Page:Korolenko - Makar's Dream and Other Stories.djvu/237

Rh But the old woman had already come out of the hut, and was making a low curtsey to the miller. Philip enjoyed this more than he had the words of the girl. He stuck his arms akimbo, and the head of his black shadow rubbed so hard against the wall that he wondered his hat didn't come off.

"Do you know what I've come for, old woman?" he asked.

"Oh, how should I not know, poor wretch that I am! You have come for my money."

"Ha, ha, not your money, old woman!" the miller laughed. "I'm not a robber; I don't come at night and take money that isn't mine

"Yes, you have come for money that isn't yours!" retorted Galya, angrily falling upon the miller. "You have come for it!"

"Crazy girl!" exclaimed the miller, stepping back. "Upon my word there isn't another girl in the whole village as crazy as you are. And not in the village alone, in the whole District. Just think a minute what you have said! If it weren't for your mother, who probably wouldn't testify against you, I'd have you up in court before Christmas for cheating me. Come, think a little what you're doing, girl!"

"Why need I think when I'm doing right?"

"How can it be right for the old woman to borrow money from me and not pay?"

"You lie! You lie like a dog! You came courting me when you were still a workman at the mill; you