Boryna remained plunged for a while in dubious musings; he eyed the Voyt with attention, chalked something on the bench, scratched his head, and said finally: “I am with you in this undertaking.” “Good. Come to the miller’s to-morrow, after the judgment, and we shall talk the matter over further. I must be off now, to get my sledge-runners tinkered up at the blacksmith’s.” Away he went in high glee, assured that he had, by this offer of partnership in cartage, bought the old man over to his side. Truly, though, the miller might make one with the manor: his land was not on the village register, nor had he any rights over the forest. So too might the Voyt, whose lands had been taken from the clergy by the Russians; so might the smith: but not he, not Boryna! He said: “Cartage is one thing, and the forest dispute is another. Ere an agreement is come to, or we have a complete rupture, many a day must elapse. Why not, then, get my immediate profit out of the partnership, and yet hold fast to our rights? There are, in any case, some scores of roubles of clear gain. I should have to keep the servant and feed the horses, in any case.” He smiled, rubbed his hands, and chuckled over the situation. “They have no more sense than so many sheep, thinking to take me in like a silly calf. Silly themselves!” In rare good humour, he went back to his womenfolk. Yagna was out of the room. She had, they told him, gone out to feed the swine. He talked gaily, bantered Yasyek and Dominikova, awaiting his wife the while with increasing uneasiness. She was absent very long. Quietly and without a word, he went out into the yard. The lads were in the barn, making ready the sledge for the morrow’s ride. He looked into the stables, the byre, the sties: Yagna was nowhere to be seen. For a time he stood waiting under the eaves in the dark. It was a sombre night with a cold howling gale, great dark clouds chasing each other across the sky and, from time to time, some white flakes falling. Presently a dusky figure loomed in the path beyond the stile. Dashing forward, Boryna leaped the stile, and whispered fiercely: “Where have you been, say?” Yagna, though scared, carried it off boldly: “‘Covering my feet.’ Would you pry into everything?” she said with a mocking laugh, and went in. He spoke no more about that; and when they went to bed, he said in a quiet friendly tone, though without raising his eyes: “Would ye like to go to the Klembas’ to-morrow?” “Surely, along with Yuzka.—Unless ye forbid.” “I must go to the law-court, and leave my house to the care of Providence. It were better ye should stay at home.” “But will ye not be back by dusk?” “I fear not. Perhaps only late in the night. It looks like snow, and we may have hard work coming home. But if ye will go, you may; I do not forbid you.” CHAPTER IX