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 “What are you coming here for? Who called you in?” the young man burst out angrily at his wife.

“We surely belong here without being called in, don’t we? And your wife can hear what you have to say to your father?” the mistress of the home calmly answered.

“Right you are, Apolena. Just come here and let me hear what you think of this. And you boys also. It’s a matter that concerns your inheritance!”

The master irritably crushed his cap down on his head and arose, intending to leave.

“Stay here, Joseph,” said the old man mildly, yet with a tone of firm command, “when I honor the father in you, you too, must honor the grandfather in the presence of my grandchildren. And after all, it’s the concern of the entire family. This land, in the name of our Christ Jesus, does not belong to you alone, but to all the Nešněras who, God granting, will yet succeed us!”

“Oh, then talk as much as you please, but I say it’s all useless,” said the master and carelessly and with an air of resignation he sat down again.

“Well, then, what do you say to it, Apolena?” the old man turned to his daughter-in-law, his voice shaken by emotion. “Or didn’t you know, either, that Joseph intends to sell this ‘hut’-as he called it to-day—to that German?”

“In God’s name, father!” burst forth the young woman and tears suddenly filled her eyes. “I have