He must not pardon a labourer who went home at a busy time because his father had died – sorry as he might be for the man – part of his pay had to be deducted for the precious months during which he had been absent; but he could not neglect giving a monthly allowance to old domestic serfs who were of no use at all to him.
La muerte del padre le parecía una causa muy justificada y la lamentaba; pero había que hacer el descuento correspondiente a los días no trabajados. Ahora bien, no se podía dejar de pagar su mensualidad a los viejos criados de la casa aunque no fuesen ya útiles para ningún trabajo.