“Aye, all by myself, Yuzka! Yendrek here only brought me this live cock.—Aye, all by myself!” “Dear, dear! how lifelike it moves! And yet ’tis but wood.—Show it to the girls, Vitek! How they all will marvel!—Show it to them, Vitek!” “Ah, no. We shall go round to-morrow for the _Dyngus_,[4] and then they shall see it. I must still put up a railing all round to protect it.” ----- Footnote 4: _Dyngus_, called also _Smigus_; a popular festival, with a great deal of horse-play, drenchings and even dousings, on Easter Monday; believed to be a custom surviving from the time when the Poles (in the tenth century) embraced Christianity and were baptized _en masse_.—_Translator’s Note._ “Then come round to our big room and work at it, as soon as you have seen to the kine. There will be more light there.” “So I will, but I have something else to do first in the village.” She returned, but the company had finished the game and was now breaking up. For it was dark; lights gleamed in the huts and twinkled in the sky, and the evening chill was rising from the fields. By now, everybody save Hanka was back from town. Yuzka prepared a glorious supper: _barszcz_ with shredded sausage, and potatoes seasoned with much fried bacon. She set it on the table, where Roch was waiting already; the little ones were whimpering, and Yagna had been looking in more than once. At that moment Vitek glided in noiselessly, and sat down at once before the smoking dishes. His face was red as fire and he ate but little; his teeth were chattering, his hands trembling; and before supper was ended, he had slunk away. Yuzka, wondering what was the matter, met him afterwards outside the sty, taking some draff out of the trough, and questioned him sharply. For some time he tried to hold back the truth, and put her off with fibs; but all came out at last. “Well, I have got my stork back again from his Reverence!” “Gracious Lord! and no one saw you?” “No one. His Reverence was away from home, the dogs were at their meal, and there stood my stork in the porch. Maciek had seen it, and came to let me know. I wrapped it close in Pete’s capote lest it should peck at me, carried it off, and hid it ... somewhere!—But do not, my Yuzka, my golden girl!—do not breathe one word of this. In a few weeks I will bring it round to our cabin, and you’ll see it strutting about in front of the porch; and none will know it for the same. Only betray me not!” “Betray you? have I ever done that?... But I am amazed at your daring—Good heavens!” “’Twas but my own property I have taken back again. I said I would never give it him: and behold, I have it once more. A likely thing indeed, that I should tame it all for the delight of others! Yea, surely!”—And he ran off, whistling. Returning presently, he came in and sat down by the fireside with the little ones, intent on finishing his creation.