Theyweremowingslowlyovertheuneven，low-lyingpartsofthemeadow，wheretherehadbeenanolddam。Levinrecognizedsomeofhisownmen。HerewasoldIermilinaverylongwhitesmock，bendingforwardtoswingascythe；therewasayoungfellow，Vaska，whohadbeenacoachmanofLevin’s，takingeveryswathwithawidesweep。Here，too，wasTit，Levin’spreceptorintheartofmowing，athinlittlepeasant。Hewentonahead，andcuthiswideswathwithoutbending，asthoughplayingwithhisscythe。
Levingotoffhismare，andfasteningherupbytheroadsidewenttomeetTit，whotookasecondscytheoutofabushandgaveithim。
`It’sready，sir；it’slikearazor-itcutsofitself，’saidTit，takingoffhiscapwithasmileandgivinghimthescythe。
Levintookthescythe，andbegantryingit。Astheyfinishedtheirswaths，themowers，hotandgood-humored，cameoutintotheroadoneafteranother，andsmirking，greetedthemaster。Theyallstaredathim，butnoonemadeanyremark，tillatalloldman，withawrinkled，beardlessface，wearingashortsheepskinjacket，cameoutintotheroadandaccostedhim。
`Look’eenow，master，oncetakeholdoftherope，there’snolettinggo！’hesaid，andLevinheardsmotheredlaughteramongthemowers。