Theroomwasabigone，withatilestove，andapartitiondividingitintotwo。Undertheiconsstoodatablepaintedinpatterns，abenchandtwochairs。Neartheentrancewasadresserfullofcrockery。Theshutterswereclosed，therewerefewflies，anditwassocleanthatLevinwasanxiousthatLaska，whohadbeenrunningalongtheroadandbathinginpuddles，shouldnotmuddythefloor，andorderedhertoaplaceinthecornerbythedoor。Afterlookingroundtheroom，Levinwentoutinthebackyard。
Thecomelyyounghousewifeinclogs，swingingtheemptypailsontheyoke，ranonbeforehimtothewellforwater。
`Looksharp，mygirl！’theoldmanshoutedafterher，good-humoredly，andhewalkeduptoLevin。`Well，sir，areyougoingtoNikolaiIvanovichSviiazhsky？Hecomestoustoo，’hebeganchatting，leaninghiselbowsontherailingofthesteps。Inthemiddleoftheoldman’saccountofhisacquaintancewithSviiazhsky，thegatescreakedagain，andlaborerscameintotheyardfromthefields，withwoodenplowsandharrows。Thehorsesharnessedtotheplowsandharrowsweresleekandfat。Thelaborerswereobviouslyofthehousehold:twowereyoungmenincotton-printshirtsandcaps，thetwootherswerehiredlaborersinhomespunshirts，oneanoldman，theotherayoungfellow。
Movingofffromthesteps，theoldmanwentuptothehorsesandbeganunharnessingthem。
`Whathavetheybeenplowing？’askedLevin。