The Man Who Was Afraid

ut two boys from the crowd who at once seemed more interesting to him than the others. One had a seat in front of him. Foma, looking askance, saw a broa

e red-headed boy arose slowly, walked up to the teacher, calmly stared into his face, and, having

the teacher. “Yozhov

triking against everything and turning his head on all sides. At the blackboard he seized the chalk, and, standing up on the toes of

yellow face and contracting his fatigued eyes

the first peddler

must we do in order to find out h

like each other, Foma was thus taken un

How? Explain it

rag away, and, without looking at Foma, finished the problem and again began to wipe

ith his fist. “Why don’t you know it? What was the profit altogether? Thirty kopecks.

in, who was sedately returning to his seat. He didn’t like that round, freckled face,

are you? Th

es

sh me to promp

es

ill you giv

ht awhile

know it al

t pupil. You’ll

are talking again?” cri

to his feet an

an Andreyich —

whispering,” announ

omically, the teacher reprimanded them all, but his wo

n! I’ll remember

new boy?” asked Smolin, in a low voice

all right,”

an-yard proprietor, and that Yozhov himself was the son of a guard at the Court of Exchequer, and very poor. The last was clearly evident by the adroit boy’s costume, made of gray fustian and adorned with patches on the knees and elbo

ends,” he ann

er about me?” Gordyeeff reminded Y

impudent and because I never bring him any presents. If I had been a bad pupil he would have expelled me long ago. You know I’ll go to the Gymnasium from here. I’ll pass t

need to study so m

They become doctors, functionaries, officers. I shall be a ‘tinkler.’ A swo

Foma, pensively, ex

nything. And are y

es

h!” Yozhov imitated Foma’s slow way of

ave

e had a hundred pigeons and chased them all day long. Smolin has pigeons, too, fine ones! Fourteen. He

,” said Foma,

the three of us togethe

l. If the

ot your fath

es lik

that I am coming. Perhaps he would not let you go w

and Yozhov accosted him, sh

! It isn’t worth while to be

asked Smolin, calmly,

raightening himself with animation. “Listen! Although you are a kiss

olin nodde

d Yozhov, pulling out of his pocket a paper package, wherein some live thing was st

a, dumfounded by Yozhov’s adroitness

He’s very clever,” the

ful, too,”

ented. Then they became sil

him to my house?” ask

es

It’s nic

g to this. Then

u many f

ave

re I went to school. Only cousins. N

” sai

you g

m g

it is lively. And it is easier t

you a goo

verything well,” s

gh it had been frightened and

th were the very best boys in school and that they were the first to attract everybody’s attention, even as the two figures 5 and 7, w

n turned into some narrow side street, while Smolin wal

th go home the

it, and his aunt gave him a scarf knitted by herself. They were awaiting him for dinner, having prepared his favour

he school?” asked Ignat, looking lovi

It’s nice!”

ok out, hold your own with your friends. As soon

ry to get square with every offender yourself, punish him with your o

, recalling Yozhov. “One of

se i

ard’s

ld did

fully

him be! And

ne is red-he

on takes after his father it is all right. But that other one — you know, Foma, you had better invite them

this Sunday,” said Foma, looking

father and I, for instance, have been friends for more than twenty years, and I have profited a great deal by his common sense. So you, too, try to be friendl

hter at his comparison,

genuine. And have some common sense, no matter how

his sigh, like an echo, his a

r school, they could never teach you there anything save reading, writing and arithmetic. You may also learn some naughty

said the aunt. “See that y

; it is also necessary for him to know how to strike the wood so as not to hit his foot instead. To you the knowledge of reading and writing is given, and you must regulate your life with it. Thus it follows that books alone are but a trifle in this matter; it is necessary to be able to take advantage of them. And it is this ability that is more cunning than any books, and yet no

l voice he pictured to himself now the carpenter squaring a beam, now himself, his hands outstretched, carefu

n youth, as at high tide, go straight! A way is open to you everywhere. But you must know when it is time to steer. The waters recede — here

boy, looking at his father

nat burst into laughter. And the

and with Mayakin. But on the street, in a new place, or in the presence of strangers, he was always gloomy, always lookin

he mixed up those stories with his aunt’s fairy-tales, thus creating for himself a chaos of adventures wherein the bright colours of fantasy were whimsically intertwined with the stern shades of reality. This resulted in something colossal, incomprehensible;

ie! A

rist be w

to you,” wh

ep, darli

d,” confess

‘And the Lord will rise again

omlessly deep. It is very terrible for one to look down from the dark at this dead water. But now the sound of the night watchman’s mallet is heard, and the boy sees that the surface of the water is beginning to tremble, and, covering the surface with ripples, light little balls are dancing upon it. The sound of the bell on the

ispers Foma,

are

oming t

n, come, m

e’s bed, he presses c

me som

protests aun

eas

g, her eyes closed, the old woman begins

somebody would give them a crust of stale bread and that would keep them for awhile. And it came to pass that the wife begot a child — a child was born — it was necessary to christen it, but, being poor,

his godchild riding on a white horse to his godfather and godmother; he was riding in the darkness, over the desert, a

ord yet how long ar

and the implorings were addressed to him. His heart contracts with some incomprehensible desire; sorrow

about in his b

” says the old woman, interrupting he

drank his tea in haste and ran off to school, provided with sweet cakes, which were awaite

me have it, for I left the house without eating anything. I slept too long, devil

I hav

Well, I’ll dash them

g like a kitten, stamped his left foot, beating time, and at the

se! Consequently, we must multiply six by eight. Do you like cake with green onions? Oh, how I like it! So that in six hours f

he envied him, and felt offended on that account, and at the same time he pitied him with the condescending compassion of a satisfied man for a hungry one. Perhaps it was this very compassion that prevente

ers, and one day, touched to the qu

e a beggar

became overcast, an

never prompt you again — and

uch to the regret of the teacher, who during these days had to gi

band; he could tell where and when it was best to catch perch; he knew how to make traps and cages for birds; he could give a detailed account of how the soldier had hange

l, the red-headed boy was fond of judging whether this man was richer than that, valuing and pricing thei

as a friend and equal. Whenever Gordyeeff quarrelled with Yozhov, Smolin

lways quarrel

o self-conceited?”

s you out. He is clever. And because he is poor — is he to blame for

disdainfully; “he will buzz and bu

ss of difference in their natures and positions was entirely lost. On Sundays they all gathered at Smolin’s,

of the pigeon-house one by one, and, seating themselves in a row on the rid

ored Yozhov, tremb

h a bast-wisp fastened

nd almost motionless; others play, turn over in the air, now dropping downward in a snowy lump, now darting up like an arrow. Now the entire flock seems as though hanging motionless in the desert of the sky, and, growing smaller and smaller, seems to sink in it. With heads thrown back, the boys admire the birds in silence, without taking their eyes from them — their tired eyes, so radiant

y we ought to

ward, oftentimes assume the form of pigeons, felt in

far away from the breath of life, even as their pigeons were far from earth; at this moment they are merely children, knowing neither envy nor anger; free fr

f again, and, tired out by their flight,

” suggests Yozhov, the instiga

r own labour is so sweet! And the more effort required to gain it, the sweeter it is. Carefully the boys climb over the fence of the garden, and, bending down, crawl toward the apple trees and, full of fright, look around vigilantly. Their hearts tremble and their throbbing slackens at the faintest rustle. They are alike afraid of being caught, and, if noticed, of being recognised, but in case they

was intentionally careless in other people’s gardens: he spoke loud, noisily broke the branches of apple trees, and, tearing off a worm- eaten apple, threw it in the direction of the proprietor’s hou

s big mouth contempti

tirely too much fu

oward anyway!

ut why do you boast of it? One may d

m from a differe

t your friend. They’ll catch you and bring you to your father — he wouldn’t do anyt

ma persisted

n little old man. Noiselessly approaching the boy, who was hiding away in his bosom the

you, little

out of the old man’s hands. Yet he did not run from him, but, k

re to t

just turn you over to the

nd all his boldness and spi

m something which his father would never fo

dyee

Gordy

es

ded his chest and for some reason or other cleared his throat impressi

position. You may go. But should this happen again! Hm! I should be compelled to no

ke a young wolf, he looked askance at Chumakov; while the old man, with comical seriousness, twisted h

old man, pointing at the

Foma, sternly, and was immediately

led the old man. “I just

d Foma, and, turning his back to the old ma

d of his voice that he had offended the old man. He felt sad and ashamed; he passed t

u go to Chuma

boy, calmly, looking

such an answer and he was silen

it? Have you not enoug

s and was silent, stan

you to this! I’ll give it to him when he comes,

self,” said

exclaimed Ignat. “B

cau

it you ought to be able to explain to yourself a

and placed himself between his knees. Ignat put his hand o

ou ash

amed,” si

fool! You have disgr

o his breast, he stroked

h a thing — stealing o

it is so lonesome. I play and play the same thing day aft

asked the fa

es

eless, Foma, look out — drop this,

where again,” said th

is not a trifle if a man is willing to pay for his deeds with his own skin. Someone else in your place would have blamed his friends, while you say: ‘I di

ck him back,” decl

his father, s

t is why he complained. Otherwise he was n

that

my respects to you

d h

es

ght have been worth no more than a kopeck, but a kopeck is to him what a rouble is to me. And it isn’t the kopeck, but since it is mine,

ressions of that day. Ignat listened, fixedly watching the animated f

on the surface, dear. You ar

we scared it again; again it rose and flew about here and there, and again it struck against something, so that its feathers were coming out. It flew about in the r

nd strives — only feathers fly from him, but all to no purpose. He is bruised, sickened, stripped of everything, and then with

to them?” said Fo

inful as to

hy is

e desires much, but has but little strength. Another because of his foolishness.

long while, and, folding her hands, lovingly admired the enormous figure of her brother, who bent o

ut strikingly against the general background of this monotonous life, but these were soon obliterated. The boy’s soul was as yet but a calm lake — a lake hidden from the stormy winds of life,

the upper lip. His big dark eyes had a naive and pensive look, and his lips were like a child’s, half-open; but when meeting with opposition to his desires or when irritated by something e

r than honey, but as yet not much

eave a sigh a

art out your son a

time ye

for two or three years and then we’l

y her condescending bows. She was acquainted with some Gymnasium students, and although Yozhov, his old friend, was among them, Foma felt no inclination to be with them, and their company embarrassed him. It seemed to him that they were all boasting of their learning before him and that they were mocking his ignorance. Gathered t

ociable? You never

ut, since I know nothi

— read

feel like

everything, and know how to talk about

zhov — a c

e will soon graduate from the Gymnasium — and th

it?” said Foma,

emain just an

, be

ce!” exclaimed L

sarcastically. “And I’ll have a laugh at all the le

way, leaving him alone in the garden. Offended and gloomy, he looked after her, move

— they appeared with the face of Luba and of other young ladies of his acquaintance, noiselessly floating before him in the twilight and staring into his eyes with enigmatic looks. At times these visions awakened in him a mighty energy, as though intoxicating him — he would rise and, straightening his shoulders, inhale the perfumed air with a full chest; but sometimes these same visions brought to him a feeling

his contracts and enterprises, about his co-associates, described to him how they had made their way, what fortunes

blood-red cup-rose!” Mayak

ys of his age. They were laughing at him, considering him stupid; he kept away from them, offended by their relations toward him. As for

d life, he does not seem to run after the women, treats me and you with respect, listens to ev

articularly stupid abo

as though some kind of shroud were covering his ey

a man he has become! That is, it is difficult to tell whether he is his fathe

aught me enough.’ Yes. While mine doe

to some active business! I assure you! Gold is tested in fire. We’ll see wh

e him a

u’ll lose something — but then we’

send him off,

Gordyeeff’s steamer “Philezhny,” under the command of Foma’s old acquaintance, the former sailor Yefim — now, Yefim

he happy frame of mind of the two most important persons on the steamer reflected in straight rays on the entire crew. Having left the place where they had taken in their cargo of corn in April, the steamer reached the place of its destination in the beginning of May, an

work started expeditiously. Having descended into the holds, the women were filling the sacks with rye, the peasants, throwing the sacks upon their shoulders, ran over the gang-planks to the shore, and from the shore, carts, heavily laden with the long-expected corn, went off slowly to the village. The women sang songs; the

unbeams — all was full of a kind-hearted, somewhat crude, sound power, which pleasantly stirred Foma’s soul, awakening in him new and perplexed sensations and desires. He was sitting by the table under the awning of the steamer and drinking tea, together with Yefim and the receiver of the corn, a provincial clerk — a redheaded, short-sighted g

d as though from a distance the receiver’s tir

cident took place! A peasant came up to a certain intelligent man

do yo

’ve brought my daugh

at f

‘you’ll take her —

how? What d

o hire her out as a servant — but nobody would

— as a mistress! The devil knows what that is! Eh? The man, of course, became i

e, ‘three boys — they will be working men; it is necessary to keep them up. Give me,’

It is simply ter

hunger will break through stone walls.

ehensible interest in the fate of the girl, and

d the man

xclaimed the recei

what beca

ook pity on her — a

uld have given that peasant such a thrashing! I would have broken h

ly, loud voice, tearing his spectacles from

aid Foma, with an obsti

d he do? It ca

ow himself to se

rutal, I agr

I would have given

ich was covered with an industriously working crowd of people. The noise intoxicated him, and the uneasy something, which was rambling in his soul, was now defined into a powerful

hem — the face of a dark-eyed woman — smiled at him a gentle and enticing smile. Something flared up in his breast at this smile and began t

grain for waste! Just see how much is lost here. And here every pound is precious! You sh

disdainfully. “Do you want a hundred puds? [A pud

eceiver, overjoyed and confused,

. “And you must not speak that way a

wer. I thank you heartily. And your father, too — i

his lips, while the master with an air of pride on his face listened to

ll directly notify the peasants of your gift. You’ll see

ter is giving away

red!” inter

! Thank you! Three hund

heads and mutely lowered them again, resuming their work

give you. We than

out gaily and

glass of vodka instead — that would be a just favour. Fo

aimed the receiver, confused. “I’l

seemed to thank him and caressingly beckoned him, and besides those eyes he saw nothing. The woman was dressed like the city women. She wore shoes, a calico waist, and over her black hair

owed off too much. Well, if it were only about fifty puds! But w

one!” said F

so young, and as I was told to keep an eye on you

r all about it. Kee

be so — so that yo

y we

, for your own sake — because you

e alone,

ame silent, while Foma star

bring such a woma

tion worked obstinately, for he could not picture it to himself in intelligible images. And in his soul he did not believe that those relations were really so simple and rude, as he had been told. When they had laughed at him and assured him that they were such, and, ind

ctly felt just that rude inclination toward her, and he was ashamed and

e winks at you, you may, because of your youth — and with a nature like yours — you may do such a thing that we

?” asked Foma, re

eal with a woman very plainly — give her a bottle of vodka, something to eat after it, then a couple of bottles of beer an

ing,” said

ame policy perhaps a hundred times? Just charge me to have deali

at he could hardly breathe and tha

ll bring her up

he evening. The reflection of the fire fell on the river in red and yellow stripes, which trembled on the calm water and on the window panes of the cabin where Foma was s itting. He sat in the corner on a lounge, which was covered with oilcloth — and waited. On the table before him were a few bottles of vodka and beer, and plates with bread and dessert. He covered the windows and did not light the lamp; the faint light from the bonfire, penetrating through the curtains, fell on the table, on the bottles and on the wall, and trembled, now growing brighter, now fainter. It was quiet on the steamer and on t

not nec

as opened, the tall form of a woman appeared on the threshold, and

! Is there a living soul

swered Fo

en, good

n moved forw

broken voice, and, sinking on the loun

n you get used to it you can see

ted,” s

wil

l like that other smile before — this smile seemed plaintive, sad. This smile encouraged him; he breathed with less difficulty at the sight of these eyes, which, on meeting his ow

eling lonesome

answere

place here?” asked th

There are man

they bec

ore beautiful than the Volga,

on the

he

city of

e an echo, feeling that he wa

whom she had to deal, and she su

ou treat me

Indeed, how queer I am? Well

returned them to their place, laughing guiltily and confusedly as he did so. She came up clo

ul?” she sudde

on his cheek and re

es

ulders and quietly drew him to her b

hful, my young, handsome

et fatigue; pressing his head close to her breast, he clasped her with his h

eavy voice, staring at the

cheek she walked out of

, goo

ly feeling of self-pride took possession of him. It drowned his shame, and, instead of the shame, pity for the woman sprang up within him — for the half-clad woman, who went out alone into the dark of the chilly May night. He hastily came out on the deck — it was a starlit, but moonless night; the coolness and the darkness embraced him. On the shore the golden-red pile of coals

oud moan, resembling a wail. He shuddered and went

eap of ropes, she wept. Foma saw that her bare white shoulders were trembling, he heard

t is

head and said n

offend

ay,” s

d, touching her head with his hand. “Don’t

hould I be angry at you? You are not a seducer. You are

child, in her lap, pressed his head close to her breast, an

, caressing her cheek with one hand, wh

. Why have you sent me aw

ed of myself,” said Fo

eased with me?” she asked with a smile, but her big,

some words about her beauty, about her kindness, telling her how sorry he was for her and how bashful in

n to speak — softly and mournful

ngly, without growing tired; for a single kind smile they used to do for me anything I pleased. I recalled all this and began to cry! I felt sorry for my youth, for I am now thirty years old, the last days f

o that you shall have in old age something to remind you of your youth. Here I recalled myself, and though I cried, yet my heart blazed up at the very recollection of my past life. And again I was you

to herself, she greedily be

ournfully, and, cutting short the last syllable, beg

unds harshly broke the s

y to leave for Perm, Yefim noticed, to his great sorrow, that a cart came up to the s

things,” ordered Foma, noddi

, Yefim carried out the order angril

o, is comin

ith me,” Foma a

d. Not with all

e you s

ing to a big city. Are there no

uiet!” said F

uiet, but this

ha

suddenly there is a woman there! And if it were at least the right

d addressed the captain, impe

verybody here, that if anyone will utter an obscene word a

ith curiosity. But he immediately made a step backward. Ignat’s son, like a

show you ho

urage, he neverthele

master, yet as I was told, ‘Watch, Ye

huddering in every limb and

On account of such

ot to the other, thrust his hands into the pockets of his jack

go to the devil! I’ll put you ashore! I’ll get along as well

his master and comically winked his

nderstand

Yefim. “But what is all this

len

ath, suggested to the captain the happy thought to leave his mast

ffended for nothing, but at the same time he began to feel over himself the real, firm hand of a master. For years accustomed to being subordinate, he rather liked this man

r heavy mind as yet. Well, never mind, let him have his fun. It seems now as though nothing wrong will come out of this. With a character like his, no. H

as awkward in him, all that gave him the appearance of a somewhat stupid, gloomy fellow, and, destroying it, filled his heart with youthful pride, with the consciousness of his human personality. Love for a woman is always fruitful to the man, be the l

s affairs; he was never lost in the caresses, or in his affairs, bringing into both his whole self. The woman, like good

s heart. But this shadow soon melted in his worries over his affairs, and in the caresses of Pelageya. His life streamed on with the swiftness of a river wave, and each day brought to him new sensations, awakening in him new thoughts. Pelageya’s relations with him contained all the passion of a mistress, all that power of feeling which women of her age put into their passion when

m; he looks to be a man like everybody else, and, suddenly, without being aware of it yourself, you will start to imitate him in life. You look around — and you find that you have contracted his scabs. I myself have lost everything on accou

rich. And most of all beware of the quiet women. They stick to a man like blood- suckers, and suck and suck. And at the same time they are always so kind, so gentle. They will keep on sucki

d for her different new things and what-not. She was de

See that your father does not get angry

d sister. Foma could not believe that she would leave him, and when, on the eve of their arrival

ole night before us. You will have time to feel sorry w

orsake him, and, finally — which was to be

, many mistresses. Marry then, when you have overflowed, when you have had your fill of all sweets and feel like having rye bread. Then you may marry! I have noticed that a healthy man, for his own peace

re persistent Foma became in h

rning in your hand, and you can see well even without its light — you had better dip i

nderstand y

wrong, and I do not wish to do you a

ng the harbour, and clinging to the rail with his hands, he stared motionlessly into the face of his love, who was floating far away from him together with the harbour and the shore. Pelageya waved her handkerchief and smiled, but he knew that she was crying, shedding many painful tears. From her tears the entire front of Foma’s shirt was wet, and from her tears, his heart, full of g

d dead spot, faceless, formless, motionless. Foma went

hing with knives, the dishes were jarring — producing a rather harsh noise. Cutting the waves and making foam, shuddering under the strain and sighing heavily, the enormous steamer moved rapidly against the current. Foma looked at the wide strip of br

beside him in a hoa

of a power, similar to the power of God. He glanced at the speakers: one of them was a gray little old man, with a kind face; the other was younger,

an on the river: it throws a baited hook toward us into the tumult of our life and we dart at it with greedy mouths. Then fate pulls

f the sun had fallen full on them,

That is

back the gift from him, so simply and abusively? And he now understood that the vague, caustic feeling which he carried within him was a grudge against Fate for thus sporting with him. He had been too much spoiled by life, to regard more plainly the first drop of poi

uestion, Mayakin, his greenish little eyes flashing excitedly,

r has grown

ink

s lost his min

0h Lord!

d? A certain lady is

ling his Pelageya, and for some reason

to him and —

a quie

ive thousand roubles she blew ou

Who i

kaya, the arc

r — Is it possible that he took her as his sweethe

him, and comically opening hi

o your senses! A sweetheart at the age of sixty-three! And at such a pr

spoke, and it was with difficulty that Foma learned what the matter was. Sophya Pavlovna Medinskaya, the wealthy architect’s wife, who was well known in the city for her tireless efforts in the line of arranging various charitable projects, persuaded Ignat to endow seventy-five thousand roubles for the erection of a lodging-house in the

n his godfather concluded the stor

suddenly grown angry. “You though

abuse me?”

is seventy-five thousand

said Foma, after a

, h

money. Why do you make

looked into the youth’s face with con

speak l

Who

olishness — brought to test a million times by life — says that you ar

en quite provoked by his godfat

ather, but now the youth felt very much offended by

e without reflection, for I

yakin, mockingly lifting h

e looked full into the old man’s

t want to hear any more of that u

-o! Par

silent for awhile. The carriage turned into a narrow street, and, noticing from afar the roof of his hou

whom you have sharpe

ma, pleased with the manner in

Your father and I were afraid lest you should be

rank

on! Did you dr

y m

t taste

t v

omes along. You must consider it isn’t always necessary to do that. Sometimes by keeping silent you both please people and commit no sins

ws of the rooms. The noise of the carriage, which stopped at the house, caused I

ou’ve

the palm of his other hand against his son’s forehead, thus bending his h

trong. You’re a fine fellow! Mada

hair was sitting in the front corner of the room, resting her elbows on the table; her dark eyes, her thin eyebrows and plump, red lips strikingly define

approaching her with his hand outstretched. “What, are you

and serenely. Her childlike figure, clothed in some kind of dark fabric, was almost blended with the crimson stuff of the armchair, while her wavy, golden hair

w he is staring at you. A

s, and she burst into laughter. It sounded like the tinklin

disturb yo

f perfume came to him, and he noticed that her e

said Mayakin in a low voice

t, pushing his son into the same armchair where Medinskaya had been sitting a

smiling, feeling Foma with his cunning eyes. “If you ke

thing in reply, began to tell his father about the jour

ask for so

king all the time, they say,

son with surprise and

ay to speak to

nfused and low

nd-heartedly, and ordered c

d, bid them good-bye, and, after inviting them to have tea

eeling that now, being alone with his

er. Well, tell me, and

fairs in a few minutes and he conclud

t much money

w m

x hundred

ee as a clerk you’re too expensive for

hree hundred p

hom?

him all

nough — for the father’s honour — for the honour of the firm. And there is no loss either, because that

I somehow s

u about — I just want to know how you lived there,” in

a did not give in, bending hi

king

ka,

n’t it rath

I ever drank enough

tell me everything yourself. So

t along witho

Do you want

miled broadly. And his father a

himself sober, a fool — never. Let us understand this much at least, for our own consolation. And

he steamer. I had her th

d said, frowning: “You’ve bec

ld me that in your days fellows married at

? A woman is like vaccination, you cannot pass your life without her. As for myself, I cannot play the hypocrite

for a long time, sitting motionles

m! You started quite well; you attended to everything properly; you held the reins firmly in your hands. And though you did squander a big sum of money, it is evident that you did not lose your head. God grant the same in the future. You should know this:

broad chest, heard his heavy

ou won’t d

d awakened in him a kind, w

s is courage, or he would have risen high. Yes, I tell you my days on earth are numbered. Indeed, it is high ti

said Foma wit

but a reason wh

lodging

t his son and

it to you already! The old m

e.” Foma

! Don’t I

as though it wer

is chair and burst int

r mine, it is all the same to him. There he is trembling now. He has

ght awhil

n’t k

d. He wants to te

is t

now, g

His face became gloomy, he slightly raised h

nt to. I shall

ong girl; she is not fool

t one? But I— I don

will, dear, which says: ‘All my movable and real estates shall go to my daughter, Lub

said Foma, firmly. “

o speak of it now! But why

ike such a

d which women are more to y

mnasium students and with her books. She’s become learned.

as a peaceful, sedentary life; sitting in one place he gave a thought to everything. It is worthwhile listening to him, for he can see the wrong side of each and every worldly affair. He is o

t my place myself,” s

t.” Ignat smiled in re

s interrupted by the

mewhere behind the doors. Foma rose an

rcastic and encouraging tone in his relation toward his son, Ignat began to treat him more strictly. He censured him for each an

urself with logs of wood. And I nev

deserve it,” said

his son for these wo

ry word I say. Beware; though my hand was soft, it can nevertheless still squeeze you so that tears will gush forth from

, perplexed and offended, when his fathe

en your father grumbles at you. Yo

rown worse than I was before. Don’

use I see there is something in you that is not mine. What it is, I do

ge in himself, something which distinguished him from the youth of his age, but h

henever he successfully managed some part of his father’s business, assuming all responsibility on his own shoulders, and received a smile of approval from his father for it. There was in him a great deal of ambition, yearning to appear as a grown-up man of business, but — just as before his trip to P

our sprees, and as they’ll give you a dru

olen from their parents or borrowed on long-termed promissory notes, to be paid with exorbitant interest. They in turn did not like him for this very reserve and aversion, w

used to come up to Ignat almost every Sunday with various requests, all of which generally had but one aim — to hasten the building of the lodging-asylum. In her presence Foma felt awkward, huge, heavy; this pained him, and he blushed deeply under the endearing look of Sophya Pavlovna’s large e

er: from the outside it is just as modest, smooth and dark — altogether c

changed when he noticed her one day in a carriage beside a stout man in a gray hat and with long hair falling over his shoulders. His face was like a bladder — red and bloated; he had neither moustache nor beard, and altogether he looked like a woman in disguise. Foma was told that this w

feel disgusted wh

just gone by nor by the recollection of the past; and the Exchange, and his affairs, and his thoughts of Medinskaya — all were swallowed up by this emptiness. It alarmed him:

ardly, was growing ever more restless and queru

nd then I awaken. My heart beats unevenly, now, though tired out; often thus: tuk-tuk-tuk. And sometimes it sinks of a sudden — and it seems as though it would soon tear itself away and fall somewhere into

said one day morosely, but humbly. And indeed, i

sound asleep when suddenly he felt somebody shaking hi

t u

her was seated in a chair near his bed,

up, g

t, falling on Ignat’s white linen sh

said Foma, str

ll sleep en

imself in the bla

you ne

ed Ignat, adding, somewhat offended: “It

his father’s face, he notice

you i

igh

send for

s hand. “I am not a young man any lo

ha

g a strange glance around the room. Foma was dressing h

ld now heave a deep sigh, my heart would burst. Today is S

lking about, pap

amovar to be brought there. We’ll drink our tea in the morning

room in a staggering gait. Foma looked at his father, and a shooting chill of fear

thes, seemed to him like a loud sound and he shuddered. On the table, before his father, stood the samovar, purring like a well-fed tom-cat and exhaling a stream of steam into the air. Amid the silence and the fresh verdure of the garden, which had been washed by abundant rains the day before, this bright spot of the boldly shining,

ed,” sai

” Foma advised him irresolutely

ome tea and perhaps that will do me more good,” said Ignat, pouring out tea into

ri

ce of the tea, and with pain in his heart, hearing the loud, heavy breathing of his father.

ghtened, almost senseless look of his father’s ey

evil take it!). It sounded

e cognac in your te

d enough w

ng a provokingly cheerful twittering in the air. And again the ripe beauty of

voice, making the sign of the cross. “Ye

pa!” whis

tea, and then send for the

r send for

the priest isn’t home — and then t

rted to sip the te

ery much afraid for you. Live honestly and firmly; do not cov

k, he stopped short and rub

from them. We all live in order to take, not

he bell fell on the silence of the morning. I

hird, and soon the air was filled with sounds of the church-b

Ignat, listening to the echo of the bell-me

answer

the Nikola Church. It was presented by Peter Mitrich Vyagin — and

ey died away in the clear blue of the sky. Foma stared thoughtfully at his father’s face

distended and rolled out of their orbits, his mouth opened

-A-A

o Ignat, lifted his head from the ground and looked into his face. The face was dark, motionless, and the wide-open eyes expressed nothing — neither pain, nor fear, nor joy. Foma looked around him. As before, nobody was in the garden, and the resound

he wildly cried aloud. He was trembling with fright, and with eyes like t