But Heaven had pity on her and granted her a little relief. She came to herself again, knelt down before the holy pictures, and with abundant tears made a vow to go on pilgrimage to Chenstohova, if what she had heard should prove untrue. She was not even angry with Yagna any more; she only dreaded her; and, hearing her voice now and then, crossed herself, as if to keep off a fiend. Then she set to work. Her experienced hands worked almost as deftly as usual, little as her thoughts accompanied them; but she never remembered that she took the children out of doors and set the cabin in order that day.—At length, having prepared dinner and placed it in vessels for the field-labourers, she sent it to them by Yuzka. And now, being quite alone, and no longer agitated, she sat down to reflect over every word said. Intelligent and kind-hearted though she was, she could not put from her mind the blows dealt at her self-respect as a wife; more than once their memory made her burn with indignation, and her heart writhed under the torment it gave her; more than once the thought of some awful revenge filled her mind. But at last she came to this conclusion: “Truly, as to good looks, there is no comparison between me and her. But I am his wedded wife; I am the mother of his children”; and her confidence returned at the thought. “And should he even go astray after her, he will return again to me!—And at any rate,” she added to comfort herself, looking out of the window, “he can never marry her!” Afternoon was melting into evening, when the thought of a step that must be taken flashed suddenly across Hanka’s mind. She considered for a minute or two, leaning against the wall; then, wiping her eyes, she strode out into the passage, flung open the door of Yagna’s room, and said, loud but calmly: “Get out, out!—Out of this cabin instantly!” Yagna, starting up from her settle, faced her for many seconds with a steady look. Then Hanka, taking a step or two back from the threshold, repeated in a hoarse voice: “Take yourself away this instant, else will I have you thrown out by our farm-servant!—This instant!” she said once more, with stern emphasis. Here the old dame would have interfered, eager to bring forward explanations and excuses; but Yagna merely shrugged her shoulders. “Not a word to her—to that wretched wisp of straw! We know what she would have.” She took a paper out of the bottom of a chest. “’Tis the donation you’d have back, and the six acres therewith: take them, eat them, fill your belly with them!” Flinging the paper in her face, she added scornfully: “And choke yourself to death in the eating!” Then, paying no heed to her mother’s remonstrances, she speedily set about packing up all her things and carrying them outside. Hanka felt dizzy, as if she had received a blow between the eyes; but she picked up the paper, and said, threatening her: “Quicker than that, or I will set the dogs on you!”