第8章

Thestudentwasconfused，anddidnotapproachhimagainallthejourney。Themorningcameonrapidly。Themoonturnedpaleandmeltedawayintothedullgreysky，thecloudturnedyellowallover，thestarsgrewdim，buttheeastwasstillcold-lookingandthesamecolourastherestofthesky，sothatonecouldhardlybelievethesunwashiddeninit。

Thechillofthemorningandthesurlinessofthepostmangraduallyinfectedthestudent。Helookedapatheticallyatthecountryaroundhim，waitedforthewarmthofthesun，andthoughtofnothingbuthowdreadfulandhorribleitmustbeforthepoortreesandthegrasstoendurethecoldnights。Thesunrosedim，drowsy，andcold。Thetree-topswerenotgildedbytheraysoftherisingsun，asusuallydescribed，thesunbeamsdidnotcreepovertheearthandtherewasnosignofjoyintheflightofthesleepybirds。Thecoldremainedjustthesamenowthatthesunwasupasithadbeeninthenight。

Thestudentlookeddrowsilyandill-humouredlyatthecurtainedwindowsofamansionbywhichthemailcartdrove。Behindthosewindows，hethought，peopleweremostlikelyenjoyingtheirsoundestmorningsleepnothearingthebells，norfeelingthecold，norseeingthepostman’sangryface；andifthebelldidwakesomeyounglady，shewouldturnoverontheotherside，smileinthefulnessofherwarmthandcomfort，and，drawingupherfeetandputtingherhandunderhercheek，wouldgoofftosleepmoresoundlythanever。

Thestudentlookedatthepondwhichgleamednearthehouseandthoughtofthecarpandthepikewhichfinditpossibletoliveincoldwater。

“It’sagainsttheregulationstotakeanyonewiththepost……“thepostmansaidunexpectedly。“It’snotallowed！Andsinceitisnotallowed，peoplehavenobusinesstogetin。

Yes。Itmakesnodifferencetome，it’strue，onlyIdon’tlikeit，andIdon’twishit。“

“Whydidn’tyousaysobefore，ifyoudon’tlikeit？“

Thepostmanmadenoanswerbutstillhadanunfriendly，angryexpression。When，alittlelater，thehorsesstoppedattheentranceofthestationthestudentthankedhimandgotoutofthecart。Themailtrainhadnotyetcomein。Alonggoodstrainstoodinasiding；inthetendertheenginedriverandhisassistant，withfaceswetwithdew，weredrinkingteafromadirtytinteapot。Thecarriages，theplatforms，theseatswereallwetandcold。Untilthetraincameinthestudentstoodatthebuffetdrinkingteawhilethepostman，withhishandsthrustuphissleevesandthesamelookofangerstillonhisface，pacedupanddowntheplatforminsolitude，staringatthegroundunderhisfeet。

Withwhomwasheangry？Wasitwithpeople，withpoverty，withtheautmnnights？

TwomilesfromthevillageofObrutchanovoahugebridgewasbeingbuilt。Fromthevillage，whichstooduphighonthesteepriver-bank，itstrellis-likeskeletoncouldbeseen，andinfoggyweatherandonstillwinterdays，whenitsdelicateirongirdersandallthescaffoldingaroundwascoveredwithhoarfrost，itpresentedapicturesqueandevenfantasticspectacle。Kutcherov，theengineerwhowasbuildingthebridge，astout，broad-shouldered，beardedmaninasoftcrumpledcapdrovethroughthevillageinhisracingdroshkyorhisopencarriage。

Nowandthenonholidaysnavviesworkingonthebridgewouldcometothevillage；theybeggedforalms，laughedatthewomen，andsometimescarriedoffsomething。Butthatwasrare；asarulethedayspassedquietlyandpeacefullyasthoughnobridge-buildingweregoingon，andonlyintheevening，whencampfiresgleamednearthebridge，thewindfaintlywaftedthesongsofthenavvies。Andbydaytherewassometimesthemournfulclangofmetal，don-don-don。

Ithappenedthattheengineer’swifecametoseehim。Shewaspleasedwiththeriver-banksandthegorgeousviewoverthegreenvalleywithtrees，churches，flocks，andshebeganbeggingherhusbandtobuyasmallpieceofgroundandtobuildthemacottageonit。Herhusbandagreed。Theyboughtsixtyacresofland，andonthehighbankinafield，whereinearlierdaysthecowsofObrutchanovousedtowander，theybuiltaprettyhouseoftwostoreyswithaterraceandaverandah，withatowerandaflagstaffonwhichaflagflutteredonSundays——theybuiltitinaboutthreemonths，andthenallthewintertheywereplantingbigtrees，andwhenspringcameandeverythingbegantobegreentherewerealreadyavenuestothenewhouse，agardenerandtwolabourersinwhiteapronswerediggingnearit，therewasalittlefountain，andaglobeoflooking-glassflashedsobrilliantlythatitwaspainfultolookat。ThehousehadalreadybeennamedtheNewVilla。

Onabright，warmmorningattheendofMaytwohorseswerebroughttoObrutchanovotothevillageblacksmith，RodionPetrov。

TheycamefromtheNewVilla。Thehorsesweresleek，gracefulbeasts，aswhiteassnow，andstrikinglyalike。

“Perfectswans！“saidRodion，gazingatthemwithreverentadmiration。

HiswifeStepanida，hischildrenandgrandchildrencameoutintothestreettolookatthem。Bydegreesacrowdcollected。TheLytchkovs，fatherandson，bothmenwithswollenfacesandentirelybeardless，cameupbareheaded。Kozov，atall，thinoldmanwithalong，narrowbeard，cameupleaningonastickwithacrookhandle:hekeptwinkingwithhiscraftyeyesandsmilingironicallyasthoughheknewsomething。

“It’sonlythattheyarewhite；whatisthereinthem？“hesaid。

“Putmineonoats，andtheywillbejustassleek。Theyoughttobeinaploughandwithawhip，too。“

Thecoachmansimplylookedathimwithdisdain，butdidnotutteraword。Andafterwards，whiletheywereblowingupthefireattheforge，thecoachmantalkedwhilehesmokedcigarettes。Thepeasantslearnedfromhimvariousdetails:hisemployerswerewealthypeople；hismistress，ElenaIvanovna，hadtillhermarriagelivedinMoscowinapoorwayasagoverness；shewaskind-hearted，compassionate，andfondofhelpingthepoor。Onthenewestate，hetoldthem，theywerenotgoingtoploughortosow，butsimplytolivefortheirpleasure，liveonlytobreathethefreshair。Whenhehadfinishedandledthehorsesbackacrowdofboysfollowedhim，thedogsbarked，andKozov，lookingafterhim，winkedsarcastically。

“Landowners，too-oo！“hesaid。“Theyhavebuiltahouseandsetuphorses，butIbettheyarenobodies——landowners，too-oo。“

Kozovforsomereasontookadislikefromthefirsttothenewhouse，tothewhitehorses，andtothehandsome，well-fedcoachman。Kozovwasasolitaryman，awidower；hehadadrearylife(hewaspreventedfromworkingbyadiseasewhichhesometimescalledaruptureandsometimesworms)hewasmaintainedbyhisson，whoworkedataconfectioner’sinHarkovandsenthimmoney；andfromearlymorningtilleveninghesaunteredatleisureabouttheriveroraboutthevillage；ifhesaw，forinstance，apeasantcartingalog，orfishing，hewouldsay:“Thatlog’sdrywood——itisrotten，“or，“Theywon’tbiteinweatherlikethis。“Intimesofdroughthewoulddeclarethattherewouldnotbeadropofraintillthefrostcame；andwhentherainscamehewouldsaythateverythingwouldrotinthefields，thateverythingwasruined。Andashesaidthesethingshewouldwinkasthoughheknewsomething。

AttheNewVillatheyburnedBengallightsandsentupfireworksintheevenings，andasailing-boatwithredlanternsfloatedbyObrutchanovo。Onemorningtheengineer’swife，ElenaIvanovna，andherlittledaughterdrovetothevillageinacarriagewithyellowwheelsandapairofdarkbayponies；bothmotheranddaughterwerewearingbroad-brimmedstrawhats，bentdownovertheirears。

Thiswasexactlyatthetimewhentheywerecartingmanure，andtheblacksmithRodion，atall，gauntoldman，bareheadedandbarefooted，wasstandingnearhisdirtyandrepulsive-lookingcartand，flustered，lookedattheponies，anditwasevidentbyhisfacethathehadneverseensuchlittlehorsesbefore。

“TheKutcherovladyhascome！“waswhisperedaround。“Look，theKutcherovladyhascome！“

ElenaIvanovnalookedatthehutsasthoughshewereselectingone，andthenstoppedattheverypoorest，atthewindowsofwhichthereweresomanychildren’sheads——flaxen，red，anddark。Stepanida，Rodion’swife，astoutwoman，camerunningoutofthehut；herkerchiefslippedoffhergreyhead；shelookedatthecarriagefacingthesun，andherfacesmiledandwrinkledupasthoughshewereblind。

“Thisisforyourchildren，“saidElenaIvanovna，andshegaveherthreeroubles。

Stepanidasuddenlyburstintotearsandboweddowntotheground。

Rodion，too，floppedtotheground，displayinghisbrownishbaldhead，andashedidsohealmostcaughthiswifeintheribswiththefork。ElenaIvanovnawasovercomewithconfusionanddroveback。

TheLytchkovs，fatherandson，caughtintheirmeadowstwocart-horses，apony，andabroad-facedAalhausbull-calf，andwiththehelpofred-headedVolodka，sonoftheblacksmithRodion，drovethemtothevillage。Theycalledthevillageelder，collectedwitnesses，andwenttolookatthedamage。

“Allright，let’em！“saidKozov，winking，“le-etem！Letthemgetoutofitiftheycan，theengineers！Doyouthinkthereisnosuchthingaslaw？Allright！Sendforthepoliceinspector，drawupastatement！“

“Drawupastatement，“repeatedVolodka。

“Idon’twanttoletthispass！“shoutedtheyoungerLytchkov。Heshoutedlouderandlouder，andhisbeardlessfaceseemedtobemoreandmoreswollen。“They’vesetupanicefashion！Leavethemfree，andtheywillruinallthemeadows！You’venosortofrighttoill-treatpeople！Wearenotserfsnow！“

“Wearenotserfsnow！“repeatedVolodka。

“Wegotonallrightwithoutabridge，“saidtheelderLytchkovgloomily；“wedidnotaskforit。Whatdowewantabridgefor？

Wedon’twantit！“

“Brothers，goodChristians，wecannotleaveitlikethis！“

“Allright，let’em！“saidKozov，winking。“Letthemgetoutofitiftheycan！Landowners，indeed！“

Theywentbacktothevillage，andastheywalkedtheyoungerLytchkovbeathimselfonthebreastwithhisfistandshoutedalltheway，andVolodkashouted，too，repeatinghiswords。Andmeanwhilequiteacrowdhadgatheredinthevillageroundthethoroughbredbull-calfandthehorses。Thebullcalfwasembarrassedandlookedupfromunderhisbrows，butsuddenlyloweredhismuzzletothegroundandtooktohisheels，kickinguphishindlegs；Kozovwasfrightenedandwavedhisstickathim，andtheyallburstoutlaughing。Thentheylockedupthebeastsandwaited。