shall give," and which constantly opposed him everywhere.
"If we have time, Konstantin Dmitritch," said the overseer.
"Why shall we not have time?"
"We absolutely ought to hire fifteen more workmen, but they can't be had. Some came to-day who asked seventy rubles for the summer."
Levin did not speak. Again the opposing force! He knew that, however he might exert himself, he never could hire more than forty, thirty-seven, or thirty-eight, laborers at a reasonable price; he had succeeded in getting forty, never more; but nevertheless he could not give up vanquished.
"Send to Suri, to Chefirovka; if they don't come, we must go for them."
"I'm going to go," said Vasili Feodorovitch, gloomily. "But then the horses are very feeble."
"Buy some more; but then I know," he added, with a laugh, "that you will do as little and as badly as you can. However, I warn you that I will not let you do as you please this year. I shall take the reins in my own hands."
"Yes! but even as it is you get too little sleep, it seems to me. We are very happy to be under our master's eyes...."
"Now, have the clover put in on the Berezof Bottom, and I shall come myself to inspect it," said he, mounting his little horse, Kolpik, which the coachman brought up.
"Don't go across the brooks, Konstantin Dmitritch," cried the coachman.
"Well, then, by the woods."
And on his little, lively, easy-going ambler, which whinnied as it came to the pools, and which pulled on the bridle, having been too long in the stable. Levin rode out of the muddy courtyard, and across the open fields.
Happy as Levin had felt in his cow-yard and cattle-pen, he felt still happier out in the field. Rhythmically swaying on his easy-going, gentle pony, drinking in the
