“Oh, but if anyone should steal my horses, and I got hold of him, I would kill him on the spot like a mad dog!” cried one of the farm-hands. “Only fools look for justice in this world. Anyone who can, may right his own wrongs.” “Should such a one be caught by a great number of men and killed, these surely could not be punished: impossible to punish all of them!” “I remember,” said Vavrek’s wife, “something in that way, done here amongst us.... I had then my second husband—no, let me see; Matthew was yet living then....” Her reminiscences were cut short by the entrance of Boryna. “Oh,” he cried in a merry mood, “the noise of your chattering can be heard across the water!” and taking off his cap, he greeted each guest, one after another. Possibly he was already slightly elevated, being as red as a beetroot; and contrary to his custom, he unbuttoned his capote, and talked loud and long. He greatly wished to come over and sit by Yagna, but durst not: it would never do, so long as things had not been settled between them. So he only enjoyed the looks of her—so comely, so well dressed—adorned, too, with the kerchief he had bought for her! Vitek and Kuba brought a long bench and set it in front of the fire. And Yuzka, having wiped it with a clean linen cloth, at once set on it the necessary dishes and spoons for supper. Out of the pantry Boryna brought a big-bellied bottle, containing four quarts of vodka, and went round drinking to each visitor, and with him. The girls, however, hung back with affected dislike, until one of the farm-hands cried out: “They’re all as fond of vodka as a cat of milk, but just hold off for the look of the thing!” “The hopeless drunkard! Always at Yankel’s, he thinks everyone is like him!” So they held off no more, but drank, first turning away and putting their hands before their faces, then throwing the last drops on to the floor, with due rites; and each made a wry face and exclaimed: “How very strong!” as she returned the glass to Boryna. Yagna alone refused to drink, however much she was asked. “I do not so much as know how vodka tastes, and I do not care to know.” “Well, now, sit down, dear friends, and partake of what we have for you,” was Boryna’s invitation, after the vodka. Several formalities, commanded by good breeding, having been gone through, they all seated themselves to eat deliberately and engage in conversation. The food was so very excellent as to surprise many of the guests. There were boiled potatoes, served in broth; there was sodden meat, with barley meal; there was cabbage together with peas in one dish: all offered with great hospitality on the part of the master, who not only invited, but pressed his visitors to enjoy themselves. Vitek heaped the fire with dry roots, which made a joyful crackling noise; and while they were eating, Kuba brought in a heap of fresh cabbages, which he piled up, greedily sniffing the dainties on the table, and sighing.