The old men had long ago made the vow and agreed to go together, but Tarásych had had no time before: he had so much business on hand. The moment one thing came to an end, another began; now he had to get his grandson married, now he was expecting his younger son back from the army, and now he had to build him a new hut.
On a holiday the two old men once met, and they sat down on logs.
"Well," said Eliséy, "when are we going to carry out our vow?"
Efím frowned.
"We shall have to wait," he said, "for this is a hard year for me. I have started to build a house,—I thought I could do it with one hundred, but it is going on now in the third. And still it is not done. We shall have to let it go till summer. In the summer, God willing, we shall go by all means."
"According to my understanding," said Eliséy, "there is no sense in delaying. We ought to go at once. Spring is the best time."
"The time is all right, but the work is begun, so how can I drop it?"
"Have you nobody to attend to it? Your son will do it."
"Do it? My eldest is not reliable,—he drinks."
"When we die, friend, they will get along without us. Let your son learn it!"