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loved his family more than anything on earth； especially his
elder son； the detective； and his daughter…in…law。 Aksinya had no
sooner married the deaf son than she began to display an
extraordinary gift for business； and knew who could be allowed to
run up a bill and who could not： she kept the keys and would not
trust them even to her husband； she kept the accounts by means of
the reckoning beads； looked at the horses' teeth like a peasant；
and was always laughing or shouting； and whatever she did or said
the old man was simply delighted and muttered：
〃Well done； daughter…in…law！ You are a smart wench！〃
He was a widower； but a year after his son's marriage he could
not resist getting married himself。 A girl was found for him；
living twenty miles from Ukleevo； called Varvara Nikolaevna； no
longer quite young； but good…looking； comely； and belonging to a
decent family。 As soon as she was installed into the upper…storey
room everything in the house seemed to brighten up as though new
glass had been put into all the windows。 The lamps gleamed before
the ikons； the tables were covered with snow…white cloths；
flowers with red buds made their appearance in the windows and in
the front garden； and at dinner； instead of eating from a single
bowl； each person had a separate plate set for him。 Varvara
Nikolaevna had a pleasant； friendly smile； and it seemed as
though the whole house were smiling； too。 Beggars and pilgrims；
male and female； began to come into the yard； a thing which had
never happened in the past； the plaintive sing…song voices of the
Ukleevo peasant women and the apologetic coughs of weak；
seedy…looking men； who had been dismissed from the factory for
drunkenness were heard under the windows。 Varvara helped them
with money； with bread； with old clothes； and afterwards； when
she felt more at home； began taking things out of the shop。 One
day the deaf man saw her take four ounces of tea and that
disturbed him。
〃Here； mother's taken four ounces of tea；〃 he informed his father
afterwards； 〃where is that to be entered？〃
The old man made no reply but stood still and thought a moment；
moving his eyebrows； and then went upstairs to his wife。
〃Varvarushka； if you want anything out of the shop；〃 he said
affectionately； 〃take it； my dea r。 Take it and welcome； don't
hesitate。〃
And the next day the deaf man； running across the yard； called to
her：
〃If there is anything you want； mother； take it。〃
There was something new； something gay and light…hearted in her
giving of alms； just as there was in the lamps before the ikons
and in the red flowers。 When at Carnival or at the church
festival； which lasted for three days； they sold the peasants
tainted salt meat； smelling so strong it was hard to stand near
the tub of it； and took scythes； caps； and their wives' kerchiefs
in pledge from the drunken men； when the factory hands stupefied
with bad vodka lay rolling in the mud； and sin seemed to hover
thick like a fog in the air； then it was a relief to think that
up there in the house there was a gentle； neatly dressed woman
who had nothing to do with salt meat or vodka； her charity had in
those burdensome； murky days the effect of a safety valve in a
machine。
The days in Tsybukin's house were spent in business cares。 Before
the sun had risen in the morning Aksinya was panting and puffing
as she washed in the outer room； and the samovar was boiling in
the kitchen with a hum that boded no good。 Old Grigory
Petrovitch； dressed in a long black coat； cotton breeches and
shiny top boots； looking a dapper little figure； walked about the
rooms； tapping with his little heels like the father…in…law in a
well…known song。 The shop was opened。 When it was daylight a
racing droshky was brought up to the front door and the old man
got jauntily on to it； pulling his big cap down to his ears； and；
looking at him； no one would have said he was fifty…six。 His wife
and daughter…in…law saw him off； and at such times when he had on
a good； clean coat； and had in the droshky a huge black horse
that had cost three hundred roubles； the old man did not like the
peasants to come up to him with their complaints and petitions；
he hated the peasants and disdained them； and if he saw some
peasants waiting at the gate； he would shout angrily：
〃Why are you standing there？ Go further off。〃
Or if it were a beggar； he would say：
〃God will provide！〃
He used to drive off on business； his wife； in a dark dress and a
black apron； tidied the rooms or helped in the kitchen。 Aksinya
attended to the shop； and from the yard could be heard the clink
of bottles and of money； her laughter and loud talk； and the
anger of customers whom she had offended； and at the same time it
could be seen that the secret sale of vodka was already going on
in the shop。 The deaf man sat in the shop； too； or walked about
the street bare…headed； with his hands in his pockets looking
absent…mindedly now at the huts； now at the sky overhead。 Six
times a day they had tea； four times a day they sat down to
meals； and in the evening they counted over their takings； put
them down； went to bed； and slept soundly。
All the three cotton factories in Ukleevo and the houses of the
factory owners Hrymin Seniors； Hrymin Juniors； and Kostukov
were on a telephone。 The telephone was laid on in the local
court； too； but it soon ceased to work as bugs and beetles bred
there。 The elder of the rural district had had little education
and wrote every word in the official documents in capitals。 But
when the telephone was spoiled he said：
〃Yes； now we shall be badly off without a telephone。〃
The Hrymin Seniors were continually at law with the Juniors； and
sometimes the Juniors quarrelled among themselves and began going
to law； and their factory did not work for a month or two till
they were reconciled again； and this was an entertainment for the
people of Ukleevo； as there was a great deal of talk and gossip
on the occasion of each quarrel。 On holidays Kostukov and the
Juniors used to get up races； used to dash about Ukleevo and run
over calves。 Aksinya； rustling her starched petticoats； used to
promenade in a low…necked dress up and down the street near her
shop； the Juniors used to snatch her up and carry her off as
though by force。 Then old Tsybukin would drive out to show his
new horse and take Varvara with him。
In the evening； after the races； when people were going to bed；
an expensive concertina was played in the Juniors' yard and； if
it were a moonlight night； those sounds sent a thrill of delight
to the heart； and Ukleevo no longer seemed a wretched hole。
II
The elder son Anisim came home very rarely； only on great
holidays； but he often sent by a returning villager presents and
letters written in very good writing by some other hand； always
on a sheet of foolscap in the form of a petition。 The letters
were full of expressions that Anisim never made use of in
conversation： 〃Dear papa and mamma； I send you a pound of flower
tea for the satisfaction of your physical needs。〃
At the bottom of every letter was scratched； as though with a
broken pen： 〃Anisim Tsybukin；〃 a