“So much as that?” “No great wonder, since he is at the head of everything.” Hanka said no more till, passing in front of the smithy, whence a ruddy light flowed through the unpaned window, crimsoning the snow, she muttered: “That Judas! Never in want of work to do!” “He has engaged an assistant, and is himself continually travelling. Also he is with the Jews in that forest business, and occupied with them in deceiving the people.” “Do they cut down the clearing yet?” “Are you dwelling in the woods, that you do not know?” “Not so; but I am not greedy for village news.” “Well, let me tell you, they are cutting down a bit of the forest that was already bought.” “Of course; our folk would never permit them to fell the trees on our clearing.” “Even for that, who would interfere? The Voyt holds with the Manor folk, and the Soltys too, and all the wealthier men.” “True. Who is it can get the better of a rich man? or who can overcome him?—Well, Nastka, pray look in at our home.” “Farewell.—Yes, I shall bring distaff and spindle one of these days.” They separated in front of the miller’s dwelling, and Nastka went on to the mill, down below, while Hanka passed through the yard into the kitchen. She had great trouble in getting there; a number of dogs swarmed round her, barking and driving her to the wall. Eva came to protect her and usher her in; and just then the miller’s wife arrived, saying: “If you have business with my husband, he is in the mill.” She met him coming back to his house; he took her to the family room, where she immediately paid all she owed for meal and groats. “You are living on your cow, hey?” he said, throwing the money into a drawer. “What would you have?” she replied, offended. “One cannot live on stones.” “Your goodman is a sluggard, let me tell you.” “So you say. But what work is he to do? where? with whom? Tell me.” “Are no threshers needed here?” “Of course such work is not to his taste; he was never yet a common farm-labourer.” “I am sorry for the man. He’s headstrong, without respect for his father, and fierce as a wolf; all the same, I am sorry.” “I—I have heard—that you, Sir Miller, have work to be done; perhaps you might employ Antek.... I beseech you...” Here she fell a-weeping and imploring him very earnestly. “Let him come.—Mind, I do not ask him. Work there is, but hard work. To hew the trees into logs—ready to be sawn.” “That he can do: few men in the village as well.” “That’s why I say, Let him come.—But you, my woman, you do not look after him properly. Not at all.” She stood amazed, having no idea of what he meant. “The fellow has a wife of his own. Children too. And yet he is running after another man’s wife.” Hanka turned white; the words were a thunderbolt. “It’s true what I say. He wanders nightly. Has been seen out more than once.”