“‘In dying condition, folk need no physician.’” “A complaint will do this much: ere the official prohibition is issued, there will not remain a single stump of the wood—_our_ wood.—Remember what they did at Debitsa!” “‘The wolf that tastes a single lamb, with the whole flock its maw will cram.’ The manor folk are like the wolf.” “This,” Boryna said, “must be prevented.” “Matthias, these are words of wisdom. To-morrow, when mass is over, the farmers are to meet at my cabin and see what we should do; and they have sent to ask you to come over with good advice.” “Shall they all be there?” “Yes, and just after mass.” “To-morrow?—What can I do?—You see, I must be to-morrow at Vola without fail. Kinsmen of mine are dividing land there, quarrelling and bringing actions one against another. I have promised to arbitrate there, so that the orphans shall suffer no wrong. So I must go; but I agree to stand by the meeting’s decision.” They left the hut somewhat dissatisfied. He had approved them and agreed with all they said; but they had the impression he was not sincerely holding with them. “You will decide as you choose,” he was thinking; “I shall be clear of it. Neither the Voyt, nor the miller, nor any of the foremost men here follow you.... The Squire, if he knows I am not hostile to him, will compensate me more willingly for the cow; and he may come to an understanding with each of us separately.—They are foolish: it were better to let him cut the very last sapling down—and then go to law—lodge a complaint—get an injunction—and so wring out of him far more than he would have given by any agreement.” Long after everyone else was in bed, Matthias still sat up, poring over a board on which he had made calculations with chalk, and revolving many things in his mind. The next day, immediately after breakfast, he ordered the sledge to be got ready. “As I said last night, I am off to Vola. Yagna, take good care of the house; if anyone should ask after me, say I was obliged to go.—And do not forget to look in at the Voyt’s.” “Will ye come home late?” she asked, concealing the joy she felt. “About supper-time: perhaps later.”