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broken horse-collar aside to be repaired. He intended to perform some
other duties, but it became too dark and he was obliged to leave them
till the next day. He fed the cattle, however, and opened the gate that
Taraska might 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
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