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And both were silent for a long time； without looking at each other。
〃You have a disagreeable character；〃 said Sasha； 〃a wearisome character。〃
〃But nevertheless I won't get drunk any more！〃 said Foma； firmly and confidently。
〃You are lying！〃 retorted Sasha； calmly。
〃You'll see！ What do you thinkis it good to lead such a life as this？〃
〃I'll see。〃
〃No； just tell meis it good？〃
〃But what is better？〃
Foma looked at her askance and； irritated； said：
〃What repulsive words you speak。〃
〃Well； here again I haven't pleased him！〃 said Sasha； laughing。
〃What a fine crowd！〃 said Foma； painfully wrinkling his face。 〃They're like trees。 They also live； but how？ No one understands。 They are crawling somewhere。 And can give no account either to themselves or to others。 When the cockroach crawls； he knows whither and wherefore he wants to go？ And you？ Whither are you going？〃
〃Hold on！〃 Sasha interrupted him； and asked him calmly： 〃What have you to do with me？ You may take from me all that you want； but don't you creep into my soul！〃
〃Into your so…o…ul！〃 Foma drawled out； with contempt。 〃Into what soul？ He； he！〃
She began to pace the room； gathering together the clothes that were scattered everywhere。 Foma watched her and was displeased because she did not get angry at him for his words about her soul。 Her face looked calm and indifferent； as usual； but he wished to see her angry or offended； he wished for something human from the woman。
〃The soul！〃 he exclaimed； persisting in his aim。 〃Can one who has a soul live as you live？ A soul has fire burning in it； there is a sense of shame in it。〃
By this time she was sitting on a bench； putting on her stockings； but at his words she raised her head and sternly fixed her eyes upon his face。
〃What are you staring at？〃 asked Foma。
〃Why do you speak that way？〃 said she； without lifting her eyes from him。
〃Because I must。〃
〃Look outmust you really？〃
There was something threatening in her question。 Foma felt intimidated and said； this time without provocation in his voice：
〃How could I help speaking？〃
〃Oh； you！〃 sighed Sasha and resumed dressing herself
〃And what about me？〃
〃Merely so。 You seem as though you were born of two fathers。 Do you know what I have observed among people？〃
〃Well？〃
〃If a man cannot answer for himself； it means that he is afraid of himself； that his price is a grosh！〃
〃Do you refer to me？〃 asked Foma； after a pause。
〃To you； too。〃
She threw a pink morning gown over her shoulders and； standing in the centre of the room； stretched out her hand toward Foma； who lay at her feet； and said to him in a low； dull voice：
〃You have no right to speak about my soul。 You have nothing to do with it！ And therefore hold your tongue！ I may speak！ If I please； I could tell something to all of you。 Eh； how I could tell it！ Only；who will dare to listen to me； if I should speak at the top of my voice？ And I have some words about you；they're like hammers！ And I could knock you all on your heads so that you would lose your wits。 And although you are all rascalsyou cannot be cured by words。 You should be burned in the firejust as frying…pans are burned out on the first Monday of Lent。〃
Raising her hands she abruptly loosened her hair； and when it fell over her shoulders in heavy； black locksthe woman shook her head haughtily and said； with contempt：
〃Never mind that I am leading a loose life！ It often happens； that the man who lives in filth is purer than he who goes about in silks。 If you only knew what I think of you； you dogs； what wrath I bear against you！ And because of this wrathI am silent！ For I fear that if I should sing it to youmy soul would become empty。 I would have nothing to live on。〃 Foma looked at her； and now he was pleased with her。 In her words there was something akin to his frame of mind。 Laughing； he said to her； with satisfaction on his face and in his voice：
〃And I also feel that something is growing within my soul。 Eh； I too shall have my say； when the time comes。〃
〃Against whom？〃 asked Sasha； carelessly。
〃Iagainst everybody！〃 exclaimed Foma； jumping to his feet。 〃Against falsehood。 I shall ask〃
〃Ask whether the samovar is ready；〃 Sasha ordered indifferently。
Foma glanced at her and cried； enraged：
〃Go to the devil！ Ask yourself。〃
〃Well； all right； I shall。 What are you snarling about？〃
And she stepped out of the hut。
In piercing gusts the wind blew across the river； striking against its bosom； and covered with troubled dark waves； the river was spasmodically rushing toward the wind with a noisy splash； and all in the froth of wrath。 The willow bushes on the shore bent low to the groundtrembling； they now were about to lie down on the ground； now； frightened； they thrust themselves away from it； driven by the blows of the wind。 In the air rang a whistling； a howling； and a deep groaning sound； that burst from dozens of human breasts：
〃It goesit goesit goes！〃
This exclamation； abrupt as a blow； and heavy as the breath from an enormous breast； which is suffocating from exertion； was soaring over the river； falling upon the waves； as if encouraging their mad play with the wind； and they struck the shores with might。
Two empty barges lay anchored by the mountainous shore； and their tall masts； rising skyward； rocked in commotion from side to side； as though describing some invisible pattern in the air。 The decks of both barges were encumbered with scaffolds； built of thick brown beams； huge sheaves were hanging everywhere； chains and ropes were fastened to them； and rocking in the air； the links of the chains were faintly clanging。 A throng of peasants in blue and in red blouses pulled a large beam across the dock and； heavily stamping their feet； groaned with full chest：
〃It goesit goesit goes！〃
Here and there human figures clung to the scaffoldings； like big lumps of blue and red； the wind； blowing their blouses and their trousers； gave the men odd forms； making them appear now hump… backed； now round and puffed up like bladders。 The people on the scaffolds and on the decks of the barges were making fast； hewing； sawing； driving in nails； and big arms； with shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows were seen everywhere。 The wind scattered splinters of wood； and a varied； lively； brisk noise in the air； the saw gnawed the wood； choking with wicked joy； the beams； wounded by the axes； moaned and groaned drily； the boards cracked sickly as they split from the blows they received； the jointer squeaked maliciously。 The iron clinking of the chains and the groaning creaking of the sheaves joined the wrathful roaring of the waves； and the wind howled loudly； scattering over the river the noise of toil and drove the clouds across the sky。
〃Mishka…a！ The deuce take you！〃 cried someone from the top of the scaffolding。 And from the deck； a large…formed peasant； with his head thrown upward； answered：
〃Wh…a…at？〃 And the wind； playing with his long； flaxen beard； flung it into his face。
〃Hand us the end。〃
A resounding basso shouted as through a speaking…trumpet：
〃See how you've fastened this board； you blind devil？ Can't you see？ I'll rub your eyes for you！〃
〃Pull； my boys； come on！〃
〃Once morebraveboys！〃 cried out some one in a loud； beseeching voice。
Handsome and stately； in a short cloth jacket and high boots； Foma stood； leaning his back against a mast； and stroking his beard with his trembling hand； admired the daring work of the peasants。 The noise about him called forth in him a persistent desire to shout； to work together with the peasants； to hew wood； to carry burdens； to commandto compel everybody to pay attention to him； and to show them his strength； his skill； and the live soul within him。 But he restrained himself。 And standing speechless； motionless； he felt ashamed and afraid of something。 He was embarrassed by the fact that he was master over everybody there； and that if he were to start to work himself； no one would believe that he was working merely to satisfy his desire； and not to spur them on in their work； to set them an example。 And then； the peasants might laugh at him； in all probability。
A fair and curly…headed fellow； with his shirt collar unbuttoned； was now and again running past him； now carrying a log on his shoulder； now an axe in his hands； he was skipping along； like a frolicsome goat； scattering about him cheerful； ringing laughter； jests； violent oaths； and working unceasingly； now assisting one； now another； as he was cleverly and quickly running across the deck； which was obstructed with timber and shavings。 Foma watched him closely； and envied this merry fellow； who was radiant with something healthy and inspiring。
〃Evidently he is happy；〃 thought Foma； and this thought provoked in him a keen； piercing desire to insult him somehow； to embarrass him。 All those about him were seized with the zest of pressing work； all were unanimously and hastily fastening the scaffoldings； arranging the pulleys； preparing to raise the sunken barge from the bottom of the river； all were sound and merrythey all lived。 While he stood alone； aside from them； not knowing what to do； not knowing how to do anything； feeling hims