按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
walking across the meadow； a carriage was waiting for them the
other side of the river。 Going into the hut； she described to her
husband with enthusiasm：
〃Such good people！ And so beautiful！ The young ladies were like
cherubim。〃
〃Plague take them！〃 Fyokla； sleepy； said spitefully。
VI
Marya thought herself unhappy； and said that she would be very
glad to die； Fyokla； on the other hand； found all this life to
her taste： the poverty； the uncleanliness； and the incessant
quarrelling。 She ate what was given her without discrimination；
slept anywhere； on whatever came to hand。 She would empty the
slops just at the porch； would splash them out from the doorway；
and then walk barefoot through the puddle。 And from the very
first day she took a dislike to Olga and Nikolay just because
they did not like this life。
〃We shall see what you'll find to eat here； you Moscow gentry！〃
she said malignantly。 〃We shall see！〃
One morning； it was at the beginning of September； Fyokla；
vigorous； good…looking； and rosy from the cold； brought up two
pails of water； Marya and Olga were sitting meanwhile at the
table drinking tea。
〃Tea and sugar；〃 said Fyokla sarcastically。 〃The fine ladies！〃
she added； setting down the pails。 〃You have taken to the fashion
of tea every day。 You better look out that you don't burst with
your tea…drinking；〃 she went on； looking with hatred at Olga。
〃That's how you have come by your fat mug； having a good time in
Moscow； you lump of flesh！〃 She swung the yoke and hit Olga such
a blow on the shoulder that the two sisters…in…law could only
clasp their hands and say：
〃Oh； holy Saints！〃
Then Fyokla went down to the river to wash the clothes； swearing
all the time so loudly that she could be heard in the hut。
The day passed and was followed by the long autumn evening。 They
wound silk in the hut； everyone did it except Fyokla； she had
gone over the river。 They got the silk from a factory close by；
and the whole family working together earned next to nothing；
twenty kopecks a week。
〃Things were better in the old days under the gentry；〃 said the
old father as he wound silk。 〃You worked and ate and slept；
everything in its turn。 At dinner you had cabbage…soup and boiled
grain； and at supper the same again。 Cucumbers and cabbage in
plenty： you could eat to your heart's content； as much as you
wanted。 And there was more strictness。 Everyone minded what he
was about。〃
The hut was lighted by a single little lamp； which burned dimly
and smoked。 When someone screened the lamp and a big shadow fell
across the window； the bright moonlight could be seen。 Old Osip；
speaking slowly； told them how they used to live before the
emancipation； how in those very parts； where life was now so poor
and so dreary； they used to hunt with harriers； greyhounds；。
retrievers； and when they went out as beaters the peasants were
given vodka； how whole waggonloads of game used to be sent to
Moscow for the young masters； how the bad were beaten with rods
or sent away to the Tver estate； while the good were rewarded。
And Granny told them something； too。 She remembered everything；
positively everything。 She described her mistress； a kind；
God…fearing woman； whose husband was a profligate and a rake； and
all of whose daughters made unlucky marriages： one married a
drunkard； another married a workman； the other eloped secretly
（Granny herself； at that time a young girl； helped in the
elopement）； and they had all three as well as their mother died
early from grief。 And remembering all this； Granny positively
began to shed tears。
All at once someone knocked at the door； and they all started。
〃Uncle Osip； give me a night's lodging。〃
The little bald old man； General Zhukov's cook； the one whose cap
had been burnt； walked in。 He sat down and listened； then he；
too； began telling stories of all sorts。 Nikolay； sitting on the
stove with his legs hanging down； listened and asked questions
about the dishes that were prepared in the old days for the
gentry。 They talked of rissoles； cutlets； various soups and
sauces； and the cook； who remembered everything very well；
mentioned dishes that are no longer served。 There was one； for
instance a dish made of bulls' eyes； which was called 〃waking
up in the morning。〃
〃And used you to do cutlets a' la marechal？〃 asked Nikolay。
〃No。〃
Nikolay shook his head reproachfully and said：
〃Tut； tut！ You were not much of a cook！〃
The little girls sitting and lying on the stove stared down
without blinking； it seemed as though there were a great many of
them； like cherubim in the clouds。 They liked the stories： they
were brea thless； they shuddered and turned pale with alternate
rapture and terror； and they listened breathlessly； afraid to
stir； to Granny； whose stories were the most interesting of all。
They lay down to sleep in silence； and the old people； troubled
and excited by their reminiscences； thought how precious was
youth； of which； whatever it might have been like； nothing was
left in the memory but what was living； joyful； touching； and how
terribly cold was death； which was not far off； better not think
of it！ The lamp died down。 And the dusk； and the two little
windows sharply defined by the moonlight； and the stillness and
the creak of the cradle； reminded them for some reason that life
was over； that nothing one could do would bring it back。 。 。 。
You doze off； you forget yourself； and suddenly someone touches
your shoulder or breathes on your cheek and sleep is gone；
your body feels cramped； and thoughts of death keep creeping into
your mind。 You turn on the other side： death is forgotten； but
old dreary； sickening thoughts of poverty； of food； of how dear
flour is getting； stray through the mind； and a little later
again you remember that life is over and you cannot bring it
back。 。 。 。
〃Oh； Lord！〃 sighed the cook。
Someone gave a soft； soft tap at the window。 It must be Fyokla
come back。 Olga got up； and yawning and whispering a prayer；
opened the door； then drew the bolt in the outer room； but no one
came in； only from the street came a cold draught and a sudden
brightness from the moonlight。 The street； still and deserted；
and the moon itself floating across the sky； could be seen at the
open door。
〃Who is there？〃 called Olga。
〃I；〃 she heard the answer 〃it is I。〃
Near the door； crouching against the wall； stood Fyokla；
absolutely naked。 She was shivering with cold； her teeth were
chattering； and in the bright moonlight she looked very pale；
strange； and beautiful。 The shadows on her； and the bright
moonlight on her skin； stood out vividly； and her dark eyebrows
and firm； youthful bosom were defined with peculiar distinctness。
〃The ruffians over there undressed me and turned me out like
this；〃 she said。 〃I've come home without my clothes 。 。 。 naked
as my mother bore me。 Bring me something to put on。〃
〃But go inside！〃 Olga said softly； beginning to shiver； too。
〃I don't want the old folks to see。〃 Granny was； in fact； already
stirring and muttering； and the old father asked： 〃Who is there？〃
Olga brought her own smock and skirt； dressed Fyokla； and th