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out of the house with a concertina。 Jingling some coppers in his pocket；
and cracking sunflower seeds as he ran； he went out at the gate。
〃And who's that； pray？〃 asked Matvey Savitch。
〃My son Alexey；〃 answered Dyudya。 〃He's off on a spree； the rascal。
God has afflicted him with a hump； so we are not very hard on him。〃
〃And he's always drinking with the other fellows； always drinking；〃
sighed Afanasyevna。 〃Before Carnival we married him； thinking he'd be
steadier； but there！ he's worse than ever。〃
〃It's been no use。 Simply keeping another man's daughter for nothing；〃
said Dyudya。
Somewhere behind the church they began to sing a glorious； mournful
song。 The words they could not catch and only the voices could be heard …
… two tenors and a bass。 All were listening； there was complete stillness in
the yard。 。 。 。 Two voices suddenly broke off with a loud roar of laughter；
but the third； a tenor； still sang on； and took so high a note that every one
instinctively looked upwards； as though the voice had soared to heaven
itself。
Varvara came out of the house； and screening her eyes with her hand；
as though from the sun； she looked towards the church。
〃It's the priest's sons with the schoolmaster；〃 she said。
Again all the three voices began to sing together。 Matvey Savitch
sighed and went on：
〃Well； that's how it was； old man。 Two years later we got a letter from
Vasya from Warsaw。 He wrote that he was being sent home sick。 He was
ill。 By that time I had put all that foolishness out of my head； and I had a
fine match picked out all ready for me； only I didn't know how to break it
off with my sweetheart。 Every day I'd make up my mind to have it out
with Mashenka； but I didn't know how to approach her so as not to have a
woman's screeching about my ears。 The letter freed my hands。 I read it
through with Mashenka； she turned white as a sheet； while I said to her：
'Thank God； now；' says I； 'you'll be a married woman again。' But says she：
'I'm not going to live with him。' 'Why； isn't he your husband？' said I。 'Is it
an easy thing？ 。 。 。 I never loved him and I married him not of my own free
will。 My mother made me。' 'Don't try to get out of it； silly；' said I； 'but tell
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me this： were you married to him in church or not？' 'I was married；' she
said； 'but it's you that I love； and I will stay with you to the day of my
death。 Folks may jeer。 I don't care。 。 。 。' 'You're a Christian woman；' said I；
'and have read the Scriptures； what is written there？'
〃Once married； with her husband she must live；〃 said Dyudya。
〃 'Man and wife are one flesh。 We have sinned；' I said； 'you and I； and
it is enough； we must repent and fear God。 We must confess it all to
Vasya；' said I； 'he's a quiet fellow and soft he won't kill you。 And
indeed；' said I； 'better to suffer torments in this world at the hands of your
lawful master than to gnash your teeth at the dread Seat of Judgment。' The
wench wouldn't listen； she stuck to her silly； 'It's you I love！' and nothing
more could I get out of her。
〃Vasya came back on the Saturday before Trinity； early in the morning。
From my fence I could see everything； he ran into the house； and came
back a minute later with Kuzka in his arms； and he was laughing and
crying all at once； he was kissing Kuzka and looking up at the hay…loft；
and hadn't the heart to put the child down； and yet he was longing to go to
his pigeons。 He was always a soft sort of chap sentimental。 That day
passed off very well； all quiet and proper。 They had begun ringing the
church bells for the evening service； when the thought struck me： 'To…
morrow's Trinity Sunday； how is it they are not decking the gates and the
fence with green？ Something's wrong；' I thought。 I went over to them。 I
peeped in； and there he was； sitting on the floor in the middle of the room；
his eyes staring like a drunken man's； the tears streaming down his cheeks
and his hands shaking； he was pulling cracknels； necklaces； gingerbread
nuts； and all sorts of little presents out of his bundle and flinging them on
the floor。 Kuzka he was three years old was crawling on the floor；
munching the gingerbreads； while Mashenka stood by the stove； white and
shivering all over； muttering： 'I'm not your wife； I can't live with you；' and
all sorts of foolishness。 I bowed down at Vasya's feet； and said： 'We have
sinned against you； Vassily Maximitch； forgive us； for Christ's sake！' Then
I got up and spoke to Mashenka： 'You； Marya Semyonovna； ought now to
wash Vassily Maximitch's feet and drink the water。 Do you be an obedient
wife to him； and pray to God for me； that He in His mercy may forgive my
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transgression。' It came to me like an inspiration from an angel of Heaven； I
gave her solemn counsel and spoke with such feeling that my own tears
flowed too。 And so two days later Vasya comes to me： 'Matyusha；' says he；
'I forgive you and my wife； God have mercy on you！ She was a soldier's
wife； a young thing all alone； it was hard for her to be on her guard。 She's
not the first； nor will she be the last。 Only；' he says； 'I beg you to behave as
though there had never been anything between you； and to make no sign；
while I；' says he； 'will do my best to please her in every way； so that she
may come to love me again。' He gave me his hand on it； drank a cup of tea；
and went away more cheerful。
〃 'Well；' thought I； 'thank God！' and I did feel glad that everything had
gone off so well。 But no sooner had Vasya gone out of the yard； when in
came Mashenka。 Ah！ What I had to suffer！ She hung on my neck； weeping
and praying： 'For God's sake； don't cast me off； I can't live without you！' 〃
〃The vile hussy！〃 sighed Dyudya。
〃I swore at her； stamped my foot； and dragging her into the passage； I
fastened the door with the hook。 'Go to your husband；' I cried。 'Don't
shame me before folks。 Fear God！' And every day there was a scene of that
sort。
〃One morning I was standing in my yard near the stable cleaning a
bridle。 All at once I saw her running through the little gate into my yard；
with bare feet； in her petticoat； and straight towards me； she clutched at
the bridle； getting all smeared with the pitch； and shaking