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which was being ploughed。 A herd of cows； calves； sheep； and pigs；
which belonged to the village community； was grazing there。 The shortest
way to the park was to pass through the herd。 He frightened the sheep；
which ran away one after another； and were followed by the pigs； of which
two little ones stared solemnly at him。 The shepherd boy called to the
sheep and cracked his whip。 〃How far behind Europe we are；〃 thought
Volgin； recalling his frequent holidays abroad。 〃You would not find a
single cow like that anywhere in Europe。〃 Then； wanting to find out
where the path which branched off from the one he was on led to and who
was the owner of the herd； he called to the boy。
〃Whose herd is it？〃
The boy was so filled with wonder； verging on terror； when he gazed at
the hat； the well…brushed beard； and above all the gold…rimmed eyeglasses；
that he could not reply at once。 When Volgin repeated his question the boy
pulled himself together； and said； 〃Ours。〃 〃But whose is 'ours'？〃 said
Volgin； shaking his head and smiling。 The boy was wearing shoes of
plaited birch bark； bands of linen round his legs； a dirty； unbleached shirt
ragged at the shoulder； and a cap the peak of which had been torn。
〃Whose is 'ours'？〃
〃The Pirogov village herd。〃
〃How old are you？
〃I don't know。〃
〃Can you read？〃
〃No； I can't。〃
〃Didn't you go to school？〃
〃Yes； I did。〃
〃Couldn't you learn to read？〃
〃No。〃
〃Where does that path lead？〃
The boy told him； and Volgin went on towards the house； thinking how
he would chaff Nicholas Petrovich about the deplorable condition of the
village schools in spite of all his efforts。
On approaching the house Volgin looked at his watch； and saw that it
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was already past eleven。 He remembered that Nicholas Petrovich was
going to drive to the nearest town； and that he had meant to give him a
letter to post to Moscow； but the letter was not written。 The letter was a
very important one to a friend； asking him to bid for him for a picture of
the Madonna which was to be offered for sale at an auction。 As he
reached the house he saw at the door four big； well…fed； well…groomed；
thoroughbred horses harnessed to a carriage； the black lacquer of which
glistened in the sun。 The coachman was seated on the box in a kaftan； with
a silver belt； and the horses were jingling their silver bells from time to
time。
A bare…headed； barefooted peasant in a ragged kaftan stood at the front
door。 He bowed。 Volgin asked what he wanted。
〃I have come to see Nicholas Petrovich。〃
〃What about？〃
〃Because I am in distressmy horse has died。〃
Volgin began to question him。 The peasant told him how he was
situated。 He had five children； and this had been his only horse。 Now it
was gone。 He wept。
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃To beg。〃 And he knelt down； and remained kneeling in spite of
Volgin's expostulations。
〃What is your name？〃
〃Mitri Sudarikov；〃 answered the peasant； still kneeling。
Volgin took three roubles from his purse and gave them to the peasant；
who showed his gratitude by touching the ground with his forehead； and
then went into the house。 His host was standing in the hall。
〃Where is your letter？〃 he asked； approaching Volgin； 〃I am just off。〃
〃I'm awfully sorry； I'll write it this minute； if you will let me。 I forgot
all about it。 It's so pleasant here that one can forget anything。〃
〃All right； but do be quick。 The horses have already been standing a
quarter of an hour； and the flies are biting viciously。 Can you wait；
Arsenty？〃 he asked the coachman。
〃Why not？〃 said the coachman； thinking to himself； 〃why do they
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order the horses when they aren't ready？ The rush the grooms and I had
just to stand here and feed the flies。〃
〃Directly； directly；〃 Volgin went towards his room； but turned back to
ask Nicholas Petrovich about the begging peasant。
〃Did you see him？He's a drunkard； but still he is to be pitied。 Do be
quick！〃 Volgin got out his case； with all the requisites for writing； wrote
the letter； made out a cheque for a hundred and eighty roubles； and；
sealing down the envelope； took it to Nicholas Petrovich。
〃Good…bye。〃
Volgin read the newspapers till luncheon。 He only read the Liberal
papers： The Russian Gazette； Speech； sometimes The Russian Wordbut
he would not touch The New Times； to which his host subscribed。
While he was scanning at his ease the political news； the Tsar's doings；
the doings of President； and ministers and decisions in the Duma； and was
just about to pass on to the general news； theatres； science； murders and
cholera； he heard the luncheon bell ring。
Thanks to the efforts of upwards of ten human beings counting
laundresses； gardeners； cooks； kitchen…maids； butlers and footmenthe
table was sumptuously laid for eight； with silver waterjugs； decanters；
kvass； wine； mineral waters； cut glass； and fine table linen； while two
men…servants were continually hurrying to and fro； bringing in and serving；
and then clearing away the hors d'oeuvre and the various hot and cold
courses。
The hostess talked incessantly about everything that she had been
doing； thinking； and saying； and she evidently considered that everything
that she thought； said； or did was perfect； and that it would please every
one except those who were fools。 Volgin felt and knew that everything she
said was stupid； but it would never do to let it be seen； and so he kept up
the conversation。 Theodorite was glum and silent； the student
occasionally exchanged a few words with the widow。 Now and again there
was a pause in the conversation； and then Theodorite interposed； and every
one became miserably depressed。 At such moments the hostess ordered
some dish that had not been served； and the footman hurried off to the
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