"Behind a ravine, there is a mount,
As was mother, such is daughter.
Hoc! Hoc!"
"I told Malgochna not to climb the pine tree because she was no longer young. But she would climb it. The branch broke; she fell and was badly hurt; within three days, she died."
"Lord, make your face shine upon her soul!" said Macko. "I remember, I remember! When she was angry, the farm boys used to hide in the hay. But she was clever. So she fell from a pine tree!"
"She fell down like a cone. Do you know, after the funeral I was so stupefied with grief, that for three days they could not arouse me. They thought I was dead. Afterward, I wept for a long time. But Jagienka is also clever. She takes care of everything."
"I can scarcely remember her. She was not as large as the helve of an axe when I went away. She could pass under a horse without touching its body. Bah! that is a long time ago, and she must have grown."
"She was fifteen the day of St. Agnes; but I have not seen her for more than a year."
"Why have you not seen her? Where have you been?"
"To the war. I do not need to stay home; Jagienka takes care of everything."
Macko, although ill, began to listen attentively when the war was mentioned, and asked:
"Perhaps you were with Kniaz Witold at Worskla?"