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'Maciek, she called, 'when the cow has had a drink, lead her to the cowshed. The Soltys will stay the night; the cow can't be left out of doors. 'Well, what next? asked Slimak. 'What has to be, has to be, she replied. 'He wants the thirty-five roubles and the silver rouble for the halter but, she continued after a pause, 'truth is truth, she is worth it.
Maciek remained at home to look after the dinner and the baby. It was past noon when Burek began to bark furiously. Maciek looked out and saw a man dressed like the townspeople standing at the gate; he had pulled his cap well over his face. The farm-labourer went outside. 'What's up?
He advanced as if running the gauntlet, amid whispers and banter, feeling as ashamed of his dress coat as of a dishonourable deed; at last he met the eyes of Maciek, and trembled with fright.
'You are raking in the money and buying your wife silk handkerchiefs, but the poor farm labourers have to creep on all fours. It's "Cut the corn, Sobieska and Maciek, and I will brag about like a gentleman!" You will see, he will soon call himself "Pan Slimaczinski." He is the devil's own son, for ever and ever. Amen.
These words seemed to break the spell; he felt sure Maciek and the child were alive, and he almost went out to call them in to supper. 'A low Jew, that Josel, he said to his wife, while he covered her again with the sheepskin, when her shivering-fits returned. Nothing should induce him to believe that story. Next day the village Soltys drove up with the summons for Jendrek.
'What makes you take the cow to Gryb? asked the gospodyni. 'Because he wants to buy her. 'We might buy her ourselves. 'Yes, that might be so, put in Slimak; 'the girl is here, the cow should be here too. 'That's right, isn't it, Maciek? asked the woman. 'Oho, ho! laughed Maciek, till the soup ran out of his spoon.
'Stop the sledge, I shall get out! 'No, go on! 'Jesus Mary! 'Have the musicians been spilt yet? 'Not yet, but they will be. 'Oh...la la! Maciek now understood that this was a sleigh race. The teams of two-and four-horsed sleighs approached at a gallop, accompanied by riders on horseback carrying torches.
The gospodyni thought of it when she saw the milk get less in the pails, Magda had forebodings and caressed the cows in turns, Maciek, when unobserved, even deprived the horses of a handful of hay, and Slimak would stand in front of the cowshed and sigh.
'Oho! they are opening the stable door, there is the snow, this time I will give it to them.... The thieves must have found out that he was on the watch this time and made off. Maciek laughed; now he could go to sleep. He straightened his back, pressed the little girl close. 'Just a moment's sleep, he reminded himself, 'I've something to do, but what is it? Ploughing? no, that's done.
'Everybody knows that one can only get a drink from you for cash. 'That's true on the whole. But when you were tipsy at Christmas, you embraced and kissed me so many times, I couldn't help myself and gave you credit. 'Have you got witnesses? Maciek said sharply. 'I tell you, old Jew, you won't take me in. The publican reflected for a moment.
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