"Macko told me the same," answered Jagienka.
"Yes! He told me about it on the road," said Zych. "Well, no wonder! In our country also, although it has been a Christian country for a long time, one can hear laughter in the marshes; and although the priests scold about it in the churches, it is always good policy to put a dish filled with something to eat, for the little devils; otherwise they will scratch on the walls so much that one can hardly sleep. Jagienka, my dearest! put a dish at the threshold."
Jagienka took an earthen porringer full of noodles and cheese, and placed it at the threshold. Zych said:
"The priests scold! But the Lord Jesus will not be angry about a dish of noodles; and a god, as soon as his hunger is satisfied, will protect one from fire and from thieves."
Then he turned to Zbyszko:
"But will you not ungird yourself and sing a little?"
"You had better sing, or perhaps Panna[75] Jagienka will sing."
"We will sing by turns," exclaimed Zych. "We have a servant who will accompany us on a wooden fife. Call the boy!"
They called the servant who sat down on the bench and put the fife to his mouth, waiting to learn whom he was to accompany.
None of them wanted to be first. Finally Zych told Jagienka to begin; therefore Jagienka, although bashful because Zbyszko was present, rose from the bench and having put her hands under her apron, began: