“Fear not, I can well afford it. … You will see later.—Oh, if pigeon’s milk were to be bought for any money, I would buy some for you, dear! Oh, how happy you will be with me!” And, taking her round the waist, he pressed her to partake of all that was there. And she did: accepting all, however, as coolly and indifferently as if it were someone else’s engagement-day. She only thought: “Will the old man give it me before the wedding, that coral necklace he told me of at the fair?”
And now they began to drink in earnest—rum and sweetened vodka alternately, and all talked at the same time. Even Dominikova was not a little flustered, and she chattered and held forth about many a matter, so that the Voyt wondered at the wisdom she displayed.
Her sons were likewise in their cups, for again and again either Ambrose or the Voyt urged them to take some more. “Toss off your glasses, boys, ’tis Yagna’s engagement-day!”
“Yes, yes, we know,” they answered, and wanted to kiss the old sexton’s hand.
It was then that Dominikova took Boryna apart to have a straight talk with the man.
“Yagna is yours—yes, yours, Matthias!”
“Thanks, Mother, for your gift of her.” He put his arm round her neck and embraced her.
“You promised to make her a settlement, I understand.”
“Why need there be any? All I have is hers.”
“In order that she may look her stepchildren in the face and laugh at their curses.”
“Woe betide them, if they interfere! All is mine, all is Yagna’s.”
“Kindly said. Only note this: you are somewhat elderly. Besides, we all are mortal. And, you know:
“ ‘Death none can refuse:
He takes all he can,
Now a lamb, now a man,
Not caring to choose!’ ”
“Oh, but I am hale—good for a score of years yet. Never you fear!”
“ ‘Never-Fear was eaten by the wolves.’ ”
“Well, I am glad you speak out! Would you have me settle on her the three acres I have, close to Luke’s field?”
“ ‘A hungry dog will try even to catch a fly,’ as they say; but we are not hungry. Yagusia is to inherit five acres, besides one of forest-land, from her father. Settle six acres on her, you: those six where you grew potatoes last summer—close to the road.”
“My very best fields!”
“Yagna too is the pick of the village.”
“She is, indeed: therefore I sent you my proposers. But, mercy on us! six acres! It is a whole farm!” He scratched his head in perplexity; for his heart was sore at the thought of giving up so much of his best land.
“My good friend, consider, like the intelligent man you are, and you will see that the settlement is only a protection for my daughter. No one can take the land from you, so long as you live: while all that Yagna has inherited from her father will be yours at once. I will send for a land-surveyor when spring comes round, and you will even be able to sow it then. And, seeing that such an arrangement cannot harm you, you will readily settle those six acres upon her.”
“Good: I will.”
“And when?”
“Tomorrow, if you like!—No, on Saturday, when we have put up the banns; we shall then go straight to town. After all: ‘A goat dies once, and then—Never again!’ ”
“Come hither, Yagna, daughter dear!” She called to the girl, whom the Voyt was pushing towards the bar, while telling her something that made her laugh loud.
“Yagna, Matthias here will settle on you those six roadside acres of his.”
“Many thanks,” she murmured, and offered him her hand.
“Drink ye all to Yagna, most sweet Yagna!”
They drank, and Matthias put his arm round her waist to lead her to the other guests assembled; but she slipped away, and ran to her brothers, who were talking and drinking with Ambrose.
In the tavern, the din was ever growing louder and louder, as more people dropped in. Many, hearing voices, had come in to know what was going forward: some, too, to get a drink for nothing. Even the blind old man, led by his dog, was there in a good place, where all could see him; and he now listened and now said prayers aloud; so loud that Dominikova, hearing him, gave him some vodka, a morsel to eat, and a few kopeks besides.
The carouse went on; and soon, as is customary on such occasions, everybody was dear friend and own brother to everybody else.
The only silent one was the Jew. To and fro he glided, ever setting more and more spirits and bottles of beer before his guests, and scoring up everything with chalk behind the door.
Boryna, beside himself with joy, took dram after dram, urged his guests to drink, talked as he had seldom in his life been heard to talk, and was incessantly coming round to Yagna, offering her dainties, stroking her beautiful face, and taking her into some dusky corner, with his arm round her.
Very soon Dominikova saw it was high time to go home, and called her sons to set out with her.
Simon was quite fuddled now; so when she spoke, he set his girdle straight, smote the table with his fist, and cried out:
“Out upon it! I am a farmer, I! Who cares to go, let him go. If I choose to stay and drink, I will.—More vodka, you Jew!”
“Be silent, Simon! Oh, be silent: else she will trounce you!” So Andrew moaned, with maudlin tears in his eyes, pulling his brother by the coat. He, too, was very far gone.
“Boys!” she hissed, threateningly, “home! come home!”
“I am a farmer. I! If I choose to stay, Lo, I stay, and drink. … I have enough of Mother’s rule. … Thwart me, and I turn you out! Down with it all!”
But the old woman then struck him such a blow in the chest that he staggered and was sobered forthwith. Andrew took him out into the road, after placing his cap on his head. But the cold
