take his horses to pasture for the night, after which he
closed it again and went into the house for his supper.

By this time he had forgotten all about Gavryl and what his father had
said to him. Yet, just as he touched the door-knob, he heard sounds of
quarrelling proceeding from his neighbor's house.

"What do I want with that devil?" shouted Gavryl to some one. "He
deserves to be killed!"

Ivan stopped and listened for a moment, when he shook his head
threateningly and entered the room. When he came in, the apartment was
already lighted. His daughter-in-law was working with her loom, while
the old woman was preparing the supper. The eldest son was twining
strings for his lapti (peasant's shoes made of strips of bark from the
linden-tree). The other son was sitting by the table reading a book. The
room presented a pleasant appearance, everything being in order and the
inmates apparently gay and happy--the only dark shadow being that cast
over the household by Ivan's trouble with his neighbor.

Ivan came in very cross, and, angrily throwing aside a cat which lay
sleeping on the bench, cursed the women for having misplaced a pail.
He looked very sad and serious, and, seating himself in a corner of the
room, proceeded to repair the horse-collar. He could not forget Gavryl,
however--the threatening words he had used in the court-room and those
which Ivan had just heard.

Presently Taraska came in, and after having his supper, put on his
sheepskin coat, and, taking some bread with him, returned to watch over
his horses for the night. His eldest brother wished to accompany him,
but Ivan himself arose and went with him as far as the porch. The night
was dark and cloudy and a strong wind was blowing, which produced a
peculiar whistling sound that was most unpleasant to the ear. Ivan
helped his son to mount his horse, which, followed by a colt, started
off on a gallop.

Ivan stood for a few moments looking around him and listening to the
clatter of the horse's hoofs as Taraska rode down the village street.
He heard him meet other boys on horseback, who rode quite as well as
Taraska, and soon all were lost in the darkness.

Ivan remained standing by the gate in a gloomy mood, as he was unable
to banish from his mind the harassing thoughts of Gavryl, which the
latter's menacing words had inspired: "Something will burn with greater
fierceness in Ivan's household before long."

"He is so desperate," thought Ivan, "that