talk a while and then I'd say: I've found a husband for your daughter; it's our miller."
"And what would he say?"
"He'd say: 'Well I never! Your grandmother never expected that! How much is he worth?'"
"And what would you answer?"
"I'd answer: Of course my grandmother never expected it because she died long ago, God rest her soul! So you don't know, I see, that the devil has carried away our Jew?"
"'Then that's altogether different,' he'd say. "'If there's no Jew in the village the miller will be a substantial man.'"
"All right, supposing Makogon gives his consent, will Galya marry the workman?"
"If you drive the girl and her mother out of their khata she will be glad to live at the mill."
"I see—well, well——"
VIII
The miller scratched his head in perplexity, and things went on like that, you must know, not only for a day but for almost a year. The miller had hardly had time to look about him before St. Philip's day had come and gone, and Easter, and Spring, and
Summer. Then once again he found himself standing at the door of the tavern, with Kharko leaning
