"I nodded.
"He laughed and climbed up the bank to me. 'So would I,' he said. 'I have a stiffness in my back that makes me inclined for anything rather than this work. Even your father.'
"We walked up to the house together, and Kornel's brow was creased with thought, while his lips smiled.
"'You see,' he said, 'we want nothing from him—nothing at all, so we can't afford to be humble. Have we any money at all?'
"'We have three shillings,' I answered, 'and I owe one shilling for food.'
"'That's not enough,' he said, shaking his head. 'You say he saw me working? We must have thirty shillings at least; we must treat him well; I can't let him off now that he has seen so much. We'll stuff him till he bulges like a rotten cask, and wishes he could make bricks as I can. I wonder if Pagan would pay me in advance for a thousand dozen. I'll go and ask him.'
"He started for the door at once, but turned and came back to me.
"'He said once he had nothing to give me,' he whispered to me. Do you grudge me this, kleintje.'
"'Not I,' I answered. 'I only wish we could do more.'
"He kissed me and was off in a moment. Pagan made no difficulty about the money. He looked at Kornel shrewdly when my man made the request, and paid at once.