from him--all this is mine! Not one of the Cossacks owns such weapons
as I; for the pommel of my sword alone they would give their best
drove of horses and three thousand sheep. And I renounce all this, I
discard it, I throw it aside, I will burn and drown it, if you will
but say the word, or even move your delicate black brows! But I know
that I am talking madly and wide of the mark; that all this is not
fitting here; that it is not for me, who have passed my life in the
seminary and among the Zaporozhtzi, to speak as they speak where
kings, princes, and all the best of noble knighthood have been. I can
see that you are a different being from the rest of us, and far above
all other boyars' wives and maiden daughters."

With growing amazement the maiden listened, losing no single word, to
the frank, sincere language in which, as in a mirror, the young,
strong spirit reflected itself. Each simple word of this speech,
uttered in a voice which penetrated straight to the depths of her
heart, was clothed in power. She advanced her beautiful face, pushed
back her troublesome hair, opened her mouth, and gazed long, with
parted lips. Then she tried to say something and suddenly stopped,
remembering that the warrior was known by a different name; that his
father, brothers, country, lay beyond, grim avengers; that the
Zaporozhtzi besieging the city were terrible, and that the cruel death
awaited all who were within its walls, and her eyes suddenly filled
with tears. She seized a silk embroidered handkerchief and threw it
over her face. In a moment it was all wet; and she sat for some time
with her beautiful head thrown back, and her snowy teeth set on her
lovely under-lip, as though she suddenly felt the sting of a poisonous
serpent, without removing the handkerchief from her face, lest he
should see her shaken with grief.