by Mór Jókai
CHAPTER X.
THE BETROTHAL.
It was no longer a secret, but was in everybody's mouth, that sixweeks after the funeral there was to be a betrothal ceremony in theBaradlay house, and the latter was, they said, to receive a new name.Friends and neighbours from the country around had been invited in thebaroness's name to a family festival.
There was a great bustle of expectation when it was announced that thehero of the day, Benedict RideghvAiry, was coming, seated in abrand-new coach which was drawn by five splendid horses. On the boxwas perched a magnificent hussar, who sprang down to open the carriagedoor and to help the great man alight with all the dignity demanded byhis lofty rank and the importance of the occasion.
"My dear sir," one of the administrator's friends hastened to announceto him, with considerable concern in his tone, "I notice a good manystrange faces in there."
"Very likely, Zebulon," answered the administrator, briefly.
"That is, I know the faces well enough," explained the other, "but thepeople are strangers to me."
"I don't understand," returned RideghvAiry, with a laugh.
"Don't understand?" repeated Zebulon TallA(C)rossy impatiently; "but youwill understand as soon as you are pleased to look around. The hall isfull of people belonging to the opposition; we know them, but we arenot on terms of acquaintance with them."
The great man now found the matter worthy of his attention, but didnot allow it to cause him undue concern. The principal men of thecounty, he said to himself, had come to pay their compliments to theson and heir, without regard to party. It was merely a conventionalform, and was, he felt sure, entirely without political significance.Nevertheless, he would have preferred not to meet in that house hisinveterate opponent at the Green Table, TormAindy; but the Baradlaymansion was on that day open to all comers, of whatever party.
Among the early arrivals was the much-persecuted priest, the ReverendBartholomew LAinghy, Aranka's father, whose appearance was a surpriseto many of the guests. His bearing was that of one whose part in thefestivities of the day was to be of no small importance. Indeed, thepreparations for a grand function were so manifest on every side thatRideghvAiry's good friend, Zebulon TallA(C)rossy, soon came to him forfurther information.
"So there is to be a grand ceremony, is there?" he asked.
"Certainly," was the reply; "the bridegroom's spokesman goes to thebride's representative and makes formal petition for her hand inmarriage. Receiving a favourable reply, he returns to the bridegroom,the double doors are thrown open, and the retinue of ladies enterswith the bride at its head. Then comes the rest of the ceremony."
"Ah, that will be a fine spectacle."
The two gentlemen then went in quest of Count Paul GAilfalvy, whom theadministrator had chosen to act for him in this important matter.After shaking hands, they began to exchange witticisms over the greatnumber of their political opponents who had assembled there to witnesstheir enemy's triumph. Thus talking and laughing, they failed to notethat TormAindy was at that moment engaged in earnest consultation withthe Reverend Bartholomew LAinghy. They were therefore unpleasantlysurprised when TormAindy's stentorian voice fell on their ears,imposing a sudden hush on all present.
"Silence in the hall, gentlemen!" he cried. "We all know to what aglad festival we are this day invited. A new sun has risen over thehouse of Baradlay in the person of its new head, to whom, both forhis own sake and for that of our fatherland, we heartily wish longlife and prosperity. The bridegroom, whom Providence has called to bethe head of this house in the vigour of his youth,--"
"He puts it rather strongly," commented RideghvAiry to himself.
"--has commissioned me as his spokesman--"
"What's that?" exclaimed RideghvAiry and his friends, looking at oneanother in amazement.
"--to ask the representative of the bride whether he gives his consentto the desired union."
By this time the administrator and those at his side were fairly dumbwith astonishment. If TormAindy was spokesman for the bridegroom, whatpart was Paul GAilfalvy supposed to play? And who was to reply for thebride? The superintendent was expected to discharge that function, buthe was nowhere to be seen. The confusion became still worse confoundedwhen the Reverend Bartholomew LAinghy stepped forward in response toTormAindy's address, and in clear tones thus made answer:
"Those ordained of heaven for each other let naught but death putasunder. Let them who are already one in love be joined together inholy matrimony."
"The parson is crazy!" exclaimed Zebulon in utter bewilderment.
But the solution of the enigma was not long delayed. The double doorsat the farther end of the hall were thrown open and the procession ofladies entered, led by the widow Baradlay, who presented Aranka LAinghyto the assembled company as the bride. It was a beautiful sight,--theelder lady in a trailing black gown, a garnet diadem in her hair, anda long-unwonted smile lighting up her face and giving her the aspectof a beautiful queen; and the fair young bride at her side, in robe ofwhite with white hyacinths for her ornaments and a modest blush addingits charm to her sweet maidenly dignity. Each type of beauty, soentirely opposite in character, was perfect in its kind.
There was a murmur of surprise and admiration among the guests, andall pressed forward in eager expectancy. A marble table with a goldplate on it stood near the folding doors. Over the plate was spread alace napkin. The bridal party took their places at this table, and thepriest, Aranka's father, removed the napkin from the plate, revealingtwo simple gold rings. One of these he then put on A-dA?n's finger, andthe other on Aranka's. Finally he placed the bride's hand in thegroom's. No word was spoken, there was nothing but this simpleceremony; but it was impressive in the extreme. The whole companybroke into cheers, and even Zebulon TallA(C)rossy caught himself shoutingto the full capacity of his lungs; he only recognised his mistakeupon meeting the glance of the administrator, who looked at him withsevere disapproval, whereupon the other endeavoured to atone for hismisplaced enthusiasm by acting on a brilliant suggestion that suddenlyoccurred to him.
"So there is to be a double betrothal," he remarked, blandly, to thewould-be bridegroom; but the latter only turned his back upon him witha muttered imprecation.
Administrator RideghvAiry was the first to take his departure; butbefore he went he had a final interview with the woman whom he hadhoped to claim as his bride that day.
"Madam," said he, as he bade her farewell, "this is the last time Ishall have the happiness to be the guest of the Baradlay family. Ishould not have believed the greatest prophet, had he foretold to methis morning what was about to occur. And yet I myself am not withoutthe spirit of prophecy. You, madam, and your son have deviated fromthe course laid down for you in his dying hour by that great man, yourhusband and my sincere friend. That course he communicated to mebefore broaching the matter to you. You have chosen the very oppositepath to that which he opened for you, and I beg you to remember infuture what I now say: the way you have chosen leads upward, but theheight to which it leads is--the scaffold!"