〃Aha；　so；〃　cried　the　stranger；　looking　curiously　at　the　little　girl。　　〃Where　did　you　learn　to　shake　hands？〃
  〃In　school；〃　said　the　child　in　English。
  〃In　school？〃　replied　the　stranger　in　the　same　language。　　〃You　go　to　school。　　What　school？〃
  〃The　public　school；　sir。〃
  〃And　do　they　not　teach　you　to　kneel　when　you　salute　in　the　public　school？〃
  〃No；　sir；　we　never　kneel。〃
  〃What　then　do　you　learn　there？〃
  〃We　sing；　and　read；　and　write；　and　march；　and　sew。〃
  〃Aha！〃　cried　the　stranger　delighted。　　〃You　learn　many　things。　　And　what　do　you　pay　for　all　this？〃　he　said　in　Russian　to　the　father。
  〃Nothing。〃
  〃Wonderful！〃　cried　the　stranger。　　〃And　who　taught　her　English？〃
  〃No　one。　　She　just　learned　it　from　the　children。〃
  〃Aha；　that　is　good。〃
  The　father　and　mother　stood　struggling　with　their　pride　in　their　little　girl。　　A　sound　of　shouting　and　of　singing　made　the　stranger　turn　toward　the　window。
  〃What　is　that？〃　he　cried。
  〃A　wedding；〃　replied　Simon。　　〃There　is　a　great　wedding　at　Paulina's。　Every　one　is　there。〃
  〃At　Paulina's？〃　said　the　stranger。　　〃And　you；　why　are　you　not　there？〃
  〃We　are　no　friends　of　Rosenblatt。〃
  〃Rosenblatt？　　And　what　has　he　to　do　with　it？〃
  〃Rosenblatt；〃　said　Joseph　sullenly；　〃is　master　in　Paulina's　home。〃
  〃Aha！　　He　is　master；　and　you　are　no　friends　of　his；〃　returned　the　stranger。　　〃Tell　me　why　this　is　so？〃
  〃We　are　Russian；　he　is　Bukowinian；　he　hires　men　to　the　railroad；　we　hire　ourselves；　he　has　a　store；　we　buy　in　the　Canadian　stores；　therefore；　he　hates　us。〃
  The　stranger　nodded　his　head；　comprehending　the　situation。
  〃And　so　you　are　not　invited　to　the　wedding。〃
  〃No；　we　are　not　invited　to　the　wedding；〃　said　Joseph　in　a　tone　of　regret。
  〃And　they　are　your　friends　who　are　being　married？〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃And　there　is　good　eating　and　drinking？〃
  〃Yes；〃　cried　Joseph　eagerly。　　〃Such　a　feast！　　Such　a　load　of　beer！　And　such　a　dance！〃
  〃It　is　a　pity；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃to　miss　it　all。　　You　fear　this　Rosenblatt；〃　he　continued；　with　a　hardly　perceptible　sneer。
  〃Fear！〃　cried　Simon。　　〃No！　　But　one　does　not　enter　a　shut　door。〃
  〃Aha；　but　think　of　it；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃the　feasting　and　the　dancing；　and　the　beer！　　I　would　go　to　this　wedding　feast　myself；　were　I　not　a　stranger。　　I　would　go　if　I　knew　the　bride。〃
  〃We　will　take　our　brother；〃　cried　Joseph　eagerly。　　〃Our　friends　will　welcome　him。〃
  Simon　hesitated。
  〃I　like　not　Rosenblatt。〃
  〃But　Rosenblatt　will　be　too　drunk　by　this　time；〃　suggested　the　stranger。
  〃Not　he；〃　replied　Simon。　　〃He　never　gets　drunk　where　there　is　a　chance　to　gather　a　dollar。〃
  〃But　the　feast　is　free？〃
  〃Yes；　the　feast　is　free；　but　there　is　always　money　going。　　There　is　betting　and　there　is　the　music　for　the　dancing；　which　is　Rosenblatt's。　　He　has　hired　Arnud　and　his　cymbal　and　the　violins；　and　the　dancers　must　pay。〃
  〃Aha；　very　clever；〃　replied　the　stranger。　　〃This　Rosenblatt　is　a　shrewd　man。　　He　will　be　a　great　man　in　this　city。　　He　will　be　your　lord　some　day。〃
  The　eyes　of　both　men　gleamed　at　his　jibes。　　〃Aha；〃　the　stranger　continued；　〃he　will　make　you　serve　him　by　his　money。　　Canada　is；　indeed；　a　free　country；　but　there　will　be　master　and　slaves　here；　too。〃
  It　was　a　sore　spot　to　the　men；　for　the　mastery　of　Rosenblatt　was　no　imagination；　but　a　grim　reality。　　It　was　with　difficulty　that　any　man　could　get　a　good　job　unless　by　Rosenblatt's　agency。　　It　was　Rosenblatt　who　contracted　for　the　Galician　labour。　　One　might　hate　Rosenblatt；　or　despise　him；　but　it　was　impossible　to　ignore　him。
  〃What　say　you；　my　brothers；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃shall　we　attend　this　feast？〃
  The　men　were　eager　to　go。　　Why　should　Rosenblatt　stand　in　their　way？　　Were　they　not　good　friends　of　Jacob　and　Anka？　　Was　not　every　home　in　the　colony　open　to　a　stranger；　and　especially　a　stranger　of　rank？　　Simon　swallowed　his　pride　and　led　the　way　to　Paulina's　house。
  There　was　no　need　of　a　guide　to　the　house　where　the　feasting　was　in　progress。　　The　shouting　and　singing　of　the　revellers　hailed　them　from　afar；　and　as　they　drew　near；　the　crowd　about　the　door　indicated　the　house　of　mirth。　　Joseph　and　Simon　were　welcomed　with　overflowing　hospitality　and　mugs　of　beer。　　But　when　they　turned　to　introduce　the　stranger；　they　found　that　he　had　disappeared；　nor　could　they　discover　him　anywhere　in　the　crowd。　　In　their　search　for　him；　they　came　upon　Rosenblatt；　who　at　once　assailed　them。
  〃How　come　you　Slovaks　here？〃　he　cried　contemptuously。
  〃Where　the　trough　is；　there　the　pigs　will　come；〃　laughed　one　of　his　satellites。
  〃I　come　to　do　honour　to　my　friend；　Jacob　Wassyl；〃　said　Simon　in　a　loud　voice。
  〃Of　course；〃　cried　a　number　of　friendly　voices。　　〃And　why　not？　That　is　quite　right〃
  〃Jacob　Wassyl　wants　none　of　you　here；〃　shouted　Rosenblatt　over　the　crowd。
  〃Who　speaks　for　Jacob　Wassyl？〃　cried　a　voice。　　It　was　Jacob　himself；　standing　in　the　door；　wet　with　sweat；　flushed　with　dancing　and　exhilarated　with　the　beer　and　with　all　the　ardours　of　his　wedding　day。　　For　that　day　at　least；　Jacob　owned　the　world。　〃What？〃　he　cried；　〃is　it　my　friend　Simon　Ketzel　and　my　friend　Joseph　Pinkas？〃
  〃We　were　not　invited　to　come　to　your　wedding；　Jacob　Wassyl；〃　replied　Simon；　〃but　we　desired　to　honour　your　bride　and　yourself。〃
  〃Aye；　and　so　you　shall。　　You　are　welcome；　Simon　Ketzel。　　You　are　welcome；　Joseph　Pinkas。　　Who　says　you　are　not？〃　he　continued；　turning　defiantly　to　Rosenblatt。
  Rosenblatt　hesitated；　and　then　grunted　out　something　that　sounded　like　〃Slovak　swine！〃
  〃Slovak！〃　cried　Jacob　with　generous　enthusiasm。　　〃We　are　all　Slovak。　　We　are　all　Polak。　　We　are　all　Galician。　　We　are　all　brothers。　　Any　man　who　says　no；　is　no　friend　of　Jacob　Wassyl。〃
  Shouts　of　approval　rose　from　the　excited　crowd。
  〃Come；　brothers；〃　shouted　Jacob　to　Simon　and　Joseph；　〃come　in。　There　is　abundant　eating。　　Make　way　for　my　friends！〃　　He　crowded　back　through　the　door；　taking　especial　delight　in　honouring　the　men　despised　of　Rosenblatt。
  The　room　was　packed　with　steaming；　swaying；　roaring　dancers；　both　men　and　women；　all　reeking　with　sweat　and　garlic。　　Upon　a　platform　in　a　corner　between　two　violins；　sat　Arnud　before　his　cymbal；　resplendent　in　frilled　shirt　and　embroidered　vest；　thundering　on　his　instrument　the　favourite　songs　of　the　dancers；　shouting　now　and　then　in　unison　with　the　melody　that　pattered　out　in　metallic　rain　from　the　instrument　before　him。　　For　four　hours　and　more；　with　intervals　sufficient　only　to　quench　their　thirst；　the　players　had　kept　up　their　interminable　accompaniment　to　dance　and　song。　　It　was　clearly　no　place　for　hungry　men。　　Jacob　pushed　his　way　toward　the　inner　room。
  〃Ho！　　Paulina！〃　he　shouted；　〃two　plates　for　men　who　have　not　eaten。〃
  〃Have　not　eaten！〃　　The　startling　statement　quickened　Paulina's　slow　movements　almost　to　a　run。　　〃Here；　here；〃　she　said；　〃bring　them　to　the　window　at　the　back。〃
  Another　struggle　and　Jacob　with　his　guests　were　receiving　through　the　window　two　basins　filled　with　luscious　steaming　stew。
  As　they　turned　away　with　their　generous　host；　a　man　with　a　heavy　black　beard　appeared　at　the　window。
  〃Another　hungry　man；　Paulina；〃　he　said　quietly　in　the　Galician　tongue。
  〃Holy　Virgin！　　Where　have　these　hungry　men　been？〃　cried　Paulina；　hurrying　with　another　basin　to　the　window。
  The　man　fumbled　and　hesitated　as　he　took　the　dish。
  〃I　have　been　far　away；〃　he　said；　speaking　now　in　the　Russian　tongue；　in　a　low　and　tense　voice。
  Paulina　started。　　The　man　caught　her　by　the　wrist。
  〃Quiet！〃　he　said。　　〃Speak　no　word；　Paulina。〃
  The　woman　paled　beneath　the　dirt　and　tan　upon　her　face。
  〃Who　is　it？〃　she　whispered　with　parched　lips。
  〃You　know　it　is　Michael　Kalmar；　your　husband。　　Come　forth。　　I　wait　behind　yon　hut。　　No　word　to　any　man。〃
  〃You　mean　to　kill　me；〃　she　said；　her　fat　body　shaking　as　if　with　palsy。
  〃Bah！　　You　Sow！　　Who　would　kill　a　sow？　　Come　forth；　I　say。　　Delay　not。〃
  He　disappeared　at　once　behind　the　neighbouring　shack。　　Paulina；　trembling　so　that　her　fingers　could　hardly　pin　the　shawl　she　put　over　her　head；　made　her　way　through　the　crowd。　　A　few　moments　she　stood　before　her　door；　as　if　uncertain　which　way　to　turn；　her　limbs　trembling；　her　breath　coming　like　sobs。　　In　this　plight　Rosenblatt　came　upon　her。
  〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　Paulina？〃　he　cried。　　〃What　is　your　business　here？〃
  A　swift　change　came　over　her。
  〃I　am　no　dog　of　yours；〃　she　said；　her　sullen　face　flaming　with　passion。
  〃What　do　you　mean？〃　cried　Rosenblatt。　　〃Get　into　your　house；　cat！〃
  〃Yes！　cat！〃　cried　the　woman；　rushing　at　him　with　fingers　extended。
  One　swift　swoop　she　made　at　his　face；　bringing　skin　and　hair　on　her　nails。　　Rosenblatt　turned；　and　crying；　〃She　is　mad！　　She　is　mad！〃　made　for　the　shelter　of　the　cellar；　followed　by　the　shouts　and　jeers　of　the　men　standing　about。
  Raging；　at　the　door　Paulina　sought　entrance；　crying；　〃I　was　a　good　woman。　　He　made　me　bad。〃　　Then　turning　away；　she　walked　slowly　to　the　back　of　her　house　and　passed　behind　the　neighbouring　shack　where　the　man　stood　waiting　her。
  With　dragging　steps　she　approached；　till　within　touch　of　him；　when；　falling　down　upon　her　knees　in　the　snow；　she　put　her　head　upon　his　feet。
  〃Get　up；　fool；〃　he　cried　harshly。
  She　rose　and　stood　with　her　chin　upon　her　breast。