“Since dawn ye could ten times over have done your hair.” “I could, but have not.” “Yagna, I will not be trifled with: beware!” “Of what?” she snarled back fiercely. “Of being turned out, dismissed from service, eh? I am not here at your good pleasure, nor in your house!” “And in whose then, pray?” “In my own, and I’d have you remember it!” “Should Father die, we’d soon see what right ye have here!” “But while he lives, I can show you the door.” “What? What did you say?” “Ye are beyond bearing! I never say one idle word to you, and ye always quarrelling with me.” “Thank God, you, that I do no worse!” she said, slouching forward with a threatening mien. “Try your utmost! I am alone, with none to help me; but we’d see who would have the upper hand.” She threw her hair back: their eyes, full of rage, struck at each other like knives. And Hanka utterly lost control of herself, and shook her fists and stormed with all her might. “What! Do you threaten me?... Set to, then, O innocent thing, O most injured one!—Aye, aye, all the parish knows of your doings.—More than once they have seen you in the tavern with the Voyt!—And when the other night I opened the door to you, home from your dirty pleasures, you were drunk—drunk as a pig!—Of a truth, who lives noisily will be whispered about.—Ah! but your power is ending, and neither Voyt nor smith will protect you then—you!—you!” She spat the words at her with a shriek. “What I do, I do: let folk leave me alone ... or beware!” Yagna vociferated, suddenly throwing back her beautiful flaxen hair over her shoulders. Exasperated to the utmost, and burning for a fight, she waved her hands nervously about her hips, with a glare of hatred that made Hanka quail; without another word she left the room, slamming the door. The brawl had overtaxed her strength. She had to sit down by the window with the child, and let Yuzka serve out the breakfast to the workers. It was only when they had gone that she felt a little stronger, and thought to put her work off, and go to see her father, who had been ailing for some days past. But this also was too much for her, and half-way there she had to return. After some time, however, a little strength came back to her, and she was able to do some manual work mechanically, while her thoughts were with Antek and far away. As the weather was improving, they expected the sun to come out about noon; for the swallows now flew high in air, and flocks of gold-fringed clouds were sailing by; and in the orchards, snowy with blossoms, the birds were singing loud.