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sister。 The old father cleared his throat； and bustled about to
find something to give his grand…daughter； but； finding nothing；
gave it up with a wave of his hand。 And when the reading was over
the neighbours dispersed to their homes； feeling touched and very
much pleased with Olga and Sasha。
As it was a holiday； the family spent the whole day at home。 The
old woman； whom her husband； her daughters…in…law； her
grandchildren all alike called Granny； tried to do everything
herself； she heated the stove and set the samovar with her own
hands； even waited at the midday meal； and then complained that
she was worn out with work。 And all the time she was uneasy for
fear someone should eat a piece too much； or that her husband and
daughters…in…law would sit idle。 At one time she would hear the
tavern…keeper's geese going at the back of the huts to her
kitchen…garden； and she would run out of the hut with a long
stick and spend half an hour screaming shrilly by her cabbages；
which were as gaunt and scraggy as herself； at another time she
fancied that a crow had designs on her chickens； and she rushed
to attack it wi th loud words of abuse。 She was cross and
grumbling from morning till night。 And often she raised such an
outcry that passers…by stopped in the street。
She was not affectionate towards the old man； reviling him as a
lazy…bones and a plague。 He was not a responsible； reliable
peasant； and perhaps if she had not been continually nagging at
him he would not have worked at all； but would have simply sat on
the stove and talked。 He talked to his son at great length about
certain enemies of his； complained of the insults he said he had
to put up with every day from the neighbours； and it was tedious
to listen to him。
〃Yes；〃 he would say； standing with his arms akimbo； 〃yes。 。 。 。 A
week after the Exaltation of the Cross I sold my hay willingly at
thirty kopecks a pood。 。 。 。 Well and good。 。 。 。 So you see I
was taking the hay in the morning with a good will； I was
interfering with no one。 In an unlucky hour I see the village
elder； Antip Syedelnikov； coming out of the tavern。 'Where are
you taking it； you ruffian？' says he； and takes me by the ear。〃
Kiryak had a fearful headache after his drinking bout； and was
ashamed to face his brother。
〃What vodka does！ Ah； my God！〃 he muttered； shaking his aching
head。 〃For Christ's sake； forgive me； brother and sister； I'm not
happy myself。〃
As it was a holiday； they bought a herring at the tavern and made
a soup of the herring's head。 At midday they all sat down to
drink tea； and went on drinking it for a long time； till they
were all perspiring； they looked positively swollen from the
tea…drinking； and after it began sipping the broth from the
herring's head； all helping themselves out of one bowl。 But the
herring itself Granny had hidden。
In the evening a potter began firing pots on the ravine。 In the
meadow below the girls got up a choral dance and sang songs。 They
played the concertina。 And on the other side of the river a kiln
for baking pots was lighted； too； and the girls sang songs； and
in the distance the singing sounded soft and musical。 The
peasants were noisy in and about the tavern。 They were singing
with drunken voices； each on his own account； and swearing at one
another； so that Olga could only shudder and say：
〃Oh； holy Saints！〃
She was amazed that the abuse was incessant； and those who were
loudest and most persistent in this foul language were the old
men who were so near their end。 And the girls and children heard
the swearing； and were not in the least disturbed by it； and it
was evident that they were used to it from their cradles。
It was past midnight； the kilns on both sides of the river were
put out； but in the meadow below and in the tavern the
merrymaking still went on。 The old father and Kiryak； both drunk；
walking arm…in…arm and jostling against each other's shoulders；
went to the barn where Olga and Marya were lying。
〃Let her alone；〃 the old man persuaded him； 〃let her alone。 。 。 。
She is a harmless woman。 。 。 。 It's a sin。 。 。 。〃
〃Ma…arya！ 〃 shouted Kiryak。
〃Let her be。 。 。 。 It's a sin。 。 。 。 She is not a bad woman。〃
Both stopped by the barn and went on。
〃I lo…ove the flowers of the fi…ield；〃 the old man began singing
suddenly in a high； piercing tenor。 〃I lo…ove to gather them in
the meadows！〃
Then he spat； and with a filthy oath went into the hut。
IV
Granny put Sasha by her kitchen…garden and told her to keep watch
that the geese did not go in。 It was a hot August day。 The
tavernkeeper's geese could make their way into the kitchen…garden
by the backs of the huts； but now they were busily engaged
picking up oats by the tavern； peacefully conversing together；
and only the gander craned his head high as though trying to see
whether the old woman were coming with her stick。 The other geese
might come up from below； but they were now grazing far away the
other side of the river； stretched out in a long white garland
about the meadow。 Sasha stood about a little； grew weary； and；
seeing that the geese were not coming； went away to the ravine。
There she saw Marya's eldest daughter Motka； who was standing
motionless on a big stone； staring at the church。 Marya had given
birth to thirteen children； but she only had six living； all
girls； not one boy； and the eldest was eight。 Motka in a long
smock was standing barefooted in the full sunshine； the sun was
blazing down right on her head； but she did not notice that； and
seemed as though turned to stone。 Sasha stood beside her and
said； looking at the church：
〃God lives in the church。 Men have lamps and candles； but God has
little green and red and blue lamps like little eyes。 At night
God walks about the church； and with Him the Holy Mother of God
and Saint Nikolay； thud； thud； thud！ 。 。 。 And the watchman is
terrified； terrified！ Aye； aye； dearie；〃 she added； imitating her
mother。 〃And when the end of the world comes all the churches
will be carried up to heaven。〃
〃With the…ir be…ells？〃 Motka asked in her deep voice； drawling
every syllable。
〃With their bells。 And when the end of the world comes the good
will go to Paradise； but the angry will burn in fire eternal and
unquenchable； dearie。 To my mother as well as to Marya God will
say： 'You never offended anyone； and for that go to the right to
Paradise'； but to Kiryak and Granny He will say： 'You go to the
left into the fire。' And anyone who has eaten meat in Lent will
go into the fire； too。〃
She looked upwards at the sky； opening wide her eyes； and said：
〃Look at the sky without winking； you will see angels。〃
Motka began looking at the sky； too； and a minute passed in
silence。
〃Do you see them？〃 asked Sasha。
〃I don't；〃 said Motka in her deep voice。
〃But I do。 Little angels are flying about the sky and flap； flap
with their little wings as though they were gnats。〃
Motka thought for a little； with her eyes on the ground； and
asked：
〃Will Granny burn？〃
〃She will； dearie。〃
From the stone an even gentle slope ran down to the bottom；
covered with soft green grass； which one longed to lie