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playing。 Foaming Don wine was brought in tall wine…glasses； and
Elizarov； a carpenter who did jobs by contract； a tall； gaunt old
man with eyebrows so bushy that his eyes could scarcely be seen；
said； addressing the happy pair：
〃Anisim and you； my child； love one another； live in God's way；
little children； and the Heavenly Mother will not abandon you。〃
He leaned his face on the old father's shoulder and gave a sob。
〃Grigory Petrovitch； let us weep； let us weep with joy！〃 he said
in a thin voice； and then at once burst out laughing in a loud
bass guffaw。 〃Ho…ho…ho！ This is a fine daughter…in…law for you
too！ Everything is in its place in her； all runs smoothly； no
creaking； the mechanism works well； lots of screws in it。〃
He was a native of the Yegoryevsky district； but had worked in
the factories in Ukleevo and the neighborhood from his youth up；
and had made it his home。 He had been a familiar figure for years
as old and gaunt and lanky as now； and for years he had been
nicknamed 〃Crutch。〃 Perhaps because he had been for forty years
occupied in repairing the factory machinery he judged everybody
and everything by its soundness or its need of repair。 And before
sitting down to the table he tried several chairs to see whether
they were solid； and he touched the smoked fish also。
After the Don wine； they all sat down to the table。 The visitors
talked； moving their chairs。 The singers were singing in the
outer room。 The band was playing； and at the same time the
peasant women in the yard were singing their songs all in chorus
and there was an awful； wild medley of sounds which made one
giddy。
Crutch turned round in his chair and prodded his neighbours with
his elbows； prevented people from talking； and laughed and cried
alternately。
〃Little children； little children； little children；〃 he muttered
rapidly。 〃Aksinya my dear； Varvara darling； we will live all in
peace and harmony； my dear little axes。 。 。 。〃
He drank little and was now only drunk from one glass of English
bitters。 The revolting bitters； made from nobody knows what；
intoxicated everyone who drank it as though it had stunned them。
Their tongues began to falter。
The local clergy； the clerks from the factories with their wives；
the tradesmen and tavern…keepers from the other villages were
present。 The clerk and the elder of the rural district who had
served together for fourteen years； and who had during all that
time never signed a single document for anybody nor let a single
person out of the local court without deceiving or insulting him；
were sitting now side by side； both fat and well…fed； and it
seemed as though they were so saturated in injustice and
falsehood that even the skin of their faces was somehow peculiar；
fraudulent。 The clerk's wife； a thin woman with a squint； had
brought all her children with her； and like a bird of prey looked
aslant at the plates and snatched anything she could get hold of
to put in her own or her children's pockets。
Lipa sat as though turned to stone； still with the same
expression as in church。 Anisim had not said a single word to her
since he had made her acquaintance； so that he did not yet know
the sound of her voice； and now； sitting beside her； he remained
mute and went on drinking bitters； and when he got drunk he began
talking to the aunt who was sitting opposite：
〃I have a friend called Samorodov。 A peculiar man。 He is by rank
an honorary citizen； and he can talk。 But I know him through and
through； auntie； and he feels it。 Pray join me in drinking to the
health of Samorodov； auntie！〃
Varvara； worn out and distracted； walked round the table pressing
the guests to eat； and was evidently pleased that there were so
many dishes and that everything was so lavish no one could
disparage them now。 The sun set； but the dinner went on： the
guests were beyond knowing what they were eating or drinking； it
was impossible to distinguish what was said； and only from time
to time when the band subsided some peasant woman could be heard
shouting：
〃They have sucked the blood out of us； the Herods； a pest on
them！〃
In the evening they danced to the band。 The Hrymin Juniors came；
bringing their wine； and one of them； when dancing a quadrille；
held a bottle in each hand and a wineglass in his mouth； and that
made everyone laugh。 In the middle of the quadrille they suddenly
crooked their knees and danced in a squatting position； Aksinya
in green flew by like a flash； stirring up a wind with her train。
Someone trod on her flounce and Crutch shouted：
〃Aie； they have torn off the panel！ Children！〃
Aksinya had naive grey eyes which rarely blinked； and a naive
smile played continually on her face。 And in those unblinking
eyes； and in that little head on the long neck； and in her
slenderness there was something snake…like； all in green but for
the yellow on her bosom； she looked with a smile on her face as a
viper looks out of the young rye in the spring at the passers…by；
stretching itself and lifting its head。 The Hrymins were free in
their behaviour to her； and it was very noticeable that she was
on intimate terms with the elder of them。 But her deaf husband
saw nothing； he did not look at her； he sat with his legs crossed
and ate nuts； cracking them so loudly that it sounded like pistol
shots。
But； behold； old Tsybukin himself walked into the middle of the
room and waved his handkerchief as a sign that he； too； wanted to
dance the Russian dance； and all over the house and from the
crowd in the yard rose a roar of approbation：
〃_He's_ going to dance！ _He_ himself！〃
Varvara danced； but the old man only waved his handkerchief and
kicked up his heels； but the people in the yard； propped against
one another； peeping in at the windows； were in raptures； and for
the moment forgave him everything his wealth and the wrongs he
had done them。
〃Well done； Grigory Petrovitch！〃 was heard in the crowd。 〃That's
right； do your best！ You can still play your part！ Ha…ha！〃
It was kept up till late； till two o'clock in the morning。
Anisim； staggering； went to take leave of the singers and
bandsmen； and gave each of them a new half…rouble。 His father；
who was not staggering but still seemed to be standing on one
leg； saw his guests off； and said to each of them：
〃The wedding has cost two thousand。〃
As the party was breaking up； someone took the Shikalovo
innkeeper's good coat instead of his own old one； and Anisim
suddenly flew into a rage and began shouting：
〃Stop； I'll find it at once； I know who stole it； stop。〃
He ran out into the street and pursued someone。 He was caught；
brought back home and shoved； drunken； red with anger； and wet；
into the room where the aunt was undressing Lipa； and was locked
in。
IV
Five days had passed。 Anisim； who was preparing to go； went
upstairs to say good…bye to Varvara。 All the lamps were burning
before the ikons； there was a smell of incense； while she sat at
the window knitting a stocking of red wool。
〃You have not stayed with us long；〃 she said。 〃You've been dull；
I dare say。 Oh； tut； tut。 We live comfortably； we have plenty of
everything。 We celebrat