“Differently or not differently,” she replied, “if anybody tries such tricks with us, we’ll take him by the collar right away and down the stairs he goes!”
“That’s merely what you say....”
“And that’s exactly how it’ll be,” she answered with the same gravity as before. “If I’m a boss, then I must be a boss. I know. I’ve worked for bosses, too, and have quarrelled with them. And you may be sure that they were in the wrong. But to fight just for the fun of it! I’d like to see them try it!”
“It couldn’t happen in our place,” he said. “I’ll yield to them in everything.”
“What do you mean, yield to them in everything?” Her voice rose slightly. “Bah! Not even a hair’s breadth! Why should I treat people better than I myself was treated?”
Drabkin turned pale. His hand trembled.
“We’ll see about that,” he answered weakly. He restrained himself, but his blood was boiling.
“What shall we see, what?” asked Chyenke. “I certainly won’t treat my employés any better than I was treated. Why should I give in to them? Let them walk all over me?”
He was silent. He was already infuriated, but strove to choke back his words. He applied himself industriously to his work and did not utter another sound, although it was a long time before Chyenke stopped talking....
That night he ran to Chashke. He repeated the conversation to her.