the forged coupon()-第25章
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girls were tidying and sweeping with spades and brooms。 The gardener
was busy measuring； and a boy was bringing something in a cart。
Passing these Volgin went into the park of at least a hundred and twenty…
five acres； filled with fine old trees； and intersected by a network of well…
kept walks。 Smoking as he strolled Volgin took his favourite path past the
summer…house into the fields beyond。 It was pleasant in the park； but it
was still nicer in the fields。 On the right some women who were digging
potatoes formed a mass of bright red and white colour； on the left were
wheat fields； meadows； and grazing cattle； and in the foreground； slightly
to the right； were the dark； dark oaks of Littleports。 Volgin took a deep
breath； and felt glad that he was alive； especially here in his cousin's home；
where he was so thoroughly enjoying the rest from his work at the bank。
〃Lucky people to live in the country；〃 he thought。 〃True； what with
his farming and his Zemstvo； the owner of the estate has very little peace
even in the country； but that is his own lookout。〃 Volgin shook his head；
lit another cigarette； and； stepping out firmly with his powerful feet clad in
his thick English boots； began to think of the heavy winter's work in the
bank that was in front of him。 〃I shall be there every day from ten to two；
sometimes even till five。 And the board meetings 。 。 。 And private
interviews with clients。 。 。 。 Then the Duma。 Whereas here。 。 。 。 It is
delightful。 It may be a little dull； but it is not for long。〃 He smiled。 After
a stroll in Littleports he turned back； going straight across a fallow field
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which was being ploughed。 A herd of cows； calves； sheep； and pigs；
which belonged to the village community； was grazing there。 The shortest
way to the park was to pass through the herd。 He frightened the sheep；
which ran away one after another； and were followed by the pigs； of which
two little ones stared solemnly at him。 The shepherd boy called to the
sheep and cracked his whip。 〃How far behind Europe we are；〃 thought
Volgin； recalling his frequent holidays abroad。 〃You would not find a
single cow like that anywhere in Europe。〃 Then； wanting to find out
where the path which branched off from the one he was on led to and who
was the owner of the herd； he called to the boy。
〃Whose herd is it？〃
The boy was so filled with wonder； verging on terror； when he gazed at
the hat； the well…brushed beard； and above all the gold…rimmed eyeglasses；
that he could not reply at once。 When Volgin repeated his question the boy
pulled himself together； and said； 〃Ours。〃 〃But whose is 'ours'？〃 said
Volgin； shaking his head and smiling。 The boy was wearing shoes of
plaited birch bark； bands of linen round his legs； a dirty； unbleached shirt
ragged at the shoulder； and a cap the peak of which had been torn。
〃Whose is 'ours'？〃
〃The Pirogov village herd。〃
〃How old are you？
〃I don't know。〃
〃Can you read？〃
〃No； I can't。〃
〃Didn't you go to school？〃
〃Yes； I did。〃
〃Couldn't you learn to read？〃
〃No。〃
〃Where does that path lead？〃
The boy told him； and Volgin went on towards the house； thinking how
he would chaff Nicholas Petrovich about the deplorable condition of the
village schools in spite of all his efforts。
On approaching the house Volgin looked at his watch； and saw that it
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was already past eleven。 He remembered that Nicholas Petrovich was
going to drive to the nearest town； and that he had meant to give him a
letter to post to Moscow； but the letter was not written。 The letter was a
very important one to a friend； asking him to bid for him for a picture of
the Madonna which was to be offered for sale at an auction。 As he
reached the house he saw at the door four big； well…fed； well…groomed；
thoroughbred horses harnessed to a carriage； the black lacquer of which
glistened in the sun。 The coachman was seated on the box in a kaftan； with
a silver belt； and the horses were jingling their silver bells from time to
time。
A bare…headed； barefooted peasant in a ragged kaftan stood at the front
door。 He bowed。 Volgin asked what he wanted。
〃I have come to see Nicholas Petrovich。〃
〃What about？〃
〃Because I am in distressmy horse has died。〃
Volgin began to question him。 The peasant told him how he was
situated。 He had five children； and this had been his only horse。 Now it
was gone。 He wept。
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃To beg。〃 And he knelt down； and remained kneeling in spite of
Volgin's expostulations。
〃What is your name？〃
〃Mitri Sudarikov；〃 answered the peasant； still kneeling。
Volgin took three roubles from his purse and gave them to the peasant；
who showed his gratitude by touching the ground with his forehead； and
then went into the house。 His host was standing in the hall。
〃Where is your letter？〃 he asked； approaching Volgin； 〃I am just off。〃
〃I'm awfully sorry； I'll write it this minute； if you will let me。 I forgot
all about it。 It's so pleasant here that one can forget anything。〃
〃All right； but do be quick。 The horses have already been standing a
quarter of an hour； and the flies are biting viciously。 Can you wait；
Arsenty？〃 he asked the coachman。
〃Why not？〃 said the coachman； thinking to himself； 〃why do they
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order the horses when they aren't ready？ The rush the grooms and I had
just to stand here and feed the flies。〃
〃Directly； directly；〃 Volgin went towards his room； but turned back to
ask Nicholas Petrovich about the begging peasant。
〃Did you see him？He's a drunkard； but still he is to be pitied。 Do be
quick！〃 Volgin got out his case； with all the requisites for writing； wrote
the letter； made out a cheque for a hundred and eighty roubles； and；
sealing down the envelope； took it to Nicholas Petrovich。
〃Good…bye。〃
Volgin read the newspapers till luncheon。 He only read the Liberal
papers： The Russian Gazette； Speech； sometimes The Russian Wordbut
he would not touch The New Times； to which his host subscribed。
While he was scanning at his ease the political news； the Tsar's doings；
the doings of President； and ministers and decisions in the Duma； and was
just about to pass on to the general news； theatres； science； murders and
cholera； he heard the luncheon bell ring。
Thanks to the efforts of upwards of ten human beings counting
laundresses； gardeners； cooks； kitchen…maids； butlers and footmenthe
table was sumptuously laid for eight； with silver waterjugs； decanters；
kvass； wine； mineral waters； cut glass； and fine table linen； while two
men…servants were continually hurrying to and fro； bringing in and serving；
and then clearing away the hors d'oeuvre and the various hot and cold
courses。
The hostess talked incessantly about everything that she had been
doing； thinking； and saying； and she evidently considered that everything
that she thought； said； or did was perfect； and that it would please every
one except those who were fools。 Volgin felt and knew that everything she
said was stupid； but it would never do to let it be seen； and so he kept up
the conversation。 Theodorite was glum and silent； the student
occasionally exchanged a few words with the widow。 Now and again there
was a pause in the conversation； and then Theodorite interposed； and every
one became miserably depressed。 At such moments the hostess ordered
some dish that had not been served； and the footman hurried off to the
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kitchen； or to the housekeeper； and hurried back again。 Nobody felt
inclined either to talk or to eat。 But they all forced themselves to eat and
to talk； and so luncheon went on。
The peasant who had been begging because his horse had died was
named Mitri Sudarikov。 He had spent the whole day before he went to
the squire over his dead horse。 First of all he went to the knacker； Sanin；
who lived in a village near。 The knacker was out； but he waited for him；
and it was dinner…time when he had finished bargaining over the price of
the skin。 Then he borrowed a neighbour's horse to take his own to a field
to be buried； as it is forbidden to bury dead animals near a village。
Adrian would not lend his horse because he was getting in his potatoes；
but Stephen took pity on Mitri and gave way to his persuasion。 He even
lent a hand in lifting the dead horse into the cart。 Mitri tore off the shoes
from the forelegs and gave them to his wife。 One was broken； but the
other one was whole。 While he was digging the grave with a spade which
was very blunt； the knacker appeared and took off the skin； and the carcass
was then thrown into the hole and covered up。 Mitri felt tired； and went
into Matrena's hut； where he drank half a bottle of vodka with Sanin to
console himself。 Then he went home； quarrelled with his wife； and lay
down to sleep on the hay。 He did not undress； but slept just as he was；
with a ragged coat for a coverlet。 His wife was in the hut with the girls
there were four of them； and the youngest was only five weeks old。 Mitri
woke up before dawn as usual。 He groaned as the memory of the day
before broke in upon hi
