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passionate longing to go away； to go far away to the end of the
world。 It was already settled that she should go back to Moscow
to be a servant； and that Kiryak should set off with her to get a
job as a porter or something。 Oh； to get away quickly！
As soon as it dried up and grew warm they got ready to set off。
Olga and Sasha； with wallets on their backs and shoes of plaited
bark on their feet； came out before daybreak： Marya came out；
too； to see them on their way。 Kiryak was not well； and was kept
at home for another week。 For the last time Olga prayed at the
church and thought of her husband； and though she did not shed
tears； her face puckered up and looked ugly like an old woman's。
During the winter she had grown thinner and plainer； and her hair
had gone a little grey； and instead of the old look of sweetness
and the pleasant smile on her face； she had the resigned；
mournful expression left by the sorrows she had been through； and
there was something blank and irresponsive in her eyes； as though
she did not hear what was said。 She was sorry
to part from the village and the peasants。 She remembered how
they had carried out Nikolay； and how a requiem had been ordered
for him at almost every hut； and all had shed tears in sympathy
with her grief。 In the course of the summer and the winter there
had been hours and days when it seemed as though these people
lived worse than the beasts； and to live with them was terrible；
they were coarse； dishonest； filthy； and drunken； they did not
live in harmony； but quarrelled continually； because they
distrusted and feared and did not respect one another。 Who keeps
the tavern and makes the people drunken？ A peasant。 Who wastes
and spends on drink the funds of the commune； of the schools； of
the church？ A peasant。 Who stole from his neighbours； set fire to
their property； gave false witness at the court for a bottle of
vodka？ At the meetings of the Zemstvo and other local bodies； who
was the first to fall foul of the peasants？ A peasant。 Yes； to
live with them was terrible； but yet； they were human beings；
they suffered and wept like human beings； and there was nothing
in their lives for which one could not find excuse。 Hard labour
that made the whole body ache at night； the cruel winters； the
scanty harvests； the overcrowding； and they had no help and none
to whom they could look for help。 Those of them who were a little
stronger and better off could be no help； as they were themselves
coarse； dishonest； drunken； and abused one another just as
revoltingly； the paltriest little clerk or official treated the
peasants as though they were tramps； and addressed even the
village elders and church wardens as inferiors； and considered
they had a right to do so。 And； indeed； can any sort of help or
good example be given by mercenary； greedy； depraved； and idle
persons who only visit the village in order to insult； to
despoil； and to terrorize？ Olga remembered the pitiful；
humiliated look of the old people when in the winter Kiryak had
been taken to be flogged。 。 。 。 And now she felt sorry for all
these people； painfully so； and as she walked on she kept looking
back at the huts。
After walking two miles with them Marya said good…bye； then
kneeling； and falling forward with her face on the earth； she
began wailing：
〃Again I am left alone。 Alas； for poor me！ poor； unhappy！ 。 。 。〃
And she wailed like this for a long time； and for a long way Olga
and Sasha could still see her on her knees； bowing down to
someone at the side and clutching her head in her hands； while
the rooks flew over her head。
The sun rose high； it began to get hot。 Zhukovo was left far
behind。 Walking was pleasant。 Olga and Sasha soon forgot both the
village and Marya； they were gay and everything entertained them。
Now they came upon an ancient barrow； now upon a row of telegraph
posts running one after another into the distance and
disappearing into the horizon； and the wires hummed mysteriously。
Then they saw a homestead； all wreathed in green foliage； there
came a scent from it of dampness； of hemp； and it seemed for some
reason that happy people lived there。 Then they came upon a
horse's skeleton whitening in solitude in the open fields。 And
the larks trilled unceasingly； the corncrakes called to one
another； and the landrail cried as though someone were really
scraping at an old iron rail。
At midday Olga and Sasha reached a big village。 There in the
broad street they met the little old man who was General Zhukov's
cook。 He was hot； and his red； perspiring bald head shone in the
sunshine。 Olga and he did not recognize each other； then looked
round at the same moment； recognized each other； and went their
separate ways without saying a word。 Stopping near the hut which
looked newest and most prosperous； Olga bowed down before the
open windows； and said in a loud； thin； chanting voice：
〃Good Christian folk； give alms； for Christ's sake； that God's
blessing may be upon you； and that your parents may be in the
Kingdom of Heaven in peace eternal。〃
〃Good Christian folk；〃 Sasha began chanting； 〃give； for Christ's
sake； that God's blessing； the Heavenly Kingdom 。 。 。〃
End