"Have I told you that the abbot loves Jagienka as much as if she were his own? The last time I saw him he said: 'I have no relations except those from my mother's side; and they will receive nothing from me.'" Here Macko looked at Zych suspiciously and after awhile he answered: "Would you wrong us?" "Jagienka will get Moczydoly," said Zych evasively. "Immediately?" "Immediately. I would not give it to another; but I will do it for her." "Half of Bogdaniec belongs to Zbyszko, and if God restore my health, I will improve the estate. Do you love Zbyszko?" Zych began to wink and said: "When anybody mentions Zbyszko's name in the presence of Jagienka, she immediately turns away." "And when you mention another?" "When I mention another, she only laughs and says: 'What then?'" "Well, do you not see. God will help us and Zbyszko will forget about the other girl. I am old and I will forget also. Will you have some more mead?" "Yes, I will." "Well, the abbot is a wise man! You know that some of the abbots are laymen; but this abbot, although he does not sit among the friars, is a priest just the same; and a priest can always give better advice than an ordinary man, because he knows how to read, and he communes with the Holy Ghost. I am glad that Jagienka is going to have the estate of Moczydoly. As for me, as soon as the Lord Jesus restores my health, I will try to induce some of the peasants living on the estate of Wilk of Brzozowa, to settle on my land. I will offer them more land, I have plenty of it in Bogdaniec. They can come if they wish to, for they are free. In time, I will build a _grodek_ in Bogdaniec, a worthy castle of oaks with a ditch around it. Let Zbyszko and Jagienka hunt together. I think we shall soon have snow. They will become accustomed to each other, and the boy will forget that other girl. Let them be together. Speak frankly; would you give Jagienka to him or not?" "I would. Did we not decide a long time ago that they should marry, and that Moczydoly and Bogdaniec would be our grandchildren's?" "_Grady!_" exclaimed Macko, joyfully. "God will bless us and their children will be as numerous as hail. The abbot shall baptize them." "If he will only be quick enough!" exclaimed Zych. "I have not seen you so jolly as you are to-day for a long time." "Because I am glad in my heart. Do not fear about Zbyszko. Yesterday when Jagienka mounted her horse, the wind blew. I asked Zbyszko then: 'Did you see?' and his eyes shone. I have also noticed that although at first they did not speak much to each other, now when they go together, they are continually turning their heads toward each other, and they talk--talk! Have some more mead?" "Yes, I will." "To Zbyszko and Jagienka's health!" CHAPTER VII.