the wife and other stories-第37部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

out　of　the　lodge　with　the　hurried　step　of　an　old　man；　leaving　his　hat　behind。　When；　a　little　later；　my　mother　ran　into　the　lodge；　Fyodor　and　Pobyedimsky　were　still　hammering　on　the　table　like　blacksmiths　and　repeating；　〃I　won't　allow　it！〃

〃What　has　happened　here？〃　asked　mother。　〃Why　has　my　brother　been　taken　ill？　What's　the　matter？〃

Looking　at　Tatyana's　pale；　frightened　face　and　at　her　infuriated　husband；　mother　probably　guessed　what　was　the　matter。　She　sighed　and　shook　her　head。

〃Come！　give　over　banging　on　the　table！〃　she　said。　〃Leave　off；　Fyodor！　And　why　are　you　thumping；　Yegor　Alexyevitch？　What　have　you　got　to　do　with　it？〃

Pobyedimsky　was　startled　and　confused。　Fyodor　looked　intently　at　him；　then　at　his　wife；　and　began　walking　about　the　room。　When　mother　had　gone　out　of　the　lodge；　I　saw　what　for　long　afterwards　I　looked　upon　as　a　dream。　I　saw　Fyodor　seize　my　tutor；　lift　him　up　in　the　air；　and　thrust　him　out　of　the　door。

When　I　woke　up　in　the　morning　my　tutor's　bed　was　empty。　To　my　question　where　he　was　nurse　told　me　in　a　whisper　that　he　had　been　taken　off　early　in　the　morning　to　the　hospital；　as　his　arm　was　broken。　Distressed　at　this　intelligence　and　remembering　the　scene　of　the　previous　evening；　I　went　out　of　doors。　It　was　a　grey　day。　The　sky　was　covered　with　storm…clouds　and　there　was　a　wind　blowing　dust；　bits　of　paper；　and　feathers　along　the　ground。　。　。　。　It　felt　as　though　rain　were　coming。　There　was　a　look　of　boredom　in　the　servants　and　in　the　animals。　When　I　went　into　the　house　I　was　told　not　to　make　such　a　noise　with　my　feet；　as　mother　was　ill　and　in　bed　with　a　migraine。　What　was　I　to　do？　I　went　outside　the　gate；　sat　down　on　the　little　bench　there；　and　fell　to　trying　to　discover　the　meaning　of　what　I　had　seen　and　heard　the　day　before。　From　our　gate　there　was　a　road　which；　passing　the　forge　and　the　pool　which　never　dried　up；　ran　into　the　main　road。　I　looked　at　the　telegraph…posts；　about　which　clouds　of　dust　were　whirling；　and　at　the　sleepy　birds　sitting　on　the　wires；　and　I　suddenly　felt　so　dreary　that　I　began　to　cry。

A　dusty　wagonette　crammed　full　of　townspeople；　probably　going　to　visit　the　shrine；　drove　by　along　the　main　road。　The　wagonette　was　hardly　out　of　sight　when　a　light　chaise　with　a　pair　of　horses　came　into　view。　In　it　was　Akim　Nikititch；　the　police　inspector；　standing　up　and　holding　on　to　the　coachman's　belt。　To　my　great　surprise；　the　chaise　turned　into　our　road　and　flew　by　me　in　at　the　gate。　While　I　was　puzzling　why　the　police　inspector　had　come　to　see　us；　I　heard　a　noise；　and　a　carriage　with　three　horses　came　into　sight　on　the　road。　In　the　carriage　stood　the　police　captain；　directing　his　coachman　towards　our　gate。

〃And　why　is　he　coming？〃　I　thought；　looking　at　the　dusty　police　captain。　〃Most　probably　Pobyedimsky　has　complained　of　Fyodor　to　him；　and　they　have　come　to　take　him　to　prison。〃

But　the　mystery　was　not　so　easily　solved。　The　police　inspector　and　the　police　captain　were　only　the　first　instalment；　for　five　minutes　had　scarcely　passed　when　a　coach　drove　in　at　our　gate。　It　dashed　by　me　so　swiftly　that　I　could　only　get　a　glimpse　of　a　red　beard。

Lost　in　conjecture　and　full　of　misgivings；　I　ran　to　the　house。　In　the　passage　first　of　all　I　saw　mother；　she　was　pale　and　looking　with　horror　towards　the　door；　from　which　came　the　sounds　of　men's　voices。　The　visitors　had　taken　her　by　surprise　in　the　very　throes　of　migraine。

〃Who　has　come；　mother？〃　I　asked。

〃Sister；〃　I　heard　my　uncle's　voice；　〃will　you　send　in　something　to　eat　for　the　governor　and　me？〃

〃It　is　easy　to　say　'something　to　eat；'　〃　whispered　my　mother；　numb　with　horror。　〃What　have　I　time　to　get　ready　now？　I　am　put　to　shame　in　my　old　age！〃

Mother　clutched　at　her　head　and　ran　into　the　kitchen。　The　governor's　sudden　visit　stirred　and　overwhelmed　the　whole　household。　A　ferocious　slaughter　followed。　A　dozen　fowls；　five　turkeys；　eight　ducks；　were　killed；　and　in　the　fluster　the　old　gander；　the　progenitor　of　our　whole　flock　of　geese　and　a　great　favourite　of　mother's；　was　beheaded。　The　coachmen　and　the　cook　seemed　frenzied；　and　slaughtered　birds　at　random；　without　distinction　of　age　or　breed。　For　the　sake　of　some　wretched　sauce　a　pair　of　valuable　pigeons；　as　dear　to　me　as　the　gander　was　to　mother；　were　sacrificed。　It　was　a　long　while　before　I　could　forgive　the　governor　their　death。

In　the　evening；　when　the　governor　and　his　suite；　after　a　sumptuous　dinner；　had　got　into　their　carriages　and　driven　away；　I　went　into　the　house　to　look　at　the　remains　of　the　feast。　Glancing　into　the　drawing…room　from　the　passage；　I　saw　my　uncle　and　my　mother。　My　uncle；　with　his　hands　behind　his　back；　was　walking　nervously　up　and　down　close　to　the　wall；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　Mother；　exhausted　and　looking　much　thinner；　was　sitting　on　the　sofa　and　watching　his　movements　with　heavy　eyes。

〃Excuse　me；　sister；　but　this　won't　do　at　all；〃　my　uncle　grumbled；　wrinkling　up　his　face。　〃I　introduced　the　governor　to　you；　and　you　didn't　offer　to　shake　hands。　You　covered　him　with　confusion；　poor　fellow！　No；　that　won't　do。　。　。　。　Simplicity　is　a　very　good　thing；　but　there　must　be　limits　to　it。　。　。　。　Upon　my　soul！　And　then　that　dinner！　How　can　one　give　people　such　things？　What　was　that　mess；　for　instance；　that　they　served　for　the　fourth　course？〃

〃That　was　duck　with　sweet　sauce　。　。　。〃　mother　answered　softly。

〃Duck！　Forgive　me；　sister；　but　。　。　。　but　here　I've　got　heartburn！　I　am　ill！〃

My　uncle　made　a　sour；　tearful　face；　and　went　on：

〃It　was　the　devil　sent　that　governor！　As　though　I　wanted　his　visit！　Pff！　。　。　。　heartburn！　I　can't　work　or　sleep　。　。　。　I　am　completely　out　of　sorts。　。　。　。　And　I　can't　understand　how　you　can　live　here　without　anything　to　do　。　。　。　in　this　boredom！　Here　I've　got　a　pain　coming　under　my　shoulder…blade！　。　。　。〃

My　uncle　frowned；　and　walked　about　more　rapidly　than　ever。

〃Brother；〃　my　mother　inquired　softly；　〃what　would　it　cost　to　go　abroad？〃

〃At　least　three　thousand　。　。　。〃　my　　uncle　answered　in　a　te　arful　voice。　〃I　would　go；　but　where　am　I　to　get　it？　I　haven't　a　farthing。　Pff！　。　。　。　heartburn！〃

My　uncle　stopped　to　look　dejectedly　at　the　grey；　overcast　prospect　from　the　window；　and　began　pacing　to　and　fro　again。

A　silence　followed。　。　。　。　Mother　looked　a　long　while　at　the　ikon；　pondering　something；　then　she　began　crying；　and　said：

〃I'll　give　you　the　three　thousand；　brother。　。　。　。〃


Three　days　later　the　majestic　boxes　went　off　to　the　station；　and　the　privy　councillor　drove　off　after　them。　As　he　said　good…bye　to　mother　he　shed　tears；　and　it　was　a　long　time　before　he　took　his　lips　from　her　hands；　but　when　he　got　into　his　carriage　his　face　beamed　with　childlike　pleasure。　。　。　。　Radiant　and　happy；　he　settled　himself　comfortably；　kissed　his　hand　to　my　mother；　who　was　crying；　and　all　at　once　his　eye　was　caught　by　me。　A　look　of　the　utmost　astonishment　came　into　his　face。

〃What　boy　is　this？〃　he　asked。

My　mother；　who　had　declared　my　uncle's　coming　was　a　piece　of　luck　for　which　I　must　thank　God；　was　bitterly　mortified　at　this　question。　I　was　in　no　mood　for　questions。　I　looked　at　my　uncle's　happy　face；　and　for　some　reason　I　felt　fearfully　sorry　for　him。　I　could　not　resist　jumping　up　to　the　carriage　and　hugging　that　frivolous　man；　weak　as　all　men　are。　Looking　into　his　face　and　wanting　to　say　something　pleasant；　I　asked：

〃Uncle；　have　you　ever　been　in　a　battle？〃

〃Ah；　the　dear　boy　。　。　。〃　laughed　my　uncle；　kissing　me。　〃A　charming　boy；　upon　my　soul！　How　natural；　how　living　it　all　is；　upon　my　soul！　。　。　。〃

The　carriage　set　off。　。　。　。　I　looked　after　him；　and　long　afterwards　that　farewell　〃upon　my　soul〃　was　ringing　in　my　ears。


THE　MAN　IN　A　CASE

AT　the　furthest　end　of　the　village　of　Mironositskoe　some　belated　sportsmen　lodged　for　the　night　in　the　elder　Prokofy's　barn。　There　were　two　of　them；　the　veterinary　surgeon　Ivan　Ivanovitch　and　the　schoolmaster　Burkin。　Ivan　Ivanovitch　had　a　rather　strange　double…barrelled　surname　　Tchimsha…Himalaisky　　which　did　not　suit　him　at　all；　and　he　was　called　simply　Ivan　Ivanovitch　all　over　the　province。　He　lived　at　a　stud…farm　near　the　town；　and　had　come　out　shooting　now　to　get　a　breath　of　fresh　air。　Burkin；　the　high…school　teacher；　stayed　every　summer　at　Count　P…'s；　and　had　been　thoroughly　at　home　in　this　district　for　years。

They　did　not　sleep。　Ivan　Ivanovitch；　a　tall；　lean　old　fellow　with　long　moustaches；　was　sitting　outside　the　door；　smoking　a　pipe　in　the　moonlight。　Burkin　was　lying　within　on　the　hay；　and　could　not　be　seen　in　the　darkness。

They　were　telling　each　other　all　sorts　of　stories。　Among　other　things；　they　spoke　of　the　fact　that　the　elder's　wife；　Mavra；　a　healthy　and　by　no　means　stupid　woman；　had　never　been　beyond　her　native　village；　had　never　seen　a　town　nor　a　railway　in　her　life；　and　had　spent　the　last　ten　years　sitting　behind　the　stove；　and　only　at　night　going　out　into　the　street。

〃What　is　there　wonderful　in　that！〃　said　Burkin。　〃There　are　plenty　of　people　in　the　world；　solitary　by　temperament；　who　try　to　retreat　into　their　shell　like　a　hermit　crab　or　a　snail。　Perhaps　it　is　an　instance　of　atavism；　a　return　to　the　period　when　the　ancestor　of　man　was　not　yet　a　social　animal　and　lived　alone　in　his　den；　or　perhaps　it　is　only　one　of　the　diversities　of　human　character　　who　knows？