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with abuse； with reproaches； shaking her fist right in his face。
She shouted that it was all his fault； why had he sent them so
little when he boasted in his letters that he was getting fifty
roubles a month at the Slavyansky Bazaar？ Why had he come； and
with his family； too？ If he died； where was the money to come
from for his funeral 。 。 。 ？ And it was pitiful to look at
Nikolay； Olga； and Sasha。
The old father cleared his throat； took his cap； and went off to
the village elder。 Antip was soldering something by the stove；
puffing out his cheeks； there was a smell of burning。 His
children； emaciated and unwashed； no better than the
Tchikildyeevs； were scrambling about the floor； his wife； an
ugly； freckled woman with a prominent stomach； was winding silk。
They were a poor； unlucky family； and Antip was the only one who
looked vigorous and handsome。 On a bench there were five samovars
standing in a row。 The old man said his prayer to Battenburg and
said：
〃Antip； show the Divine mercy。 Give me back the samovar； for
Christ's sake！〃
〃Bring three roubles； then you shall have it。
〃I can't do it！〃
Antip puffed out his cheeks； the fire roared and hissed； and the
glow was reflected in the samovar。 The old man crumpled up his
cap and said after a moment's thought：
〃You give it me back。〃
The swarthy elder looked quite black； and was like a magician； he
turned round to Osip and said sternly and rapidly：
〃It all depends on the rural captain。 On the twenty…sixth instant
you can state the grounds for your dissatisfaction before the
administrative session； verbally or in writing。〃
Osip did not understand a word； but he was satisfied with that
and went home。
Ten days later the police inspector came again； stayed an hour
and went away。 During those days the weather had changed to cold
and windy； the river had been frozen for some time past； but
still there was no snow； and people found it difficult to get
about。 On the eve of a holiday some of the neighbours came in to
Osip's to sit and have a talk。 They did not light the lamp； as it
would have been a sin to work； but talked in the darkness。 There
were some items of news； all rather unpleasant。 In two or three
households hens had been taken for the arrears； and had been sent
to the district police station； and there they had died because
no one had fed them； they had taken sheep； and while they were
being driven away tied to one another； shifted into another cart
at each village； one of them had died。 And now they were
discussing the question； who was to blame？
〃The Zemstvo；〃 said Osip。 〃Who else？〃
〃Of course it is the Zemstvo。〃
The Zemstvo was blamed for everything for the arrears； and for
the oppressions； and for the failure of the crops； though no one
of them knew what was meant by the Zemstvo。 And this dated from
the time when well…to…do peasants who had factories； shops； and
inns of their own were members of the Zemstvos； were dissatisfied
with them； and took to swearing at the Zemstvos in their
factories and inns。
They talked of God's not sending the snow； they had to bring in
wood for fuel； and there was no driving nor walking in the frozen
ruts。 In old days fifteen to twenty years ago conversation was
much more interesting in Zhukovo。 In those days every old man
looked as though he were treasuring some secret； as though he
knew something and was expecting something。 They used to talk
about an edict in golden letters； about the division of lands；
about new land； about treasures； they hinted at something。 Now
the people of Zhukovo had no mystery at all； their whole life was
bare and open in the sight of all； and they could talk of nothing
but poverty； food； there being no snow yet。 。 。 。
There was a pause。 Then they thought again of the hens； of the
sheep； and began discussing whose fault it was。
〃The Zemstvo；〃 said Osip wearily。 〃Who else？〃
VIII
The parish church was nearly five miles away at Kosogorovo； and
the peasants only attended it when they had to do so for
baptisms； weddings； or funerals； they went to the services at the
church across the river。 On holidays in fine weather the girls
dressed up in their best and went in a crowd together to church；
and it was a cheering sight to see them in their red； yellow； and
green dresses cross the meadow； in bad weather they all stayed at
home。 They went for the sacrament to the parish church。 From each
of those who did not manage in Lent to go to confession in
readiness for the sacrament the parish priest； going the round of
the huts with the cross at Easter； took fifteen kopecks。
The old father did not believe in God； for he hardly ever thought
about Him； he recognized the supernatural； but considered it was
entirely the women's concern； and when religion or miracles were
discussed before him； or a question were put to him； he would say
reluctantly； scratching himself：
〃Who can tell！〃
Granny believed； but her faith was somewhat hazy； everything was
mixed up in her memory； and she could scarcely begin to think of
sins； of death； of the salvation of the soul； before poverty and
her daily cares took possession of her mind； and she instantly
forgot what she was thinking about。 She did not remember the
prayers； and usually in the evenings； before lying down to sleep；
she would stand before the ikons and whisper：
〃Holy Mother of Kazan； Holy Mother of Smolensk； Holy Mother of
Troerutchitsy。 。 。〃
Marya and Fyokla crossed themselves； fasted； and took the
sacrament every year； but understood nothing。 The children were
not taught their prayers； nothing was told them about God； and no
moral principles were instilled into them； they were only
forbidden to eat meat or milk in Lent。 In the other families it
was much the same： there were few who believed； few who
understood。 At the same time everyone loved the Holy Scripture；
loved it with a tender； reverent love； but they had no Bible；
there was no one to read it and explain it； and because Olga
sometimes read them the gospel； they respected her； and they all
addressed her and Sasha as though they were superior to
themselves。
For church holidays and services Olga often went to neighbouring
villages； and to the district town； in which there were two
monasteries and twenty…seven churches。 She was dreamy； and when
she was on these pilgrimages she quite forgot her family； and
only when she got home again suddenly made the joyful discovery
that she had a husband and daughter； and then would say； smiling
and radiant：
〃God has sent me blessings！〃
What went on in the village worried her and seemed to her
revolting。 On Elijah's Day they drank； at the Assumption they
drank； at the Ascension they drank。 The Feast of the Intercession
was the parish holiday for Zhukovo； and the peasants used to
drink then for three days； they squandered on drink fifty roubles
of money belonging to the Mir； and then collected more for vodka
from all the households。 On the first
day of the feast the Tchikildyeevs killed a sheep and ate of it
in the morning； at dinner…time； and in the evening； they ate it
ravenously； and the children got up at night to eat more。 Ki