“But what fell out here at that hour—what lamentations, what awful curses were heard—I could in no wise tell you! “And now spring is here; the snows have melted away, the fields are dry and crying out to be tilled, and the time for ploughing and sowing has come: but we have no one to work here! “Only the Voyt, the smith, and a few decrepit old men have been left; of the young men, only the fool, Yasyek Topsy-turvy! “Yet ’tis now the season for yeaning and calving; and of our women, many are brought to bed in these days; and we must think of our lads over there, and take food to them, with a little money and a clean shirt or two; meanwhile, we are over head and ears in work, and there is no hiring labour elsewhere, every peasant having first of all to shift for himself.” “Will they not be soon set free?” “The Lord knows! Our priest went to the police; so did the Voyt: and they say that, the inquiry over, sentence will be given. But three weeks have gone by, and not one man is back home. Roch, too, went to make inquiries last Thursday.” “Does Boryna live still?” “He does, but even as one dead; he lies like a log, insensible. Hanka sent for the best doctors, but they did naught.” “What could they do? Physicians are in vain when the ailment is mortal.” Klembova then told her visitor all that had taken place in winter; for Agata had not heard anything. She let her arms drop in sheer amazement and horror at what she now learned: the news made her heart ache. “O my God! I was all the time thinking of Lipka, but never, never dreamed.... All my life I have heard nothing like it.—Is Satan come to abide with us?” “Belike he is.” “It must be so. Our Lord is punishing us for the grievous sin of Antek with his stepmother. But there are other sins besides, that now spring forth and are seen by all.” Agata feared to ask what these were; she raised a shaking hand and, crossing herself, mumbled some devout prayer. “Yes, all the people have to suffer for them. While Boryna is lying there for dead”—here she lowered her voice—“they say that Yagna is making up in real earnest to the Voyt. Antek is away, Matthew also: she has no young fellow by, so she takes the first willing man she meets! What a world we live in, my God!” she ejaculated, wringing her hands. Agata had nothing to reply. The news she had heard depressed her so, that her former fatigue now came upon her with increased power, and she crept to the byre to get some rest. About sunset she was seen again, going the round of her acquaintances; and when she came back to the Klembas’, these were at supper. A spoon had been set and a place reserved for her; not a first place, of course. But she had little appetite, and preferred telling them what she had seen in the towns she had visited as a pilgrim.