.</p> + +<p>Many of the invited guests have already<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +replied that they are coming, but the king +and the royal princes will send only their +envoys. It is doubtful, also, if my aunt, +the Princess Woivodine of Lublin will be +able to come, but she is much pleased +with Basia's choice, and she wrote a beautiful +letter with her blessing,—which made +my honored Father very happy.</p> + +<p>I am hurrying with my embroidery, but +I must rise early and work by candle-light, +for my honored Mother is so gracious +toward me that she often wants my help +and service. Before this, only Basia, as +the eldest, was so fortunate, but now, my +honored Parents want me to have some +practice in order to take her place when +the Staroste takes her away. Twice already +I have had the key of the medicine +closet intrusted to me, and I really think +since then I have grown more serious.</p> + +<h3> +February 12.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The preparations for the wedding are +going on, and our visitors begin to arrive. +Almost all the guest-rooms are already occupied,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +and the farm-house, the parsonage, +even the better peasant-cottages will be +wanted for the later comers. The cooks +and the confectioners are already preparing +all kinds of delicacies and sweetmeats +for the coming event.</p> + +<p>To-day the beds have been sent to Sulgostow +and two enormous chests with mattresses, +pillows, carpets, curtains, etc. The +bedsteads are of carved oak with blue +covers, curtains, and canopies; on the four +corners there will be bunches of blue +and white ostrich-feathers. Almost every +moment Basia has good reason for embracing +the hands and the feet of our +honored Parents, they are so generous +toward her. The Count is writing with +his own hand, in a large book, the contents +of the trousseau, beginning with these +words:—</p> + +<p>"Inventory of the wedding outfit which +I, Stanislaus Korwin Krasinski, Staroste of +Nova Wies, etc., etc., and Angela, born +Humiecka, my honored wife, are giving +to our eldest and beloved daughter Barbara,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +promised in marriage to the honorable +Michael Swidinski, Staroste of Radom; and +imploring for this daughter of ours the +favor of Heaven, we bestow upon her our +parental blessing, <i>in nomine Patri et +Filii et Spiritu Sancto</i>. Amen." I should +like to copy here the whole inventory, but +first, I have no time, and secondly, I expect +to receive a trousseau like this sometime +myself, and what is still better, such a +blessing of my own.</p> + +<h3> +February 20.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Three days more and then the wedding. +The Staroste arrived yesterday; Basia +shook like a leaf when the chamberlain +brought him into the parlor. To-day we +are expecting the Woivode, Father Albert, +the colonel and the Woivodine Granowska, +sister of the Staroste, with her husband. +Basia is entering into a fine family,—all +religious and worthy people. The trousseau +is quite finished, and what has not already +been sent to Sulgostow is packed in +trunks, of which Mademoiselle Zavistoska +has the keys. Besides this mademoiselle,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +Basia will take with her two young girls, her +goddaughters, well trained in all kinds of +needle-work, and as companion, one of +the six damsels who have been brought +up with us. When I am married I shall +take still more; I have already solemnly +promised three girls that they shall go +with me; one of them is the daughter of +our Peter. In his grateful joy, the old +man bowed to my feet, and for the first +time his forehead was free from wrinkles.</p> + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, February 22.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The wedding will be to-morrow. Our +guests are numberless, and all the envoys +are here. The king's envoy is the Secretary +Borch; that of the Duke of Courland, +his confidant the Castellanic<a name="FNanchor_1_9" id="FNanchor_1_9"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> Kochanowski, +a very handsome and polite cavalier; the +proverb is right: "As the master, so the +valet." I cannot possibly describe all +the others; they arrived, as if by appointment, +at the same hour yesterday, and their +entrance was quite imposing. Before every +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +one of them our dragoons presented arms, +while the cannons were firing and the +music playing. The greatest honors were +shown to the king's envoy; the Count, +having been informed of the hour of his +arrival, was waiting with head uncovered on +the drawbridge, and all our guests, courtiers, +and servants stood in a double row +up to the entrance door. As soon as the +secretary stepped on the bridge they all +shouted "Vivat!" and bowed low in +salutation.</p> + +<p>To-day, in the presence of the whole +company, and before appointed witnesses, +the marriage contract was written, but I +do not know what it contains, as I have +not understood a single word of it. I +know only that the bride received many +beautiful presents: from the Staroste three +strings of oriental pearls; from the Woivode +a rich diamond cross and an aigrette with +diamond pendants; from the colonel an +enamelled watch and chain; from Father +Albert many relics; and from each relative +a souvenir. Basia can hardly believe that<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +all these riches belong to her; until now, +her only jewel, besides her betrothal ring, +was a small ring with the picture of the +Holy Virgin on it, and I am sure Basia +will not discard her old friend for all the +costly jewels which she now receives.</p> + +<p>The maid has just brought my <i>négligé</i>, +washed and pressed; it looks very nice. +There are twenty-five different kinds of lace-stitch +in it; I am sure it will be becoming +to Basia.</p> + +<h3> +<i>Shrove Tuesday</i>, February 26.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>All is over, and as Matenko says, "with +a hundred horses one could not catch +Mademoiselle Barbara any more;" she is +Madame Starostine. I have much to tell.</p> + +<p>Yesterday, very early in the morning, we +rode to our parish church in Lisow, where +the bride and the bridegroom went to +confession and to communion. As it was +cold the bride wore a white cloak of brocade +silk, lined with white fox fur, and on +her head a long lace veil.</p> + +<p>When we returned breakfast was served,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +and soon afterwards the dressing of the +bride commenced; twelve noble ladies +headed by my honored Mother undertook +that important task. The dress was of +white satin, with watered silk stripes, a +frill of Brabant lace with silver ornaments +at the bottom, and a long train; a rosemary +bouquet fastened the front of the +corsage. On her head the bride wore a +rosemary wreath held in place by a gold +circlet on which was engraved the date of +the wedding and good wishes in rhyme. +According to the old Polish custom, my +honored Mother fastened in the wreath a +ducat with the date of Basia's birth-year, +and a bit of bread for good luck; she also +added to the above a lump of sugar in +order to sweeten the married life, which +they say has many difficulties. No jewels +were allowed, for it is said that for each +precious stone worn on the wedding day, +one has to pay afterwards with a vial of +tears. As it is, Basia has wept enough, so +that her eyes are red and swollen.</p> + +<p>A little in advance, the bridesmaids went<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +downstairs; we were twelve, all dressed +in white, and the eldest of us was not +more than eighteen. The bridegroom with +twelve groomsmen met us at the door of +the parlor, and there we found all the +guests assembled. An enormous tray was +carried behind us, heaped with bouquets of +rosemary and orange sprays, each tied +with a white ribbon, which were destined +for the young ladies and bachelors present +at the wedding. To fasten on these bouquets, +each bridesmaid had a certain +number of gold and silver pins, and great +care was to be used in distributing the +different values according to the rank of +each person. The elderly ladies have +been teaching us for a long time about the +method we should follow in order not to +cause offence by giving the priority to persons +of lesser rank, and we were sure we +understood the lesson perfectly; but as soon +as we were in the hall, everything was forgotten. +At first, we began our task very +gravely, then we went on with a smile, and +finally we broke into laughter; many and<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +many mistakes were committed, but all +were pardoned, and our gaiety was so contagious +that soon the married people and +even the elderly ladies and venerable +gentleman,—none of whom have any right +to wear flowers on a wedding day,—all +wanted a bouquet. The first heap disappeared; +they brought a second tray full, +and a third one; we had no more gold or +silver pins, and had to use the ordinary +ones, but they were received just as well. +At the end everybody looked happy; all +had their bouquets, and the room was like +a garden.</p> + +<p>But no, I am mistaken, not everybody +was happy,—Matenko stood sad in a corner; +although a bachelor he had received +no flowers, and he looked as if he did not +belong to the wedding party. I stepped +up to him, and he said in a low, grieved +voice: "I do not wonder that the other +young ladies have not thought of me,—but +Miss Frances, whom I have known as +a baby, whom, for so many years, I have +played with and amused, that she should<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +forget me! Well, I will not come to her +wedding, even if she marries a king's son!" +I knew that I blushed half pleased, but +was still more vexed at my forgetfulness.</p> + +<p>I ran to the dressing-room, but there +was not one bouquet left, for my honored +Mother, hearing how the flowers were being +appropriated in the hall, took the remaining +ones for the ladies who were dressing +the bride and for herself. The greenhouses +were too far off to send there, and +I wanted, at any price, a bouquet for poor +Matenko. Suddenly a happy thought came +to my mind: I caught a piece of white +ribbon and returning hastily to the parlor, +took off my bouquet and gave half of it, +with the golden pin, to Matenko. He was +so pleased! "Franulka," he exclaimed, +"you are as kind as you are handsome! +I am sometimes a prophet; remember, +young lady, what I have said to you.... +I shall keep these flowers till your wedding +day, and who knows with what title I shall +address you when giving them back?" +How strange! Notwithstanding all the distractions <span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +of the day, his words are still +ringing in my ears; and here I am writing +about myself, when I ought to think only +about Basia.</p> + +<p>To return to the wedding: the folding +doors were thrown open and Basia entered +timidly, surrounded by the elderly ladies. +The bridegroom approached and took her +by the hand, and the two knelt down +before my honored Parents, asking them +for their blessing; then they went with +the same request to us, to all the relatives, +guests, and the whole household present, +and there was not one person who did not +bless them with his whole heart and with +tears in his eyes.</p> + +<p>The chapel door opened. Father Albert +put on a lace surplice, and standing before +the altar, called upon us to draw near. +The Secretary Borch as the king's representative, +and the Castellanic Kochanowski, +led the bride; Mademoiselle Malachowska +and I, as first bridesmaids, were directed to +lead the bridegroom. All the other people +went behind us, two by two, in such deep<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +silence that one could hear the rustle of +the silk dresses, even the tinkling of the +diamond aigrettes in the ladies' coiffures.</p> + +<p>The altar was glittering with lights; a +carpet woven with golden threads covered +the steps, and on the highest were two +red velvet cushions with the coats of +arms of the two families, embroidered in +gold.</p> + +<p>The young pair knelt down; the bridesmaids +were placed on the right side of the +altar; the groomsmen on the left; I held +a small gold tray with the wedding rings on +it, my honored Parents stood behind Basia, +the Woivode behind the Staroste. The +castle band in the choir played "Veni +Creator," after which Father Albert recited +an allocution, almost the whole in Latin, +and then he began to read the words of +the marriage vow. Basia, although in tears, +repeated distinctly enough: "I, Barbara, +take you, Michael, for my wedded husband," +etc., but the Staroste pronounced the words +much louder. After the rings were exchanged +the married pair fell down at the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +feet of my honored Parents and the Woivode's, +and were blessed again.</p> + +<p>Then the marshal gave a sign; the band +in the choir and the Italian singers fetched +from Warsaw began a triumphal march, +accompanied by the discharge of cannons +outside, and when this was all over, and +silence re-established, the Count pronounced +a fine and very moving exhortation, +at the end of which Basia fell again at +his feet, sobbing; she tried to speak, but +not a word could she utter.</p> + +<p>After mutual embracings, salutations, and +congratulations, Father Albert sprinkled us +with holy water, and presented a cross with +relics to be kissed. But he made a mistake, +giving it first to Madame the Castellan +Jordan before Madame Kochanowska, +mother of the duke's envoy. Fortunately, +my honored Mother noticed the error, and +begged the latter lady to lead the bridegroom +from the altar, and thus happily all +unpleasantness was avoided. The bride +was attended by the king's envoy, and +again, two by two, we returned from the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +chapel. Soon afterwards the dinner was +announced. The tables in the banquet-hall +were arranged so as to form the letter +B; in the centre stood the result of the +fortnight's invention and labor of our +French confectioner,—an ell<a name="FNanchor_1_10" id="FNanchor_1_10"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a>-high pyramid +representing the temple of Hymen, +where, amidst all kind of ornaments, allegorical +figures, and inscriptions, were the +coats of arms of the two families. There +were also many other devices on the +table, in silver baskets, vases, epergnes, +porcelain figures, etc.; it was so crowded +that our little dwarf could not have easily +walked on the table this time. It would +not be possible to enumerate all the courses +of the dinner, and as for the wine which +was drunk, I wonder if the butler himself +could give an account. Besides other +wines, they drank at that dinner a barrel of +wine which was called "Miss Barbara's +wine," which the Count, according to the +Polish custom, brought from Hungary in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +the year of Basia's birth, and which had +been kept for her wedding day. Each of +us has such a barrel. Then they began the +toasts: first for Poland, then for the young +pair, then for the king, the Duke of Courland, +the royal princes, the primate, the +master of the house, the ladies, etc., each +accompanied with loud shoutings, hurrahs, +breaking of the glasses, with the music of +the band and the firing of cannons; altogether +there was such a tumult that I +think there will not be a greater one on +doomsday.</p> + +<p>After dessert was served, and we thought +it was time to leave the table, the Count +gave a sign to the marshal, who brought in +a black leather box with brass ornaments, +which I had never seen before. My honored +Father opened it and took out a golden +cup embossed with precious stones +and shaped like a raven; then rising, he +announced with great solemnity that this +cup was a souvenir from the time of the +Corvins of Rome, and it had not been +taken from its box since the day of his<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +own wedding. The butler placed before +him a bottle covered with mould, containing, +as they said, wine a hundred years old. +The Count poured out the whole into the +cup, and lifting it cried: "Good luck to +the young pair!" The hurrahs began +anew, the music was louder than ever, the +cannons fired, every man drank that toast +in one draught, and after that we rose from +the table.</p> + +<p>The daylight was gone already. The +lady-guests went to change their dresses, +but the bride and the bridesmaids remained +in the same toilets. About eight o'clock +the dances began. The bride opened the +ball with the king's envoy, and during the +whole evening danced in the first set. At +first there were grave polonaises, minuets, +and contra-dances, but by and by, the +gaiety increasing, we had the mazourkas +and the cracoviaks. The Castellanic +Kochanowski dances the cracoviak like an +angel; and according to the custom, when +he was in the first set he sang impromptu +verses, very witty and apropos.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>At midnight the music stopped and the +"Cap" ceremony began. A stool was +placed in the middle of the room, the bride +sat down, and the bridesmaids began to +undo her hair, singing in plaintive voices +the old song: "Ah! we are losing you, +Basia." Then my honored Mother removed +the rosemary wreath and the Woivodine +Malachowska put in its place a big +lace cap. It seemed Basia was costumed +for fun, and I should have laughed had not +her eyes been overflowed with tears. The +cap is very becoming to her, which they +say is a sign that her husband will love her +very much. I am sure he will; he could +not help it, she is so good.</p> + +<p>When this ceremony was over the bride +was ordered to dance the "drabant" with +the king's envoy, in honor of the reigning +family, who introduced that dance in our +country; after that, the music played again +a very solemn polonaise, and the bride +danced it with all the gentlemen present, +one after another, beginning with the +Woivode Swidinski, and ending with my<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +honored Father, who, having once paced +the ballroom with her, led her to the +Staroste and gave her to him, not only for +that dance, but for her whole lifetime.</p> + +<p>This was the end of that night's entertainment +for us girls; my honored Mother +ordered us to go to bed, and the elder +ladies took the bride to the apartment reserved +for the young couple. Other married +and elderly people followed them, and +I was told there were still more speeches +in giving away the bride, returning of +thanks from the bridegroom, new toasts, +and all, that lasted very late into the +night.</p> + +<p>I slept wonderfully after all the excitement, +and my feet are so rested that I am +quite ready for to-night's ball. I danced +mostly with the duke's envoy, the Castellanic +Kochanowski, who returned from +Luneville one year ago, and since then has +been with the duke. He speaks very +highly of his master; judging from the +confidant, the other must be really a +wonder.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>I have not seen Basia yet, or rather +Madame Starostine, as my honored Parents +order us to call her. It seems so strange +not to have her in our room. I have inherited +her bed, her work-table, and all the +rights of the eldest daughter. They will +call me now "Mademoiselle Staroste," not +simply "Mademoiselle Françoise," or +"Franulka," as they did until now. It is +a very little compensation, but still....</p> + +<p>We shall begin the dances very early +to-night, as it is the last Tuesday before +Lent, so we have to stop at midnight.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Ash Wednesday</i>, February 27.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Ash Wednesday, what a pity! no more +dancing till next Carnival. Our guests +begin to depart: the king's envoy is gone, +the young married couple are going the +day after to-morrow, and we shall accompany +them as far as their home, for the +house-warming. The Staroste invited no +guests but his relations, as big parties are +not proper in Lent. I am very anxious to +see the new home of my dearest sister;<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +I cannot get accustomed to call her +"Madame Starostine," but it would not be +proper to speak to her otherwise, as even +my honored Parents always call her so. +She grew very grave from her wedding +day; the cap she is wearing and the robes +with long trains make her look several +years older; she is sad and speaks very +little; I am sure she grieves to leave her +home, and to go away with a man whom +she knows so little. It must be awful!</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, March 9.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Last night we returned from Sulgostow. +I had a lovely time, but it is a pity not to +have Madame Starostine back with us. +Last Friday, before we started, she went +very early to our parish church in Lisow, +where she hung the half of a golden heart +as a token that the half of her own heart +will remain here. When she came back +home she went around the whole castle, as +if wishing to say good-bye to each corner, +then she took her farewell of all the people +in the household, and had a kind word for +everybody.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>When we were finishing a hasty breakfast, +we heard loud crackings of the whip, +and a chamberlain entered announcing that +everything was ready for the journey. The +Staroste looked at his wife, and whispered +that it was time to set out. She fell then, +sobbing, at the feet of my honored Parents, +thanking them for all their favors that she +had received during the eighteen years of +her life, asking their pardon for all the +offences she might have committed, and +telling them that she wished nothing more +than to be henceforth as happy as she had +been. For the first time in my life I saw +the Count crying; oh! how they blessed +her! it did one's heart good to hear it, and +there was not a person in the room whose +eyes were dry.</p> + +<p>We went to the bridge, but the captain +ordered it to be lifted, and refused to let +the bride go away until the Staroste gave +him a ring as a token that he would bring +her back again. The carriages of the +Staroste were splendid,—a closed carriage +painted yellow, lined with red damask,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +with seats for two persons, a landau with +four seats, a coach, and several curricles. +The horses were beautiful, especially six +white ones drawing the yellow carriage in +which the young couple were seated by +themselves; behind them came the carriages +with the women, and we came last. +Madame Staroste sobbed so loud that we +could hear her. Many courtiers and peasants +followed the carriage, crying and +blessing her. She gave them all the money +she had with her, and the Staroste threw +silver pieces bountifully.</p> + +<p>At each halting-place where we stopped +everything was prepared for our arrival: +the floors were covered with rugs, the +tables laid, and the waiters dressed in livery. +On the following evening we reached +Sulgostow. The Woivode and Father +Albert started on ahead of us, in order to +receive the bride in her new home. At +the frontier of the property the peasants +stopped the carriage of the young pair and +offered bread and salt; one of the oldest +men made a speech, followed by loud<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +shouts of "Long live!" and when we +entered the gate a company of hussars, +whom the Staroste keeps in his court, fired +salutes. Before the entrance door, the +Woivode stood, with the whole court, and +all of them gave the heartiest welcome to +their new mistress. When we entered, the +Staroste brought his wife a big bundle of +keys, placing thus the whole house under +her direction. From the following morning +Madame Starostine took the management, +and it was really wonderful how +everything seemed easy to her and went +smoothly; but, as the eldest of us, she +was accustomed for many years to assist +my honored Mother in her household +duties.</p> + +<p>Sulgostow looks quite different from +Maleszow. It is a palace, not a castle, but +still it is very grand and gay; the retinue +is numerous, the house well provided, and, +what is best, all the people seem so very +happy to have my sister there.</p> + +<p>For the first time in my life I tasted +coffee in Sulgostow. My honored Parents<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +do not like this fashionable beverage, +which was introduced recently to Poland; +they say that it spoils the complexion, so +it is never served in our house. But the +people in Sulgostow like it exceedingly, +and the Staroste begged permission for me +to drink a small cup of it.</p> + +<p>It was rather melancholy to come back, +although the Castellanic Kochanowski, who +accompanied us on horseback, tried his +best to entertain me. The young man has +been invited to Sulgostow, as a former +comrade of the young Swidinski at Luneville, +but he is much younger than they are. +In society they call him a "charmer," +and really he deserves the title; what then +must be the duke, his master!</p> + +<p>I have had no time yet to look about +me in Maleszow, as we arrived late in the +evening, and the first thing I did to-day +was to begin to write, but I am sure it will +seem very sad here for a time.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +March 12.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I guessed right, it is desolate without +my dearest sister; the castle seems void as +if she had taken away all the life with her. +My honored Parents also miss her very +much, for she, as the eldest daughter, was +more with them, and she was so clever! +I try my best to take her place, but I know +neither how to fill the Count's pipe as well +as she did, nor to assort the colors for my +honored Mother's embroidery. And then +she was so thoughtful, never forgetting anything,—just +the reverse of me. We talk +of her constantly. To-day a chamberlain +will be sent to Sulgostow with compliments +and inquiries about my dear sister's health, +and there was almost a fight among the +young men, all of them wanted so much +to go.</p> + +<p>The Castellanic has departed, and for +the last three days we have had no visitors +but two begging friars from a neighboring +convent.</p> + +<p>I have laughed but once. My honored +Mother had distributed all of Basia's<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +dresses among our waiting-ladies and maids, +and last Sunday, as by a tacit understanding, +each of them appeared wearing a part +of Basia's former attire: one had a skirt, +another a cape or a waist, etc. Matenko +looked around and sighed heavily. "What +is the matter?" we asked. "I am grieved," +he answered, "to see the property of the +late Miss Barbara so scattered." We began +to laugh, but were reproved by the Count, +who quoted the old proverb: "Quiet at +table as in church."</p> + +<p>Something quite new and unexpected +happened to me yesterday. When we +came down at noon, I saw the Castellanic +Kochanowski, who was standing with the +Count in a window's embrasure, talking so +eagerly that he did not see us entering. I +could not hear their conversation, but my +ear caught the last words, spoken with +some emphasis by my honored Parent: +"Yes, sir, you will soon hear about the final +resolution." Having said this he whispered +a word to my honored Mother, who made +a sign to the marshal and gave him a<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +secret order. The dinner was served, the +Castellanic sat opposite to me, and then I +observed how elegantly he was dressed,—a +velvet coat all embroidered, a white satin +waistcoat, lace frills at his shirt, lace +ruffles, and a coiffure as fresh as from a +bandbox. He never was so lively and +brilliant, and he mixed such beautiful +French with his Polish, and looked really +charming. The dinner was longer than +usual; we waited a while for the roast, and +when they brought it in, I saw my Castellanic +changing his color and growing +pale. I looked at the dishes; I saw a goose +with black gravy,<a name="FNanchor_1_11" id="FNanchor_1_11"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> and then I guessed all.</p> + +<p>I did not dare to lift my eyes; queer +thoughts were whirling in my head. I remembered +the lively cracoviaks and graceful + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +minuets, the elegant seat on horseback, the +fine French conversation, the beautiful +compliments, and I felt a pang in my +heart. I had not the courage to touch the +dish; my honored Parents refused it also, +and but for the end of the table the dishes +would have been untouched. Matenko +was the first to help himself, and looking at +his plate said aloud: "Well, it is rather a +hard morsel, but still, it will be digested." +I thought that was disagreeable of him.</p> + +<p>It seemed to me that we stayed ages at +table. Finally the Count gave the sign to +rise, and as we were saying our "benedicite" +I saw the Castellanic stealing away, +and he did not appear again.</p> + +<p>When the courtiers had withdrawn, my +honored Parents called me from my work, +and the Count spoke thus: "Mademoiselle, +to-day the Castellanic Kochanowski asked +for your hand. Although his lineage is +noble and ancient, and his fortune considerable, +nevertheless we did not think it +was a suitable match. First, the Castellanic +is very young; he has no position of his<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +own, and is called only by the title of his +deceased father; secondly, he did not set +about the matter in the proper way. He +asked no notable person to speak for him,—he +came by himself, made his declaration +at once, and wanted an immediate +reply, which he received unreservedly. We +do not doubt, Frances, that you are of the +same opinion." Having said this, without +waiting for my answer, he bade me +return to my work.</p> + +<p>Well, thinking it over, certainly I am of +the same opinion as my honored Parents, +as well by duty as by my own conviction; +but to be quite sincere, I do not find fault +with the Castellanic because he is young +and spoke for himself, but because he is +nothing by himself. A "castellanic"? +that is not enough for me, and I do not +think a castellan would be too much. In +any case, I have not the slightest desire to +be married yet, I am happy as I am; for +several days after our return from Sulgostow +I felt rather sad, but now I feel merry +again and life is before me. Marriage puts<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +an end to all expectations; a married +woman knows who she is and who she shall +be until her death, and I like so much to +dream! When I sit at my embroidery +frame, or at my netting, my thoughts are +always travelling far and fast; all the things +I have ever read come back to my mind; +I share the fate of all the heroines of +Madame de Beaumont, Madame de La +Fayette, and Mademoiselle de Scudéry; and +it seems to me that I am destined to adventures +similar to theirs. Basia often scolded +me for these fancies, but her habits of +thought were quite different from mine. +She often told me that she never brooded +over her future, and never thought of the +husband to come, except at her prayers,—for +it must be said that with the beginning +of the sixteenth year, by the direction of +our honored Mother, we have to add to our +every-day prayer the request for a "good +husband." Basia thought it was a very +right thing to ask God that the one who is +to take the place of our Father and Mother, +and with whom we have to live till our<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +death, should be good, but it never occurred +to her to wonder what he would be, and +where and when she should meet him. She +always said: "There will be time enough to +think of him when he comes." And she was +right; she got such a good and sensible +man. She wrote to my honored Parents +that, but for being homesick for Maleszow, +she would be the happiest woman in this +world. One can see that she loves the +Staroste more and more, and that she is +quite satisfied with her lot. Who knows? +perhaps I should also be happy in such a +position. In any case, my honored +Parents were right in refusing the Castellanic; +I am very sorry that the poor fellow +has been disappointed, but I hope that, as +Matenko says, he will digest the hard +morsel.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, March 17.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Yesterday, when we were just going to +supper, there arrived quite unexpected but +very agreeable guests: my aunt the Princess +Woivodine of Lublin and her husband. +They could not come to the wedding, for<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +the Woivode, being the Duke of Courland's +marshal, was obliged to remain in Warsaw; +but as the duke is now away, they came +here to offer their congratulations. The +arrival of such eminent guests gave new +life to our castle. The Count is overjoyed; +he loves and worships his sister. They +have not been here for five years; in the +mean time I have grown from a child to a +young lady, and they were very much +astonished at the change. Really, they +spoke so much about my comeliness that I +felt quite shy and uncomfortable. The +Prince Woivode said quite seriously that, if +I appeared in Warsaw, I should eclipse +Mademoiselle Wessel, Madame Potocka, +and the Princess Sapieha,—the three belles +of Warsaw. The princess said that I +need only hold myself more erect, to be +more dignified, and to have more worldly +polish, and then I should be perfect. Never +in my life have I heard such compliments, +and I was never aware that I was so +handsome. I observed how my honored +Father's countenance brightened at hearing <span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +these praises, but as for my gracious +Mother, she called me this morning to her +room and admonished me severely not to +give credit to all these fine words, which +she said were only court civility.</p> + +<p>I am sure they are making plans for me. +I should like so much to know about it. I +was so excited that I could not sleep well +last night, dreaming most extraordinary +things. It is true that I heard many curious +and amusing things which the prince +and his wife related. My honored Parents +wanted me to leave the room with my +sisters as usual at nine, but the Prince +Woivode pleaded for me to stay till the +end of the evening; thus I heard all about +Warsaw, the court, the balls, and the festivals +attending the investiture of the duke, +and many praises of this prince, who I hope +will one day be the King of Poland. I +felt happy; he is my hero, and I am sure +he will be a great man. Shall I ever meet +him?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<i>Tuesday</i>, March 19.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The Prince Woivode and his wife departed +half an hour ago. They wanted to +set out yesterday, but the Count ordered +the wheels to be taken from their carriages, +and persuaded them that it was not safe +to begin a journey on Monday, which is +known as an unlucky day. During the +whole time they were very gracious to me, +and advised my honored Parents to send +me to a boarding-school in Warsaw, in +order to finish my education. For some +time a French lady, Madame Strumle, has +conducted a school for young ladies in +Warsaw; before this they were educated in +convents only. This school has a great +reputation. The daughters of the first +families are sent there to study and to be +taught good manners, and the Prince Woivode +thinks I should there acquire all the +accomplishments which I lack. But my +honored Parents prefer the Ladies of the +Visitation, and certainly a convent is the +most proper place. Well, I do not know +how all this will end, but I feel uneasy and<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +absent-minded; I do not understand what +I am reading; my work is not so well done +as before; I feel as if something extraordinary +were going to happen.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, March 24.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>We are going to Warsaw! We are going +the day after to-morrow. I do not +know yet where I shall be placed, but in +any case I shall not come back soon, as my +gracious Mother ordered all my clothes to +be packed, and two of her dresses were +made over for me. My honored Parents +were unexpectedly called to Warsaw on business +about an inheritance from our cousin +Vincent Krasinski, who died childless and +left a great fortune. They take me with +them and I feel so very happy! As we +have to stop at Sulgostow, I shall see my +dearest sister. She has just returned from +a very agreeable trip, having visited with +the Staroste all his relations, friends, and +neighbors; she was welcomed and admired +everywhere. Now she will stay at home, +and is very much pleased with that prospect. <span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +She is going to be a perfect house-keeper; +the old Woivode Swidinski wrote +about her with such enthusiasm and gratitude +that both my honored Parents cried +with pleasure over the letter. Such tears +are a blessing!</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Warsaw</span>, <i>Sunday</i>, April 7.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I can hardly believe that I am in that +celebrated school of Madame Strumle; I +entered it yesterday. It was not very hard +work to persuade my honored Father to +abandon the prospect of a convent for me, +as he relies much on the Princess Woivodine's +judgment, and I must say I am glad +of it, as, in the secret of my heart, I did not +care much for the convent.</p> + +<p>On our way to Warsaw we stopped at +Sulgostow. Madame Starostine looks gay +and happy, and how she welcomed us! +She remembered everything my honored +Parents liked; all their favorite dishes and +delicacies were prepared; everything appeared +to be there for their own pleasure; +and she seemed so happy to serve them in +her own house! I heard my honored<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +Mother saying to the Staroste that the marriage +made Basia better than ever. "No," +he answered, "such she was from the beginning +when I received her from your hands. +God bless her!" One can see how dearly +he loves her; and she respects him and +obeys him as if he were her Father. She +manages her house perfectly, and knows +how to receive guests, and what to say to +everybody; she is quite an accomplished +woman. My honored Parents were not +very willing to go away from Sulgostow, but I +must confess I was very anxious to get to +Warsaw, and I welcomed the letters which +made us proceed on our journey. I was +right to be anxious about my coming here, +for here I shall become an accomplished +woman. I want to be distinguished. Therefore +I will not lose one moment, and henceforth +I will not think of the future or dream +of it, but will study hard and learn all that +I can.</p> + +<p>Yesterday my honored Mother took me +to the Cathedral, where I went to confession +and communion, and prayed that the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +knowledge that I shall get here may do me +good and honor.</p> + +<p>When I feel a little more at home here +I will write about everything. Now I am +bewildered. I was accustomed to see +around me well-known faces and rooms, but +here I know nobody; everything seems +strange.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Friday</i>, April 12.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I am getting acquainted with my new +home. I like Madame Strumle very much. +She is a very dignified lady, and very +gracious to me. Certainly it is not as +grand and lively here as in Maleszow, but +still it is comfortable and even gay. Some +things seem to me strange, but amusing +and quite new. For instance, there are no +valets, not one man-servant in the house; +dinner is brought and served by women! +We are about twenty young girls, all from +the best families and all very young. My +honored Parents, after having visited the +school, were well satisfied that young girls +could not be better cared for and instructed +in a convent. Madame carries<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +the key of the entrance door in her own +pocket; nobody can come in or go out +without her knowledge, and but for the +few old teachers, one could forget how the +face of a man looks. No male cousins, +not even brothers, are allowed to pay their +visits. Once the dancing teacher asked +leave for the young Potockis, who are at +the Jesuit college, to come here and +practise the contra-dances with their sisters, +but Madame Strumle would not hear of +it. "Those gentlemen," she said, "are the +brothers of two of my pupils, but not of +the others, so I cannot allow them to +come."</p> + +<p>I have a teacher for the French language, +another for German, others for dancing, +drawing, artistic embroidery, and music. +There is a beautiful harpsichord; not a +spinet as in Maleszow,—it has five and a +half octaves. Some of the young ladies +can play polonaises, not only by ear but +from a music-book. The teacher assures +me that in less than six months I shall be +able to do as well,—it is true that I had<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +a little instruction in Maleszow. I am now +only drawing some small patterns for embroideries, +but before the end of my education, +I must learn enough to be able to +paint with colors a dead tree, on one +branch of which is a wreath of flowers with +the initials of my honored Parents, to whom +I shall offer my work as a token of gratitude +for the education I have received. +The young Princess Sapieha, who has been +here for one year, is just painting such a +tree, and I feel quite jealous of her skill +whenever I look at her work. What a fine +effect mine will have when hung in our +parlor hall!</p> + +<p>The dancing-master, besides the minuets +and contra-dances, is showing us how to +walk and to courtesy; until now I knew +only one way of courtesying, but I hear +there are several varieties,—one before the +king; another before the royal princes, still +another for other dignitaries or their wives.</p> + +<p>I asked to be taught first the courtesy +for the duke: some day, perhaps, I shall +salute my hero.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>My gracious Mother came once to see +me. They are having much trouble with +the affairs of the inheritance.</p> + +<p>The lessons and studies take all my time +from morning till night, but I do not complain, +for I want to learn much. I must +say that on the first days I felt a little +bewildered; the incessant scoldings and +admonitions, the iron cross which was +put on my back to hold me erect, the +machine in which we have to stand for an +hour, in order to make our feet straight,—all +this was not quite to my taste.</p> + +<p>After Basia's departure, I grew to be +quite a young lady; the proposal of the +Castellanic, the compliments and the whisperings +of the Prince Woivode made +my thoughts travel far away,—I began to +think I was quite a personage; but here +I am again treated like a child. Madame +Strumle even ordered me to stop the +prayer for obtaining a good husband, +and to ask for good knowledge instead. +Really, one cannot think of anything else +here.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, April 28.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I have not opened my journal for two +weeks, but the days are going on each so +like the others that I have nothing to +relate, and I am thinking now what I shall +write down to-day. My honored Parents +will leave soon. The Princess Woivodine +deigned to pay me a visit, and found that I +stood straighter; Madame is very kind, my +comrades very agreeable; that is all I know. +Really, I hardly believe I am in Warsaw, for +I know much less about public affairs than +I knew in Maleszow, and I see none of the +grand persons whom I sometimes met there. +My eyes have not once beheld the king. +The duke is away, and they do not expect +him back soon.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, June 9.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>If I were to pass my whole life in +school, my journal would soon be ended. +There is nothing to write about; and it is +a pity, for I may forget the Polish language. +I never use it but when writing my diary +or letters to my honored Parents or talking +to my little maid; on all other occasions +I use French.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>They say that I have made great progress +in my studies, and the Princess Woivodine, +who has not seen me for one month, +finds that I have grown much and that I +have now a very good carriage. Really, +I am the tallest of all the girls in the +school, and my waistband does not measure +quite an ell.</p> + +<p>Now when the weather is so beautiful, +the sky so blue and the trees green, I feel +often a kind of sadness coming over me. +I wish I were a bird! I would then +spread my wings and fly away, far away +from the cage. But there is no help for +it; I must stay here on Bednarska Street, +the ugliest in all Warsaw, they say. But +next year, if God grants me life, things +will be different.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Friday</i>, July 26.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I see that when one is busy the days +pass quickly, even in school. I could not +believe my eyes when looking now in the +calendar, in order to put the date in my +journal, I found out that for seven weeks I +had not opened my book. But this day<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +will be forever memorable to me: I received +this morning, for the first time in +my life, a letter addressed directly to me. +The dearest and kindest Madame Starostine +gave me that surprise, and wrote my +full name on the envelope. So now they +know at the Post-office that there is a +"Mlle. la Comtesse Françoise Krasinska" +in Warsaw. I felt like dancing for joy +when I received that letter, and I will keep it +with its envelope as an eternal souvenir.</p> + +<p>Madame Starostine is in good health, +very happy, and so gracious as to send me +out of the income from the garden, which +the Staroste leaves to her own disposal, +four golden ducats with which I may do +just as I please. It is the first money I +have ever owned, and it seems to me that +I could buy all Warsaw with it. I have +been planning ever so many ways to spend +it: first, I wished to give a golden ring as +a keepsake to each of the young ladies, +my school-mates, but Madame told me +that I had just money enough to buy four +rings and no more. Then I wanted to get<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +for Madame a mantle in blond lace, and +again I was told that it would cost fifty +ducats at least. Finally I decided thus: +I shall send one ducat to the Cathedral, +in order to have a Mass said before the +miraculous image of Christ, with the desire +that the affairs of my honored Parents +turn out according to their wishes, +and also that Madame Starostine be always +as happy as she is now. The second +ducat I shall change into small coin and +distribute among the house servants; and +with the other two ducats I shall give a +little banquet next Sunday. There will be +ices, cake, also coffee which we never +taste here. Madame has already given +me permission to use my money in that +way, but the young ladies know nothing +about the surprise. May the Lord grant +his best benediction on Madame Starostine +for the great pleasure she has given me.</p> + +<p>My education is progressing rapidly. I +am playing several quadrilles and minuets +from a book. In a few weeks I shall begin +to paint the dead tree with the garland,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +and I am also embroidering, in cross-stitch, +a hunter with his gun and a dog. I read +much, and write from dictation, or copy +whole pages from French books, and I +begin to talk in French more easily than in +Polish. As for dancing, the teacher says +that there is not in Warsaw a better dancer +than I; but perhaps he flatters me.</p> + +<p>Sometimes I go to see the Prince Woivode +and the princess, but only in the +morning when they are alone. I always +hear very agreeable things about myself, +especially from the Prince Woivode, who +wishes me out of school; but the princess +and also my honored Parents say that I +must wait until winter. Alas! it is only +July. Will that winter ever come?</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Tuesday</i>, December 24.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Winter has come and the moment for +leaving school is near. What a different +kind of life I shall soon begin! Only God +knows when I shall return to Maleszow, for +the Prince Woivode and the princess graciously +urged my honored Parents to let<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +them keep me for the winter and bring +me out in society. The permission was +granted and so I shall stay in Warsaw. I +am rather sorry to leave Madame Strumle +and the young ladies, but the joy of becoming +acquainted with that world of which I +have so often heard and dreamt, is still +stronger than my regrets. I shall soon +see the king and the royal princes, as I +shall be presented at court; the Duke of +Courland is expected soon.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, December 28.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>This day begins a new life for me. In +the morning the Princess Woivodine came +to take me away, and in her presence I +said good-bye to Madame Strumle and my +school-mates. I could not help crying, +although I have been wishing so long for +that moment. On our way we stopped at +church, but I could not pray; my thoughts +were too wandering.</p> + +<p>I am settled now. My relations live on +the street called the "Faubourg de Cracovie." +Their palace is not very large,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +but extremely handsome and elegant; from +the rear the view extends over a large +garden to the river Vistula. I am occupying +a pretty room which must be especially +agreeable in summer, because there is a +balcony leading into a little garden; on +one side are the apartments of the princess, +on the other is my maid's room.</p> + +<p>A tailor has already been to take my +measure and he seemed surprised at the +smallness of my waist. He will make several +dresses for me, but I do not know +what they will be; the princess ordered +them herself, and she inspires me with +such awe, not to say fear, that I do not +dare to ask her about anything. The Prince +Woivode intimidates me less, although he +is a man; he has gentle manners and +seems to like me. I regret that he is not +here at present; he went to meet the +Duke of Courland at the frontier.</p> + +<p>To-morrow we are going to pay visits. +The princess will introduce me to all the +first families here. I feel a little afraid and +nervous.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, December 29.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I have three good things to write to-day. +The Duke of Courland arrived yesterday; +the Prince Woivode returned with him +and greeted me as if I were his own +daughter, and the visits are over. In +some houses such as the primate's, the +French and Spanish envoys', and some +others, the princess only left small cards +with her name and title on them.</p> + +<p>Among the visits I remember best was +the one to the Princess Lubomirska, <i>née</i> +Princess Czartoryska, the sister-in-law of +the Woivode. She is the leading woman +among the young set, and affects everything +French. I observe that here the more +fashionable the house, and the younger the +hostess, the more one hears French; as +the old men sprinkle their conversation +with Latin, so the young do with French. +But in the salon of Madame Woivodine of +Russ, the conversation was only in Polish. +She is an elderly and very stately lady, and +she pleased me immensely. I met there +her only son, a fine cavalier, who paid me<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +many agreeable compliments, and I think +I enjoyed that visit most.</p> + +<p>I enjoyed also the visit at Madame +Poniatowska's, the widow of the Castellan +of Cracow. She is a very remarkable +woman and talks with great eloquence. +She was giving a reception on that day, in +honor of her son Stanislaus who had returned +from St. Petersburg, and of whom +it is said secretly that he may become +King of Poland. I watched him intently, +but I cannot say that he pleased me, +although I acknowledge that he is handsome, +and has grand manners, I should +say royal.</p> + +<p>Another good visit was at Madame +Rzevuska's, where we found her husband, +the Woivode of Podolie. I was very glad +to see him, as I had often heard from my +honored Father about his adventures when +a child; how he was brought up among +peasant boys and tramped barefoot as they +do, and thus grew tough and fearless. He +is over fifty now, but looks young and vigorous. +He is said to be also extremely<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +learned. The Prince Woivode told me +that he writes beautiful tragedies.</p> + +<p>We went also to Madame Bruhl's, the +wife of the minister and special favorite of +the king; although he is neither liked nor +respected by anybody, she is received +everywhere, and called upon, as she is a +very refined lady. Our next call was upon +Madame Soltyk, the widow of the Castellan +of Sandomir. She introduced us to her son +Stanislaus, a boy of nine years, but gallant +as a young cavalier; the elderly ladies were +not yet seated, when he brought a chair for +me, paying me a compliment, and Madame +Castellan said that he was always enraptured +with pretty faces and black eyes. She also +was very enthusiastic about my looks, and +to tell the truth, everywhere they spoke +about my beauty,—sometimes in a whisper, +but I heard it as well. But then I never +have been dressed so beautifully, even at +Basia's wedding. I had a dress of white +brocade with wide flounces of gauze, a +court train of turquoise blue, and pearls in +my hair.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>I should have been quite satisfied with +those visits, if I had met the Duke of +Courland anywhere. I started from home +with that hope, but I was disappointed. +After his long absence he spends his days +now with his father, and has not yet been +seen out of the royal castle. It is quite +natural; I myself have been so often homesick +for my honored Parents, especially +when in school. But soon the carnival +will begin; there will be balls and assemblies +without end. The duke goes everywhere, +and he likes dancing very much, the +Woivode says, so I am sure to meet him.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, January 1, 1760.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>My wishes have been fulfilled, how much +fulfilled! Not only have I seen the duke, +but I talked with him; I not only talked +with him but ... but will it not be too +bold to write down that which I would not +dare to whisper to anybody, what I do not +dare to believe myself, what perhaps I only +dreamed of? Well! no, I did not dream, +I am sure of that; I always know very well<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +when I please any one. And then is there +anything extraordinary, since God has +made me handsome, and everybody acknowledges +it, that the duke looked at me +with the same eyes as other people? The +same eyes?—was there not in his eyes +something more than in others?...</p> + +<p>But everything ought to be set down in +order. Yesterday morning the Princess +Woivodine had me called to her and spoke +thus: "To-night, as on the last night in +the year, there is generally a ridotto, which +means a masked ball. All the best people, +even the king and the royal princes go to +it; and you, mademoiselle, will come with +us, dressed as the 'Goddess of the Sun.'" +I was delighted and I kissed the princess' +hand. Soon after dinner they began to +dress me in a costume quite different from +the usual, being without powder or hoops. +The princess told me very earnestly that +although such a dress was not decent at all, +and that a woman would ruin her reputation +if she wore it on any other occasion, +still she hoped that by the expression of<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +my face, and my demeanor, I would make +up for the deficiency of my costume. +Obeying her instructions I tried to look +very dignified, and I think I succeeded, for +I heard people at the ball asking, "Who is +that queen in disguise?" Now, when I +think of it I feel uneasy; perhaps in that +costume I was prettier than on other days.... +In any case I certainly looked quite +different. My hair, thoroughly cleansed +from powder, fell in loose curls over my +neck and shoulders; my dress of white +gauze was clasped with a golden band at +the waist; on my breast I wore a golden +sun, and over my head a long, flowing veil, +which enveloped me like a cloud. I did +not recognize myself when after dressing I +was allowed to look in a mirror. Perhaps +others would not recognize me as I am +now....</p> + +<p>The ballroom was almost full when we +entered. I felt dizzy, seeing such a crowd +of people, so diversely and handsomely +dressed, with and without masks, in ordinary +and extraordinary costumes. I did not<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +know which way to turn my eyes, and what +to look at first.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a murmur arose in the crowd. +Some voices said, "The Duke of Courland," +and surrounded by a group of handsome +and richly dressed young men, there he +was. I knew him at once, although his +costume did not differ much from those of +the others; but his stature, his large blue +eyes, extremely soft, and his charming +smile made him different from every body +else. I gazed at him as long as he did not +see me, but when our eyes once met I +could not look at him any more, for I +always met his glance. I saw him inquiring +about me,—and of whom? Of the +Prince Woivode! I noticed the pleasant +smile when he learned who I was, and he +at once approached the princess, greeting +her in a most charming voice. After the +first compliments were over, the princess +took my hand, and introduced me as her +niece.</p> + +<p>I do not know at all how I bowed, +but I fear it was not that special courtesy<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +which the dancing-master taught me. +Neither do I know what the duke said to +me; I only remember that he opened the +ball with the princess, and danced the +second polonaise with me. Then when he +talked, to my great surprise, I answered +without any embarrassment. He inquired +about my honored Parents, about Madame +Starostine, and her wedding. I wondered +how he knew so well about everything, +when I recollected that the Castellanic +Kochanowski was his favorite. The good +boy has not only "digested the goose with +the black gravy," but he gave the duke the +best report of us all. "He praised you +much, but not half enough," said the +duke. I heard many other nice things +during that dance and the following ones, +for the duke invited me for almost all the +minuets and quadrilles, and talked to me +all the time.</p> + +<p>When at midnight they fired the cannon +as a sign of the beginning of the new year, +he said to me, "I shall forever remember this +night; it is not only a new year, it is the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +beginning of a new life for me." And how +many clever comparisons about my costume! +(Only, it does not sound as well in +any other language as in French.) "It +was not the gold on my breast which was +the sun, but rather my eyes; their glance +lighted an eternal fire in the heart, etc., +etc." Finer compliments could not be +found in the novels of Mademoiselle de +Scudéry or Madame Lafayette.</p> + +<p>Can all that be only sham, courtly civility? +It is a pity I cannot ask anybody +about it, but I am afraid of the princess, +and I cannot ask the Prince Woivode; it +would not be proper to talk about those +things to a man. I feel too much left to +myself; one week ago I was a school-girl +among books and teachers, and to-day I +am playing a part in the world of which I +know nothing. But in about ten days +Basia is coming here; she is so wise she +will enlighten me. I am so very happy +thinking that she will come. I have not +seen that dearest sister of mine for three +quarters of the year, but I know that she is<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +more and more happy, more and more beloved +by her husband.</p> + +<p>When shall I see the duke again? Will +he recognize me in my every-day dress?</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Friday</i>, January 3.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I have seen the duke, I have seen him +twice, and I am laughing now at that childish +anxiety I had, wondering if he would +recognize me. Why, I should always know +him, no matter how well disguised he +might be.</p> + +<p>I just finished writing my journal on New +Year's day, when the Prince Woivode came +to my room. "Françoise," he said, "you +surpassed all our expectations; your demeanor +at the ball yesterday was perfect, +and it pleased generally, even the most +notable persons. I have just returned from +the Castle, where we went with the senators +and ministers to pay our New Year's +compliments to his Majesty. His Royal +Highness the Duke of Courland approached +me, and declared that he had +never seen anybody like you, and that if it<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +were not for the etiquette of the court, +which requires him to spend the New Year's +day with the king, he would come to pay +you his respects in person." I felt my +cheeks growing red when I heard these +flattering words, but the prince seemed not +to notice it, and went away leaving me with +my thoughts.</p> + +<p>And so I shall meet the duke, not only +at the balls, but in this very house! "He +has never seen anybody like you." These +words are still sounding in my ears, as if +somebody were repeating them constantly.</p> + +<p>I was so gay at dinner that the princess +had to reproach me several times. After +dinner we went again to pay some visits, +but we left the carriage only twice, as all +the people were out for the same purpose. +We met in the streets, the carriages +stopped, sometimes several of them at one +time, and cards were exchanged amid much +laughing, noise, and confusion. In the +evening it was still gayer when the pages +and the torch-bearers were moving about +with their lights and brilliant uniforms.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +There were even several accidents, but we +fortunately arrived safe. We returned +home quite late. I went to sleep at once, +being very tired, but queer dreams flitted +through my head.</p> + +<p>The following day at noon, when I sat +with the princess in the drawing-room, beginning +a new piece of work on the frame, +the chamberlain announced: "His Royal +Highness the Duke of Courland." The +princess rose quickly, and hastened to +meet him at the entrance. I, in the first +moment wanted to run away, but my wish +to see him was still stronger than my timidity, +and I stayed. As soon as he entered +he approached me and inquired about my +health. I answered distinctly, although I +felt very much embarrassed, and when he +sat near my working-frame, I had sufficient +command of myself to thread at once some +very fine needles with rather coarse silk, in +spite of my trembling hands.</p> + +<p>He praised my skill; stayed about half +an hour, and although he talked most with +the princess, still he found an opportunity<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +to say many amiable things to me. I +could thus ascertain that my different dress +did not change me in his eyes. He departed +saying that he hoped to see us the +same evening at the ball. I heard then +that the Marquis d'Argenson, the French +ambassador, was giving a ball to which I +was to go.</p> + +<p>What a reception it was! Why, Basia's +wedding was nothing in comparison. And +how highly educated are all these people +in Warsaw! Whenever they open their +mouths it is to compliment, but the duke's +compliments surpass them all. He could +not talk with me as much as at the <i>bal-masqué</i>, +neither did I answer as boldly. +But then I was no longer the Goddess of +the Sun, and besides, it always happened +that somebody was standing near us as if +to listen to what we were saying. I do not +like it; it is not nice, especially in well-bred +people, to be inquisitive.</p> + +<p>The princess is in high spirits; she was +the only elderly lady with whom the duke +danced last night. The Prince Woivode is<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +more gracious to me than ever, but he +seems to avoid any questions from me or +counselling me in any way. I look forward +with growing impatience to my dear +sister's coming.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, January 5.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>During the whole of yesterday, the duke, +the balls, all my dreams, everything went +from my mind; all my thoughts were with +my sister, although I have not seen her +yet. She arrived yesterday morning and +was taken suddenly ill. The princess hastened +at once to her house, but I was not +allowed to go. I spent the whole day in +the most dreadful anxiety, and sent to three +churches to have masses said. At last, +after midnight the princess returned with +the news that Basia was as well as could be +expected, and that she had a little daughter. +This morning I begged on my knees to be +allowed to go there, but they said it would +not be proper, and that I should have to +wait several weeks. The Staroste came +here for one moment, very happy to be a +father. The little girl is, they say, beautiful. <span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +If they would only let me see her! +She will be named Angela in honor of my +gracious Mother.</p> + +<p>This morning the duke sent his congratulations +and best wishes for the little +grand-niece. Oh! I am longing to see my +sister.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, January 8.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Basia is still in bed, but the news from +her and her little daughter is the best.</p> + +<p>I have seen the duke once only; he was +away hunting with the king, but yesterday +he appeared unexpectedly and stayed +over an hour. How good he must be, and +how he loves his father! He spoke about +the late queen, his mother, with tears in +his eyes. One can see also that he loves +Poland, and that he has a most noble and +valiant heart. Everything I ever heard of +him is true; he is not praised even enough; +one cannot well describe the charm of his +voice, his sweet smile, and the look of his +blue eyes, so deep and so soft! I do not +wonder that the Russian empress was +charmed with him,—that he carried away<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +the hearts of the Courland people; and I +shall not be surprised if after his father's +death, Poland calls him to the throne. +And he likes me!... Sometimes I think +that it cannot be. Still, yesterday his eyes +told me that so plainly; and not only his +eyes, but some of his words too, and the +Prince Woivode also seems to think so.</p> + +<p>The princess made me feel a little sad +when, at table, she said, with some meaning, +it appeared to me, that "many women +have already pleased the duke" and that +the last one he sees always seems to him +the most beautiful. But how childish I am! +how should that trouble me?</p> + +<p>Am I the only pretty woman in this +world? In my eyes the three Warsaw +belles, Mademoiselle Wessel, the Countess +Potocka, and the Princess Sapieha are without +any comparison more handsome than +I. And what is more, they know how to +enhance their beauty, which is an art quite +unknown to me. The duke says that that +is my great charm, but it seems to me that +my complexion is quite eclipsed by theirs.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +Especially at the ball in the French embassy +Madame Potocka was ravishing, and the +duke danced with her twice. Well, what +right have I to be displeased with that?</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, January 12.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I ought to be quite pleased now! At the +ball of the Woivode of Russ, last Thursday, +the duke danced only with me. On Friday +he called here again. Yesterday he +sent us by his aide-de-camp an invitation for +a new Italian opera, "Semiramide," given +in the court theatre, and there he devoted +himself exclusively to me. There I was +also presented to the king, who was very +gracious and inquired about both my +honored Parents. Still more, the Staroste +came here an hour ago announcing that +the duke wished to stand godfather to the +little Angela, and desires me to be the godmother,—me, +nobody else; he insisted +upon that.</p> + +<p>The christening will be magnificent, in +the royal Collegiate Church. There were +to be more couples invited to assist, but<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +out of respect to the duke the honor will +be left solely to him; the others will only +be witnesses of the ceremony. Many of +the most distinguished persons will be invited. +The whole of Warsaw will talk +about the affair, and certainly the "Courier" +will describe it, and our two names +will stand there together.</p> + +<p>What will Madame Strumle and the +young ladies in the school say to that, and +my honored Parents, and all the people in +Maleszow, and the good Matenko? I am +sure he will say that it is because of his +predictions.</p> + +<p>Oh, that Matenko! how often his words +come to my mind. He is responsible for +all my troubles; but for his hints no foolish +notions would have entered my head. As +it is, I do not feel two days alike: sometimes +the happy thoughts crowd around +me, life seems full of hope, and I hardly +know that there is an earth under my feet; +then suddenly everything seems to fade, +and my heart feels heavy and so sad!</p> + +<p>For instance, to-day when I was so <span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>enraptured +at the news of the christening, the +princess mentioned,—I do not know why,—that +the law of the Church forbids the +godparents to marry each other, and I +shuddered.</p> + +<p>But what makes me feel really happy is +that at last I shall see my dearest sister. +After the christening we go to her house.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, January 15.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The ceremony took place yesterday and +I have seen Basia, who looks beautiful, although +she has grown a little thin and pale. +She is always as good as an angel, and as +happy as a queen.</p> + +<p>The duke begged that the little girl be +named after me, but Basia was firm in her +first purpose; and she was right, for this +honor was due to our gracious Mother. +Thus the little girl was christened "Angela;" +she is a dear little thing, and she cried during +the whole ceremony, which is a good +sign that she will live to be aged. It was +the first time in my life that I stood as godmother; +I did not know how to hold the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +baby, so the duke had to help me. It +seemed so queer to stand with him before +the altar surrounded by so many people, +and to write down my name next to his in +the large book. Perhaps it was to this +event that Matenko's predictions referred.</p> + +<p>Everybody is congratulating me on the +great honor which befell me. The duke +is still more attentive than before, and a +little more familiar; he calls me "my beautiful +partner," and the little girl is always +"our little Angela." He presented handsome +gifts to Madame Starostine and to +me, and threw handfuls of gold among the +attendants and the poor in the church.</p> + +<p>I for my part could not do so much, but +the little embroidered christening robe, my +gift to Angela, has cost me more than a few +hours' work.</p> + +<p>But I forget to speak about an important +affair. The topic of conversation in +Warsaw has for some time been a hunting +party which the Prince Jerome Radzivill, +the Hetman of the Lithuania army, is preparing +for the pleasure of the king and the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +duke. He is spending thousands in order +to make a grand display, and has had the +game brought from the forests of Lithuania, +over 500 miles away. The fête will be to-morrow; +the weather is fine and the sleighing +excellent. The duke wished to drive +his "partner," and it shall be so. The four +Warsaw belles—for I am counted now as +the fourth—will go in one sleigh, and the +duke will be our driver. All four will +have costumes alike, but of different colors,—long +velvet coats, tight at the waist, +trimmed with sable, and small caps with +fur to match. The Countess Potocka has +selected blue, the Princess Sapieha dark +green, Mademoiselle Wessel marroon, and +I shall wear dark crimson.</p> + +<p>It is a pity Basia will not see all this, but +she is so happy with her little Angela that +she does not care for anything else.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Friday</i>, January 17.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I have never in my life seen anything +so magnificent as this hunting party. We +started at nine o'clock in the morning. One<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +could not possibly count all the horses and +sleighs which were assembled before the +king's castle, but ours was the handsomest +of all, and we followed first after the king. +The duke, in a hunting costume of green +velvet, looked superb!</p> + +<p>We had a long drive far beyond the +Church of the Holy Cross, to Ujazdow. +There, coming down the hill on which is +built the city of Warsaw, is a large field +usually planted with wheat.<a name="FNanchor_1_12" id="FNanchor_1_12"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> This field +was enclosed by a fence with a gate, ornamented +with escutcheons, devices, and inscriptions. +In the middle stood an iron +kiosk into which the king and the duke +entered. Near the kiosk was a space covered +with bear-skins for the most notable +men, and further on, an amphitheatre with +an iron railing for the ladies. The whole +place looked like a forest, for except a +space left around the kiosk, the ground was +covered with big pine-trees planted for the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +occasion. In the background, one saw the +hills covered with a throng of spectators.</p> + +<p>As soon as we arrived and took our seats +the trumpets and the horns gave the signal, +and the hunters of the Prince Radzivill let +the wild beasts loose from the enclosure. +There were bears, deer, wild boars and +wolves; the trained dogs chased them +toward the kiosk, and one cannot describe +the howling and the roaring of the wild +animals, the barking of the dogs, the shrieking +of the ladies, and all the noise which +ensued. The king himself shot three wild +boars; the duke killed much game, and +fought a bear with the spear, a proof of +great strength and skill. The skin of that +bear was presented to me for a rug.</p> + +<p>The hunt lasted until four o'clock in the +afternoon; we had a lunch served to us +during that time. There were perhaps a +hundred hunters and game-keepers of the +Prince Radzivill, all dressed in red livery +and armed with guns and pikes.</p> + +<p>This entertainment was given in honor +of the anniversary of the coronation of the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +king; for the same purpose there will be a +ball to-night given by the Marshal of the +Crown, Bielinski.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, January 18.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The ball was splendid. The duke was +very gay and happy, as on that day he received +a diamond-star order from the king. +I danced a great deal and my feet are aching; +but I am sorry that I spoke of it, for +now I shall have to stay at home and rest +for ten days. The princess fears that the +incessant dancing and late hours will injure +my health; really, my cheeks have become +rather pale.</p> + +<p>We received letters from Maleszow. My +honored Mother deigned to write to me +herself, recommending earnestly that I be +prudent about my health and that I take +the greatest care of my reputation, so as to +give no cause for the slightest reproach for +frivolity. She says that I ought not to +believe all the compliments I may hear, +that often a young girl is called a belle +through some passing fancy, not because +her beauty really deserves it; and that it<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +sometimes spoils her whole life, for her +head is turned, her expectations aim too +high, and she may be forsaken and laughed +at in the end. I am sure that will never +be the case with me. My ambition may +be ever so high, but nobody shall know +about my disappointment if it comes. +Still I could not help crying when I read +that letter; I carry it with me and often +read it over. Happy is the young girl who +never leaves her parents' home! I often +regret the old Maleszow Castle.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, January 29.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>At last the ten days of my retirement +are over. There were four balls during +that time, and one of them a <i>bal-masqué</i>, +where I was to appear in a Scotch quadrille +with the three other belles. But no +entreaties of the duke or others could make +the princess relent; when she has said +anything she never changes her decision.</p> + +<p>I was sorry to miss the balls, but no +one looking at me would have guessed it. +It is true that the duke came here often,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +and praised my patience and courage so +much that it was a great comfort. The +hours spent in his company are delightful. +He talks about Saint Petersburg, or Vienna, +where he also spent some time; he describes +the good people in Courland; and +he always knows how to put in a word the +meaning of which, I think, escapes all other +ears but mine.</p> + +<p>How well he knows the bad affairs of our +country! It is only through respect to his +father that he does not dare to speak about +them openly. What a good king he would +make! The princess says that his extreme +amiability has a particular aim,—to gain partisans +for the future,—and that if he were +elected king, he would perhaps not even +look at us. I do not believe it. I can see +plainly that the princess is not in favor of +him; she would like rather to see a Lubomirski +on the throne.</p> + +<p>To-night there will be an entertainment +at the Ladies Canonesses'; a very agreeable +house and much frequented. This +order was founded by the Countess Zamoyska,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +in imitation of the Ladies' Chapter +House of Remiremont in Lorraine. It is +said that it originated from the pity the +countess felt for a young girl of a noble +family, who was to be married in spite of +her dislike and even despair. She was an +orphan and had no inclination for the convent +life, but her high birth forbade her +accepting a situation, so she was obliged to +marry, merely for a home. In order to +give a shelter to other homeless Polish girls, +where they could lead a Christian life and +be free to marry according to their liking, +the countess bought Maryville, a large +building once belonging to the Jesuits, and +had it altered into small apartments, with a +common dining-room and large reception-parlors; +she endowed it and also completed +an adjoining chapel, erected by the Queen +Mary Kasimir, the wife of John Sobieski, in +memory of his victory over the Turks near +Vienna in 1685.</p> + +<p>There are eleven canonesses and the +abbess. In order to be elected, the young +girls must be fifteen years old, and prove<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +their nobility for six generations on both +parents' sides. They are addressed with +the title of "Madame."</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Ash Wednesday</i>, February 19.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Thank God, the carnival is over! I see +that one can grow tired even with entertainments. +There have been so many during +the last weeks that I felt in a continual +whirl. I could do nothing, nor think of anything +else but dresses, visits, assemblies, +and other festivities. At first such a life +seems amusing, but by and by one feels +disheartened, and in my life I have never +known such tedious hours as those I passed +in the last fortnight. And yet so many +people think that I am so very happy, and +they envy me.</p> + +<p>How beautiful the Countess Potocka +looked at the ball last night, dressed as a +sultana! She was the queen of the ball, +and danced the whole evening. I danced +only the first polonaise; I hurt my foot and +refused all the invitations. Toward the end +the duke came to ask me for a dance, but<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +I did not care to dance then. Thank God, +the carnival is over!</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, February 29.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>A few words in haste: I am going unexpectedly +to Sulgostow. There was nothing +said about it yesterday when the Staroste +and Basia came to take their leave, but +this morning the Prince Woivode came to +my room and said that my sister and her +husband begged me to go with them; that +I shall have a good rest there and probably +see my honored Parents, so I ought to go. +I believe that all the prince's advice tends +to my good, so I did not hesitate, but I +am sorry the duke does not know anything +about it. Perhaps he will not mind +it at all; perhaps he will not even notice it, +as there are so many pretty women in Warsaw; +and the Countess Potocka, she does +not go away.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, March 15.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I returned two days ago. My diary was +forgotten here in my desk, so I could not +write in Sulgostow. I was away a fortnight,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +but it seemed much longer. My honored +Parents are expected in Sulgostow in a few +days, but the Prince Woivode, who came +for me, did not want to wait even a few +hours; we were almost flying on the road, +with fresh horses waiting at each station, +and we reached Warsaw in one day. The +duke came the following morning; he +looked pale, almost ill. He gave me to +understand that it was my sudden departure, +without saying good-bye, which made him +feel so badly. He said almost bitterly that +"a friend deserves better treatment." I +am sorry now that I went away, and to +be sincere, I was sorry for it more than +once during that fortnight, but the Prince +Woivode says that it was for the best. I must +confess that often I do not understand +him at all, but I obey him blindly, for I +feel that he is interested in my future. +The princess greeted me very graciously.</p> + +<p>In Sulgostow I spent most of the time +petting the little Angela, and embroidering +a cushion for the Christ's chapel, in order +to propitiate Heaven in a certain direction,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +which I do not dare to name here. I +worked assiduously; it seemed to me that +every stitch made the fulfilment of my +wishes nearer, and now my work is finished.</p> + +<p>They celebrated with great magnificence +the anniversary of Basia's wedding in Sulgostow. +How many changes in this one +year!</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Thursday</i>, March 19.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Yesterday was one of the most pleasant +days I can remember. The duke was as +gay and charming as at the beginning of +our acquaintance. He came here first in +the morning, but only for a moment, as he +was going to a hunt with the king; then in +the evening, when we did not expect him +at all, he ran in,—I think he walked, as no +carriage was heard,—and he stayed a few +hours. He is freer now to leave the castle, +as his two brothers, Albert and Clement, are +in Warsaw, and they keep the king company.</p> + +<p>The Duke Clement is said to be very +good and religious, and he is to enter the +Church. It is quite right that the king,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +having several sons, wishes to give one of +them to the service of God, but it is as +well that it was not the lot of the Duke of +Courland.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Tuesday</i>, March 24.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Although it is Lent, I have a delightful +time; the duke runs in as often as he can +leave the Castle. He says that he rests +here from the etiquette of the court. But +to-morrow will be the end of all the worldly +pleasure. The princess has a few rooms +kept for her in the Convent of the Holy +Sacrament, and every year, before Easter, +she secludes herself for eight days in order +to be well prepared for confession. All +the ladies do the same, and I naturally +shall accompany the princess. During +eight days we shall see only priests and +nuns; we shall read only religious books, +and work for the Church or the poor.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Holy Thursday</i>, April 2.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Our retirement is over, Easter confession +is made, and I feel so free in my mind and<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +so quiet in my heart! I had an excellent +confessor, Father Bodue; he is all the +fashion, as he is French, but even in spite +of fashion I would always choose him for +my director. He is a saint, and he is so +wise! We had many and long conversations +with him. He knew so well how to +speak to my heart and make it humble and +full of contrition, he was so convincing +when speaking of the voidness of the things +of the world and the dangers of it, that +really there were moments when I wanted +to leave everything and become a sister of +charity in his hospital. I was just pacing +my little cell thinking earnestly about it, +when my maid entered and whispered that +she saw one of the duke's hunters passing +near the convent. My devout thoughts +were thus scattered and I could not grasp +them again.</p> + +<p>Still, Father Bodue told me also that one +can be saved as well in the world when +living virtuously, and that such a life is still +more meritorious, as it is more difficult. +Why, then, should I shrink from it?<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>I really regret that this week is over, +although we lived in perfect seclusion. +To-day we shall see everybody, as we are +going to the Castle for the ceremonies of +Holy Thursday.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Friday</i>, April 10.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Easter is over. I cannot say that those +days were unpleasant, but the quietude of +thought and heart of one week ago, they +are mine no more. Moreover, my conscience +has more than one thing to reproach +me for, so soon after my most +earnest resolves!</p> + +<p>For instance, that as early as Holy Thursday +I was guilty of a dreadful piece of +vanity! Was such a thing ever heard of?</p> + +<p>It occurred thus: when I was to put on +my mourning-dress, as is the custom in +holy week, the princess entered my room +followed by two maids carrying a magnificent +gown of white satin with a long transparent +veil, a wreath of white roses for my +hair, and a bouquet for my corsage. I was +amazed, but the princess explained that on<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +Holy Thursday after Mass, said in the +chapel of the Castle, the king and all the +assemblage go to a large room where +twelve poor men are sitting at table, and +the king, in imitation of Christ's humility, +washes their feet and serves them at dinner. +During this ceremony, one of the society +young ladies is to make a collection for +the poor. The king himself appoints the +young lady; this time he named me, and +promised to give the collected money to +Father Bodue for his hospital, which is being +built. I felt overcome with joy hearing +this, but it was not because of the poor or +Father Bodue; it was simply vanity. I +saw myself, not in a heavy black and unbecoming +dress, but clad in white, I alone +among all the other women,—and thus +the handsomest of all! It was wicked, but +my conscience feels better now for having +confessed it here.</p> + +<p>The collection was extremely successful; +I had over five thousand ducats. The +Prince Charles Radzivill alone, saying "My +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +love!<a name="FNanchor_1_13" id="FNanchor_1_13"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> one has to give something to such +a fair lady," tossed down five hundred gold +pieces, so that the tray bent.</p> + +<p>At first I felt rather timid, my knees were +shaking at each low courtesy which I had +to make before every person, but by and +by I grew bolder, and on that day the +lessons of my dancing-master proved to be +really useful. The marshal of the court +accompanied me telling the names of the +persons we were approaching, and when +the tray grew too heavy he emptied it into +a bag carried by the king's page.</p> + +<p>My ears were filled with compliments. +The duke told me that it was fortunate +that I begged for money, not for hearts, + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +as every man would have to give me his. +"I would never ask for such a thing," I +answered; "for who would value a heart +begged for?" He seemed pleased with +my answer,—I wonder how he could +imagine that I should think otherwise. +A woman to beg for a heart—even of the +king himself,—why! it would be a shameful, +base thing. To accept it, when it is +offered to her, earnestly and honorably, +that is another thing.</p> + +<p>But again my thoughts are wandering. +To return to my narrative; the ceremony +of the washing of the feet was very touching. +I have still before my eyes the king +as he was bending over the feet of the +poor old men, and as he stood behind their +stools at dinner. Moreover, our Augustus +III., although no longer young, is very +handsome and stately, and everything he +does is done in a proper manner. The +Duke Charles is quite the likeness of his +father.</p> + +<p>On Good Friday, we went, dressed in +deep mourning, to visit the Holy Sepulchre.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +We were in seven churches, saying in each +of them five Paters and five Aves in honor +of the five wounds of Christ; in the cathedral +I knelt one hour before the holy +Sacrament.</p> + +<p>On Saturday evening there was a grand +"Resurrection Service" in the cathedral; +the music by the court orchestra was +admirable.</p> + +<p>The Easter table in our house was +sumptuous, and until yesterday the tables +remained covered with all kinds of meat +and pastry.<a name="FNanchor_1_14" id="FNanchor_1_14"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Who would have thought one +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> + +year ago, when, on the third day after my +arrival at the boarding-school, I was sitting +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> + +at the poor Easter table feeling very melancholy—who +would have guessed then that + +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> + +one year later I would eat an Easter egg +with the Duke of Courland?</p> + +<p>He seemed to have grown thin; it is +perhaps because of the long fast. We +also have not had any meat for forty days, +and neither butter nor milk during the +holy week; everything was cooked with +oil, and on Friday we fasted the whole day. +I did not mind it at all, but for a man it +must be different. Yesterday I was looking +anxiously at him: I thought he would +not notice it, as he was talking with +the Prince Woivode, but he thanked me +afterwards for my solicitude. I felt quite +ashamed; how careful a young girl ought +to be, not only of her words, but even of +her eyes!</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, April 15.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>We leave Warsaw to-morrow. The +Prince Woivode and his wife are going to +their estate "Opole," and they take me +with them. My honored Father wrote a +letter to the princess saying that she may +keep me as long as she is not tired of me. +I hope that will never be; I endeavor to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +please her as well as I can, and I feel the +greatest awe of her. If I ever live to be +old I wish to have her dignity of demeanor; +even the duke is afraid of her.</p> + +<p>I am glad that I am not yet going to +Maleszow. I have it in my head that I +ought not to return there just as I was, and +if I arrived now there would be no change. +No change? Oh! yes, there is a great +change, but not the one I mean. Yet, +things cannot stay long as they are now, +something must take place. Will it be +yes, or no? I shall not be surprised if it +is yes, and in the other case—well, I will +not bend my head, even if my heart break. +It sounds like riddles, but if when I think of +him I am afraid that some one may guess +my thoughts, how could I write more +plainly? As it is I have already said too +much; it is better to stop and put my book +under lock and key.</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Opole</span>, <i>Wednesday</i>, April 24.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>We have been here for nearly a week; +the place is pretty, but I do not feel very<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +cheerful, and nothing seems to go right. +The trees ought to become green, but they +are as black as in mid-winter; it ought to +grow warm, and it is still cold. I wanted +to begin some embroidery, but I have not +the necessary silks; I wished to play, but +the harpsichord is most dreadfully out of +tune, and they have to send to town for +the organist. There is a large library, but +the princess has the key of it, and I am +afraid to ask her for it. The prince has +bought some new French books, the works +of Voltaire, the most celebrated author in +France; he paid, before my eyes, six +golden ducats for a few volumes, and not +very large ones; but the princess does not +allow me to read them. What is still +worse, there arrived, just fresh from Paris, +a novel which is all the rage, the "Nouvelle +Héloïse," written by a certain M. +Rousseau. I took the book eagerly in my +hand, but the author says in the introduction, +"No mother will allow her daughter +to read this book," and the princess most +sternly forbade it to me.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had still another disappointment yesterday; +the physicians in Warsaw ordered +the princess to ride horseback for her +health; she laughed at them, saying that +she would never do it, but the Prince +Woivode believed their advice good, and +he bought a beautiful mare, quite gentle, +which was brought here. The princess +very reluctantly consented to ride a little +in the garden, but I, who am not afraid of +horses, was just dying to learn how to ride, +and I said so yesterday. I got a terrible +scolding; the princess said that such an +exercise would be quite indecent for a +young lady, and I had to give up all my +plans,—such beautiful plans, of riding and +hunting with—well, with some one.</p> + +<p>There are many people coming here to +pay their respects to the prince, who is +the Woivode of this province, but they are +not very interesting. The one person +whom I like to see is the Prince Martin +Lubomirski, the first cousin of the Woivode, +but much younger, and whom I have +already met in Warsaw. He owns the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +earldom of Janow, which is not far from +here, and he has invited us very eagerly to +pay him a visit; I hope we shall go. The +princess always finds something to censure +in him, but I like him very much; he talks +most agreeably, and is a great friend of the +Duke of Courland.</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Janow</span>, <i>Friday</i>, May 1.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>We have been here two days, and the +Prince Martin announced from the very +first that he would not let us go away soon. +I do not think there can be found anywhere +a host more generous, gay, and hospitable +than the Prince Martin. The +princess says that he sows his money broadcast +as though he expected it to grow. He +has now a new scheme on foot: they are +cutting a road through a beautiful forest near +the castle,—from my window I can see +the magnificent trees fall under the axes of +at least a hundred workmen,—and at the +end of the road they are building a small +palace, but in such haste that it seems to +grow under one's eyes. There is a wager<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +between the Prince Martin and the Prince +Woivode that the building will be ready in +four weeks, and I am sure the younger +prince will be the winner. The whole +forest is to be enclosed with a hedge and +serve as a preserve. Men have been sent +to distant places to bring deer and bears, +besides the game which is found around +here. There is some mystery about all +that hasty work; I wonder what it is!</p> + +<p>This place is beautiful indeed. The old +and majestic castle stands upon a hill +above the Vistula, and commands a most +admirable view over picturesque villages, +forests, and the winding river. The halls +and rooms are innumerable, the furniture +rich and elegant, and the gallery of portraits +is said to be the finest in the country. +But my room seems to me the most +charming of all; it is in a high tower, and +it makes me feel like the heroine of a +novel. From each of the three windows +is a different view, each beautiful, but I sit +most near the window looking towards the +little palace, the progress of the work<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +going on there interests me so very much. +On the walls of my room is Olympus +painted in fresco. "Venus lui manquait, +mais il la possède maintenant," said Prince +Martin, gallantly, when he brought me in.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, March 3.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I rose before the sun, and I must have +looked like a ghost when I glided through +the large halls, on my way to the gallery of +portraits.</p> + +<p>The Prince Martin, following the example +of our ancestors, who kept with great +care the pictures of their most illustrious +members, and the memory of their great +deeds, determined to gather all such souvenirs +of the Lubomirski family in one +room. He brought from Italy a skilful +painter, also called in the help of a very +learned man, who knew all about the Polish +history, and after long researches and debates +the plan was carried out in 1746; +as the inscription above the door testifies. +The princess says it is a pity that all these +portraits and pictures are not painted in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +oil on canvas instead of "in fresco," as +they never can be removed, and it is more +difficult to take care of them. In any case +the gallery, as it is now, is superb.</p> + +<p>Yesterday after dinner our host brought +us in and explained the meaning of the +large paintings, relating the facts and the +anecdotes about them. It was so interesting +that I decided to get up very +early this morning, before the house was +awake, and come here alone to look again +at the pictures, and write about some of +them.</p> + +<p>The first picture represents the three +brothers Lubomirski, young and handsome +men, who in the presence of the king, and +many lords and witnesses, are dividing the +inheritance of their father. Two scriveners +are writing the deed upon a roll of parchment, +and this document, dating from +1088, was the first historical title-deed +known in Poland; it is still in existence, +and the family are very proud of it.</p> + +<p>After that picture, comes a row of portraits +of stately men and great warriors,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +which I must pass over. Then I see a +painting representing a chapel, where, +before a miraculous image of the Virgin, a +baby is being weighed, and the other scale +is covered with gold pieces. One Prince +Lubomirski, being childless, made a vow +that if a son were born to him he would +offer to the Church its weight in gold, and +he kept his promise.</p> + +<p>Farther on, I see a nun on her deathbed, +with a halo round her head; sick +people touch her garments and are healed; +it was Sophy Lubomirska, who in the sixteenth +century was renowned for her +sanctity.</p> + +<p>On the other wall is represented an +amusing scene: Among young damsels at +work stands a pretty little girl in a very +uncomfortable position, as her foot is tied +to the leg of the table. Her aunt, who has +punished her thus for some mischief, is +sternly looking at her. But the naughty +little Christina has grown to be a young +lady, and in the following picture we see +her kneeling before the altar in her room,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +her beautiful eyes full of ecstasy; she has +just pricked her finger with a golden +needle, and gathering her blood on a +pen, she writes down her determination always +to lead a saintly life. She kept her +word; married to Felixe Potocki, she was +as famous for her virtues as for her beauty. +All her accomplishments, her rare talent +for music, her great skill in handiwork, +were given to God's service. She adorned +His churches, composed and sang verses +to His glory, founded several convents, and +her charitable deeds were innumerable. +Her own confessor wrote her life and called +her a saint.</p> + +<p>Next come the portraits of her two +brothers. First, Stanislaus, an eminent +writer, surnamed the "Polish Solomon," +is surrounded with books, and Fame +crowns him with a laurel wreath. The +second, Jerome, famous for his valor, is +represented with the King Sobieski, when +after the victory near Vienna they are +examining the flag of Mahomet, captured +from the Turks; in the distance the Polish<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +army can be seen occupying the Turkish +camps.</p> + +<p>Then I stop at a large picture representing +a very exciting adventure. In a forest +covered with snow, a man is fighting with +a bear, who seems to have the better of +him, when from behind a woman in a +hunting costume approaches, and holds +two pistols to the animal's ears; in the +background a horse is seen running away +with a sleigh. The story runs thus: A +Princess Lubomirska, who was very fond of +horses, was returning one day from a hunting +party, with only one servant, when an +infuriated bear sprang upon them. The +frightened horse threw over the little sleigh +and ran away with it, and the two people +were left to the fury of the beast. The +faithful servant having only said, "Your +Grace, remember my wife and children," +threw himself forward to meet the bear, +who was advancing on his hind legs, and +give his mistress time to run away. But +the courageous Pole did not leave the +brave man to perish; drawing two pistols<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +from her belt, she stepped from behind +and shot the bear on the spot.</p> + +<p>But I hear the Prince Martin talking +to his dogs, which he loves and pets as +if they were children; his greyhounds are +famous in the whole country. It is time +to stop and run back to my tower.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Thursday</i>, May 14.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>We went to Opole, and returned here +again, urged by Prince Martin to see the +villa finished; he won the wager. I asked +him to-day why he wanted another house, +and he answered smiling, "For your ladyship's +sake." What does he mean?</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, May 16.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The duke is here! And, oh!—I can +hardly believe it,—he loves me! He +loves me so much that he could stay no +longer without seeing me, and the two +princes, to please him, thought to build the +villa and to give hunting parties, in order +to bring him near the object of his affection. +It is fortunate that it was dark<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +when he appeared yesterday. Everybody +would have seen how I blushed, and he +himself might have read in my eyes more +joy than I ought to have shown. How +will all this end? Until now I feigned +not to understand the hidden meaning of +his words. I tried most carefully to conceal +my feelings toward him; shall I be +able to do it any longer, especially here, +where I shall see him so often,—live almost +under the same roof?</p> + +<p>I cannot express the state that my heart +and head are in. I see before me either a +destiny so grand that I am afraid to think +of it, or so dark and miserable that I +shiver. What ought I to do? I would +rather die than ask the princess; she said, +not later than to-day, that the woman who +would believe in the love of the duke +would be simply mad, and that his wife +would be most unhappy. The Prince +Woivode visibly shuns any confidence.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +May 18.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I am betrothed. Is it really true? I, +Frances Krasinska, I shall be Duchess of +Courland, and perhaps one day something +more!</p> + +<p>To-day we went to the little palace. +The princess made a false step mounting +the stairs, and was obliged to stay in the +room with her companion, and we four +went to the park. The Prince Martin +stopped to show the Woivode some preparations +for the hunt, but the duke said +he preferred to walk, and took my arm. +He was silent for awhile, which seemed +strange, as he generally talks a great deal. +At last he asked me if I would never be +willing to understand for whom and for +what he had come here. I tried to answer, +calmly, that I knew him to be a lover of +hunting, and that there promised to be +great sport. Then he put aside all metaphors, +and said plainly that he came for +my sake, "and to find his whole life's happiness." +I was stunned, it came so suddenly; +but I composed myself and said:<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +"Monsieur le Duc, are you forgetting who +you are, and what you may be one day? +You must look for a wife among the royal +daughters." "You are my queen!" he +exclaimed; "you, who first by your beauty +have charmed my eyes, and afterwards by +your modesty and virtues have won my +heart. I am used to having women run to +me as soon as I have spoken one word. +But you, although you loved me perhaps +more than any one of them, you shunned +me; I could only guess what you were +feeling. You are worthy of the first throne +in the world. If I wish to be one day +King of Poland, it is in order to put a +crown on that beautiful brow of yours." +How can I believe that all that was not +merely a dream!</p> + +<p>I stood silent; no words could pass my +lips. Then the two princes drew near us. +"I take Heaven and you for witnesses," +said the duke, turning to them, "that I +will never marry any other woman but the +Countess Françoise Krasinska. For reasons +easily understood, I wish my decision<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +kept secret until the time comes, and I +am sure of your loyalty and discretion." +The princes saluted; they said something +about the great honor and their faithfulness; +they whispered in my ear, "You are +worthy of it," and withdrew.</p> + +<p>I stood as yet in a dream, but at last I +had to answer to the affectionate words; +I had even to confess that I loved him +much, and had done so for a long time. +Should I not have made that avowal to my +future husband? My husband! No, it +cannot be true. But then, what means +the exchanged ring on my finger? I had +from Basia a little golden snake-ring which +she gave me at my last visit; the duke +had observed it, and ordered a similar one +with the words "for ever" engraved inside; +he put it on my finger and took +mine for himself. The trees and the birds +were the only witnesses of that silent betrothal. +But these rings were not consecrated; +a Father's hand had not given me +away, nor a Mother bestowed her blessing. +Oh! yes, now I believe that all is true, for +I feel hot tears on my cheeks.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<i>Monday</i>, May 25.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>One week has passed, a week of such +bliss! To-day for the first time, I was +struck with the thought that my happiness +might fly away. The Dukes Clement and +Albert arrived here on Thursday; the hunt +took place on Friday and Saturday, and +they leave this afternoon; perhaps he +also will have to go soon! How could I +have so totally forgotten about it? Perhaps +I had not time to think of what +would come next, the days are so full—not +only with my heart's content, but also +with the duties of the lady of the house; +the princess is confined to her room, as her +foot has grown worse, and I have had to +take her place. Or perhaps I did not want +to think at all and spoil my happiness. +Now I can think of nothing else but that +departure. What will it be when he has +gone? With what thought shall I awake +in the morning? For whom shall I want +to dress? What shall I do with the whole +day when he is not here!</p> + +<p>I looked out of the window toward the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +villa, and saw a white handkerchief waving +from the balcony; it is the "good-morning" +he sends me every day. How early +he is,—it is not yet six o'clock! Now I +see a rider galloping along the road. It +cannot be he! No, it is his favorite +hunter who brings me flowers, a message +every day from him. Oh! no, my +anxiety was premature; I have not heard +yet that he was going away; we may have +another happy week, and a third, and perhaps +a fourth,—why did I fret?</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, May 27.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>My forebodings were right; he is going. +A special courier came last night with the +king's order that he return at once. I +saw him this morning; I shall see him +again in half an hour, when he will come +to say good-bye, and then when shall we +meet again?</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Sunday</i>, June 7.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Two weeks have passed. Two couriers +brought me short notes under the Prince +Woivode's seal; but what is a letter, written<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +words, for two people who have been accustomed +to talk to each other for hours, +who knew each other's thoughts without +even using any words, only looking into +each other's eyes. He left me his miniature, +a fairly good likeness, but it has always +the same expression; I have a better +portrait of him in my heart. I do not +answer his letters; it is hard, but I was +positive when I told him that until we +were married he would not receive a +single written word from me. I think my +hand would be paralyzed if I wrote a letter +without the knowledge of my aunt and my +honored Parents, and I will keep my word, +although God knows how much it costs.</p> + +<p>How long the days seemed when he +was gone! I felt in a kind of lethargy, +caring for nothing, without will or desire +to do anything. I was aroused by a very +sad occurrence: the princess' health grew +worse, her foot swelled, and the doctor for +whom they sent to Warsaw declared her +to be in a critical condition. I cannot +express what I felt during the three days<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +of uncertainty. Notwithstanding all that +the duke and the princes have said to +quiet my conscience, I know very well that +my silence about what has happened is an +offence toward her. From the very beginning +I planned and lived in hopes that +the day would come when I should confess +my involuntary fault to her, and to +my honored Parents, explaining how everything +happened, how I could not help it, +and I was sure I would be pardoned. +But during those three days of danger my +hopes might at any moment have been +crushed, and then what would have become +of me? How could I live without having +her forgiveness? It came to my mind +also that my honored Parents are no +longer young, and an unexpected illness +may come to them, and I felt utterly +desperate.</p> + +<p>The Lord be praised and thanked! +The princess is better, and we had good +news from Maleszow; both my honored +Parents are in excellent health.</p> + +<p>But it is time to return to the princess;<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +she likes to have me near her, and now I +feel most happy at her bedside when I +can do something for her.</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Opole</span>, <i>Thursday</i>, June 18.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>The princess felt so much better in +health and strength that we returned here +the day before yesterday. I left Janow +with regret; after all, the remembrance +of the happy hours spent there is the +strongest.</p> + +<p>In his last letter the duke frightened +me, writing that he will be obliged to go +to his dukedom of Courland, and that he +is puzzling his brain as to how he shall see +me before he leaves. How long those +months will be! But his sufferings are +worse to me than my own. Several guests +arrived here from Warsaw, and spoke about +the change that everybody notices in him; +he does not look well, he is sad, and avoids +society. People find me also changed and +looking pale. I would not care, but when +I hear the princess explaining that it is +on account of the trouble and care I took<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +of her during her illness, then my conscience +makes me feel miserable.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, July 11.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>One moment of bliss, and it is gone; +he has been here, but only for one hour. +He left Warsaw last Wednesday, as if to +go to Courland, but as soon as he was out +of town, he left his equipage and turned +south instead of going north; now he is +travelling day and night to meet his court +at the frontier. I saw him such a short +time, that I cannot realize it was not all a +dream. He came disguised as one of his +hunters; nobody recognized him but the +prince and myself, but nobody ought to +have recognized him. He implored me +with tears in his eyes to write to him, and +it was perhaps fortunate that he could not +stay longer, for it was hard to resist those +tears.</p> + +<p>Three months is the shortest time for +his stay in Courland; how many weeks, +and days, and hours in three months!<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<i>Thursday</i>, September 3.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I have not opened my book for two +months; they passed as everything passes +in this world, but that they were sad it is +needless to say. One month more to wait. +In each letter the duke assures me he +will be here in October. To-day I was +so glad at seeing some dry leaves on the +ground in the garden; I thought it might +already be October. We shall go to Warsaw +ere long; the princess has forgotten +that she was ever ill.</p> + +<p>I had great trouble lately,—a proposal +of marriage, and a splendid match, as they +say. The princess, who from the time of +her illness is kinder to me than ever, arranged +everything, acting in concert with +my honored Parents, and never a doubt +arose in her mind that I might object. It +was extremely painful to me to destroy her +plans, to incur her just anger, to hear her +reproaches, and especially her innuendoes +concerning the duke. It was also very +difficult to write to my honored Parents, +not knowing what excuses to make for my<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +refusal. My honored Mother deigned to +answer me. "The Parents who allow +their daughter to leave their guidance," +she writes, "cannot be very much surprised +if she does not obey their wishes." +Could I ever have foreseen that what I +called the height of happiness could have +thrown me into such a depth of misery!</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Warsaw</span>, September 22.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>We have been in Warsaw for several +days. With what joy I approached the +city! Here I shall see him again; he is +coming on October 1st, that is, in one +week. If it was not for that hope, life here +would be intolerable. Those visits and +receptions which seemed so amusing are +now a trial. I think everybody is reading +my secret in my eyes, and that all my +acquaintances are laughing at me, especially +the women. Yesterday one of them +made me so nervous with her inquiries and +her false solicitude that my tears were +quite near,—in the presence of at least +fifty people. But the Prince Woivode took<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +pity upon me and came to my rescue; he +is always so good, only he does not believe +in my sorrow and troubles, and calls them +"childishness."</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Thursday</i>, October 1.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>He arrived and is well; I have seen +him, but before much company, and when +my heart was leaping to meet him I had +to stand still and wait until he entered and +saluted the Prince Woivode, and then to +make the low courtesy as etiquette requires. +No matter; as long as he is here +and well, everything seems more cheerful, +and all will be well.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Tuesday</i>, October 20.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>My God! what a promise have I given +one hour ago! The fourth of November, +when will it be? It is the birthday of the +duke, and as a gift he wants my hand. +He said that he will doubt my affection if +I refuse. The Prince Woivode also pleaded +for him, and I said "yes," before I realized +that I had no right to do it without the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +knowledge and permission of my honored +Parents. But I will not marry without +their consent; I said that I must write to +them, or otherwise I would rather enter a +convent. At last the duke submitted and +promised to add a postscript to my letter. +Here my pride received a shock; is it not +the young man who ought to humbly ask +the Parents for their daughter's hand? +Yes, but not a royal prince. For the first +time, I felt the difference in our rank,—that +it is he who does me a favor in marrying +me. But it is too late for any regrets; my +word is given.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Thursday</i>, October 22.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>A chamberlain of the Prince Woivode +has gone to Maleszow with the letters. +The duke said that my letter was too +humble, but I thought it was his postscript +which was too royal. What will the answer +be? My life is in suspense until then. I +had the happy thought to ask if the curate +of Maleszow could not come to give the +wedding blessing; it would at least be<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +somebody from my home. The Prince +Woivode promised to have him come, and +he will also obtain the necessary papers.</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Wednesday</i>, October 28.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>My honored Parents consent and give +their blessing, but it is not such an affectionate +blessing as they gave Basia when +she was to be married, and it is just, for I +do not deserve it. The duke expected a +separate letter for himself; as there was +none, he felt a little offended and talked +with the Prince Woivode about the pride +of the Polish seigneurs. No matter, it is a +relief to think that they know everything; +it is as if a stone were lifted from my heart. +They promise to keep the secret until the +duke releases them. One sees in their +letter some surprise, even satisfaction at +such an alliance, but there is also, especially +in the words of my dear Mother, a +kind of affectionate reproach which pierces +my heart. She writes, "If you are unhappy, +you cannot ascribe your misfortune +to us; if you find felicity in your decision,<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +for which I shall never stop praying the +Lord, your Parents will rejoice over you, +but not as much as over their other children, +as you have not allowed them to +share in making your happiness." I cried +so much over these words that they are +almost illegible.</p> + +<p>The curate will come, and in six days I +shall be a bride. I cannot believe it; +there are no preparations for the wedding, +everything around me is so quiet and +every-day-like.</p> + +<p>One week before Basia's wedding, what +was there not in Maleszow! If at least +I could see the duke often, but sometimes +two, and sometimes three days pass +without my seeing him. He fears to +awaken the suspicion of the king, and still +more that of Brühl; therefore he avoids me +at receptions, and does not appear here as +often. I feel so lonesome with nobody to +confide in or ask for any advice. Even +my little maid is to be sent away, and a +married woman, whom the Prince Woivode +knows, but I have never seen, is to take<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +her place. I do not even know how to +dress for the wedding; I asked the prince, +and he answered, "As every day."</p> + +<p>What a strange occurrence! I am making +the grandest marriage in Poland, and +my shoemaker's daughter will be more +dressed on her wedding day than I on +mine.</p> + + +<h3> +November 4.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>Married! One hour ago, before the +altar, before God, we swore to each other +faith and love until death. What a terrible +wedding! At five o'clock in the morning +the Prince Woivode knocked at my door. +I was quite dressed, we went out stealthily; +at the gate the duke and Prince Martin +were waiting for us. It was quite dark, +the wind blew fiercely; we walked to the +church, as a carriage would have made a +noise. It was not far, but I should have +fallen several times, if the duke had not +supported me. At the door of the church +the good curate met us. The church was +dark and silent as a grave; at a side altar<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +two candles were lighted; no living soul +but the priest and the sacristan. Our steps +resounded on the flagstones as in a cavern.</p> + +<p>The ceremony did not last ten minutes, +and then we hastened away as if pursued. +The duke brought us to the gate, and the +Prince Martin had to compel him to go +away. I had my every-day dress on, not +even white, only I hastily put a bit of +rosemary in my hair. Yesterday, remembering +Basia's wedding, I prepared for +myself, with tears, a golden coin, a piece of +bread, and a lump of sugar, but in my +haste I forgot to take them this morning.</p> + +<p>Now I am again in my room, alone. +Nobody is blessing or congratulating me, +the whole house is asleep, and if it were +not for the wedding ring, which I shall +soon have to take off and hide, I could +not believe that I have returned from my +wedding, that I am a married woman, that +I am his forever.<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Sulgostow</span>, December 24.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I was not going to write in this book +any more; I saw no use for it, as the friend +I have won for my life had all my thoughts +confided to him. But cruel destiny has +separated us, and I open my book again +to relate the sorrowful event. In the days +of happiness, if they ever come, it will be +agreeable perhaps to read over the accounts +of the past misfortunes, although I +do not think the most perfect bliss could +ever wipe them out of my memory.</p> + +<p>Six weeks have passed since the day of +our wedding. Nobody has guessed what +happened. My new maid swore to the +Prince Woivode on the crucifix that she +would be silent on whatever she may know. +Our meetings and interviews, managed by +the Woivode, were kept perfectly secret. +I was still Mademoiselle la Comtesse +Krasinska to everybody. The duke, in +order to be ready for any sign from the +Prince Woivode, pretended illness and did +not leave the castle, but in the end he was +obliged to appear in society, and paid a<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +visit to the princess. It was the first time +I saw him in public; I could not control +my emotion, which was perceived by the +princess. After his departure, she overwhelmed +me with reproaches, scoldings, +and warnings. Sure of my innocence, I +answered perhaps too boldly, and imprudently +made her understand that it was +not a mere flirtation between the duke +and me. On the following day, the princess +was very much agitated; the duke +came again, and knowing he could not see +me on that day in private, he had written +a short note, which he discreetly slipped +into my work-basket,—but not discreetly +enough for the watchful eye of the princess. +As soon as he was gone, she seized +the basket, and when she read the inscription +on the note, "Pour ma bien aimée," +her wrath burst forth in the most dreadful +and offensive words. I heard myself called +the shame, the blot on the Krasinskis' +name. I heard that I would send my +Father and Mother to the grave. "But +now," she added, "this low intrigue shall<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +be ended. I have written to Brühl, telling +him that honesty and honor are more to +me than my family ties, and I feel it to be +my sacred duty to let him know that the +duke is in love with you, and that he must +do what he thinks best to stop this unlawful +affection. So at this moment the king +himself is perhaps informed of your mad +scheme, and of your shame." "There is no +shame," I answered, "I am his wife." As +soon as I uttered these words I realized +what I had done in revealing the secret, +but it was too late. The princess was +amazed. I fell at her feet and confessed +everything; there was nothing else to be +done. I implored her pardon, and begged +her in the name of God to keep the secret +to herself. She seemed surprised, but not +soothed; she compelled me to rise from +her feet, saying that it was not a proper +position for a lady of my standing. She +asked to be pardoned for having often +treated me not according to my dignity, of +which she was unaware; but she did not +allow me to kiss her hand, and under the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +pretence that her house was not good +enough for a duchess, perhaps the future +Queen of Poland, she gave at once the +orders for my departure. I controlled +myself so that not one disagreeable word +fell from my lips, and I shall always be +thankful to the Lord for it; the princess is +my aunt, and I shall never forget the care +she has bestowed upon me during so many +months.</p> + +<p>I did not know at all where I was to go. +Fortunately some one happened to mention +Sulgostow. The marshal, who came to +take the orders, heard it, and the news +spread in the house that I was going to +spend Christmas with my sister. Glad of +the suggestion, I confirmed it. I wrote a +letter to the duke, in care of the princess, +in which I told him about the necessity of +letting my sister know the truth, and in +less than two hours, in a closed carriage +with my maid, I was travelling fast, not +knowing what was to become of me. I +reached Sulgostow in such a confused state +of mind that when Basia saw me and<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +heard the disconnected sentences,—that +the princess sent me away from her house, +that I was innocent, that the duke was +my husband,—she was so frightened that +she wanted to call for help, and to send +for the doctor; she was sure that I was insane. +No news yet from Warsaw!</p> + + +<h3> +<i>Saturday</i>, December 30.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I received a letter from the duke (I +think I shall never call him otherwise). +He is in despair about my departure, angry +with the princess, and much afraid of Brühl +discovering everything. I am leaving Sulgostow; +the happiness of my sister makes +my lot still more miserable. I love her +with my whole heart, and I pray God that +she may always be as happy, but this comfortable +home, the attention her husband's +family pay to her, the many tokens of +affection from our honored Parents, the +little Angela who is so fond of her mother, +and of whom her father is so proud,—all +this stabs my heart when I compare her<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +fate with mine. I will go to Maleszow. +When I shall hear the words of forgiveness +from the lips of my honored Parents, and +they embrace me, I shall perhaps feel +more tranquil. Perhaps the year begun +with them will be as happy as those that I +spent under their roof, when a gay and +careless girl.</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">In Maleszow Castle</span>, January 5, 1761.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I have been here for several days, but I +am not any happier. My honored Parents +greeted me in such a strange manner. I +wanted to throw myself at their feet, and I +would have felt better for it, but they did +not allow it. The Count bowed low to +me as if I were a stranger; even now he +will not sit next me, and he gets up when +I enter the room. This homage paid to +my new title is grievous to my heart. At +the first dinner he whispered in my ear, +"I could under the pretence of testing, +order a bottle of 'Miss Frances' wine.' I +am sorry not to taste it at the first dinner, +but the custom requires that the first cup<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +be emptied by the father, and the second +by the bridegroom; any other order is +considered a bad omen. But will that +happy moment ever come?" he added, so +sadly that I was hardly able to restrain my +tears. Oh! that dinner was for me a real +suffering; everybody seemed to be under +some constraint; even Matenko was not up +to his standard. The Count winked at +him to make him tell some jokes, but they +were not a success.</p> + +<p>He is a sharp fellow, Matenko. Yesterday +he entered my room mysteriously, +when I was alone, and kneeling on both +knees, with an expression which was half +droll and half melancholy, he drew from +his vest a little bunch of dried leaves tied +with a white ribbon and a golden pin in it. +I could not at first make out what he +meant when he said, "I am sometimes a +prophet." Then I recollected the bouquet +from Basia's wedding. I ran after Matenko, +who still on his knees was retreating toward +the door, and put in his coat a diamond +pin I had received from the duke. Neither<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +of us said a word, but both perhaps thought +that if it was strange that his joking prophecy +was fulfilled, how much more strange +it was that its fulfilment failed to satisfy +my expectations. When I think how I +dreamed about my return to Maleszow +after my wedding! What royal presents +and surprises there would be for everybody! +Even each of the peasant-women +was to receive a new cap, the girls bright +ribbons, and what entertainments and banquets +were to be given to all! And here +I return to my paternal home after nearly +two years of absence, and bring no gifts to +any one. When Basia came home from +the convent she had a little surprise for +everybody, although she had no more +money than I; but she had leisure of time +and mind, and with her own hands she +prepared the little trifles which were valued +so much. How could I do it?</p> + +<p>Here my beloved Mother interrupted +my writing. She came into my room carrying +heavy bundles of costly silks, laces, +and jewels, and laying them down on the<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +chairs she said rather timidly: "I have +brought here a part of the things which are +destined for each of our daughters; I +would have brought more, but nothing +seems to me good enough. I have been +talking to my honored husband; he will +sell a few villages in order that when the +happy moment comes, and the marriage +is announced to the world, our second +daughter may receive an outfit in accordance +with her high rank." Moved to tears, +I wanted to embrace her knees, but she +did not permit me, and was still making +excuses for the "miserable presents," as +she called them.</p> + +<p>Oh no! I cannot stand all this. I will +return to Sulgostow. There are too many +eyes fixed on me here, too many exclamations +about how pale I look. My dear +little sisters are asking continually, "Why +are you not married yet?" or, "When will +you marry?" Even the old servants ask me +the same questions. Yesterday the three +girls whom I promised to take to my court, +came to see me. Old Peter brought his<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +daughter himself; it was so painful to send +them away. How astonished they will be +if they hear that am I married, but cannot +take them, for my husband is a son of the +king!</p> + + +<h3> +<span class="smcap">Sulgostow</span>, January 9.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>I found no letter here from the duke. I +am dreadfully anxious; perhaps he is ill, +or the king is informed about everything, +and does not let him write. If the Prince +Woivode were in Warsaw he would let me +know, but he left a few days before me and +probably has not yet returned.</p> + +<p>The farewell of my honored Parents was +more tender than their reception, but the +best moments I spent were in Lisow, where +I went to visit our curate. I found him +planting spruce-trees in his garden, and he +allowed me to plant one in the cemetery +near the church.<a name="FNanchor_1_15" id="FNanchor_1_15"></a> +<a href="#Footnote_1_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +I leave a sad souvenir +behind me, but I am not gay myself. I +heard kind and comforting words from the +good Father, and went away with more +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> + +courage. If only I had news that the +duke is quite well!</p> + +<h3> +<i>Tuesday</i>, January 15.<br /> +</h3> + +<p>New trials and new sufferings during +these past days! Will there be any kind +of grief which I have not experienced?</p> + +<p>On Saturday when we were going to +dinner we heard the postilion's horn before +the palace; the door opened and Borch, +the minister of the king, entered the hall. +I knew at once the purpose of his coming, +and I trembled like a leaf, but he pretended +that he wanted to pay his respects +to the Staroste and Madame Starostine, at +whose wedding he had the honor to be +present. He played this part during the +whole dinner, but when it was over he +asked me for a moment of private conversation, +and then told me at once that +Brühl and he were informed of all that had +happened, but to them the marriage of the +duke was a mere joke; that a wedding +without the knowledge of the parents, and +not blessed by the pastor of the parish, is<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +void, and can be annulled without any +difficulty.</p> + +<p>In the first moment I believed his words +and felt doomed and helpless, but God had +mercy upon me, and suddenly my mind +was cleared. I considered whose representative +was before me; I felt sure that +the Prince Woivode would not have countenanced +an illegal marriage; I was aware +that upon my firmness in that moment +depended the future of my whole life; and I +replied as follows: "It is wrong of Minister +Brühl, and it is wrong of you who speak for +him, to want to deceive a woman who is not +yet eighteen years old; but I am not so ignorant +as you may imagine," I continued, while +he was listening in blank amazement,—"I +know that our marriage is valid; it was +consecrated by the curate of my parish +before two witnesses, and with the consent +of my Parents. Yes, there is the divorce, +but the signature of both parties is necessary +for it, is it not so? and neither prayers +nor threats will obtain mine or the duke's +signature." Borch was confounded. On<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +the following day, however, he tried to +secure my signature by offering me a large +donation, and when that failed he wanted +at least my promise that, if the duke gave +his consent to the divorce, I should not +withhold mine. I gave that promise in +writing; I am sure of my husband's faith +and love.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Here ends the journal of Françoise +Krasinska. Continual sorrows and misfortunes +took away her strength, and her +wish to write about them any more. The +most painful of her trials was the inconstancy +of her husband, and the apprehension +of the divorce with which she was +threatened more than once. After the +early death of her parents, the homeless +young woman led a wandering life for several +years, between her sister Barbara's, +her aunt's the Princess Lubomirska (who +could not remain angry very long with her +favorite niece), and convents in Warsaw<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +and in Cracow. Her fickle husband returned +to her from time to time, but their +marriage was still kept secret, under the +pretence of sparing the old king the shock. +Furthermore, the visions of a brilliant future +which the young girl once nourished vanished +one after the other; as Matenko had +predicted, the mitre and the crown both +slipped away. Count Biron became Duke +of Courland, and after the death of Augustus +III., Stanislaus Poniatowski was elected +King of Poland.</p> + +<p>The family of the late king moved to +Saxony. Then the Duke Charles wrote a +most tender letter to his wife, asking her +forgiveness for the past, and imploring her +to come to Dresden, where, he wrote, he +would publicly call her his wife, and he +would devote his whole life to her happiness, +in order to redeem the years of her +beautiful youth spent in wandering and +humiliation. Although she had longed +for this moment for years, she did not +yield at once to her husband's request. +Her heart wished perhaps otherwise, but<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +her self-respect commanded her to await +at least a second invitation. She had not +long to wait; letter followed letter, and +every word breathed the most tender affection, +and news came that under this suspense, +the duke's health began to give +way. Convinced at last of the sincerity of +his re-awakened attachment, the young +duchess, surrounded by a numerous retinue +sent from Dresden to accompany her, left +her native country; and from that time she +lived in Saxony, not in the splendor once +dreamed of, but in a happy home. Her +husband now clung to her with all the passion +of a young lover; her little daughter, +Marie Christine, their only child, promised +to be as beautiful as her mother, and +numerous friends, among others the Empress +Maria Theresa, who was very fond +of her, and bestowed upon her the estate +of Landscrown, surrounded the "handsome +Pole" with affection and admiration.</p> + +<p>But she never forgot Poland and her +relatives, nor lost the hope of living there +once again. The numerous letters written<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +to her sisters, her goddaughter Angela, +the Princess Lubomirska, and others, are +still kept by the family and show her deep +affection and solicitude for them and her +country. She did not live to a great age, +having died in 1796; and as if to prove +his deep attachment, her husband survived +her only a few months.</p> + +<p>Their daughter, Marie Christine, married +Charles de Carignan, Duke of Savoy, +and had two children,—a daughter, Elizabeth +Françoise, married to the Archduke +Regnier, King of Lombardy-Venice, and +second cousin of the present Emperor of +Austria; and a son, Charles Albert, the +father of Victor Emmanuel, and of the +Duke of Genoa, the latter being the father +of Marguerite, the "Pearl of Savoy." +Thus both the King and Queen of Italy +are the great-great-grandchildren of Françoise +Krasinska.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END.<br/> <br/> + +<span class="pagenum"> +<a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + + +<div class="footnotes"> + +<h1 class="center"> Footnotes </h1> + +<p class="center"> In the original book and in the text version, footnotes appear throughout the book.</p> +<p class = "center"> In this HTML version, the footnotes have been collected and moved to here </p> + +<div class="footnote"> +<a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"> +<span class="label">[1]</span></a><p class="fnp1"> They are still in Count Adam Krasinski's +palace in Warsaw.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Governors of provinces.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_3" id="Footnote_1_3"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Honorary judge.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_4" id="Footnote_1_4"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Wife of a woivode.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_5" id="Footnote_1_5"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> + The Polish florin is worth twenty cents.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_6" id="Footnote_1_6"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> + At the end of the fourteenth century these two +countries were united by the marriage of Hedvig, +queen of Poland, with the prince of Lithuania +Jagellon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_7" id="Footnote_1_7"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> +Stanislaus Leszczynski, surnamed the "most +virtuous of men," king of Poland before Augustus +II., was dethroned by the Saxon party. He had +Lorraine allotted to him, and is still remembered +there as the "good King Stanislaus." His daughter +Maria was married to Louis XV. of France.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_8" id="Footnote_1_8"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> +An old Polish custom, by which a young girl +was to prove whether she was patient enough to +meet the trials of married life.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_9" id="Footnote_1_9"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Son of a castellan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_10" id="Footnote_1_10"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Two feet.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_11" id="Footnote_1_11"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> +It was a generally observed custom to serve +a goose with dark gravy as a polite but positive +answer that the proposal of marriage was +not accepted. A pumpkin put in the carriage +of the young man when he was leaving had +the same meaning. Until now the saying +"He received a pumpkin," or "He was treated +to a goose fricassee," is often used.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_12" id="Footnote_1_12"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> + That place is now Lazienki, with a park and a +charming little palace built by the last Polish king, +Stanislaus Poniatowski, for his summer residence.</p></div> + + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_13" id="Footnote_1_13"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> +The Prince Charles Radzivill had the habit of +beginning each sentence with the exclamation +"My love!" and therefore he himself was generally +called, "the Prince My-love." He was the +wealthiest magnate of Lithuania. After the dismemberment +of Poland, when all his estates were +confiscated, he emigrated to Paris and there +bought the whole street between his palace and +the market, in order, as he said, that his Polish +cook might not lose his way. That street, near +the Louvre, has still the name of "Rue Radzivill."</p></div> + + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_14" id="Footnote_1_14"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> +The Easter dinner, or the "consecrated meal," +is still a special feature in Poland, and an elaborate +affair even among the poorer people. During +several days meat and pastry are prepared, and on +Holy Saturday the tables are set, with the symbolical +lamb in the middle, and every dish garnished +with sprays of boxwood. Then a priest is summoned, +who puts on a white surplice, and saying +the appointed prayers he sprinkles the table with +holy water. +</p><p class="fnp1"> +In the villages on Easter morning the peasants +bring baskets with eggs, bread, cheese, and perhaps +a sausage, to church, and standing in two +rows have them consecrated. +</p><p class="fnp1"> +At noon the dinner begins with hot bouillon +served in cups; all the other dishes are cold. +But first of all, the lady of the house, holding a +plate of hard-boiled eggs cut in pieces, presents +them to every one in turn, wishing a "glad +Alleluia." The table sometimes stays covered +several days, hot dishes being added to succeeding +dinners, and the pastry lasts sometimes several +weeks, by some mystery remaining as fresh +as on the first day. +</p><p class="fnp1"> +The children always have their own table, with +miniature dishes ornamented with boxwood, a +lamb in candy, colored eggs, etc. They would +never forget to have them consecrated, and the +little girls very earnestly play the hostess, partaking +of the eggs with their own guests. +</p><p class="fnp1"> +In olden times, the Polish houses tried to surpass +each other in setting the most sumptuous +Easter tables. In an old manuscript is found the +following description of a festival given by Prince +Sapieha, in the sixteenth century. +</p><p class="fnp1"> +In the middle of huge tables stood a lamb of +candies and marzipan, which were distributed +"only to ladies, dignitaries, and church men." +Around it, representing the seasons of the year, +stood four wild boars, each stuffed with hams, +sausages, and turkeys. The prince's chef showed +wonderful skill in roasting those boars whole. +Then came twelve deer, also roasted whole, and +stuffed with a variety of game: hares, woodcocks, +partridges, hazel-hens, etc.; these were for the +twelve months of the year. Around the table, +numbering the weeks of the year, were fifty-two +mazourkas, that is, large square cakes stuffed +with all kinds of fruit, and three hundred and +sixty-five babas, for the days of the year; each +was one ell high and on their iced surfaces were +various inscriptions, mottoes, proverbs, and witty +verses, which the invited guests took pleasure in +deciphering. +</p><p class="fnp1"> +In the way of beverages there were: first, four +antique silver tankards with wine from "King +Batory's time" (that is, one hundred years old); +then twelve silver pitchers of old Tokai; then +fifty-two silver barrels of Spanish, Italian, and +Cypress wines, and three hundred and sixty-five +bottles of Hungarian wine. For the household +there were 8,760 quarts, as many as there are +hours in one year, of home-made mead. The +invited guests feasted during one whole week. +As soon as the morning service was over they +surrounded the tables, and the entertainment +lasted till midnight; the prince's court band +played lively airs, and the young people were +never tired of dancing, nor the elderly ones of +talking of "the good old times," sipping the +Hungarian Malmsey, and drinking to the health +of the prince.</p></div> + + +<div class="footnote"><p class="fnp1"><a name="Footnote_1_15" id="Footnote_1_15"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_1_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> +This tree still shades the old building. (Note +in 1858.)</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Journal of Countess Françoise +Krasinska, by Kasimir Dziekonska (translator) + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JOURNAL OF COUNTESS *** + +***** This file should be named 36660-h.htm or 36660-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/6/6/36660/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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