7. Knich’s House

Mr. Ivan did not resist. He could only shake his head a little, as if to say:

“That will please me. But everything pleases me just now.”

“Very well; Tarass, what are you doing?” asked old Knich, after having placed a new bottle before his guest. “Is this the time to stand gaping there? In your place, I should have gone to see if it was time to feed the oxen.”

“Do you know, Mr. Ivan, I have a good workman in Tarass! He is a little boy who is not at all foolish or idle.”

Mr. Ivan wished to reply, but he could only give a smile which did not say much. As to Tarass, he did not wait to be urged. With one bound he was near the door.

It was time! Maroussia could not control herself any longer. She arose, and said quietly to old Knich:

“I will go with Tarass.”

“Go, my little child, go,” answered the old man.

And, when she passed near him, he stretched out his hand and gently stroked her hair.

This caress was a little thing, but, as if by magic, it restored full confidence to Maroussia; she felt herself reassured and comforted, her anxiety disappeared, her poor heart, until then as if within the grasp of a vice, was freed from pain.

“Very dear sir,” said Ivan, making a desperate effort to collect his thoughts; “ this hay just now, you know, the hay in the wagon which I was ordered to escort, is ours! You understand me? We captured it; hence it is ours, it becomes our property! It is clear, is it not? But if you want to keep it, you can pay me the price. Give me the money, much money, and you may have it! And that will be all right, on the honor of an honest man!”

“You are the master, Mr. Ivan,” answered old Knich; “you are absolutely the master. You can take all you want. You are the master!”

“That is well! That is very well!” answered Ivan. “Very well indeed!”