The gale had by no means abated, and fought with the trees so fiercely that walking was perilous: every now and then the broken limb of a tree would be hurled to the ground. Stooping forward, the old man glided along by the fences, hardly visible through the eerie grey twilight, opaque as powdered glass. “Are ye seeking the Voyt? He is not at home, but at the miller’s,” said Yagustynka, appearing unexpectedly. He turned suddenly, and made for the mill; he could not bear that old mischief-maker. She, however, following and walking fast at his side, said in a low whisper: “Pray look in at the Prycheks’—and at Philip’s too—I beg you.” “If I can be of any use....” “They begged me so to ask you.—Pray visit them!” “Good, but I must see the Voyt first.” “Thanks, and God bless you!” He felt her lips tremble as she kissed his hand. He was amazed: she had usually been on skirmishing terms with him. “To everyone,” she said further, “there comes a time when, like a stray dog, driven away by all folk, one is glad to be caressed by some kindly hand.” And ere he could find a word to reply, she hurried away. He was told that the Voyt was no longer at the miller’s, but had driven over to town with the gendarmes. And Franek ushered him into his own little room, where several people from Lipka and the neighbouring villages were sitting to have their corn ground. Roch would have waited there, but Tereska, the soldier’s wife, who sat with the others, came to him timidly and in secret, to get news of Matthew Golab. “Ye were with the prisoners, and must know, surely. Is he in good health and spirits?... When will they let him out?” She put these questions, however, with downcast eyes. He looked at her with stern sorrow. “And your goodman in the army, how is he? Is he well? and like to come home soon?” She blushed deeply and fled away into the mill. He shook his head. “Poor blind creature!” he thought, and went after her. But the lamps were burning dimly in a dusky air, full of meal-dust, and he could not find where she had hidden herself from him. The mill went clattering on; the waters hurled themselves upon the wheels with such incessant din; the wind roared round the roof and walls, so like wheat pouring out of some enormous sack, that all was in a quiver, and, it seemed, about to fly to pieces. Roch then gave up the search, and went to see those poor people according to his promise. Now the night had fallen; here and there lamps twinkled amongst the tossing trees like wolves’ bright eyes. But, all around, it was strangely luminous; the huts were seen clear-cut in the distance; the sky hung aloft, bluish-black and cloudless, save for a few flying scuds like scattered snowflakes; and the stars oversprinkled it in ever denser multitudes, while the gale waxed mightier and mightier, and reigned over all the land.