TOWARDS MANHOOD 99

tried to put me off by saying Jussi could come and
talk about wages himself, but I says to that,
you won't catch that boy coming here any more
—I says—and then the mistress went and fetched
this twenty marks. But it's no use giving it. . . ,"

Miina made a gesture towards the bed and was
silent for a moment. Then, in her usual tone,
she went on:

" But what do you think to that, going and
loosening the nuts on dozens of wheels—fancy
thinking of such a thing—a lout like a sleeping
man's prayer when it comes to anything else,
you wouldn't think he'd have thought of such a
thing. Sure you weren't there last night, Kus-
taa? For the day you start such games, I'll. . ."

" I haven't touched anybody's nuts," Kustaa
answered in a surly tone.

Jussi pretended to be waking up; he stretched
himself, gasped and smacked his lips. Miina
looked in the direction of the bed, an expression
on her face wholly out of keeping with her latest
remark.

cc Ah, the champion nut-opener's going to
begin his day, I see."

Miina's account of her visit to Tuorila made
Jussi feel more of a stranger than ever among
these people. In spite of everything, the seven
years he had spent at Tuorila had left their mark
on him. These were poor people, with a bent
for treachery. Even Kustaa now seemed very