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So, whenever the grey one was on top, they would cry, 'Vivat

Soplica; foh, the Horeszko cowards!' but when it fell, they

shouted, 'Get up, Soplica; don't give in to the magnate-that's

shameful for a gentleman!' So we laughed and waited to see which

would beat; but suddenly little Zosia, moved with pity for the

birds, ran up and covered those warriors with her tiny hand: they

still fought in her hands till the feathers flew, such was the

fury of those little scamps. The old wives, looking at Zosia,

quietly passed the word about, that it would certainly be that

girl's destiny to reconcile two families long at variance. So I

see that the old wives' omen has to-day come true. To be sure, at

that time they had in mind the Count, and not Thaddeus."