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later he ran out of the house with a concertina。 Jingling some
coppers in his pocket； and cracking sunflower seeds as he ran； he
went out at the gate。
〃And who's that； pray？〃 asked Matvey Savitch。
〃My son Alexey；〃 answered Dyudya。 〃He's off on a spree； the
rascal。 God has afflicted him with a hump； so we are not very
hard on him。〃
〃And he's always drinking with the other fellows； always
drinking；〃 sighed Afanasyevna。 〃Before Carnival we married him；
thinking he'd be steadier； but there！ he's worse than ever。〃
〃It's been no use。 Simply keeping another man's daughter for
nothing；〃 said Dyudya。
Somewhere behind the church they began to sing a glorious；
mournful song。 The words they could not catch and only the voices
could be heard two tenors and a bass。 All were listening；
there was complete stillness in the yard。 。 。 。 Two voices
suddenly broke off with a loud roar of laughter； but the third； a
tenor； still sang on； and took so high a note that every one
instinctively looked upwards； as though the voice had soared to
heaven itself。
Varvara came out of the house； and screening her eyes with her
hand； as though from the sun； she looked towards the church。
〃It's the priest's sons with the schoolmaster；〃 she said。
Again all the three voices began to sing together。 Matvey Savitch
sighed and went on：
〃Well； that's how it was； old man。 Two years later we got a
letter from Vasya from Warsaw。 He wrote that he was being sent
home sick。 He was ill。 By that time I had put all that
foolishness out of my head； and I had a fine match picked out all
ready for me； only I didn't know how to break it off with my
sweetheart。 Every day I'd make up my mind to have it out with
Mashenka； but I didn't know how to approach her so as not to have
a woman's screeching about my ears。 The letter freed my hands。 I
read it through with Mashenka； she turned white as a sheet； while
I said to her： 'Thank God； now；' says I； 'you'll be a married
woman again。' But says she： 'I'm not going to live with him。'
'Why； isn't he your husband？' said I。 'Is it an easy thing？ 。 。 。
I never loved him and I married him not of my own free will。 My
mother made me。' 'Don't try to get out of it； silly；' said I；
'but tell me this： were you married to him in church or not？' 'I
was married；' she said； 'but it's you that I love； and I will
stay with you to the day of my death。 Folks may jeer。 I don't
care。 。 。 。' 'You're a Christian woman；' said I； 'and have read
the Scriptures； what is written there？'
〃Once married； with her husband she must live；〃 said Dyudya。
〃 'Man and wife are one flesh。 We have sinned；' I said； 'you and
I； and it is enough； we must repent and fear God。 We must confess
it all to Vasya；' said I； 'he's a quiet fellow and soft he
won't kill you。 And indeed；' said I； 'better to suffer torments
in this world at the hands of your lawful master than to gnash
your teeth at the dread Seat of Judgment。' The wench wouldn't
listen； she stuck to her silly； 'It's you I love！' and nothing
more could I get out of her。
〃Vasya came back on the Saturday before Trinity； early in the
morning。 From my fence I could see everything； he ran into the
house； and came back a minute later with Kuzka in his arms； and
he was laughing and crying all at once； he was kissing Kuzka and
looking up at the hay…loft； and hadn't the heart to put the child
down； and yet he was longing to go to his pigeons。 He was always
a soft sort of chap sentimental。 That day passed off very
well； all quiet and proper。 They had begun ringing the church
bells for the evening service； when the thought struck me：
'To…morrow's Trinity Sunday； how is it they are not decking the
gates and the fence with green？ Something's wrong；' I thought。 I
went over to them。 I peeped in； and there he was； sitting on the
floor in the middle of the room； his eyes staring like a drunken
man's； the tears streaming down his cheeks and his hands shaking；
he was pulling cracknels； necklaces； gingerbread nuts； and all
sorts of little presents out of his bundle and flinging them on
the floor。 Kuzka he was three years old was crawling on the
floor； munching the gingerbreads； while Mashenka stood by the
stove； white and shivering all over； muttering： 'I'm not your
wife； I can't live with you；' and all sorts of foolishness。 I
bowed down at Vasya's feet； and said： 'We have sinned against
you； Vassily Maximitch； forgive us； for Christ's sake！' Then I
got up and spoke to Mashenka： 'You； Marya Semyonovna； ought now
to wash Vassily Maximitch's feet and drink the water。 Do you be
an obedient wife to him； and pray to God for me； that He in His
mercy may forgive my transgression。' It came to me like an
inspiration from an angel of Heaven； I gave her solemn counsel
and spoke with such feeling that my own tears flowed too。 And so
two days later Vasya comes to me： 'Matyusha；' says he； 'I forgive
you and my wife； God have mercy on you！ She was a soldier's wife；
a young thing all alone； it was hard for her to be on her guard。
She's not the first； nor will she be the last。 Only；' he says； 'I
beg you to behave as though there had never been anything between
you； and to make no sign； while I；' says he； 'will do my best to
please her in every way； so that she may come to love me again。'
He gave me his hand on it； drank a cup of tea； and went away more
cheerful。
〃 'Well；' thought I； 'thank God！' and I did feel glad that
everything had gone off so well。 But no sooner had Vasya gone out
of the yard； when in came Mashenka。 Ah！ What I had to suffer！ She
hung on my neck； weeping and praying： 'For God's sake； don't cast
me off； I can't live without you！' 〃
〃The vile hussy！〃 sighed Dyudya。
〃I swore at her； stamped my foot； and dragging her
into the passage； I fastened the door with the hook。 'Go to your
husband；' I cried。 'Don't shame me before folks。 Fear God！' And
every day there was a scene of that sort。
〃One morning I was standing in my yard near the stable cleaning a
bridle。 All at once I saw her running through the little gate
into my yard； with bare feet； in her petticoat； and straight
towards me； she clutched at the bridle； getting all smeared with
the pitch； and shaking and weeping； she cried： 'I can't stand
him； I loathe him； I can't bear it！ If you don't love me； better
kill me！' I was angry； and I struck her twice with the bridle；
but at that instant Vasya ran in at the gate； and in a despairing
voice he shouted： 'Don't beat her！ Don't beat her！' But he ran up
himself； and waving his arms； as though he were mad； he let fly
with his fists at her with all his might； then flung her on the
ground and kicked her。 I tried to defend her； but he snatched up
the reins and thrashed her with them； and all the while； like a
colt's whinny； he went： 'He he he！' 〃
〃I'd take the reins and let you feel them；〃 muttered Varvara；
moving away； 〃murdering our sister； the damned brutes！ 。 。 。〃
〃Hold your tongue； you jade！〃 Dyudya shouted at her。
〃 'He he he！' 〃 Matvey Savitch went on。 〃A carrier ran out
of his yard； I called to my workman； and the three of us got
Mashenka away from him and carried her home in our arms。 The
di