Once　more　she　clutched　his　feet；　kissing　them。　　Then　she　rose　and　without　a　word　went　out　into　the　dusky　night。　　She　had　entered　upon　the　rugged　path　of　penitence；　the　only　path　to　peace　for　the　sinner。
  After　she　had　gone；　the　man　stepped　to　the　door　and　looked　after　her　as　if　meditating　her　recall。
  〃Bah！〃　he　said　at　length；　〃she　is　nothing　to　me。　　Let　her　go。〃
  He　put　out　the　light；　closed　the　door　and　passing　through　the　crowd　of　revellers；　went　off　to　Simon's　house。
  CHAPTER　V
  THE　PATRIOT'S　HEART
  The　inside　of　Paulina's　house　was　a　wreck。　　The　remains　of　benches　and　chairs　and　tables　mingled　with　fragments　of　vessels　of　different　sorts　strewn　upon　the　filth…littered　floor；　the　windows　broken；　the　door　between　the　outer　and　inner　rooms　torn　from　its　hinges；　all　this　debris；　together　with　the　battered；　bruised　and　bloody　human　shapes　lying　amidst　their　filth；　gave　eloquent　testimony　to　the　tempestuous　character　of　the　proceedings　of　the　previous　night。
  The　scene　that　greeted　Paulina's　eyes　in　the　early　grey　of　the　morning　might　well　have　struck　a　stouter　heart　than　hers　with　dismay；　for　her　house　had　the　look　of　having　been　swept　by　a　tornado；　and　Paulina's　heart　was　anything　but　stout　that　morning。　The　sudden　appearance　of　her　husband　had　at　first　stricken　her　with　horrible　fear；　the　fear　of　death；　but　this　fear　had　passed　into　a　more　dreadful　horror；　that　of　repudiation。
  Seven　years　ago；　when　Michael　Kalmar　had　condescended　to　make　her　his　wife；　her　whole　soul　had　gone　forth　to　him　in　a　passion　of　adoring　love　that　had　invested　him　in　a　halo　of　glory。　　He　became　her　god　thenceforth　to　worship　and　to　serve。　　Her　infidelity　meant　no　diminution　of　this　passion。　　Withdrawn　from　her　husband's　influence；　left　without　any　sign　of　his　existence　for　two　years　or　more；　subjected　to　the　machinations　of　the　subtle　and　unscrupulous　Rosenblatt；　the　soul　in　her　had　died；　the　animal　had　lived　and　triumphed。　　The　sound　of　her　husband's　voice　last　night　had　summoned　into　vivid　life　her　dead　soul。　　Her　god　had　moved　into　the　range　of　her　vision；　and　immediately　she　was　his　again；　soul　and　body。　　Hence　her　sudden　fury　at　Rosenblatt；　hence；　too；　the　utter　self…abandonment　in　her　appeal　to　her　husband。　　But　now　he　had　cast　her　off。　　The　gates　of　Heaven；　swinging　open　before　her　ravished　eyes　for　a　few　brief　moments；　had　closed　to　her　forever。　　Small　wonder　that　she　brought　a　heavy　heart　to　the　righting　of　her　disordered　home；　and　well　for　her　that　Anka　with　her　hearty；　cheery　courage　stood　at　her　side　that　morning。
  Together　they　set　themselves　to　clear　away　the　filth　and　the　wreckage；　human　and　otherwise。　　Of　the　human　wreckage　Anka　made　short　work。　　Stepping　out　into　the　frosty　air；　she　returned　with　a　pail　of　snow。
  〃Here；　you　sluggards；〃　she　cried；　bestowing　generous　handfuls　upon　their　sodden　faces；　〃up　with　you；　and　out。　　The　day　is　fine　and　dinner　will　soon　be　here。〃
  Grunting；　growling；　cursing；　the　men　rose；　stretched　themselves　with　prodigious　yawning；　and　bundled　out　into　the　frosty　air。
  〃Get　yourselves　ready　for　dinner；〃　cried　Anka　after　them。　　〃The　best　is　yet　to　come；　and　then　the　dance。〃
  Down　into　the　cellar　they　went；　stiff　and　sore　and　still　growling；　dipped　their　hands　and　heads　into　icy　water；　and　after　a　perfunctory　toilet　and　a　mug　of　beer　or　two　all　round；　they　were　ready　for　a　renewal　of　the　festivities。　　There　was　no　breakfast；　but　as　the　day　wore　on；　from　the　shacks　about　came　women　with　provisions　for　the　renewal　of　the　feast。　　For　Anka；　wise　woman；　had　kept　some　of　the　more　special　dishes　for　the　second　day。　　But　as　for　the　beer；　though　there　were　still　some　kegs　left；　they　were　few　enough　to　give　Jacob　Wassyl　concern。　　It　would　be　both　a　misfortune　and　a　disgrace　if　the　beer　should　fail　before　the　marriage　feast　was　over。　　The　case　was　serious　enough。　　Jacob　Wassyl's　own　money　was　spent；　the　guests　had　all　contributed　their　share；　Rosenblatt　would　sooner　surrender　blood　than　money；　and　Jacob　was　not　yet　sufficiently　established　as　a　husband　to　appeal　to　his　wife　for　further　help。
  It　was　through　Simon　Ketzel　that　deliverance　came；　or　rather　through　Simon's　guest；　who；　learning　that　the　beer　was　like　to　fail；　passed　Simon　a　bill；　saying；　〃It　would　be　sad　if　disgrace　should　come　to　your　friends。　　Let　there　be　plenty　of　beer。　　Buy　what　is　necessary　and　keep　the　rest　in　payment　for　my　lodging。　　And　of　my　part　in　this　not　a　word　to　any　man。〃
  As　a　result；　in　the　late　afternoon　a　dray　load　of　beer　kegs　appeared　at　Paulina's　back　door；　to　the　unspeakable　relief　of　Jacob　and　of　his　guests　as　well；　who　had　begun　to　share　his　anxiety　and　to　look　forward　to　an　evening　of　drouth　and　gloom。
  As　for　Simon　Ketzel；　he　found　himself　at　once　upon　the　very　crest　of　a　wave　of　popularity；　for　through　the　driver　of　the　dray　it　became　known　that　it　was　Simon　that　had　come　so　splendidly　to　the　rescue。
  Relieved　of　anxiety；　the　revellers　gave　themselves　with　fresh　and　reckless　zest　to　the　duty　of　assuring　beyond　all　shadow　of　doubt；　the　good　health　of　the　bride　and　the　groom；　and　of　every　one　in　general　in　flowing　mugs　of　beer。　　Throughout　the　afternoon；　men　and　women；　and　even　boys　and　girls；　ate　and　drank；　danced　and　sang　to　the　limit　of　their　ability。
  As　the　evening　darkened；　and　while　this　carouse　was　at　its　height；　Paulina；　with　a　shawl　over　her　head；　slipped　out　of　the　house　and　through　the　crowd；　and　so　on　to　the　outskirts　of　the　colony；　where　she　found　her　husband　impatiently　waiting　her。
  〃You　are　late；〃　he　said　harshly。
  〃I　could　not　find　Kalman。〃
  〃Kalman！　　My　boy！　　And　where　would　he　be？〃　exclaimed　her　husband　with　a　shade　of　anxiety　in　his　voice。
  〃He　was　with　me　in　the　house。　　I　could　not　keep　him　from　the　men；　and　they　will　give　him　beer。〃
  〃Beer　to　that　child？〃　snarled　her　husband。
  〃Yes；　they　make　him　sing　and　dance；　and　they　give　him　beer。　　He　is　wonderful；〃　said　Paulina。
  Even　as　she　spoke；　a　boy's　voice　rose　clear　and　full　in　a　Hungarian　love　song；　to　the　wild　accompaniment　of　the　cymbal。
  〃Hush！〃　said　the　man　holding　up　his　hand。
  At　the　first　sound　of　that　high；　clear　voice；　the　bacchanalian　shoutings　and　roarings　fell　silent；　and　the　wild　weird　song；　throbbing　with　passion；　rose　and　fell　upon　the　still　evening　air。　After　each　verse；　the　whole　chorus　of　deep；　harsh　voices　swelled　high　over　the　wailing　violins　and　Arnud's　clanging　cymbal。
  〃Good；〃　muttered　the　man　when　the　song　had　ceased。　　〃Now　get　him。〃
  〃I　shall　bring　him　to　yonder　house；〃　said　Paulina；　pointing　to　the　dwelling　of　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　whither　in　a　few　minutes　she　was　seen　half　dragging；　half　carrying　a　boy　of　eight；　who　kept　kicking　and　scratching　vigorously；　and　pouring　forth　a　torrent　of　English　oaths。
  〃Hush；　Kalman；〃　said　Paulina　in　Galician；　vainly　trying　to　quiet　the　child。　　〃The　gentleman　will　be　ashamed　of　you。〃
  〃I　do　not　care　for　any　gentleman；〃　screamed　Kalman。　　〃He　is　a　black　devil；〃　glancing　at　the　black　bearded　man　who　stood　waiting　them　at　the　door　of　the　Fitzpatrick　dwelling。
  〃Hush；　hush；　you　bad　boy！〃　exclaimed　Paulina；　horrified；　laying　her　hand　over　the　boy's　mouth。
  The　man　turned　his　back　upon　them；　pulled　off　his　black　beard；　thrust　it　into　his　pocket；　gave　his　mustaches　a　quick　turn　and　faced　about　upon　them。　　This　transformation　froze　the　boy's　fury　into　silence。　　He　shrank　back　to　his　mother's　side。
  〃Is　it　the　devil？〃　he　whispered　to　his　mother　in　Galician。
  〃Kalman；〃　said　the　man　quietly；　in　the　Russian　language；　〃come　to　me。　　I　am　your　father。〃
  The　boy　gazed　at　him　fearful　and　perplexed。
  〃He　does　not　understand；〃　said　Paulina　in　Russian。
  〃Kalman；〃　repeated　his　father；　using　the　Galician　speech；　〃come　to　me。　　I　am　your　father。〃
  The　boy　hesitated；　looking　fixedly　at　his　father。　　But　three　years　had　wiped　out　the　memory　of　that　face。
  〃Come；　you　little　Cossack；〃　said　his　father；　smiling　at　him。　〃Come；　have　you　forgotten　all　your　rides？〃
  The　boy　suddenly　started；　as　if　waking　from　sleep。　　The　words　evidently　set　the　grey　matter　moving　along　old　brain　tracks。　　He　walked　toward　his　father；　took　the　hand　outstretched　to　him；　and　kissed　it　again　and　again。
  〃Aha；　my　son；　you　remember　me；〃　said　the　father　exultantly。
  〃Yes；〃　said　the　boy　in　English；　〃I　remember　the　ride　on　the　black　horse。〃
  The　man　lifted　the　boy　in　his　strong　arms；　kissed　him　again　and　again；　then　setting　him　down　said　to　Paulina；　〃Let　us　go　in。〃
  Paulina　stepped　forward　and　knocked　at　the　door。　　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　answered　the　knock　and；　seeing　Paulina；　was　about　to　shut　the　door　upon　her　face；　when　Paulina　put　up　her　hand。
  〃Look；〃　she　cried；　pointing　to　the　man；　who　stood　back　in　the　shadow；　〃Irma　fadder。〃
  〃What　d'ye　say？〃　enquired　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick。
  〃Irma　fadder；〃　repeated　Paulina；　pointing　to　Kalmar。
  〃Is　my　daughter　Irma　in　your　house？〃　said　he；　stepping　forward。
  〃Yer　daughter；　is　it？〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　looking　sharply　into　the　foreigner's　face。　　〃An'　if　she's　yer　daughter　it's　yersilf　that　should　ashamed　av　it　fer　the　way　ye've　desarted　the　lot　o'　thim。〃
  〃Is　it　permitted　that　I　see　my　daughter　Irma？〃　said　the　man　quietly。
  Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　scanned　his　face　suspiciously；　then　called；　〃Irma　darlin'；　come　here　an'　tell　me　who　this　is。　　Give　the