“Try carrying water in a sieve: how much will ye bring in? ’Tis even so with poverty.—And to me it seems a divine ordinance that some should have possessions, and others only the air they breathe.” Roch bowed his head and went out, much grieved. He had expected less harshness towards human sufferings from Boryna. The latter saw him to the gate, and—as customary with him—went round to give a last look at the cows and horses ere going to bed. Yagna, murmuring her evening prayer, was beating up the contents of the feather-bed she was making, when Matthias, coming in, cast a piece of cloth at her feet. “Ye lost your apron: I found it by the stile!” he said, very quietly, but with such harsh emphasis and a look so keen and searching that she was petrified with fear, and it was some seconds before she could stammer out some words to explain things. “’Twas ... ’twas that Lapa.... Mischievous brute! ... always making off with something ... took my clogs to his kennel the other day.—Always up to some mischief!” “Lapa?—I see.—Aye, aye,” he muttered with grim irony, positive that she had lied to him. CHAPTER VII On Twelfth Night, which that year fell on a Monday, the folk were slowly filing out of church, even before Vespers were over. For they heard from the tavern the music and singing, and made their way towards the inviting sounds. It was now that, for the first time since Advent, music was permitted; now, too, that Margaret Klemba and Vincent Soha celebrated their betrothal. The latter, though bearing the same name as the deceased Kuba, denied any relationship with him, being of those who pride themselves on their acres alone. Also, it was whispered that Staho Ploshka (who had since the potato-harvest been making up to Ulisia, the Soltys’ daughter) would surely that evening come to the point and settle everything with her father over a bottle. The latter was known to have objected to the match, not wishing for a son-in-law such a quarrelsome fellow, fickle besides, never on good terms with his parents, and demanding either four whole acres of land or two thousand _zloty_ in cash and a couple of cows into the bargain, as Ulisia’s dowry. That day, too, was the christening at the Voyt’s; and though the festivities were to be held at home, most who knew him expected that, as soon as the company should be in convivial mood, he would adjourn to the tavern and stand them drinks there all round. Besides these attractions, there were also greater and more serious matters, which concerned all the people equally. They had, as it happened, learned after High Mass from the people of the other hamlets that the Squire had already engaged all the hands he needed at the clearing: ten from Rudka, from Modlitsa fifteen, about eight from Debitsa, and of the “nobility” of Rzepki[10] hard upon a score; from Lipka, not one single man. It was a fact, for the forester had been at High Mass, and had told them so. -----