For this he was rebuked by Nastka, who took Yasyek’s part; and indeed he was much in her thoughts. True, he was rather foolish, and the village folk laughed at him; but then he was an only child, with ten acres of land; whereas (as she well knew) Simon had only five, and very possibly his mother would not let him marry her; so she kept on good terms with Yasyek, holding him in reserve, should Simon fail. He was sitting by her side, staring at her, and thinking of something to say, when in rushed the Voyt, who had by this time made it up with Boryna. He called out from the very threshold: “News for you! You are to appear in court to-morrow at noon.” “In the action about my cow?” “Aye, against the manor.” “I must be off betimes to-morrow; it is a long way. Vitek, go this instant to Pete and get everything ready. You are to go, too, as a witness.—Is Bartek notified?” “I have brought all the summonses from the court bureau to-day: there will be a lot of you together. And if the manor is at fault, let it pay up.” “Pay it must!—Such a cow as that!” “Come with me into the other rooms,” the Voyt whispered; “I have to talk with you.” They went out, and remained so long that Yuzka had to take supper in to them. The Voyt, as he had more than once done already, entreated him not to make enemies of the manor folk, to put matters off, see how things would turn out, and beware of joining with Klemba and his party. Boryna had hitherto seemed to waver, calculating chances. He did not refuse to listen, but did not care to join the Voyt’s side, still feeling indignant at the slight offered him by the Squire, when he had come to the miller’s lately. Seeing that he made no impression, the Voyt tried alluring him with a bait. “Ye know that I, with the miller and the smith, have come to an agreement with the manor: that we are to cart the trunks to the sawmill and, when sawn into planks, to the town.” “Yes, yes, of course I know: tongues wag about it quite enough, and say you prevent folk from earning any money.” “Much do I care! But let me tell you now what we three have settled. Hearken to what I say.” The old man shot a glance at him and listened attentively. “We want you to be one of us. You shall cart the very same quantity of timber. Ye have a good pair of draught-horses, the wagoner will only have to drive, and the profit is certain. Payment is by the cubic metre. You will have earned fivescore roubles ere it be possible to work in the fields.” Boryna pondered long. “When do you begin work?” he asked. “From to-morrow. They are already cutting down timber in the nearest clearings. The roads are fairly good, sledges being still available. My man is to start off on Thursday.” “A plague upon it! If I but knew whether my action will succeed to-morrow!” “Only join us, and all will be well.—I, the Voyt, have spoken.”