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Kuzka had gone to the gate。
〃It's a complicated story； old man；〃 began Matvey Savitch； 〃and if I
were to tell you all just as it happened； it would take all night and more。
Ten years ago in a little house in our street； next door to me； where now
there's a tallow and oil factory； there was living an old widow； Marfa
Semyonovna Kapluntsev； and she had two sons： one was a guard on the
railway； but the other； Vasya； who was just my own age； lived at home
with his mother。 Old Kapluntsev had kept five pair of horses and sent
carriers all over the town； his widow had not given up the business； but
managed the carriers as well as her husband had done； so that some days
they would bring in as much as five roubles from their rounds。
〃The young fellow； too； made a trifle on his own account。 He used to
breed fancy pigeons and sell them to fanciers； at times he would stand for
hours on the roof； waving a broom in the air and whistling； his pigeons
were right up in the clouds； but it wasn't enough for him； and he'd want
them to go higher yet。 Siskins and starlings； too； he used to catch； and he
made cages for sale。 All trifles； but； mind you； he'd pick up some ten
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roubles a month over such trifles。 Well； as time went on； the old lady lost
the use of her legs and took to her bed。 In consequence of which event the
house was left without a woman to look after it； and that's for all the world
like a man without an eye。 The old lady bestirred herself and made up her
mind to marry Vasya。 They called in a matchmaker at once； the women got
to talking of one thing and another； and Vasya went off to have a look at
the girls。 He picked out Mashenka； a widow's daughter。 They made up
their minds without loss of time and in a week it was all settled。 The girl
was a little slip of a thing； seventeen； but fair…skinned and pretty…looking；
and like a lady in all her ways； and a decent dowry with her； five hundred
roubles； a cow； a bed。 。 。 。 Well； the old lady it seemed as though she had
known it was coming three days after the wedding； departed to the
Heavenly Jerusalem where is neither sickness nor sighing。 The young
people gave her a good funeral and began their life together。 For just six
months they got on splendidly； and then all of a sudden another misfortune。
It never rains but it pours： Vasya was summoned to the recruiting office to
draw lots for the service。 He was taken； poor chap； for a soldier； and not
even granted exemption。 They shaved his head and packed him off to
Poland。 It was God's will； there was nothing to be done。 When he said
good…bye to his wife in the yard； he bore it all right； but as he glanced up
at the hay…loft and his pigeons for the last time； he burst out crying。 It was
pitiful to see him。
〃At first Mashenka got her mother to stay with her； that she mightn't
be dull all alone； she stayed till the baby this very Kuzka here was
born； and then she went off to Oboyan to another married daughter's and
left Mashenka alone with the baby。 There were five peasants the carriers
a drunken saucy lot； horses； too； and dray…carts to see to； and then the
fence would be broken or the soot afire in the chimney jobs beyond a
woman； and through our being neighbours； she got into the way of turning
to me for every little thing。 。 。 。 Well； I'd go over； set things to rights； and
give advice。 。 。 。 Naturally； not without going indoors； drinking a cup of tea
and having a little chat with her。 I was a young fellow； intellectual； and
fond of talking on all sorts of subjects； she； too； was well…bred and
educated。 She was always neatly dressed； and in summer she walked out
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with a sunshade。 Sometimes I would begin upon religion or politics with
her； and she was flattered and would entertain me with tea and jam。 。 。 。 In
a word； not to make a long story of it； I must tell you； old man； a year had
not passed before the Evil One； the enemy of all mankind； confounded me。
I began to notice that any day I didn't go to see her； I seemed out of sorts
and dull。 And I'd be continually making up something that I must see her
about： 'It's high time；' I'd say to myself； 'to put the double windows in for
the winter；' and the whole day I'd idle away over at her place putting in the
windows and take good care to leave a couple of them over for the next
day too。
〃 'I ought to count over Vasya's pigeons； to see none of them have
strayed；' and so on。 I used always to be talking to her across the fence； and
in the end I made a little gate in the fence so as not to have to go so far
round。 From womankind comes much evil into the world and every kind
of abomination。 Not we sinners only； even the saints themselves have been
led astray by them。 Mashenka did not try to keep me at a distance。 Instead
of thinking of her husband and being on her guard； she fell in love with me。
I began to notice that she was dull without me； and was always walking to
and fro by the fence looking into my yard through the cracks。
〃My brains were going round in my head in a sort of frenzy。 On
Thursday in Holy Week I was going early in the morning it was scarcely
light to market。 I passed close by her gate； and the Evil One was by me …
… at my elbow。 I looked she had a gate with open trellis work at the top …
… and there she was； up already； standing in the middle of the yard； feeding
the ducks。 I could not restrain myself； and I called her name。 She came up
and looked at me through the trellis。 。 。 。 Her little face was white； her eyes
soft and sleepy…looking。 。 。 。 I liked her looks immensely； and I began
paying her compliments； as though we were not at the gate； but just as one
does on namedays； while she blushed； and laughed； and kept looking
straight into my eyes without winking。 。 。 。 I lost all sense and began to
declare my love to her。 。 。 。 She opened the gate； and from that morning we
began to live as man and wife。 。 。 。〃
The hunchback Alyoshka came into the yard from the street and ran
out of breath into the house； not looking at any one。 A minute later he ran
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out of the house with a concertina。 Jingling some coppers in his pocket；
and cra