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Marya looked at them from under her brows； sullenly； dejectedly； as
though they were not human beings coming in； but monsters who might
crush her if she did not make way for them。
And every time the deacon boomed out something in his bass voice
she fancied she heard 〃Ma…arya！〃 and she shuddered。
III
The arrival of the visitors was already known in the village； and
directly after mass a number of people gathered together in the hut。 The
Leonytchevs and Matvyeitchevs and the Ilyitchovs came to inquire about
their relations who were in service in Moscow。 All the lads of Zhukovo
who could read and write were packed off to Moscow and hired out as
butlers or waiters （while from the village on the other side of the river the
boys all became bakers）； and that had been the custom from the days of
serfdom long ago when a certain Luka Ivanitch； a peasant from Zhukovo；
now a legendary figure； who had been a waiter in one of the Moscow
clubs； would take none but his fellow…villagers into his service； and found
jobs for them in taverns and restaurants； and from that time the village of
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Zhukovo was always called among the inhabitants of the surrounding
districts Slaveytown。 Nikolay had been taken to Moscow when he was
eleven； and Ivan Makaritch； one of the Matvyeitchevs； at that time a
headwaiter in the 〃Hermitage〃 garden； had put him into a situation。 And
now； addressing the Matvyeitchevs； Nikolay said emphatically：
〃Ivan Makaritch was my benefactor； and I am bound to pray for him
day and night； as it is owing to him I have become a good man。〃
〃My good soul！〃 a tall old woman； the sister of Ivan Makaritch； said
tearfully； 〃and not a word have we heard about him； poor dear。〃
〃In the winter he was in service at Omon's； and this season there was a
rumour he was somewhere out of town； in gardens。 。 。 。 He has aged！ In
old days he would bring home as much as ten roubles a day in the
summer…time； but now things are very quiet everywhere。 The old man
frets。〃
The women looked at Nikolay's feet； shod in felt boots； and at his pale
face； and said mournfully：
〃You are not one to get on； Nikolay Osipitch； you are not one to get on！
No； indeed！〃
And they all made much of Sasha。 She was ten years old； but she was
little and very thin； and might have been taken for no more than seven。
Among the other little girls； with their sunburnt faces and roughly cropped
hair； dressed in long faded smocks； she with her white little face； with her
big dark eyes； with a red ribbon in her hair； looked funny； as though she
were some little wild creature that had been caught and brought into the
hut。
〃She can read； too；〃 Olga said in her praise； looking tenderly at her
daughter。 〃Read a little； child！〃 she said； taking the gospel from the corner。
〃You read； and the good Christian people will listen。〃
The testament was an old and heavy one in leather binding； with dog's…
eared edges； and it exhaled a smell as though monks had come into the hut。
Sasha raised her eyebrows and began in a loud rhythmic chant：
〃 'And the angel of the Lord 。 。 。 appeared unto Joseph； saying unto
him： Rise up； and take the Babe and His mother。' 〃
〃The Babe and His mother；〃 Olga repeated； and flushed all over with
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emotion。
〃 'And flee into Egypt； 。 。 。 and tarry there until such time as 。 。 。' 〃
At the word 〃tarry〃 Olga could not refrain from tears。 Looking at her；
Marya began to whimper； and after her Ivan Makaritch's sister。 The old
father cleared his throat； and bustled about to find something to give his
grand…daughter； but； finding nothing； gave it up with a wave of his hand。
And when the reading was over the neighbours dispersed to their homes；
feeling touched and very much pleased with Olga and Sasha。
As it was a holiday； the family spent the whole day at home。 The old
woman； whom her husband； her daughters…in…law； her grandchildren all
alike called Granny； tried to do everything herself； she heated the stove
and set the samovar with her own hands； even waited at the midday meal；
and then complained that she was worn out with work。 And all the time
she was uneasy for fear someone should eat a piece too much； or that her
husband and daughters…in…law would sit idle。 At one time she would hear
the tavern…keeper's geese going at the back of the huts to her kitchen…
garden； and she would run out of the hut with a long stick and spend half
an hour screaming shrilly by her cabbages； which were as gaunt and
scraggy as herself； at another time she fancied that a crow had designs on
her chickens； and she rushed to attack it wi th loud words of abuse。 She
was cross and grumbling from morning till night。 And often she raised
such an outcry that passers…by stopped in the street。
She was not affectionate towards the old man； reviling him as a lazy…
bones and a plague。 He was not a responsible； reliable peasant； and
perhaps if she had not been continually nagging at him he would not have
worked at all； but would have simply sat on the stove and talked。 He
talked to his son at great length about certain enemies of his； complained
of the insults he said he had to put up with every day from the neighbours；
and it was tedious to listen to him。
〃Yes；〃 he would say； standing with his arms akimbo； 〃yes。 。 。 。 A week
after the Exaltation of the Cross I sold my hay willingly at thirty kopecks a
pood。 。 。 。 Well and good。 。 。 。 So you see I was taking the hay in the
morning with a good will； I was interfering with no one。 In an unlucky
hour I see the village elder； Antip Syedelnikov； coming out of the tavern。
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'Where are you taking it； you ruffian？' says he； and takes me by the ear。〃
Kiryak had a fearful headache after his drinking bout； and was
ashamed to face his brother。
〃What vodka does！ Ah； my God！〃 he muttered； shaking his aching
head。 〃For