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took up my thought。 〃What are you sprawling here for？ You
shameless hussy！〃
Agafya started； took her head from his knees； glanced at me； and
sank down beside him again。
〃You ought to have gone long ago；〃 I said。
Agafya turned round and got up on one knee。 。 。 。 She was
unhappy。 。 。 。 For half a minute her whole figure； as far as I
could distinguish it through the darkness； expressed conflict and
hesitation。 There was an instant when； seeming to come to
herself； she drew herself up to get upon her feet； but then some
invincible and implacable force seemed to push her whole body；
and she sank down beside Savka again。
〃Bother him！〃 she said； with a wild； guttural laugh； and reckless
determination； impotence； and pain could be heard in that laugh。
I strolled quietly away to the copse； and from there down to the
river； where our fishing lines were set。 The river slept。 Some
soft； fluffy…petalled flower on a tall stalk touched my cheek
tenderly like a child who wants to let one know it's awake。 To
pass the time I felt for one of the lines and pulled at it。 It
yielded e asily and hung limply nothing had been caught。 。 。 。
The further bank and the village could not be seen。 A light
gleamed in one hut； but soon went out。 I felt my way along the
bank； found a hollow place which I had noticed in the daylight；
and sat down in it as in an arm…chair。 I sat there a long time。 。
。 。 I saw the stars begin to grow misty and lose their
brightness； a cool breath passed over the earth like a faint sigh
and touched the leaves of the slumbering osiers。 。 。 。
〃A…ga…fya！〃 a hollow voice called from the village。 〃Agafya！〃
It was the husband； who had returned home； and in alarm was
looking for his wife in the village。 At that moment there came
the sound of unrestrained laughter： the wife； forgetful of
everything； sought in her intoxication to make up by a few hours
of happiness for the misery awaiting her next day。
I dropped asleep。
When I woke up Savka was sitting beside me and lightly shaking my
shoulder。 The river； the copse； both banks； green and washed；
trees and fields all were bathed in bright morning light。
Through the slim trunks of the trees the rays of the newly risen
sun beat upon my back。
〃So that's how you catch fish？〃 laughed Savka。 〃Get up！〃
I got up； gave a luxurious stretch； and began greedily drinking
in the damp and fragrant air。
〃Has Agasha gone？〃 I asked。
〃There she is；〃 said Savka； pointing in the direction of the
ford。
I glanced and saw Agafya。 Dishevelled； with her kerchief dropping
off her head； she was crossing the river； holding up her skirt。
Her legs were scarcely moving。 。 。 。
〃The cat knows whose meat it has eaten；〃 muttered Savka； screwing
up his eyes as he looked at her。 〃She goes with her tail hanging
down。 。 。 。 They are sly as cats； these women； and timid as
hares。 。 。 。 She didn't go； silly thing； in the evening when we
told her to！ Now she will catch it； and they'll flog me again at
the peasant court 。 。 。 all on account of the women。 。 。 。〃
Agafya stepped upon the bank and went across the fields to the
village。 At first she walked fairly boldly； but soon terror and
excitement got the upper hand； she turned round fearfully；
stopped and took breath。
〃Yes； you are frightened！〃 Savka laughed mournfully； looking at
the bright green streak left by Agafya in the dewy grass。 〃She
doesn't want to go！ Her husband's been standing waiting for her
for a good hour。 。 。 。 Did you see him？〃
Savka said the last words with a smile； but they sent a chill to
my heart。 In the village； near the furthest hut； Yakov was
standing in the road； gazing fixedly at his returning wife。 He
stood without stirring； and was as motionless as a post。 What was
he thinking as he looked at her？ What words was he preparing to
greet her with？ Agafya stood still a little while； looked round
once more as though expecting help from us； and went on。 I have
never seen anyone； drunk or sober； move as she did。 Agafya seemed
to be shrivelled up by her husband's eyes。 At one time she moved
in zigzags； then she moved her feet up and down without going
forward； bending her knees and stretching out her hands； then she
staggered back。 When she had gone another hundred paces she
looked round once more and sat down。
〃You ought at least to hide behind a bush 。 。 。〃 I said to Savka。
〃If the husband sees you 。 。 。〃
〃He knows； anyway； who it is Agafya has come from。 。 。 。 The
women don't go to the kitchen garden at night for cabbages we
all know that。〃
I glanced at Savka's face。 It was pale and puckered up with a
look of fastidious pity such as one sees in the faces of people
watching tortured animals。
〃What's fun for the cat is tears for the mouse。 。 。〃 he muttered。
Agafya suddenly jumped up； shook her head； and with a bold step
went towards her husband。 She had evidently plucked up her
courage and made up her mind。
AT CHRISTMAS TIME
I
〃WHAT shall I write？〃 said Yegor； and he dipped his pen in the
ink。
Vasilisa had not seen her daughter for four years。 Her daughter
Yefimya had gone after her wedding to Petersburg； had sent them
two letters； and since then seemed to vanish out of their lives；
there had been no sight nor sound of her。 And whether the old
woman were milking her cow at dawn； or heating her stove； or
dozing at night； she was always thinking of one and the same
thing what was happening to Yefimya； whether she were alive
out yonder。 She ought to have sent a letter； but the old father
could not write； and there was no one to write。
But now Christmas had come； and Vasilisa could not bear it any
longer； and went to the tavern to Yegor； the brother of the
innkeeper's wife； who had sat in the tavern doing nothing ever
since he came back from the army； people said that he could write
letters very well if he were properly paid。 Vasilisa talked to
the cook at the tavern； then to the mistress of the house； then
to Yegor himself。 They agreed upon fifteen kopecks。
And now it happened on the second day of the holidays； in the
tavern kitchen Yegor was sitting at the table； holding the pen
in his hand。 Vasilisa was standing before him； pondering with an
expression of anxiety and woe on her face。 Pyotr； her husband； a
very thin old man with a brownish bald patch； had come with her；
he stood looking straight before him like a blind man。 On the
stove a piece of pork was being braised in a saucepan； it was
spurting and hissing； and seemed to be actually saying：
〃Flu…flu…flu。〃 It was stifling。
〃What am I to write？〃 Yegor asked again。
〃What？〃 asked Vasilisa； looking at him angrily and suspiciously。
〃Don't worry me！ You are not writing for nothing； no fear； you'll
be paid for it。 Come； write： 'To our dear son…in…law； Andrey
Hrisanfitch； and to our only beloved daughter； Yefimya Petrovna；
with our love we send a low bow and our parental blessing abiding
for ever。' 〃
〃Written； fire away。〃
〃 'And we wish them a happy Christmas； we are alive and well； and
I wish you the same； please the Lord 。 。 。 the Heavenly King。' 〃
Vasilisa pondered and exchanged glances with the old man。
〃 'And I wish y