“I say true. Till she is grown up, I care naught for a girl, be she ever so comely.” Here Dame Klemba rebuked him for talking of such things. “Oh, I am only joking. And girls like these jokes, they say, as well as any.” At this the lasses were offended, and grew red as turkeys in angry protest. “A fine fellow he is: not one of us is good enough for him!” “If there are none in Lipka you can like, then take one from elsewhere!” they cried. “But there are, there are! ’Tis easier to find an old maid here than a silver _zloty_. Ah, how many there are! They every Saturday beautify themselves at daybreak very thoroughly, and braid their hair, and chase chickens through the orchard to barter with the Jew for vodka, and are all the afternoon on the watch for messengers bringing a proposal. Why, have I not seen them on the roofs, waving their kerchiefs at me, and shouting: ‘Come to me, Matthew, come!’?—And the mothers, too, taking up the cry: ‘To Kate first, Matthew, to Kate! I’ll add to her portion—a cheese and eight eggs: Matthew, come to Kate!’” The men were near splitting their sides with laughter, he amused them so; but the girls, indignant, made such an uproar that old Klemba interposed: “Hush, girls! ye’re as noisy as magpies before rain.” The din went on nevertheless. So, to end the squabble, he inquired: “Were you present, Matthew, at the Voyt’s affray?” “Not I. But the Koziols were very soundly swinged, they say.” “Aye, swinged with a vengeance! They were awful to behold.—Well, well, the Voyt has had his fling, i’ faith.” “He has waxed fat on the Commune’s bread, and now he plays pranks!” “Aye, indeed, he fears none. Who would stand up to him? Any other should pay dear for such sport—he’ll not lose a hair thereby. He knows men in office, and can do as he pleases here.” “Because ye are but sheep to let him. He puts you down, and sets himself above you all!” “Having chosen him ourselves, we must respect his rule.” “But they that set him up can put him down again.” “Hush, Matthew, not so loud: folk may hear your words.” “——And tell him. Then he’ll know what I have said.—Let him fall foul of me, though, if he dare!” “Matthias, who alone could have held against him, is at death’s door. No one else would put himself forward: each has troubles enough of his own,” the old man concluded, rising from his seat. All rose with him, and went, some to rest awhile, some to stretch their legs and loosen their girdles; others—the lasses—to wash the dishes in the pond, and take a little recreation. But Matthew went directly to set up props and stays for the cabin, while Klemba lit his pipe and sat on the door-step. As he puffed, his mind reverted to the late talk. “Who stands up for others, shall have many bothers!” he growled.