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He hastily ate a little soup, left the rest, and went to his night-quarters in the stable, sheltering the child under his sukmana. When he entered, one of the horses neighed, and the other turned his head and sniffed at the child in the darkness. 'That's right, greet the new stable-boy who can't even hold a whip, laughed Maciek. The rain continued to fall.
The corn was getting ripe, and Slimak began to cut the rye the day after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was in a hurry to get the work done in two or three days, lest the corn should drop out in the great heat, and also because he wanted to help with the harvesting at the manor. Usually he, Maciek, and Jendrek worked together, alternately cutting and binding the sheaves.
Salutary counsels of Bartek, called the Prussian—Martial argument of Maciek the Sprinkler—Political argument of Pan Buchmann—Jankiel advises harmony, which is cut off abruptly by the penknife—Speech of Gerwazy, which makes apparent the great potency of parliamentary eloquence—Protest of old Maciek—The sudden arrival of reinforcements interrupts the consultation—Down with the Soplica!
The way in which Maciek performed his task elicited much advice from Magda. 'He has poured the milk all over her mouth...it's running on to the floor...why do you stick the rag into her nose? Although he felt that he was making a bad nurse, Maciek would not let the child out of his hands.
The gospodyni now cleared the bowl off the table and returned with a bottle of vodka, two glasses, and a smoked sausage on a plate. 'To your health, neighbour, said Slimak, pouring out the vodka. 'Drink in God's name! They emptied the glasses and began to chew the dry sausage in silence. Maciek was so affected by the sight of the vodka that he folded his hands on his stomach.
But she had lived through the week and longer, and even when she had been taken for dead once, she opened her tired eyes to the world again. Maciek paid no attention to these prognostications. 'Never fear, he said, 'nothing will happen to her. He continued to feed her in the cowshed after dark.
They hovered past to the melancholy strains of the Oginski polonaise. Maciek took off his cap, drew the child from under the sheepskin and stood beside his sledge. 'Now look, you'll never see anything so beautiful again. Don't be afraid! An armoured and visored man passed. 'Do you see that knight? Formerly people like that conquered half the world, now there are none of them left.
'That bitch of a mother! she murmured, 'Magda, put a little milk in a saucer, and you, Maciek, sit down to supper. 'Let Magda sit down, I'll feed her myself. 'Feed her! cried Magda, 'he doesn't even know how to hold her. She tried to take the child from him. 'Don't pull her to pieces, said the gospodyni, 'pour out the milk and let Maciek feed her, if he is so keen on it.
Maciek was also given to understand why Jasiek Gryb had entertained the gospodarz and his family so liberally, and Grochowski even seemed to know the man who had presented Maciek with the monks' cordial and said that the woman in the sledge was not a woman at all. 'I will do whatever you tell me, Soltys, said Maciek, embracing his knees, 'even if you should send me to my death.
It was in this frame of mind that they sat down, but somehow the dinner was not a success. Slimakowa poured most of the sauerkraut over the table, the gospodarz had no appetite, and Jendrek had forgotten how to hold a spoon, scalded his father's foot with soup and finally fell asleep. His parents followed his example, so Maciek was left to himself again.
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