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〃One has to be married； daughter。 It was not us who ordained it。〃
And a feeling of inconsolable woe was ready to take possession of
them。 But it seemed to them that someone was looking down from
the height of the heavens； out of the blue from where the stars
were seeing everything that was going on in Ukleevo； watching
over them。 And however great was wickedness； still the night was
calm and beautiful； and still in God's world there is and will be
truth and justice as calm and beautiful； and everything on earth
is only waiting to be made one with truth and justice； even as
the moonlight is blended with the night。
And both； huddling close to one another； fell asleep comforted。
VI
News had come long before that Anisim had been put in prison for
coining and passing bad money。 Months passed； more than half a
year passed； the long winter was over； spring had begun； and
everyone in the house and the village had grown used to the fact
that Anisim was in prison。 And when anyone passed by the house or
the shop at night he would remember that Anisim was in prison；
and when they rang at the churchyard for some reason； that； too；
reminded them that he was in prison awaiting trial。
It seemed as though a shadow had fallen upon the house。 The house
looked darker； the roof was rustier； the heavy； iron…bound door
into the shop； which was painted green； was covered with cracks；
or； as the deaf man expressed it； 〃blisters〃； and old Tsybukin
seemed to have grown dingy； too。 He had given up cutting his hair
and beard； and looked shaggy。 He no longer sprang jauntily into
his chaise； nor shouted to beggars： 〃God will provide！〃 His
strength was on the wane； and that was evident in everything。
People were less afraid of him now； and the police officer drew
up a formal charge against him in the shop though he received his
regular bribe as before； and three times the old man was called
up to the town to be tried for illicit dealing in spirits； and
the case was continually adjourned owing to the non…appearance of
witnesses； and old Tsybukin was worn out with worry。
He often went to see his son； hired somebody； handed in a
petition to somebody else； presented a holy banner to some
church。 He presented the governor of th e prison in which Anisim
was confined with a silver glass stand with a long spoon and the
inscription： 〃The soul knows its right measure。〃
〃There is no one to look after things for us；〃 said Varvara。
〃Tut； tut。 。 。 。 You ought to ask someone of the gentlefolks；
they would write to the head officials。 。 。 。 At least they might
let him out on bail！ Why wear the poor fellow out？〃
She； too； was grieved； but had grown stouter and whiter； she
lighted the lamps before the ikons as before； and saw that
everything in the house was clean； and regaled the guests with
jam and apple cheese。 The deaf man and Aksinya looked after the
shop。 A new project was in progress a brickyard in Butyokino
and Aksinya went there almost every day in the chaise。 She
drove herself； and when she met acquaintances she stretched out
her neck like a snake out of the young rye； and smiled naively
and enigmatically。 Lipa spent her time playing with the baby
which had been born to her before Lent。 It was a tiny； thin；
pitiful little baby； and it was strange that it should cry and
gaze about and be considered a human being； and even be called
Nikifor。 He lay in his swinging cradle； and Lipa would walk away
towards the door and say； bowing to him：
〃Good…day； Nikifor Anisimitch！〃
And she would rush at him and kiss him。 Then she would walk away
to the door； bow again； and say：
'Good…day； Nikifor Anisimitch！
And he kicked up his little red legs； and his crying was mixed
with laughter like the carpenter Elizarov's。
At last the day of the trial was fixed。 Tsybukin went away five
days before。 Then they heard that the peasants called as
witnesses had been fetched； their old workman who had received a
notice to appear went too。
The trial was on a Thursday。 But Sunday had passed； and Tsybukin
was still not back； and there was no news。 Towards the evening on
Tuesday Varvara was sitting at the open window； listening for her
husband to come。 In the next room Lipa was playing with her baby。
She was tossing him up in her arms and saying enthusiastically：
〃You will grow up ever so big； ever so big。 You will be a
peasant； we shall go out to work together！ We shall go out to
work together！〃
〃Come； come；〃 said Varvara； offended。 〃Go out to work； what an
idea； you silly girl！ He will be a merchant 。 。 。！〃
Lipa sang softly； but a minute later she forgot and again：
〃You will grow ever so big； ever so big。 You will be a peasant；
we'll go out to work together。〃
〃There she is at it again！〃
Lipa； with Nikifor in her arms； stood still in the doorway and
asked：
〃Why do I love him so much； mamma？ Why do I feel so sorry for
him？〃 she went on in a quivering voice； and her eyes glistened
with tears。 〃Who is he？ What is he like？ As light as a little
feather； as a little crumb； but I love him； I love him like a
real person。 Here he can do nothing； he can't talk； and yet I
know what he wants with his little eyes。〃
Varvara was listening； the sound of the evening train coming in
to the station reached her。 Had her husband come？ She did not
hear and she did not heed what Lipa was saying； she had no idea
how the time passed； but only trembled all over not from
dread； but intense curiosity。 She saw a cart full of peasants
roll quickly by with a rattle。 It was the witnesses coming back
from the station。 When the cart passed the shop the old workman
jumped out and walked into the yard。 She could hear him being
greeted in the yard and being asked some questions。 。 。 。
〃Deprivation of rights and all his property；〃 he said loudly；
〃and six years' penal servitude in Siberia。〃
She could see Aksinya come out of the shop by the back way； she
had just been selling kerosene； and in one hand held a bottle and
in the other a can； and in her mouth she had some silver coins。
〃Where is father？〃 she asked； lisping。
〃At the station；〃 answered the labourer。 〃 'When it gets a little
darker；' he said； 'then I shall come。' 〃
And when it became known all through the household that Anisim
was sentenced to penal servitude； the cook in the kitchen
suddenly broke into a wail as though at a funeral； imagining that
this was demanded by the proprieties：
〃There is no one to care for us now you have gone； Anisim
Grigoritch； our bright falcon。 。 。 。〃
The dogs began barking in alarm。 Varvara ran to the window； and
rushing about in distress； shouted to the cook with all her
might； straining her voice：
〃Sto…op； Stepanida； sto…op！ Don't harrow us； for Christ's sake！〃
They forgot to set the samovar； they could think of nothing。 Only
Lipa could not make out what it was all about and went on playing
with her baby。
When the old father arrived from the station they asked him no
questions。 He greeted them and walked through all the rooms in
silence； he had no supper。
〃There was no one to see about things 。 。 。〃 Varvara began when
they were alone。 〃I said you should have as