unable to comprehend that what had been her cousin’s was now to be hers and that never again did she need to be a servant—nor Matýsek either. “Do get some wisdom in you,” the master of the place urged. “If you’ll be as stupid as this, people will soon deprive you of what the Lord has lavished on you. I already see in my mind’s eye how you will let yourself get cheated until you will again have nothing. I must myself intervene so that you’d not complain some day that I had no more sense than you. It will be best if you get married and that very soon. I can readily tell you of a bridegroom who will very carefully attend to all the matters concerning your property and you yourself will not have to pay any attention to them.” And the peasant named his own brother who about a year before had lost his wife. People said that he beat his wife to death. He was known as a bully far and wide. If a person just barely looked at him, having no evil intention whatever, he called him in the ring for a fight. People went a hundred feet out of the way to avoid him. His children all took after him and were as evil as their father. The peasant was afraid that his brother might some day kill someone and, should he be sentenced to prison, the degenerate children would come into his home. He would much rather wish them upon Barka.
They had to resuscitate Barka again, for his speech frightened her so.
