ost nor goblin--which, I must remark, was
not a common case in Lithuania. Constanza was the oldest by two years,
and by far the most discreet and calm of temper, by which it was
believed she rather ruled the household, though her brother had a high
and fiery spirit. But they were never known to disagree, and, though
still young, neither seemed to think of marrying. Fortunately, it was
not so with all their neighbors. My stay at my uncle's house had not
been long when I found out that Armand was as good as engaged to
Marcella, and Henrique to Eustachia, while Constantine, the youngest and
handsomest of the three brothers, paid vain though deferential court to
Constanza.

The rising was not then publicly talked of, though known to be in full
preparation throughout the country. All the young and brave hearts among
us were pledged to it, and my cousins did not hesitate to tell me in
confidence that Count Emerich and his sister were its chief promoters in
that district. They had a devoted assistant in Father Cassimer. He had
been their mother's confessor, and lived in the house for
five-and-thirty years, saying mass regularly in the parish church, a
pine-built edifice on the edge of the forest. Father Cassimer's hair was
like snow, but he was still erect, strong, and active. He said the
church could not spare him, and he would live to a hundred. In some
respects, the man did deserve a century, being a good Pole and a worthy
priest, notwithstanding one weakness which beset him, for Father
Cassimer took special delight in hunting. It was said that once, when
robed for mass, a wild boar chanced to stray past; whereon the good
priest mounted his horse, which was usually fastened to the church-door,
and started after the game in full canonicals. That was in his youth;
but Father Cassimer never denied the tale, and the peasants who
remembered it had no less confidence in his prayers, for they knew he
loved his country, and looked after the sick and poor. The priest was my
cousin's instructor in wood-craft, and the boon-companion of my uncle;
but scarcely had I got well acquainted with him and the Lorenskis, when
two Christmas visitors arrived at their house.

They were a brother and sister, Russian nobles, known as Count Theodore
and Countess Juana. Their native place was St. Petersburg, but they had
spent years in travelling over Europe; and though nobody knew the extent
of their estates, it was supposed to be great, for they sp