'Lord, what a man! He has only just looked at the Swabian[1] vermin, and he has lost heart already. They will take away the field? Well, what of that? we will drive the cattle into it all the same.' [Footnote 1: The Polish peasants call all Germans 'Swabians'.] 'They will shoot the cattle.' 'That isn't allowed.' 'Then they will go to law and worry the life out of me.' 'Very well, then we will buy fodder.' 'Where? The gospodarze won't sell us any, and we shan't get a blade from the Germans.' The breakfast was boiling over, but the housewife paid no attention to it. She shook her clenched fists at her husband. 'What do you mean, Josef! Pull yourself together! This is bad, and that is no good!...What will you do then? You are taking the courage away from me, a woman, instead of making up your mind what to do. Aren't you ashamed before the children and Magda to sit there like a dying man, rolling your eyes? Do you think I shall let the children starve for the sake of your Germans, or do you think I shall get rid of the cow? Don't imagine that I shall allow you to sell your land! No fear! If I fall down dead and they bury me, I shall dig myself out again and prevent you from doing the children harm! Why are you sitting there, looking at me like a sheep? Eat your breakfast and go to the manor. Find out if the squire has really sold his land, and if he hasn't, fall at his feet, and lie there till he lets you have the field, even if you have to pay sixty roubles.' 'And if he has sold it?' 'If he has sold it, may God punish him!' 'That won't give us the field.' 'You are a fool!' she cried. 'We and the children and the cattle have lived by God's grace and not by the squire's.' 'That's so,' said Slimak, suddenly getting up. 'Give me my breakfast. What are you crying for?' After her passionate outburst Slimakowa had actually broken down. 'How am I not to cry,' she sobbed, 'when the merciful God has punished me with such an idiot of a husband? He will do nothing himself and takes away my courage into the bargain.' 'Don't be a fool,' he said, with his face clouding. 'I'll go to the squire at once, even if I should have to give sixty roubles.' 'But if the field is sold?' 'Hang him, we have lived by the grace of God and not by his.' 'Then where will you get fodder?' 'Look after your pots and pans, and don't meddle with a man's affairs.' 'The Germans will drive you away.' 'The deuce they will!' He struck the table with his fist. 'If I were to fall down dead, if they chopped me into little pieces, I wouldn't let the dogs have my land. Give me my breakfast, or I'll ask you the reason why!...And you, Jendrek, be off with Maciek, or I shall get the strap!'