Barbara Pirka brought her her dinner; but the hag had no sooner taken it in than she had to take it out again. Michal would not touch a morsel.
Late in the afternoon the men came home. Michal again heard a horrible howling and yelping, brawling voices and heavy footsteps. It was only when they passed her door that they trod softly. Someone standing outside whispered to them:
"Pst! be quiet! The lady keeps her bed!"
"If she keeps her bed, she must be ill!" so thought they all.
When it was dark, Barbara Pirka came down again and lit the lamp in Michal's room.
How happy the evening hours had been to Michal at home, when she could go to her book-shelves and take down her learned folios. Then she had never felt alone.
But here there were not even books!
The night was far advanced. Every living thing had long ago gone to sleep. Cautious footsteps approached the chamber where Michal lay.
The door opened and Henry entered.