'Sometimes it overflows on to that meadow deep enough to drown a man.'
'Are you quite sure of that?'
'Everybody knows that. Those gaps in the hill have been scooped out by the water.'
'The bridge will have to be sixty feet high.'
'Certainly,' said the elder of the two men. 'Can you let us have some milk, gospodarz?'
'My wife is getting it ready, if it pleases the gentlemen to come.'
The whole party turned towards the cottage, for the drinking of milk by such distinguished gentlemen was an important event; it was decided to stop harvesting for the day.
Chairs and the cherrywood table had been placed in front of the cottage. A rye loaf, butter, white cheese with caraway seeds, and a bowl of buttermilk were in readiness.
'Well,' said the men, looking at each other in surprise, 'a nobleman could not have received us better.'
They ate heartily, praised everything, and finally asked Slimakowa what they owed her.