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little girl's expression； melancholy thoughts were straying
through her mind； too； as she brooded she played with the
sumptuous lace on the parasol she had taken out of her mother's
hands。
〃Poverty；〃 said Rodion； 〃a great deal of anxiety you see no
end to it。 Here； God sends no rain 。 。 。 our life is not easy；
there is no denying it。〃
〃You have a hard time in this life；〃 said Elena Ivanovna； 〃but in
the other world you will be happy。〃
Rodion did not understand her； and simply coughed into his
clenched hand by way of reply。 Stepanida said：
〃Dear lady； the rich men will be all right in the next world；
too。 The rich put up candles； pay for services； the rich give to
beggars； but what can the poor man do？ He has no time to make the
sign of the cross。 He is the beggar of beggars himself； how can
he think of his soul？ And many sins come from poverty； from
trouble we snarl at one another like dogs； we haven't a good word
to say to one another； and all sorts of things happen； dear lady
God forbid！ It seems we have no luck in this world nor the
next。 All the luck has fallen to the rich。〃
She spoke gaily； she was evidently used to talking of her hard
life。 And Rodion smiled； too； he was pleased that his old woman
was so clever； so ready of speech。
〃It is only on the surface that the rich seem to be happy；〃 said
Elena Ivanovna。 〃Every man has his sorrow。 Here my husband and I
do not live poorly； we have means； but are we happy？ I am young；
but I have had four children； my children are always being ill。 I
am ill； too； and constantly being doctored。〃
〃And what is your illness？〃 asked Rodion。
〃A woman's complaint。 I get no sleep； a continual headache gives
me no peace。 Here I am sitting and talking； but my head is bad； I
am weak all over； and I should prefer the hardest labour to such
a condition。 My soul； too； is troubled； I am in continual fear
for my children； my husband。 Every family has its own trouble of
some sort； we have ours。 I am not of noble birth。 My grandfather
was a simple peasant； my father was a tradesman in Moscow； he was
a plain； uneducated man； too； while my husband's parents were
wealthy and distinguished。 They did not want him to marry me； but
he disobeyed them； quarrelled with them； and they have not
forgiven us to this day。 That worries my husband； it troubles him
and keeps him in constant agitation； he loves his mother； loves
her dearly。 So I am uneasy； too； my soul is in pain。〃
Peasants； men and women； were by now standing round Rodion's hut
and listening。 Kozov came up； too； and stood twitching his long；
narrow beard。 The Lytchkovs； father and son； drew near。
〃And say what you like； one cannot be happy and satisfied if one
does not feel in one's proper place。〃 Elena Ivanovna went on。
〃Each of you has his strip of land； each of you works and knows
what he is working for； my husband builds bridges in short；
everyone has his place； while I； I simply walk about。 I have not
my bit to work。 I don't work； and feel as though I were an
outsider。 I am saying all this that you may not judge from
outward appearances； if a man is expensively dressed and has
means it does not prove that he is satisfied with his life。〃
She got up to go away and took her daughter by the hand。
〃I like your place here very much；〃 she said； and smiled； and
from that faint； diffident smile one could tell how unwell she
really was； how young and how pretty； she had a pale； thinnish
face with dark eyebrows and fair hair。 And the little girl was
just such another as her mother： thin； fair； and slender。 There
was a fragrance of scent about them。
〃I like the river and the forest and the village；〃 Elena Ivanovna
went on； 〃I could live here all my life； and I feel as though
here I should get strong and find my place。 I want to help you
I want to dreadfully to be of use； to be a real friend to you。
I know your need； and what I don't know I feel； my heart guesses。
I am sick； feeble； and for me perhaps it is not possible to
change my life as I would。 But I have children。 I will try to
bring them up that they may be of use to you； may love you。 I
shall impress upon them continually that their life does not
belong to them； but to you。 Only I beg you earnestly； I beseech
you； trust us； live in friendship with us。 My husband is a kind；
good man。 Don't worry him； don't irritate him。 He is sensitive to
every trifle； and yesterday； for instance； your cattle were in
our vegetable garden； and one of your people broke down the fence
to the bee…hives； and such an attitude to us drives my husband to
despair。 I beg you；〃 she went on in an imploring voice； and she
clasped her hands on her bosom 〃I beg you to treat us as good
neighbours； let us live in peace！ There is a saying； you know；
that even a bad peace is better than a good quarrel； and； 'Don't
buy property； but buy neighbours。' I repeat my husband is a kind
man and good； if all goes well we promise to do everything in our
power for you； we will mend the roads； we will build a school for
your children。 I promise you。〃
〃Of course we thank you humbly； lady；〃 said Lytchkov the father；
looking at the ground； 〃you are educated people； it is for you to
know best。 Only； you see； Voronov； a rich peasant at Eresnevo；
promised to build a school； he； too； said； 'I will do this for
you；' 'I will do that for you；' and he only put up the framework
and refused to go on。 And then they made the peasants put the
roof on and finish it； it cost them a thousand roubles。 Voronov
did not care； he only stroked his beard； but the peasants felt it
a bit hard。〃
〃That was a crow； but now there's a rook； too；〃 said Kozov； and
he winked。
There was the sound of laughter。
〃We don't want a school；〃 said Volodka sullenly。 〃Our children go
to Petrovskoe； and they can
go on going there； we don't want it。〃
Elena Ivanovna seemed suddenly intimidated； her face looked paler
and thinner； she shrank into herself as though she had been
touched with something coarse； and walked away without uttering
another word。 And she walked more and more quickly； without
looking round。
〃Lady；〃 said Rodion； walking after her； 〃lady； wait a bit； hear
what I would say to you。〃
He followed her without his cap； and spoke softly as though
begging。
〃Lady； wait and hear what I will say to you。〃
They had walked out of the village； and Elena Ivanovna stopped
beside a cart in the shade of an old mountain ash。
〃Don't be offended； lady；〃 said Rodion。 〃What does it mean？ Have
patience。 Have patience for a couple of years。 You will live
here； you will have patience； and it will all come round。 Our
folks are good and peaceable； there's no harm in them； it's God's
truth I'm telling you。 Don't mind Kozov and the Lytchkovs； and
don't mind Volodka。 He's a fool； he listens to the first that
speaks。 The others are quiet folks； they are silent。 Some would
be glad； you know； to say a word from the heart and to stand up
for themselves； but cannot。 They have a heart and a conscience；
but no tongue。 Don't be offended 。 。 。 have patience。 。 。 。 What
does it matter？〃
Elena Ivanovna looked at the broad； tranquil river； pondering；
an