Jagienka looked at him astonished.
"Everybody sings that. What is the matter with you?"
Zych thinking that Zbyszko was a little intoxicated, turned his jovial face toward him and said: "Ungird! It will relieve you!"
But Zbyszko stood for a while with astonishment on his face; then, having recovered from his emotion, said to Jagienka: "Excuse me, I suddenly remembered something. Sing further."
"Perhaps it makes you sad?"
"Ej, not at all!" he answered, with a quivering voice. "I could listen to it the whole night."
Then he sat down, covered his face with his hand, and listened.
Jagienka sang another couplet; but when she finished, she noticed a big tear rolling down Zbyszko's fingers.
Then she sat down beside him, and began to touch him with her elbow.
"What is the matter with you? I do not want to make you cry. Tell me what is the matter with you?"
"Nothing! Nothing!" answered Zbyszko, sighing. "I could tell you much. But it is over. I feel merry now."
"Perhaps you would like to have some sweet wine?"
"Good girl!" exclaimed Zych. "Call him 'Zbyszko,' and you call her 'Jagienka.' You have known each other since you were children."
Then he turned toward his daughter: "Do not mind because he struck you when you were children. He will not do it now."
"I will not!" answered Zbyszko, mirthfully. "If she wishes, she may beat me now for it."
Then Jagienka, wishing to cheer him up, began to play that she was striking him with her little fist.
"Give us some wine!" shouted the merry Pan of Zgorzelice.
Jagienka sprang to the closet and brought out a jug of wine, two beautiful silver goblets, engraved by a silversmith of Wroclaw[76] and a couple of cheese.
Zych, being a little intoxicated, began to hug the jug and said to it as if he were talking to his daughter: "Oj, my dear girl! What shall I do, poor man, when they take you from Zgorzelice; what shall I do?"
"And you must give her up soon!" said Zbyszko.
Zych began to laugh.
"Chy! Chy! The girl is only fifteen; but she is already fond of boys! When she sees one of them, she begins immediately to rub knee with knee!"
"Tatusiu[77] if you don't stop, I will leave you," said Jagienka.
"Don't go! It's better with you here." Then he continued to say to Zbyszko: "Two of them visit us. One of them is young Wilk, the son of old Wilk of Bizozowa; the other is Cztan[78] of Rogow. If they meet you here, they will gnash their teeth, as they do at each other."