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stealthily and went out； and then they heard the sound of her
bare feet running off somewhere。
II
Olga went to church； and took Marya with her。 As they went down
the path towards the meadow both were in good spirits。 Olga liked
the wide view； and Marya felt that in her sister…in…law she had
someone near and akin to her。 The sun was rising。 Low down over
the meadow floated a drowsy hawk。 The river looked gloomy； there
was a haze hovering over it here and there； but on the further
bank a streak of light already stretched across the hill。 The
church was gleaming； and in the manor garden the rooks were
cawing furiously。
〃The old man is all right；〃 Marya told her； 〃but Granny is
strict； she is continually nagging。 Our own grain lasted till
Carnival。 We buy flour now at the tavern。 She is angry about it；
she says we eat too much。〃
〃Aye； aye； dearie！ Bear it in patience； that is all。 It is
written： 'Come unto Me； all ye that labour and are heavy laden。'
〃
Olga spoke sedately； rhythmically； and she walked like a pilgrim
woman； with a rapid； anxious step。 Every day she read the gospel；
read it aloud like a deacon； a great deal of it she did not
understand； but the words of the gospel moved her to tears； and
words like 〃forasmuch as〃 and 〃verily〃 she pronounced with a
sweet flutter at her heart。 She believed in God； in the Holy
Mother； in the Saints； she believed one must not offend anyone in
the world not simple folks； nor Germans； nor gypsies； nor Jews
and woe even to those who have no compassion on the beasts。
She believed this was written in the Holy Scriptures； and so；
when she pronounced phrases from Holy Writ； even though she did
not understand them； her face grew softened； compassionate； and
radiant。
〃What part do you come from？〃 Marya asked her。
〃I am from Vladimir。 Only I was taken to Moscow long ago； when I
was eight years old。〃
They reached the river。 On the further side a woman was standing
at the water's edge； undressing。
〃It's our Fyokla；〃 said Marya； recognizing her。 〃She has been
over the river to the manor yard。 To the stewards。 She is a
shameless hussy and foul…mouthed fearfully！〃
Fyokla； young and vigorous as a girl； with her black eyebrows and
her loose hair； jumped off the bank and began splashing the water
with her feet； and waves ran in all directions from her。
〃Shameless dreadfully！ 〃 repeated Marya。
The river was crossed by a rickety little bridge of logs； and
exactly below it in the clear； limpid water was a shoal of
broad…headed mullets。 The dew was glistening on the green bushes
that looked into the water。 There was a feeling of warmth； it was
comforting！ What a lovely morning！ And how lovely life would have
been in this world； in all likelihood； if it were not for
poverty； horrible； hopeless poverty； from which one can find no
refuge！ One had only to look round at the village to remember
vividly all that had happened the day before； and the illusion of
happiness which seemed to surround them vanished instantly。
They reached the church。 Marya stood at the entrance； and did not
dare to go farther。 She did not dare to sit down either。 Though
they only began ringing for mass between eight and nine； she
remained standing the whole time。
While the gospel was being read the crowd suddenly parted to make
way for the family from the great house。 Two young girls in white
frocks and wide…brimmed hats walked in； with them a chubby； rosy
boy in a sailor suit。 Their appearance touched Olga； she made up
her mind from the first glance that they were refined；
well…educated； handsome people。 Marya looked at them from under
her brows； sullenly； dejectedly； as though they were not human
beings coming in； but monsters who might crush her if she did not
make way for them。
And every time the deacon boomed out something in his bass voice
she fancied she heard 〃Ma…arya！〃 and she shuddered。
III
The arrival of the visitors was already known in the village； and
directly after mass a number of people gathered together in the
hut。 The Leonytchevs and Matvyeitchevs and the Ilyitchovs came to
inquire about their relations who were in service in Moscow。 All
the lads of Zhukovo who could read and write were packed off to
Moscow and hired out as butlers or waiters （while from the
village on the other side of the river the boys all became
bakers）； and that had been the custom from the days of serfdom
long ago when a certain Luka Ivanitch； a peasant from Zhukovo；
now a legendary figure； who had been a waiter in one of the
Moscow clubs； would take none but his fellow…villagers into his
service； and found jobs for them in taverns and restaurants； and
from that time the village of Zhukovo was always called among the
inhabitants of the surrounding districts Slaveytown。 Nikolay had
been taken to Moscow when he was eleven； and Ivan Makaritch； one
of the Matvyeitchevs； at that time a headwaiter in the
〃Hermitage〃 garden； had put him into a situation。 And now；
addressing the Matvyeitchevs； Nikolay said emphatically：
〃Ivan Makaritch was my benefactor； and I am bound to pray for him
day and night； as it is owing to him I have become a good man。〃
〃My good soul！〃 a tall old woman； the sister of Ivan Makaritch；
said tearfully； 〃and not a word have we heard about him； poor
dear。〃
〃In the winter he was in service at Omon's； and this season there
was a rumour he was somewhere out of town； in gardens。 。 。 。 He
has aged！ In old days he would bring home as much as ten roubles
a day in the summer…time； but now things are very quiet
everywhere。 The old man frets。〃
The women looked at Nikolay's feet； shod in felt boots； and at
his pale face； and said mournfully：
〃You are not one to get on； Nikolay Osipitch； you are not one to
get on！ No； indeed！〃
And they all made much of Sasha。 She was ten years old； but she
was little and very thin； and might have been taken for no more
than seven。 Among the other little girls； with their sunburnt
faces and roughly cropped hair； dressed in long faded smocks； she
with her white little face； with her big dark eyes； with a red
ribbon in her hair； looked funny； as though she were some little
wild creature that had been caught and brought into the hut。
〃She can read； too；〃 Olga said in her praise； looking tenderly at
her daughter。 〃Read a little； child！〃 she said； taking the gospel
from the corner。 〃You read； and the good Christian people will
listen。〃
The testament was an old and heavy one in leather binding； with
dog's…eared edges； and it exhaled a smell as though monks had
come into the hut。 Sasha raised her eyebrows and began in a loud
rhythmic chant：
〃 'And the angel of the Lord 。 。 。 appeared unto Joseph； saying
unto him： Rise up； and take the Babe and His mother。' 〃
〃The Babe and His mother；〃 Olga repeated； and flushed all over
with emotion。
〃 'And flee into Egypt； 。 。 。 and tarry there until such time as
。 。 。' 〃
At the word 〃tarry〃 Olga could not refrain from tears。 Looking at
her； Marya began to whimper； and after her Ivan Makaritch's
sister。 The old father cleared his throat； and bustled about to
find something to give his grand…daughter； but；