第2章
ThenIunderstoodwhatwasthematter，forIhadseenasimilarcasebefore。Yetforthemomentacertainfeelingofshynessmademeedgeawayfromheralittle；andasIdidso，sheutteredaprolongedmoan，andheralmostburstingeyeballsventedhot，murkytearswhichtrickleddownhertenseandlividfeatures。
ThereuponIturnedtoheragain，and，throwingdowncooking-pot，teapot，andwallet，laidheronherback，andstrovetobendherkneesupwardsinthedirectionofherbody。Meanwhileshesoughttorepelmewithblowsonfaceandbreast，andatlengthrolledontoherstomach。Then，raisingherselfonallfours，she，sobbing，gasping，andcursinginabreath，crawledawaylikeabearintoaremoterportionofthethicket。
“Beast！“shepanted。“Oh，youdevil！“
Yet，evenasthewordsescapedherlips，herarmsgavewaybeneathher，andshecollapseduponherface，withlegsstretchedout，andherlipsemittingafreshseriesofconvulsivemoans。
Excitednowtofeverpitch，Ihurriedlyrecalledmysmallstoreofknowledgeofsuchcasesandfinallydecidedtoturnheronherback，and，asbefore，tostrivetobendherkneesupwardsinthedirectionofherbody。Alreadysignsofimminentparturitionwerenotwanting。
“Liestill，“Isaid，“andifyoudothatitwillnotbelongbeforeyouaredeliveredofthechild。“
Whereafter，runningdowntothesea，Ipulledupmysleeves，and，onreturning，embarkeduponmyrole，ofaccoucheur。
Scoringtheearthwithherfingers，uprootingtuftsofwitheredgrass，andstrugglingtothrustthemintohermouth，scatteringsoiloverherterrible，inhumanfaceandbloodshoteyes，thewomanwrithedlikeastripofbirchbarkinawoodfire。Indeed，bythistimealittleheadwascomingintoview，anditneededallmyeffortstoquellthetwitchingsofherlegs，tohelpthechildtoissue，andtopreventitsmotherfromthrustinggrassdownherdistorted，moaningthroat。Meanwhilewecursedoneanother——shethroughherteeth，andIinanundertone；she，I
shouldsurmise，outofpainandshame，andI，Ifeelcertain，outofnervousness，mingledwithaperfectagonyofcompassion。
“OLord！“shegaspedwithbluelipsfleckedwithfoamashereyes(suddenlybereftoftheircolourinthesunlight)shedtearsbornoftheintolerableanguishofthematernalfunction，andherbodywrithedandtwistedasthoughherframehadbeenseveredinthemiddle。
“Away，youbrute！“washeroft-repeatedcryaswithherweakhands，handsseeminglydislocatedatthewrists，shestrovetothrustmetoadistance。YetallthetimeIkeptsayingpersuasively:“Youfool！Bringforthasquicklyasyoucan！“
and，asamatteroffact，wasfeelingsosorryforherthattearscontinuedtospurtfrommyeyesasmuchasfromhers，andmyveryheartcontractedwithpity。Also，neverdidIceasetofeelthatIoughttokeepsayingsomething；wherefore，I
repeated，andagainrepeated:“Nowthen！Bringforthasquicklyaseveryoucan！“
Andatlastmyhandsdidindeedholdahumancreatureinallitspristinebeauty。Norcouldeventhemistoftearspreventmefromseeingthatthathumancreaturewasredintheface，andthattojudgefromthemannerinwhichitkeptkickingandresistingandutteringhoarsewails(whilestillboundtoitsmotherbytheligament)，itwasfeelingdissatisfiedinadvancewiththeworld。Yes，blue-eyed，andwithanoseabsurdlysunkenbetweenapairofscarlet，rumpledcheeksandlipswhichceaselesslyquiveredandcontracted，itkeptbawling:“A-aah！
A-a-ah！“
Moreover，soslipperywasitthat，asIkneltandlookedatitandlaughedwithreliefatthefactthatithadarrivedsafely，Icameneartolettingitfallupontheground:whereforeI
entirelyforgotwhatnextIoughttohavedone。
“Cutit！“atlengthwhisperedthemotherwitheyesclosed，andfeaturessuddenlyswollenandresemblingthoseofacorpse。
“Aknife！“againshewhisperedwithherlividlips。“Cutit！“
Mypocket-knifeIhadhadstolenfrommeintheworkmen’sbarraque；butwithmyteethIseveredthecaul，andthenthechildgaverenewedtongueintrueOrlovianfashion，whilethemothersmiled。Also，insomecuriousfashion，themother’sunfathomableeyesregainedtheircolour，andbecamefilledaswithbluefireas，plungingahandintoherbodiceandfeelingforthepocket，shecontrivedtoarticulatewithrawandblood-fleckedlips:
“Ihavenotasinglepieceofstringorribandtobindthecaulwith。“
UponthatIsetto，andmanagedtoproduceapieceofriband，andtofastenitintherequiredposition。
Thereaftershesmiledmorebrightlythanever。Soradiantlydidshesmilethatmyeyescameneartobeingblindedwiththespectacle。
“Andnowrearrangeyourself，“Isaid，“andinthemeanwhileI
willgoandwashthebaby。“
“Yes，yes，“shemurmureduneasily。“Butbeverycarefulwithhim——beverygentle。“
Yetitwaslittleenoughcarethattherosylittlehomunculusseemedtorequire，sostrenuouslydidheclenchhisfists，andbawlasthoughheweremindedtochallengethewholeworldtocombat。
“Come，now！“atlengthIsaid。“Youmusthavedone，oryourveryheadwilldropoff。“
Yetnosoonerdidhefeelthetouchoftheoceanspray，andbegintobesprinkledWithitsjoyouscaresses，thanhelamentedmoreloudlyandvigorouslythanever，andsocontinuedthroughouttheprocessofbeingslappedonthebackandbreastas，frowningandstruggling，heventedsquallaftersquallwhilethewaveslavedhistinylimbs。
“Shout，youngOrlovian！“saidIencouragingly。“Letflywithallthepowerofyourlungs！“
Andwiththat，Itookhimbacktohismother。Ifoundherwitheyesclosedandlipsdrawnbetweenherteethasshewrithedinthetormentofexpellingtheafter-birth。ButpresentlyI
detectedthroughthesighsandgroansawhispered:
“Givehimtome！Givehimtome！“
“Youhadbetterwaitalittle，“Iurged。
“Ohno！Givehimtomenow！“
Andwithtremulous，unsteadyhandssheunhookedthebosomofherbodice，and，freeing(withmyassistance)thebreastwhichnaturehadpreparedforatleastadozenchildren，appliedthemutinousyoungOrloviantothenipple。Asforhim，heatonceunderstoodthematter，andceasedtosendforthfurtherlamentation。
“OpureandholyMotherofGod！“shegaspedinalong-drawn，quiveringsighasshebentadishevelledheadoverthelittleone，and，betweenintervalsofsilence，felltoutteringsoft，abruptexclamations。Then，openingherineffablybeautifulblueeyes，thehallowedeyesofamother，sheraisedthemtowardstheazureheavens，whileintheirdepthstherewascomingandgoingaflameofjoyandgratitude。Lastly，liftingalanguidhand，shewithaslowmovementmadethesignofthecrossoverbothherselfandherbabe。
“ThankstotheeOpurestMotherofGod！“shemurmured。
“Thanksindeedtothee！“
Thenhereyesgrewdimandvagueagain，andafterapause(duringwhichsheseemedtobescarcelybreathing)shesaidinahardandmatter-of-facttone:
“Youngfellow，unfastenmysatchel。“
AndwhilstIwassoengagedshecontinuedtoregardmewithasteadygaze；but，whenthetaskwascompletedshesmiledshamefacedly，andonhersunkencheeksandsweat-fleckedtemplestheredawnedtheghostofablush。
“Now，“saidshe，“doyou，forthepresent，goaway。“
“AndifIdoso，seethatinthemeanwhileyoudonotmoveabouttoomuch。“
“No，Iwillnot。Butpleasegoaway。“
SoIwithdrewalittle。Inmybreastasortofwearinesswaslurking，butalsoinmybreasttherewasechoingasoftandgloriouschorusofbirds，achorussoexquisitelyinaccordwiththenever-ceasingsplashoftheseathatforevercouldIhavelistenedtoit，andtotheneighbouringbrookasitpurledonitswaylikeamaidenengagedinrelatingconfidencesaboutherlover。
Presently，thewoman’syellow-scarfedhead(thescarfnowtidilyrearranged)reappearedoverthebushes。
“Come，come，goodwoman！“wasmyexclamation。“Itellyouthatyoumustnotmoveaboutsosoon。“
Andcertainlyherattitudenowwasoneofutterlanguor，andshehadperforcetograspthestemofabushwithonehandtosupportherself。Yetwhilethebloodwasgonefromherface，therehadformedinthehollowswherehereyeshadbeentwolakesofblue。
“Seehowheissleeping！“shemurmured。
And，trueenough，thechildwassoundasleep，thoughtomyeyeshelookedmuchasanyotherbabymighthavedone，savethatthecouchofautumnleavesonwhichhewasensconcedconsistedofleavesofakindwhichcouldnothavebeendiscoveredinthefarawayforestsofOrlov。
“Now，doyouyourselfliedownawhile，“wasmyadvice。
“Oh，no，“sherepliedwithashakeofherheadonitssinuousneck；“forImustbecollectingmythingsbeforeImoveontowards——“
“TowardsOtchenchiri“
“Yes。Bynowmyfolkwillhavegonemanyaverstinthatdirection。“
“Andcanyouwalksofar？“
“TheHolyMotherwillhelpme。“