"Yes, at such times the soul flies on wings, as it were, to its Creator," said Father Voynovski. "God in his mercy created the moon as well as the sun, and what an immense benefaction. As to the sun, well, everything is visible in the daytime, but if there were no moon people would break their necks in the night if they travelled, not to mention this, that in perfect darkness devilish wickedness would be greater by far than it is at the present." They were silent for a while and passed over the peaceful sky with their eyes; the priest took a pinch of snuff then, and added,-- "Fix this in your memories, gentlemen, that a kind Providence thinks not only of the needs, but the comfort of people." The rattle of wheels, which in the night stillness reached their ears very clearly, interrupted the conversation. Pan Serafin rose from his seat. "God is bringing some guest," said he, "for the whole household is here. I am curious to know who it may be." "Surely some one with news from our lads," added Father Voynovski. All rose, and thereupon a wagon drawn by two horses entered in through the gateway. "Some woman is on the seat," called out Lukash. "That is true." The wagon passed through half the courtyard and stopped at the entrance. Pan Serafin looked at the face of the woman, recognized it in the wonderful moonlight, and cried,-- "Panna Anulka!" And he almost lifted her in his arms from the wagon, then she bent at once to his knees, and burst into weeping. "An orphan!" cried she, "who begs for rescue and a refuge!" Then she nestled up to his knees, embraced them with still greater vigor, and sobbed more complainingly. Such great astonishment seized every man there, that for a time no one uttered a syllable; at last Pan Serafin raised the orphan and pressed her to his heart. "While there is breath in my nostrils," cried he, "I will be to thee a father. But tell me what has happened? Have they driven thee from Belchantska?" "Krepetski has beaten me, and threatened me with infamy," answered she, in a voice barely audible. Father Voynovski, who was there very near her, heard this answer. "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews!" exclaimed he, seizing his white hair with both hands. The four Bukoyemskis gazed with open mouths, and eyes bursting from their sockets, but understood nothing. Their hearts were moved at once, it is true, by the weeping of the orphan, but they considered that Panna Anulka had wrought foul injustice on Yatsek. They remembered also the teaching of Father Voynovski, that woman is the cause of all evil. So they looked at one another inquiringly, as if hoping that some clear idea would come, if not to one, to another of them. At last words came to Marek. "Well, now, here is Krepetski for you. But in every case that Martsian will get from us a----, or won't he?" And he seized at his left side, and, following his example, the other three brothers began to feel for the hilts of their sabres.