'It makes one feel bad, to see such wretchedness,' he murmured. 'The man whose fault it is would feel it most!' 'It isn't my fault, but I'm sorry for them all the same.' 'Why don't you take the child, then, if you are so sorry?' sneered Slimakowa, 'you'll give him the child, Zoska, won't you? Is it a boy?' 'A girl,' whispered Zoska, with her eyes fixed on Maciek, 'she is two years old... yes, he can have her, if he likes.' 'She'd be a deal of trouble to me,' muttered the labourer, 'all the same, it's a pity.' 'Take her,' repeated Zoska, 'Slimak is rich, you are rich....' 'Oh yes, Maciek is rich,' laughed Slimakowa, 'he drinks through six roubles in one Sunday.' 'If you can drink through six roubles, you can take her,' Zoska cried vehemently, pulling the child out of the shawl and laying it on the floor. It looked frightened, but did not utter a sound. 'Shut up, Jagna, and don't talk nonsense,' said Slimak. Zoska stood up and stretched herself. 'Now I shall be easy for once,' she said, 'I've often thought I'd like to throw her away into a ditch, but you may as well have her. Mind you look after her properly! If I come back and don't find her, I'll scratch out your eyes.' 'You are crazy,' said Slimak, 'cross yourself.' 'I won't cross myself, I'll go away....' 'Don't be a fool, and sit down to supper,' angrily cried the gospodyni. She took the saucepan off so impetuously, that the hot ashes flew all over the stove, and one touched Zoska's bare feet. 'Fire!... fire!' she shouted, and escaped from the room, 'the cottage is on fire, everything is on fire!' She staggered out like a drunken person, and they could hear her voice farther and farther off, shouting 'Fire!' until the rain drowned it. 'Run, Maciek, and bring her back,' cried Slimakowa. But Maciek did not stir. 'You can't send a man after a mad woman on a night like this,' said Slimak. 'Well, what am I to do with this dog's child? Do you think I shall feed her?' 'I dare say you won't throw her over the fence. You needn't worry, Zoska will come back for her.' 'I don't want her here for the night.' 'Then what are you going to do with her?' said Slimak, getting angry. 'I'll take her to the stable,' Maciek said in a low voice, lifting the child up awkwardly. He sat down on the bench with it and rocked it gently on his knees. There was silence in the room. Presently Magda, Jendrek, and Stasiek emerged from their corner and stood by Maciek, looking at the little creature. 'She is as thin as a lath,' whispered Magda. 'She doesn't move or look at us,' remarked Jendrek. 'You must feed her from a rag,' advised Magda, 'I will find you a clean one.' 'Sit down to supper,' ordered Slimakowa, but her voice sounded less angry. She looked at the child, first from a distance, then she bent over it and touched its drawn yellow skin. 'That bitch of a mother!' she murmured, 'Magda, put a little milk in a saucer, and you, Maciek, sit down to supper.'