While the sound of the evening-bells floated through the air, and the women in the cottages whispered the Angelus, a bent figure approached the gospodarstwo, a sack on his back, a stick in his hand; the glory of the setting sun surrounded him. Such as these are the 'angels' which the Lord sends to people in the extremity of their sorrow. It was Jonah Niedoperz, the oldest and poorest Jew in the neighbourhood; he traded in everything and never had any money to keep his large family, with whom he lived in a half-ruined cottage with broken windowpanes. Jonah was on his way to the village and was meditating deeply. Would he get a job there? would he live to have a dinner of pike on the Sabbath? would his little grandchildren ever have two shirts to their backs? 'Aj waj!' he muttered, 'and they even took the three roubles from me!' He had never forgotten that robbery in the autumn, for it was the largest sum he had ever possessed. His glance fell on the burnt homestead. Good God! if such a thing should ever befall the cottage where his wife and daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren lived! His emotion grew when he heard the cows lowing miserably. He approached the stable. 'Slimak! My good lady gospodyni!' he cried, tapping at the door. He was afraid to open it lest he should be suspected of prying into other people's business. 'Who is that?' asked Slimak. 'It's only I, old Jonah,' he said, and peeped in, 'but what's wrong with your honours?' he asked in astonishment. 'My wife is dead.' 'Dead? how dead? what do you mean by such a joke? Ajwaj! really-dead?' He looked attentively at her. 'Such a good gospodyni...what a misfortune, God defend us! And you are lying there and don't see about the funeral?' 'There may as well be two,' murmured the peasant. 'How two? are you ill?' 'No.' The Jew shook his head and spat. 'It can't be like this; if you won't move I will go and give notice; tell me what to do.' Slimak did not answer. The cows began to low again. 'What is the matter with the cows?' the Jew asked interestedly. 'I suppose they want water.' 'Then why don't you water them?' No answer came. The Jew looked at Slimak and waited, then he tapped his forehead. 'Where is the pail, gospodarz?' 'Leave me alone.' But Jonah did not give in. He found the pail, ran to the ice-hole and watered the cows; he had sympathy for cows, because he dreamt of possessing one himself one day, or at least a goat. Then he put the pail close to Slimak. He was exhausted with this unusually hard work. 'Well, gospodarz, what is to happen now?' His pity touched Slimak, but failed to rouse him. He raised his head. 'If you should see Grochowski, tell him not to sell the land before Jendrek is of age.' 'But what am I to do now, when I get to the village?' Slimak had relapsed into silence.