Macko, who was grateful for this kindness, caressed Jagienka's head, and said:
"May God reward your father and you. When our housekeeping improves, we will return the provisions."
"How clever you are! We are not like the Germans, who take back what they give."
"Well, so much more may God reward you. Your father told us what a good housekeeper you are, and that you had taken care of Zgorzelice the whole year?"
"Yes! If you need anything else, send somebody; but send some one who will know what is needed, because a stupid servant never knows what he has been sent for."
Here Jagienka began to look round, and Macko having noticed it, smiled and asked:
"I will send Zbyszko to thank you and your father. Do you like Zbyszko?"
"Then look at him now, because he is just coming."
In fact Zbyszko was coming from the stable. He was dressed in a reindeer jacket and round felt cap like those worn under the helmets; his hair was without a net, cut evenly over his eyebrows and hung in golden curls on his shoulders; he walked swiftly, having noticed the girl; he was tall and graceful, looking like the shield-bearer of a rich nobleman.
Jagienka turned toward Macko as if to show that she came only to see him; but Zbyszko welcomed her joyfully, and having taken hold of her hand, raised it to his mouth, notwithstanding her resistance.
"Why do you kiss my hand?" asked she. "Am I a priest?"
"Such is the custom; you must not resist."
"Even if he had kissed both your hands," said Macko, "it would not be enough for all that you have brought us."
"What have you brought?" asked Zbyszko, looking around the court-yard; but he did not see anything except the black horse tied to the post.
"The wagons have not come yet; but they will soon be here," answered Jagienka.
Macko began to enumerate what she had brought; but when he mentioned the two beds, Zbyszko said:
"I am satisfied to sleep on the urus' skin; but I thank you because you thought about me also."
"It was not I; it was _Tatulo_," answered the girl, blushing. "If you prefer to sleep on the skin, you can do it."
"I prefer to sleep on what I can. Sometimes after a battle, I slept with a dead Krzyzak instead of a pillow under my head."
"You do not mean to tell me that you have ever killed a Krzyzak? I am sure you have not."