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"True, true!" replied Gerwazy with emotion. "Strange have been

the fortunes of our beloved Kingdom and of our Lithuania! They

are like a true married pair! God joined them, and the devil

divides them; God has his own and the devil has his own! Ah, dear

brother Protazy, that our eyes should see this-that these

brethren from the Kingdom should visit us once more! I served

with them years ago, and remember that bold confederates came

from their country! If only my deceased lord the Pantler had

lived to see this hour! O Jacek, Jacek!-but why should we lament?

Now Lithuania will soon be reunited to the Kingdom, and therewith

all is forgiven and forgotten."

"And it is strange," said Protazy, "that in regard to this Zosia,

for whose hand our Thaddeus is now suing, a year ago there was an

omen, as it were a sign from Heaven."