She would fall into a furrow and sleep until sundown, though she was paid for a full day's work. As she had a sharp tongue, Slimak had no wish to offend her. When he haggled about the money, she would kiss his hand and say: 'Why should you fall out with me, sir? Sell one chicken more and you'll be all right.' 'Cheek always pays!' thought Maciek. On the following Sunday, when everyone was ready to go to church, Maciek sat down and sighed heavily. 'Why, Maciek, aren't you going to church?' asked Slimak, seeing that something was amiss. 'How can I go to church? You would be ashamed of me.' 'What's the matter with you?' 'Nothing is the matter with me, but my feet keep coming through my boots.' 'That's your own fault, why didn't you speak before? Your wages are due, and I will give you six roubles.' Maciek embraced his feet.... 'But mind you buy the boots, and don't drink away the money.' They all started; Slimak walked with his wife, Magda with the boys, and Maciek by himself at a little distance. He dreamt that Slimak would become a gentleman when the railway was finished, and that he, Maciek, would then wait at table, and perhaps get married. Then he crossed himself for having such reckless ideas. How could a poor fellow like him think of marrying? Who would have him? Probably not even Zoska, although she was wrong in the head and had a child. This was a memorable Sunday for Slimak and his wife. She had bought a silk kerchief at a stall, given twenty kopeks to the beggars, and sat down in the front pew, where Grybina and Lukasiakowa had at once made room for her. As for Slimak, everyone had something to say to him. The publican reproached him for spoiling the prices for the Jews, the organist reminded him that it would be well to pay for an extra Mass for the souls of the departed, even the policeman saluted him, and the priest urged him to keep bees: 'You might come round to the Vicarage, now that you have money and spare time, and perhaps buy a few hives. It does no harm to remember God in one's prosperity and keep bees and give wax to the Church.' Gryb came up with an unpleasant smile. 'Surely, Slimak, you will treat everybody all round to-day, since you've been so successful?' 'You don't treat the village when you have made a good bargain, neither shall I,' Slimak snubbed him. 'That's not surprising, since I don't make as much profit on a cow as you make on a chicken.' 'All the same, you're richer than other people.' 'There you're right,' Wisniewski supported Slimak, asking him for the loan of a couple of roubles at the same time. But when Slimak refused, he complained of his arrogance. Maciek did not get much comfort out of the money given him for boots. He stood humbly at the back of the church, so that the Lord should not see his torn sukmana. Then the beggars reminded him that he never gave them anything. He went to the public-house to get change. 'How about my money, Pan Maciek?' said the publican. 'What money?'