'What do I know? She says he's better, but the boy doesn't move, no, he doesn't move.'
The schoolmaster went up to the boy and told his mother to make room. She got up obediently and watched the old man breathlessly, with open mouth, sobbing now and then. Slimak peeped through the open window from time to time, but he was unable to bear the sight of his child's pale face. The schoolmaster stripped the wet clothes off the little body and slowly raised and lowered his arms. There was silence while the others watched him, until Slimakowa, unable to contain herself any longer, pulled her hair down and then struck her head against the wall.
'Oh, why were you ever born?' she moaned, 'a child of gold! He recovered from all his illnesses and now he is drowned…. Merciful God! why dost Thou punish me so? Drowned like a puppy in a muddy pool, and no one to help!'
She sank down on her knees, while the schoolmaster persevered for half an hour, listening for the beating of the child's heart from time to time, but no sign of life appeared and, seeing that he could do no more, he covered the child's body with a cloth, silently said a prayer and went out. Maciek followed him.
In the yard he came upon Slimak; he looked like a drunken man.
'What have you come here for, schoolmaster?' he choked. 'Haven't you done us enough harm? You've killed my child with your singing…do you want to destroy his soul too as it is leaving him, or do you mean to bring a curse on the rest of us?'
'What is that you are saying?' said the schoolmaster in amazement.
The peasant stretched his arms and gasped for breath.
'Forgive me, sir,' he said, 'I know you are a good man…. God reward you,' he kissed his hand; 'but my Stasiek died through your fault all the same: you bewitched him.'
'Man!' cried the schoolmaster, 'are we not Christians like you? Do we not put away Satan and his deeds as you do?'