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though the hut were just going to fall to pieces。 In the corner； facing the
door； under the holy images； bottle labels and newspaper cuttings were
stuck on the walls instead of pictures。 The poverty； the poverty！ Of the
grown…up people there were none at home； all were at work at the harvest。
On the stove was sitting a white…headed girl of eight； unwashed and
apathetic； she did not even glance at them as they came in。 On the floor a
white cat was rubbing itself against the oven fork。
〃Puss； puss！〃 Sasha called to her。 〃Puss！〃
〃She can't hear；〃 said the little girl； 〃she has gone deaf。〃
〃How is that？〃
〃Oh； she was beaten。〃
Nikolay and Olga realized from the firs t glance what life was like here；
but said nothing to one another； in silence they put down their bundles；
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and went out into the village street。 Their hut was the third from the end；
and seemed the very poorest and oldest…looking； the second was not much
better； but the last one had an iron roof； and curtains in the windows。 That
hut stood apart； not enclosed； it was a tavern。 The huts were in a single
row； and the whole of the little village quiet and dreamy； with willows；
elders； and mountain…ash trees peeping out from the yards had an
attractive look。
Beyond the peasants homesteads there was a slope down to the river；
so steep and precipitous that huge stones jutted out bare here and there
through the clay。 Down the slope； among the stones and holes dug by the
potters； ran winding paths； bits of broken pottery； some brown； some red；
lay piled up in heaps； and below there stretched a broad； level； bright
green meadow； from which the hay had been already carried； and in which
the peasants' cattle were wandering。 The river； three…quarters of a mile
from the village； ran twisting and turning； with beautiful leafy banks；
beyond it was again a broad meadow； a herd of cattle； long strings of white
geese； then； just as on the near side； a steep ascent uphill； and on the top of
the hill a hamlet； and a church with five domes； and at a little distance the
manor…house。
〃It's lovely here in your parts！〃 said Olga； crossing herself at the sight
of the church。 〃What space； oh Lord！〃
Just at that moment the bell began ringing for service （it was Saturday
evening）。 Two little girls； down below； who were dragging up a pail of
water； looked round at the church to listen to the bell。
〃At this time they are serving the dinners at the Slavyansky Bazaar；〃
said Nikolay dreamily。
Sitting on the edge of the slope； Nikolay and Olga watched the sun
setting； watched the gold and crimson sky reflected in the river； in the
church windows； and in the whole air which was soft and still and
unutterably pure as it never was in Moscow。 And when the sun had set the
flocks and herds passed； bleating and lowing； geese flew across from the
further side of the river； and all sank into silence； the soft light died away
in the air； and the dusk of evening began quickly moving down upon them。
Meanwhile Nikolay's father and mother； two gaunt； bent； toothless old
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people； just of the same height； came back。 The women the sisters…in…
law Marya and Fyokla who had been working on the landowner's estate
beyond the river； arrived home； too。 Marya； the wife of Nikolay's brother
Kiryak； had six children； and Fyokla； the wife of Nikolay's brother Denis …
… who had gone for a soldier had two； and when Nikolay； going into the
hut； saw all the family； all those bodies big and little moving about on the
lockers； in the hanging cradles and in all the corners； and when he saw the
greed with which the old father and the women ate the black bread；
dipping it in water； he realized he had made a mistake in coming here； sick；
penniless； and with a family； too a great mistake！
〃And where is Kiryak？〃 he asked after they had exchanged greetings。
〃He is in service at the merchant's；〃 answered his father； 〃a keeper in
the woods。 He is not a bad peasant； but too fond of his glass。〃
〃He is no great help！〃 said the old woman tearfully。 〃Our men are a
grievous lot； they bring nothing into the house； but take plenty out。 Kiryak
drinks； and so does the old man； it is no use hiding a sin； he knows his
way to the tavern。 The Heavenly Mother is wroth。〃
In honour of the visitors they brought out the samovar。 The tea smelt
of fish； the sugar was grey and looked as though it had been nibbled；
cockroaches ran to and fro over the bread and among the crockery。 It was
disgusting to drink； and the conversation was disgusting； too about
nothing but poverty and illnesses。 But before they had time to empty their
first cups there came a loud； prolonged； drunken shout from the yard：
〃Ma…arya！〃
〃It looks as though Kiryak were coming；〃 said the old man。 〃Speak of
the devil。〃
All were hushed。 And again； soon afterwards； the same shout； coarse
and drawn…out as though it came out of the earth：
〃Ma…arya！〃
Marya； the elder sister…in…law； turned pale and huddled against the
stove； and it was strange to see the look of terror on the face of the strong；
broad…shouldered； ugly woman。 Her daughter； the child who had been
sitting on the stove and looked so apathetic； suddenly broke into loud
weeping。
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〃What are you howling for； you plague？〃 Fyokla； a handsome woman；
also strong and broad…shouldered； shouted to her。 〃He won't kill you； no
fear！〃
From his old father Nikolay learned that Marya was afraid to live in
the forest with Kiryak； and that when he was drunk he always came for
her； made a row； and beat her mercilessly。
〃Ma…arya！〃 the shout sounded close to the door。
〃Protect me； for Christ's sake； good people！〃 faltered Marya； breathing
as though she had been plunged into very cold water。 〃Protect me； kind
people。 。 。 。〃
All the children in the hut began crying； and looking at them； Sasha；
too； began to cry。 They heard a drunken cough； and a tall； black…bearded
peasant wearing a winter cap came into the hut； and was the more terrible
because his face could not be seen in the dim light of the little lamp。 It was
Kiryak。 Going up to his wife； he swung his arm and punched her in the
face with his fist。 Stunned by the blow； she did not utter a sound； but sat
down； and her nose instantly began bleeding。
〃What a disgrace！ What a disgrace！〃 muttered the old man； clambering
up on to the stove。 〃Before visitors； too！ It's a sin！〃
The old mother sat silent； bowed； lost in thought； Fyokla rocked the
cradle。
Evidently conscious of inspiring fear； and pleased at doing so； Kiryak
seized Marya by the arm； dragged her towards the door； and bellowed like
an animal in order to seem still more terrible； but at that moment he
suddenly caught sight of the visitors and stopped。
〃Oh； they have come； 。 。 。〃 he said； letting his wife go； 〃my own
brother and his family。 。 。 。〃
Staggering and opening wide his red； drunken eyes； he said his prayer
before the image and went on：
〃My brother and his family have come to the parental home 。 。 。 from
Moscow； I suppose。 The great capital Moscow； to be sure； the mother of
cities。 。 。 。 Excuse me。〃
He sank down on the bench near the samovar and began drinking tea；
sipping it loudly from the saucer in the midst of general silence。 。 。 。 He
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drank off a dozen cups； then reclined on the bench and began snoring。
They began going to bed。 Nikolay； as an invalid； was put on the stove
with his old father； Sasha lay down on the floor； while Olga went with the
other women into the barn。
〃Aye； aye； dearie；〃 she said； lying down on the hay beside Marya； 〃you
won't mend your trouble with tears。 Bear it in patience； that is all。 It is
written in the Scriptures： 'If anyo