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There was a sound of a fretful childish wail：
〃Take me away； mamma darling！〃
〃Quiet there！〃 cried the priest。
When they returned from the church people ran after them； there were
crowds； too； round the shop； round the gates； and in the yard under the
windows。 The peasant women came in to sing songs of congratulation to
them。 The young couple had scarcely crossed the threshold when the
singers； who were already standing in the outer room with their music
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books； broke into a loud chant at the top of their voices； a band ordered
expressly from the town began playing。 Foaming Don wine was brought in
tall wine…glasses； and Elizarov； a carpenter who did jobs by contract； a tall；
gaunt old man with eyebrows so bushy that his eyes could scarcely be
seen； said； addressing the happy pair：
〃Anisim and you； my child； love one another； live in God's way； little
children； and the Heavenly Mother will not abandon you。〃
He leaned his face on the old father's shoulder and gave a sob。
〃Grigory Petrovitch； let us weep； let us weep with joy！〃 he said in a
thin voice； and then at once burst out laughing in a loud bass guffaw。 〃Ho…
ho…ho！ This is a fine daughter…in…law for you too！ Everything is in its place
in her； all runs smoothly； no creaking； the mechanism works well； lots of
screws in it。〃
He was a native of the Yegoryevsky district； but had worked in the
factories in Ukleevo and the neighborhood from his youth up； and had
made it his home。 He had been a familiar figure for years as old and gaunt
and lanky as now； and for years he had been nicknamed 〃Crutch。〃 Perhaps
because he had been for forty years occupied in repairing the factory
machinery he judged everybody and everything by its soundness or its
need of repair。 And before sitting down to the table he tried several chairs
to see whether they were solid； and he touched the smoked fish also。
After the Don wine； they all sat down to the table。 The visitors talked；
moving their chairs。 The singers were singing in the outer room。 The band
was playing； and at the same time the peasant women in the yard were
singing their songs all in chorus and there was an awful； wild medley of
sounds which made one giddy。
Crutch turned round in his chair and prodded his neighbours with his
elbows； prevented people from talking； and laughed and cried alternately。
〃Little children； little children； little children；〃 he muttered rapidly。
〃Aksinya my dear； Varvara darling； we will live all in peace and harmony；
my dear little axes。 。 。 。〃
He drank little and was now only drunk from one glass of English
bitters。 The revolting bitters； made from nobody knows what； intoxicated
everyone who drank it as though it had stunned them。 Their tongues began
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to falter。
The local clergy； the clerks from the factories with their wives； the
tradesmen and tavern…keepers from the other villages were present。 The
clerk and the elder of the rural district who had served together for
fourteen years； and who had during all that time never signed a single
document for anybody nor let a single person out of the local court
without deceiving or insulting him； were sitting now side by side； both fat
and well…fed； and it seemed as though they were so saturated in injustice
and falsehood that even the skin of their faces was somehow peculiar；
fraudulent。 The clerk's wife； a thin woman with a squint； had brought all
her children with her； and like a bird of prey looked aslant at the plates and
snatched anything she could get hold of to put in her own or her children's
pockets。
Lipa sat as though turned to stone； still with the same expression as in
church。 Anisim had not said a single word to her since he had made her
acquaintance； so that he did not yet know the sound of her voice； and now；
sitting beside her； he remained mute and went on drinking bitters； and
when he got drunk he began talking to the aunt who was sitting opposite：
〃I have a friend called Samorodov。 A peculiar man。 He is by rank an
honorary citizen； and he can talk。 But I know him through and through；
auntie； and he feels it。 Pray join me in drinking to the health of Samorodov；
auntie！〃
Varvara； worn out and distracted； walked round the table pressing the
guests to eat； and was evidently pleased that there were so many dishes
and that everything was so lavish no one could disparage them now。 The
sun set； but the dinner went on： the guests were beyond knowing what
they were eating or drinking； it was impossible to distinguish what was
said； and only from time to time when the band subsided some peasant
woman could be heard shouting：
〃They have sucked the blood out of us； the Herods； a pest on them！〃
In the evening they danced to the band。 The Hrymin Juniors came；
bringing their wine； and one of them； when dancing a quadrille； held a
bottle in each hand and a wineglass in his mouth； and that made everyone
laugh。 In the middle of the quadrille they suddenly crooked their knees
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and danced in a squatting position； Aksinya in green flew by like a flash；
stirring up a wind with her train。 Someone trod on her flounce and Crutch
shouted：
〃Aie； they have torn off the panel！ Children！〃
Aksinya had naive grey eyes which rarely blinked； and a naive smile
played continually on her face。 And in those unblinking eyes； and in that
little head on the long neck； and in her slenderness there was something
snake…like； all in green but for the yellow on her bosom； she looked with a
smile on her face as a viper looks out of the young rye in the spring at the
passers…by； stretching itself and lifting its head。 The Hrymins were free in
their behaviour to her； and it was very noticeable that she was on intimate
terms with the elder of them。 But her deaf husband saw nothing； he did not
look at her； he sat with his legs crossed and ate nuts； cracking them so
loudly that it sounded like pistol shots。
But； behold； old Tsybukin himself walked into the middle of the room
and waved his handkerchief as a sign that he； too； wanted to dance the
Russian dance； and all over the house and from the crowd in the yard rose
a roar of approbation：
〃_He's_ going to dance！ _He_ himself！〃
Varvara danced； but the old man only waved his handkerchief and
kicked up his heels； but the people in the yard； propped against one
another； peeping in at the windows； were in raptures； and for the moment
forgave him everything his wealth and the wrongs he had done them。
〃Well done； Grigory Petrovitch！〃 was heard in the crowd。 〃That's right；
do your best！ You can still play your part！ Ha…ha！〃
It was kept up till late； till two o'clock in the morning。 Anisim；
staggering； went to take leave of the singers and bandsmen； and gave each
of them a new half…rouble。 His father； who was not staggering but still
seemed to be standing on one leg； saw his guests off； and said to each of
them：
〃The wedding has cost two thousand。〃
As the party was breaking up； someone took the Shikalovo innkeeper's
good coat instead of his own old one； and Anisim suddenly flew into a
rage and began shouting：
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〃Stop； I'll find it at once； I know who stole it； stop。〃
He ran out into the street and pursued someone。 He was caught；
brought back home and shoved； drunken； red with anger； and wet； into the
room where the aunt was undressing Lipa； and was locked in。
IV
Five days had passed。 Anisim； who was preparing to go； went upstairs
to say good…bye to Varvara。 All th