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all kinds of stories from the travellers in the evening； and he
liked listening to them before going to bed。 His old wife；
Afanasyevna； and his daughter…in…law Sofya； were milking in the
cowshed。 The other daughter…in…law； Varvara； was sitting at the
open window of the upper storey； eating sunflower seeds。
〃The little chap will be your son； I'm thinking？〃 Dyudya asked
the traveller。
〃No； adopted。 An orphan。 I took him for my soul's salvation。〃
They got into conversation。 The stranger seemed to be a man fond
of talking and ready of speech； and Dyudya learned from him that
he was from the town； was of the tradesman class； and had a house
of his own； that his name was Matvey Savitch； that he was on his
way now to look at some gardens that he was renting from some
German colonists； and that the boy's name was Kuzka。 The evening
was hot and close； no one felt inclined for sleep。 When it was
getting dark and pale stars began to twinkle here and there in
the sky； Matvey Savitch began to tell how he had come by Kuzka。
Afanasyevna and Sofya stood a little way off； listening。 Kuzka
had gone to the gate。
〃It's a complicated story； old man；〃 began Matvey Savitch； 〃and
if I were to tell you all just as it happened； it would take all
night and more。 Ten years ago in a little house in our street；
next door to me； where now there's a tallow and oil factory；
there was living an old widow； Marfa Semyonovna Kapluntsev； and
she had two sons： one was a guard on the railway； but the other；
Vasya； who was just my own age； lived at home with his mother。
Old Kapluntsev had kept five pair of horses and sent carriers all
over the town； his widow had not given up the business； but
managed the carriers as well as her husband had done； so that
some days they would bring in as much as five roubles from their
rounds。
〃The young fellow； too； made a trifle on his own account。 He used
to breed fancy pigeons and sell them to fanciers； at times he
would stand for hours on the roof； waving a broom in the air and
whistling； his pigeons were right up in the clouds； but it wasn't
enough for him； and he'd want them to go higher yet。 Siskins and
starlings； too； he used to catch； and he made cages for sale。 All
trifles； but； mind you； he'd pick up some ten roubles a month
over such trifles。 Well； as time went on； the old lady lost the
use of her legs and took to her bed。 In consequence of which
event the house was left without a woman to look after it； and
that's for all the world like a man without an eye。 The old lady
bestirred herself and made up her mind to marry Vasya。 They
called in a matchmaker at once； the women got to talking of one
thing and another； and Vasya went off to have a look at the
girls。 He picked out Mashenka； a widow's daughter。 They made up
their minds without loss of time and in a week it was all
settled。 The girl was a little slip of a thing； seventeen； but
fair…skinned and pretty…looking； and like a lady in all her ways；
and a decent dowry with her； five hundred roubles； a cow； a bed。
。 。 。 Well； the old lady it seemed as though she had known it
was coming three days after the wedding； departed to the
Heavenly Jerusalem where is neither sickness nor sighing。 The
young people gave her a good funeral and began their life
together。 For just six months they got on splendidly； and then
all of a sudden another misfortune。 It never rains but it pours：
Vasya was summoned to the recruiting office to draw lots for the
service。 He was taken； poor chap； for a soldier； and not even
granted exemption。 They shaved his head and packed him off to
Poland。 It was God's will； there was nothing to be done。 When he
said good…bye to his wife in the yard； he bore it all right； but
as he glanced up at the hay…loft and his pigeons for the last
time； he burst out crying。 It was pitiful to see him。
〃At first Mashenka got her mother to stay with her； that she
mightn't be dull all alone； she stayed till the baby this very
Kuzka here was born； and then she went off to Oboyan to
another married daughter's and left Mashenka alone with the baby。
There were five peasants the carriers a drunken saucy lot；
horses； too； and dray…carts to see to； and then the fence would
be broken or the soot afire in the chimney jobs beyond a
woman； and through our being neighbours； she got into the way of
turning to me for every little thing。 。 。 。 Well； I'd go over；
set things to rights； and give advice。 。 。 。 Naturally； not
without going indoors； drinking a cup of tea and having a little
chat with her。 I was a young fellow； intellectual； and fond of
talking on all sorts of subjects； she； too； was well…bred and
educated。 She was always neatly dressed； and in summer she
walked out with a sunshade。 Sometimes I would begin upon religion
or politics with her； and she was flattered and would entertain
me with tea and jam。 。 。 。 In a word； not to make a long story of
it； I must tell you； old man； a year had not passed before the
Evil One； the enemy of all mankind； confounded me。 I began to
notice that any day I didn't go to see her； I seemed out of sorts
and dull。 And I'd be continually making up something that I must
see her about： 'It's high time；' I'd say to myself； 'to put the
double windows in for the winter；' and the whole day I'd idle
away over at her place putting in the windows and take good care
to leave a couple of them over for the next day too。
〃 'I ought to count over Vasya's pigeons； to see none of them
have strayed；' and so on。 I used always to be talking to her
across the fence； and in the end I made a little gate in the
fence so as not to have to go so far round。 From womankind comes
much evil into the world and every kind of abomination。 Not we
sinners only； even the saints themselves have been led astray by
them。 Mashenka did not try to keep me at a distance。 Instead of
thinking of her husband and being on her guard； she fell in love
with me。 I began to notice that she was dull without me； and was
always walking to and fro by the fence looking into my yard
through the cracks。
〃My brains were going round in my head in a sort of frenzy。 On
Thursday in Holy Week I was going early in the morning it was
scarcely light to market。 I passed close by her gate； and the
Evil One was by me at my elbow。 I looked she had a gate
with open trellis work at the top and there she was； up
already； standing in the middle of the yard； feeding the ducks。 I
could not restrain myself； and I called her name。 She came up and
looked at me through the trellis。 。 。 。 Her little face was
white； her eyes soft and sleepy…looking。 。 。 。 I liked her looks
immensely； and I began paying her compliments； as though we were
not at the gate； but just as one does on namedays； while she
blushed； and laughed； and kept looking straight into my eyes
without winking。 。 。 。 I lost all sense and began to declare my
love to her。 。 。 。 She opened the gate； and from that morning we
began to live as man and wife。 。 。 。〃
The hunchback Alyoshka came into the yard from the street and ran
out of breath into the house； not looking at any one。 A minute
later he ran out of the house with a concertina。