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"Oh, father, the ploughshares I ordered, has he brought them

along?" asked the big, healthy-looking fellow, obviously the old

man's son.

"There ... in the outer room," answered the old man, bundling

together the harness he had taken off, and flinging it on the

ground. "You can put them on, while they have dinner."

The good-looking young woman came into the outer room with the

full pails dragging at her shoulders. More women came on the

scene from somewhere, young and handsome, middle-aged, old and

ugly, with children and without children.

The samovar was beginning to sing; the laborers and the family,

having disposed of the horses, came in to dinner. Levin, getting

his provisions out of his carriage, invited the old man to take

tea with him.

"Well, I have had some today already," said the old man,

obviously accepting the invitation with pleasure. "But just a

glass for company."