238 MEEK HERITAGE

a source of secret satisfaction to him, for nothing
is happening except what had to happen; the
only thing that troubles him is a mild impatience.
Get through with it quicker! He knows that
neither side is capable of victory. The first
condition for that is victory over one's own self.

So run the thoughts of one secretly outside of
it all and careful not to disclose himself; and now
he feels in his nerves that events are moving.
Life abhors a long monotony. Life is in general
inclined to be passionate.

In the general hubbub Juha Toivola has con-
tinued to fuss about where anything is doing.
The whole of this time he has been seen around
here with his red ribbons and staring eyes.
Many a farmer who had previously not even paid
Juha the compliment of classing him with those
Socialists, has had to take orders from Juha.
Juha likes to be present on every important
occasion, his eyes starting out of his head, his
mouth grimly pursed. He also likes to be sent
to commandeer necessities, although his own
master once sent word to the Staff asking whether
they hadn't a better man to send than Toivola.
Many a man would rather give up half his land
than be under orders from the likes of Juha.
For some mysterious reason Juha is specially
obnoxious to the farmers and the object of their
hate.