One day, according to the allotment of the work, it was his duty to turn the skins in the vats full of birch bark solution. He was alone in the workshop, he could work in peace, but he often let the stick fall from his hand, for, unlike other days, that day the fumes made him perspire, and he did not notice whether the skins were thoroughly turned. There was one vat more to turn when the door opened gently. "Good luck, Sandu." Sandu raised his head as though he were in a dream, wiped away the sweat, and looked at Ana as one looks at a person one does not the least expect to see. He wanted to say something to her, but a lump rose in his throat. Ana came nearer to him. "Sandu, I came to tell you to put the sandals in the box after you have turned the skins." "Good," replied Sandu. "Don't forget what Father said," and away she went. Outside she met Iotza, and passed him in such a hurry that she did not hear his greeting. "Well, Sandu, what did Ana want in the workshop?" he asked as he threw his apron behind a vat. "Nothing," replied Sandu, who was disappointed at not talking longer with Ana. "Nothing? Well, well! Listen, have you turned the skins?" "I have." "Have you filled the boiler with water?" "Yes, I have." "How much have you put? You have not filled it! Bring two more bucketfuls." "How can you pour two more bucketfuls in when it does not hold more than one?" "It does not hold more? I tell you plainly you have been too lazy to bring more, and who knows how you have turned the skins." Sandu grew red. "Iotza, I learnt my work from the master and not from the workman." "And what next?" "The next is, that I don't need your advice." "We shall see," cried Iotza, and went off. Three days later the mistress came to the workshop; she walked about here and there, and after a while she looked at the vats and took out a skin. "Who turned this vat?" "I did," replied Sandu. "I thought as much! Now you--just come and look at your work! That's how you turned it; that's what the solution is like; that's the kind of work you get paid for!" Sandu went up to the vat feeling as though he had been struck on the head. The solution was yellow, the skins were yellow and creased as usual, and he could not understand what fault the mistress had to find. "I told him so," said Iotza, interfering in the conversation; and as he opened the door to take out a bundle of bark, he added: "But he knows everything, and doesn't need advice from anyone." "Of course," scolded the mistress, "you did not have time to turn the skins; you stood talking, and took no heed of your work. What was Ana looking for here the day before yesterday?" "Ana--Ana came to tell me to put away the sandals in the box." "And you could not do that much without being told? You are the kind of man one must tell everything to, otherwise there would not be much use in your work!"