made this selection. Every harvester called him “pantata”, and that pleased him; it was evident, he thought within himself, that they still accounted him somebody on the estate, and that they maintained the same behaviour to him as in times gone by.
In times gone by the harvesters were proud to boast of their respect and reverence for the Loykas. Where in all the neighbourhood was the harvest home held so merrily as at the Loykas’s? The harvesters were proud of it, and used to pride themselves on account of it in comparison with other harvesters.
“Well, pantata, this summer we shall have a merry harvest”, said one harvester. “A new bride in the house—she will help it out.”
“Ay, ay, just so”, said old Loyka, and perhaps he did not exactly catch what the harvester had said, for the smile did not vanish from his face nor did he remove the pipe from his mouth.
“Since at harvest home we have to dance with the mistress of the house, this year we shall dance the summer out, having to tread a measure both with your good lady and the young gentleman’s also”, suggested another of the harvesters.
“Ay, ay, just so”, said Loyka, and went on smiling; for it flattered him to think that the harvester had not forgotten his old mistress in the dance. “But this summer we have no musicians here”, he added.
“And what of the musicians? They trail off like sparrows after grain”, suggested the former harvester again.
And again old Loyka felt flattered to think that the harvester was not aware of the mode in which the musicians had been banished from the farm. “Just so, just so”, continued old Loyka with a touch of self-satisfaction.
After this he gave his orders where and to what fields they were to go, and where they were to begin to reap. When he had delivered all his orders, lo! Joseph was at his side, and said, “You will go to-day and cut beyond the meadow.” And it was totally different from what his father wished them to do.
“How, pray, should they go beyond the meadows? The corn beyond the meadows can stand two days longer, but where I am sending them it cannot stand a day longer”, objected his father.
“And when, they have to go beyond the meadows”, said Joseph, as if he had not the least heard what his father had said. Here the harvesters stood uncertain in which direction they had to quit the court-yard.
