The old man, hearing her voice, came out and brought her into the cabin himself, asked about the children and was pained at what she had undergone. She presently became calmer, and told him everything without concealment. But she felt shocked at the change that he too had suffered; for he had aged a good deal, stooped much more, and looked faded and withered and thin. But his face still wore the same expression as of old, and was even full of more grim and dogged determination than before. They had a long talk; and when, after an hour or so, Hanka prepared to go home, Boryna told Yuzka to make a large bundle of everything they could spare. It turned out to be so large that she could not carry it by herself; so Vitek had to take it on a toboggan. And, as she went out, Boryna thrust several _zloty_ into her hands “for salt-money,” and said: “Come hither more often—every day, if ye can. No one knows what may happen to me, so pray look after the house. And Yuzka loves you.” Thereupon she went away, reflecting on his words as she went, and paying but little heed to Vitek’s prattle. Yet he was telling her how the Voyt and the Soltys came daily to press Master to be reconciled to Yagna; how Master had even been at his Reverence’s, along with Dominikova—who had afterwards conferred with him till very late the night before—and told her all the news he thought would interest her. She found Antek still at home, repairing his boots. He did not even look up in her direction; but, on seeing Vitek and the pack, he said, tauntingly: “Come back from begging, I see.” “Beggars have to beg.” But when Vitek came in, Antek, recognizing him, flew into a passion. “Blood of a dog!—I forbade you to go to Father’s!” “He asked me himself—I went; he offered the things unasked—I accepted.—Am I, are the children, to die of hunger?—To you ’tis indifferent; but I will not have it.” “Take all that back again!” he shouted. “I want nothing from that man.” “You do not: I and the little ones do!” “Take it back, I say, or I’ll take it myself ... aye, and thrust his charity down his throat to choke him! Do you hear? I’ll throw all that stuff out of doors!” “You dare to try! Lay but a finger on it, and you’ll see!” she screamed, catching up the tiny house-mangle, ready to defend, tooth and nail, the things given her. So dangerous did she look, so infuriated, that he shrank back in confusion at this unexpected resistance. “He has bought you cheap,” he growled. “Very cheap.—For a bit of bread, as one lures a dog!”