"The land also?" asked Macko, simply.
"The land also!" shouted the abbot.
At this Macko's face grew long, but he recovered himself and said:
"Ej, why should you think about death! May the Lord Jesus grant you a hundred years or more of life, and an important bishopric soon."
"Certainly! Am I worse than others?" said the abbot.
"Not worse, but better!"
These words appeased the abbot, for his anger never lasted long.
"Well," said he, "you are my relations, and she is only my goddaughter; but I love her, and Zych also. There is no better man in the world than Zych and no better girl than Jagienka, also! Who can say anything against them?"
He began to look angry, but Macko did not contradict; he quickly affirmed that there was no worthier neighbor in the whole kingdom.
"And as for the girl," said he, "I could not love my own daughter any more than I love her. With her help, I recovered my health and I shall never forget it until my death."