05-there are no guilty people-第2章

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way　to　the　park　was　to　pass　through　the　herd。　
He　frightened　the　sheep；　which　ran　away　one
after　another；　and　were　followed　by　the　pigs；　of
which　two　little　ones　stared　solemnly　at　him。　
The　shepherd　boy　called　to　the　sheep　and　cracked
his　whip。　　〃How　far　behind　Europe　we　are；〃
thought　Volgin；　recalling　his　frequent　holidays
abroad。　　〃You　would　not　find　a　single　cow　like
that　anywhere　in　Europe　〃　　Then；　wanting　to
find　out　where　the　path　which　branched　off　from
the　one　he　was　on　led　to　and　who　was　the　owner
of　the　herd；　he　called　to　the　boy。

〃Whose　herd　is　it？〃

The　boy　was　so　filled　with　wonder；　verging　on
terror；　when　he　gazed　at　the　hat；　the　well…brushed
beard；　and　above　all　the　gold…rimmed　eyeglasses；
that　he　could　not　reply　at　once。　　When　Volgin
repeated　his　question　the　boy　pulled　himself　to…
gether；　and　said；　〃Ours。〃　　〃But　whose　is
'ours'？〃　said　Volgin；　shaking　his　head　and
smiling。　　The　boy　was　wearing　shoes　of　plaited
birch　bark；　bands　of　linen　round　his　legs；　a　dirty；
unbleached　shirt　ragged　at　the　shoulder；　and　a　cap
the　peak　of　which　had　been　torn。

〃Whose　is　'ours'？〃

〃The　Pirogov　village　herd。〃

〃How　old　are　you？

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Can　you　read？〃

〃No；　I　can't。〃

〃Didn't　you　go　to　school？〃

〃Yes；　I　did。〃

〃Couldn't　you　learn　to　read？〃

〃No。〃

〃Where　does　that　path　lead？〃

The　boy　told　him；　and　Volgin　went　on　to…
wards　the　house；　thinking　how　he　would　chaff
Nicholas　Petrovich　about　the　deplorable　condi…
tion　of　the　village　schools　in　spite　of　all　his　ef…
forts。

On　approaching　the　house　Volgin　looked　at　his
watch；　and　saw　that　it　was　already　past　eleven。　
He　remembered　that　Nicholas　Petrovich　was
going　to　drive　to　the　nearest　town；　and　that　he
had　meant　to　give　him　a　letter　to　post　to　Moscow；
but　the　letter　was　not　written。　　The　letter　was　a
very　important　one　to　a　friend；　asking　him　to　bid
for　him　for　a　picture　of　the　Madonna　which　was
to　be　offered　for　sale　at　an　auction。　　As　he
reached　the　house　he　saw　at　the　door　four　big；
well…fed；　well…groomed；　thoroughbred　horses　har…
nessed　to　a　carriage；　the　black　lacquer　of　which
glistened　in　the　sun。　　The　coachman　was　seated
on　the　box　in　a　kaftan；　with　a　silver　belt；　and　the
horses　were　jingling　their　silver　bells　from　time
to　time。

A　bare…headed；　bare…footed　peasant　in　a　ragged
kaftan　stood　at　the　front　door。　　He　bowed。　
Volgin　asked　what　he　wanted。

〃I　have　come　to　see　Nicholas　Petrovich。〃

〃What　about？〃

〃Because　I　am　in　distressmy　horse　has
died。〃

Volgin　began　to　question　him。　　The　peasant
told　him　how　he　was　situated。　　He　had　five　chil…
dren；　and　this　had　been　his　only　horse。　　Now
it　was　gone。　　He　wept。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃

〃To　beg　〃　　And　he　knelt　down；　and　remained
kneeling　in　spite　of　Volgin's　expostulations。

〃What　is　your　name？〃

〃Mitri　Sudarikov；〃　answered　the　peasant；　still
kneeling。

Volgin　took　three　roubles　from　his　purse　and
gave　them　to　the　peasant；　who　showed　his　grat…
itude　by　touching　the　ground　with　his　forehead；
and　then　went　into　the　house。　　His　host　was
standing　in　the　hall。

〃Where　is　your　letter？〃　he　asked；　approach…
ing　Volgin；　〃I　am　just　off。〃

〃I'm　awfully　sorry；　I'll　write　it　this　minute；　if
you　will　let　me。　　I　forgot　all　about　it。　　It's　so
pleasant　here　that　one　can　forget　anything。〃

〃All　right；　but　do　be　quick。　　The　horses　have
already　been　standing　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　and
the　flies　are　biting　viciously。　　Can　you　wait；　Ar…
senty？〃　he　asked　the　coachman。

〃Why　not？〃　said　the　coachman；　thinking　to
himself；　〃why　do　they　order　the　horses　when
they　aren't　ready？　The　rush　the　grooms　and　I
hadjust　to　stand　here　and　feed　the　flies。〃

〃Directly；　directly；〃　Volgin　went　towards　his
room；　but　turned　back　to　ask　Nicholas　Petrovich
about　the　begging　peasant。

〃Did　you　see　him？He's　a　drunkard；　but
still　he　is　to　be　pitied。　　Do　be　quick！〃

Volgin　got　out　his　case；　with　all　the　requisites
for　writing；　wrote　the　letter；　made　out　a　cheque
for　a　hundred　and　eighty　roubles；　and；　sealing
down　the　envelope；　took　it　to　Nicholas　Petrovich。

〃Good…bye。〃

Volgin　read　the　newspapers　till　luncheon。　　He
only　read　the　Liberal　papers：　　The　Russian
Gazette；　Speech；　sometimes　The　Russian　Word
but　he　would　not　touch　The　New　Times；　to
which　his　host　subscribed。

While　he　was　scanning　at　his　ease　the　political
news；　the　Tsar's　doings；　the　doings　of　President；
and　ministers　and　decisions　in　the　Duma；　and　was
just　about　to　pass　on　to　the　general　news；　thea…
tres；　science；　murders　and　cholera；　he　heard　the
luncheon　bell　ring。

Thanks　to　the　efforts　of　upwards　of　ten　human
beingscounting　laundresses；　gardeners；　cooks；
kitchen…maids；　butlers　and　footmenthe　table
was　sumptuously　laid　for　eight；　with　silver　water…
jugs；　decanters；　kvass；　wine；　mineral　waters；　cut
glass；　and　fine　table　linen；　while　two　men…servants
were　continually　hurrying　to　and　fro；　bringing
in　and　serving；　and　then　clearing　away　the
hors　d'oeuvre　and　the　various　hot　and　cold
courses。

The　hostess　talked　incessantly　about　every…
thing　that　she　had　been　doing；　thinking；　and　say…
ing；　and　she　evidently　considered　that　everything
that　she　thought；　said；　or　did　was　perfect；　and
that　it　would　please　every　one　except　those　who
were　fools。　　Volgin　felt　and　knew　that　every…
thing　she　said　was　stupid；　but　it　would　never　do
to　let　it　be　seen；　and　so　he　kept　up　the　conversa…
tion。　　Theodorite　was　glum　and　silent；　the　stu…
dent　occasionally　exchanged　a　few　words　with　the
widow。　　Now　and　again　there　was　a　pause　in
the　conversation；　and　then　Theodorite　interposed；
and　every　one　became　miserably　depressed。　　At
such　moments　the　hostess　ordered　some　dish　that
had　not　been　served；　and　the　footman　hurried
off　to　the　kitchen；　or　to　the　housekeeper；　and　hur…
ried　back　again。　　Nobody　felt　inclined　either　to
talk　or　to　eat。　　But　they　all　forced　themselves
to　eat　and　to　talk；　and　so　luncheon　went　on。

The　peasant　who　had　been　begging　because　his
horse　had　died　was　named　Mitri　Sudarikov。　　He
had　spent　the　whole　day　before　he　went　to　the
squire　over　his　dead　horse。　　First　of　all　he　went
to　the　knacker；　Sanin；　who　lived　in　a　village　near。　
The　knacker　was　out；　but　he　waited　for　him；　and
it　was　dinner…time　when　he　had　finished　bargain…
ing　over　the　price　of　the　skin。　　Then　he　bor…
rowed　a　neighbour's　horse　to　take　his　own　to　a
field　to　be　buried；　as　it　is　forbidden　to　bury　dead
animals　near　a　village。　　Adrian　would　not　lend
his　horse　because　he　was　getting　in　his　potatoes；
but　Stephen　took　pity　on　Mitri　and　gave　way　to
his　persuasion。　　He　even　lent　a　hand　in　lifting
the　dead　horse　into　the　cart。　　Mitri　tore　off　the
shoes　from　the　forelegs　and　　gave　them　to　his
wife。　　One　was　broken；　but　the　other　one　was
whole。　　While　he　was　digging　the　grave　with　a
spade　which　was　very　blunt；　the　knacker　appeared
and　took　off　the　skin；　and　the　carcass　was　then
thrown　into　the　hole　and　covered　up。　　Mitri　felt
tired；　and　went　into　Matrena's　hut；　where　he
drank　half　a　bottle　of　vodka　with　Sanin　to　con…
sole　himself。　　Then　he　went　home；　quarrelled
with　his　wife；　and　lay　down　to　sleep　on　the　hay。　
He　did　not　undress；　but　slept　just　as　he　was；　with
a　ragged　coat　for　a　coverlet。　　His　wife　was　in
the　hut　with　the　girlsthere　were　four　of　them；
and　the　youngest　was　only　five　weeks　old。　　Mitri
woke　up　before　dawn　as　usual。　　He　groaned　as
the　memory　of　the　day　before　broke　in　upon　him
how　the　horse　had　struggled　and　struggled；
and　then　fallen　down。　　Now　there　was　no　horse；
and　all　he　had　was　the　price　of　the　skin；　four
roubles　and　eighty　kopeks。　　Getting　up　he　ar…
ranged　the　linen　bands　on　his　legs；　and　went
through　the　yard　into　the　hut。　　His　wife　was　put…
ting　straw　into　the　stove　with　one　hand；　with
the　other　she　was　holding　a　baby　girl　to　her
breast；　which　was　hanging　out　of　her　dirty
chemise。

Mitri　crossed　himself　three　times；　turning
towards　the　corner　in　which　the　ikons　hung；　and
repeated　some　utterly　meaningless　words；　which
he　called　prayers；　to　the　Trinity　and　the　Virgin；
the　Creed　and　our　Father。

〃Isn't　there　any　water？〃

〃The　girl's　gone　for　it。　　I've　got　some　tea。　
Will　you　go　up　to　the　squire？〃

〃Yes；　I'd　better　〃　　The　smoke　from　the　stove
made　him　cough。　　He　took　a　rag　off　the　wooden
bench　and　went　into　the　porch。　　The　girl　had
just　come　back　with　the　water。　　Mitri　filled　his
mouth　with　water　from　the　pail　and　squirted　it
out　on　his　hands；　took　some　more　in　his　mouth
to　wash　his　face；　dried　himself　with　the　rag；　then
parted　and　smoothed　his　curly　hair　with　his　fin…
gers　and　went　out。　　A　little　girl　of　about　ten；
with　nothing　on　but　a　dirty　shirt；　came　towards
him。　　〃Good…morning；　Uncle　Mitri；〃　she　said；
〃you　are　to　come　and　thrash。〃　　〃All　right；　I'll
come；〃　replied　Mitri。　　He　understood　that　he
was　expected　to　return　the　help　given　the　week
before　by　Kumushkir；　a　man　as　poor　as　he　was
himself；　when　he　was　thrashing　his　own　corn　with
a　horse…driven　machine。

〃Tell　them　I'll　comeI'll　come　at　lunch　time。
I've　got　to　go　to　Ugrumi　〃　　Mitri　went　back　to
the　hut；　and　changing　his　birch…bark　shoes　and　the
linen　bands　on　his　legs；　started　off　to　see　the
squire。　　After　he　had　got　three　roubles　from
Volgin；　and　the　same　sum　from　Nicholas　Petro…
vich；　he　returned　to　his　house；　gave　the　money　to
his　wife；　and　went　to　his　neighbour's。　　The　thrash…
ing　machine　was　humming；　and　the　driver　was
shouting。　　The　lean　horses　were　going　slowly
round　him；　straining　at　their　traces。　　The　driver
was　shouting　to　them　in　a　monotone；　〃Now；　there；
my　dears　〃　　Some　women　were　unbinding　sheaves；
others　were　raking　up　the　scattered　straw　and　ears；
and　others　again　were　gathering　great　armfuls　of
corn　and　handing　them　to　the　men　to　feed　the
machine。　　The　work　was　in　full　swing。　　In　the
kitchen　garden；　which　Mitri　had　to　pass；　a　girl；
clad　only　in　a　long　shirt；　was　digging　potatoes
which　she　put　into　a　basket。

〃Where's　your　grandfather？〃　asked　Mitri。
〃He's　in　the　barn　〃　　Mitri　went　to　the　barn　and
set　to　work　at　once。　　The　old　man　of　eighty　knew
of　Mitri's　trouble。　　After　greeting　him；　he　gave
him　his　place　to　feed　the　machine。

Mitri　took　off　his　ragged　coat；　laid　it　out　of　the
way　near　the　fence；　and　then　began　to　work　vig…
orously；　raking　the　corn　together　and　throwing
it　into　the　machine。　　The　work　went　on　without
interruption　until　the　dinner…hour。　　The　cocks
had　crowed　two　or　three　times；　but　no　one　paid
any　attention　to　them；　not　because　the　workers
did　not　believe　them；　but　because　they　were
scarcely　heard　for　the　noise　of　the　work　and　the
talk　about　it。　　At　last　the　whistle　of　the　squire's
steam　thrasher　sounded　three　miles　away；　and　then
the　owner　came　into　the　barn。　　He　was　a　straight
old　man　of　eighty。　　〃It's　time　to　stop；〃　he　said；
〃it's　dinner…time　〃　　Those　at　work　seemed　to
redouble　their　efforts。　　In　a　moment　the　straw
was　cleared　away；　the　grain　that　had　been
thrashed　was　separated　from　the　chaff　and　brought
in；　and　then　the　workers　went　into　the　hut。

The　hut　was　smoke…begrimed；　as　its　stove　had
no　chimney；　but　it　had　been　tidied　up；　and　benches
stood　round　the　table；　making　room　for　all　those
who　had　been　working；　of　whom　there　were　nine；
not　counting　the　owners。　　Bread；　soup；