Levin took the scythe, and began trying it.

As they finished their rows, the mowers, hot and good-humored, came out into the road one after another, and, laughing a little, greeted the master.

They all stared at him, but no one made any remark, till a tall old man, with a wrinkled, beardless face, wearing a short sheepskin jacket, came out into the road and accosted him.

"Look'ee now, master, once take hold of the rope there's no letting it go!" he said, and Levin heard smothered laughter among the mowers.