"Now go out, thou soldier!" said Shmul, phlegmatically.
Half an hour later, Repa was approaching his cottage; his wife, who was cooking breakfast just then, heard him when the gate squeaked, and ran straight from the fire to meet him; she was very angry.
"Thou drunkard!" began she.
But when she looked at the man, she was frightened, for she hardly knew him.
"What is the matter with thee?"
Repa went into the cottage, and at first could not say a word; he only sat on the bench and looked at the floor.
But Marysia began to inquire, and got everything out of him finally.
"They sold me," said he.
Then she in her turn broke into a great lament; he after her; the child in the cradle began to roar; Kruchek, the dog, outside the door howled so piteously that women with spoons in their hands ran among other cottages and inquired one of another,—
"What has happened there at Repa's?"