the forged coupon()-第20章
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father placed him with the merchant as a yard…porter。 He was given his
brother's old boots； his father's old coat and cap； and was taken to town。
Alyosha was delighted with his clothes； but the merchant was not
impressed by his appearance。
〃I thought you would bring me a man in Simeon's place；〃 he said；
scanning Alyosha； 〃and you've brought me THIS！ What's the good of
him？〃
〃He can do everything； look after horses and drive。 He's a good one
to work。 He looks rather thin； but he's tough enough。 And he's very
willing。〃
〃He looks it。 All right； we'll see what we can do with him。〃
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So Alyosha remained at the merchant's。
The family was not a large one。 It consisted of the merchant's wife：
her old mother： a married son poorly educated who was in his father's
business： another son； a learned one who had finished school and
entered the University； but having been expelled； was living at home： and
a daughter who still went to school。
They did not take to Alyosha at first。 He was uncouth； badly dressed；
and had no manner； but they soon got used to him。 Alyosha worked even
better than his brother had done； he was really very willing。 They sent him
on all sorts of errands； but he did everything quickly and readily； going
from one task to another without stopping。 And so here； just as at home；
all the work was put upon his shoulders。 The more he did； the more he was
given to do。 His mistress； her old mother； the son； the daughter； the clerk；
and the cook all ordered him about； and sent him from one place to
another。
〃Alyosha； do this！ Alyosha； do that！ What！ have you forgotten；
Alyosha？ Mind you don't forget； Alyosha！〃 was heard from morning till
night。 And Alyosha ran here； looked after this and that； forgot nothing；
found time for everything； and was always cheerful。
His brother's old boots were soon worn out； and his master scolded
him for going about in tatters with his toes sticking out。 He ordered
another pair to be bought for him in the market。 Alyosha was delighted
with his new boots； but was angry with his feet when they ached at the end
of the day after so much running about。 And then he was afraid that his
father would be annoyed when he came to town for his wages； to find that
his master had deducted the cost of the boots。
In the winter Alyosha used to get up before daybreak。 He would chop
the wood； sweep the yard； feed the cows and horses； light the stoves； clean
the boots； prepare the samovars and polish them afterwards； or the clerk
would get him to bring up the goods； or the cook would set him to knead
the bread and clean the saucepans。 Then he was sent to town on various
errands； to bring the daughter home from school； or to get some olive oil
for the old mother。 〃Why the devil have you been so long？〃 first one；
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then another； would say to him。 Why should they go？ Alyosha can go。
〃Alyosha！ Alyosha！〃 And Alyosha ran here and there。 He
breakfasted in snatches while he was working； and rarely managed to get
his dinner at the proper hour。 The cook used to scold him for being late；
but she was sorry for him all the same； and would keep something hot for
his dinner and supper。
At holiday times there was more work than ever； but Alyosha liked
holidays because everybody gave him a tip。 Not much certainly； but it
would amount up to about sixty kopeks ＇1s 2d＇ his very own money。
For Alyosha never set eyes on his wages。 His father used to come and take
them from the merchant； and only scold Alyosha for wearing out his boots。
When he had saved up two roubles ＇4s＇； by the advice of the cook he
bought himself a red knitted jacket； and was so happy when he put it on；
that he couldn't close his mouth for joy。 Alyosha was not talkative； when
he spoke at all； he spoke abruptly； with his head turned away。 When told to
do anything； or asked if he could do it； he would say yes without the
smallest hesitation； and set to work at once。
Alyosha did not know any prayer； and had forgotten what his mother
had taught him。 But he prayed just the same； every morning and every
evening； prayed with his hands； crossing himself。
He lived like this for about a year and a half； and towards the end of
the second year a most startling thing happened to him。 He discovered one
day； to his great surprise； that； in addition to the relation of usefulness
existing between people； there was also another； a peculiar relation of
quite a different character。 Instead of a man being wanted to clean boots；
and go on errands and harness horses； he is not wanted to be of any service
at all； but another human being wants to serve him and pet him。 Suddenly
Alyosha felt he was such a man。
He made this discovery through the cook Ustinia。 She was young； had
no parents； and worked as hard as Alyosha。 He felt for the first time in his
life that henot his services； but he himselfwas necessary to another
human being。 When his mother used to be sorry for him； he had taken no
notice of her。 It had seemed to him quite natural； as though he were
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feeling sorry for himself。 But here was Ustinia； a perfect stranger； and
sorry for him。 She would save him some hot porridge； and sit watching
him； her chin propped on her bare arm； with the sleeve rolled up； while he
was eating it。 When he looked at her she would begin to laugh； and he
would laugh too。
This was such a new； strange thing to him that it frightened Alyosha。
He feared that it might interfere with his work。 But he was pleased；
nevertheless； and when he glanced at the trousers that Ustinia had mended
for him； he would shake his head and smile。 He would often think of her
while at work； or when running on errands。 〃A fine girl； Ustinia！〃 he
sometimes exclaimed。
Ustinia used to help him whenever she could； and he helped her。 She
told him all about her life； how she had lost her parents； how her aunt had
taken her in and found a place for her in the town； how the merchant's son
had tried to take liberties with her； and how she had rebuffed him。 She
liked to talk； and Alyosha liked to listen to her。 He had heard that
peasants who came up to work in the towns frequently got married to
servant girls。 On one occasion she asked him if his parents intended
marrying him soon。 He said that he did not know； that he did not want to
marry any of the village girls。
〃Have you taken a fancy to some one； then？〃
〃I would marry you； if you'd be willing。〃
〃Get along with you； Alyosha the Pot； but you've found your tongue；
haven't you？〃 she exclaimed； slapping him on the back with a towel she
held in her hand。 〃Why shouldn't I？〃
At Shrovetide Alyosha's father came to town for his wages。 It had
come to the ears of the merchant's wife that Alyosha wanted to marry
Ustinia； and she disapproved of it。 〃What will be the use of her with a
baby？〃 she thought； and informed her husband。
The merchant gave the old man Alyosha's wages。
〃How is my lad getting on？〃 he asked。 〃I told you he was willing。〃
〃That's all right； as far as it goes； but he's taken some sort of nonsense
into his head。 He wants to marry our cook。 Now I don't approve of
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married servants。 We won't have them in the house。〃
〃Well； now； who would have thought the fool would think of such a
thing？〃 the old man exclaimed。 〃But don't you worry。 I'll soon settle
that。〃
He went into the kitchen； and sat down at the table waiting for his son。
Alyosha was out on an errand； and came back breathless。
〃I thought you had some sense in you； but what's this you've taken into
your head？〃 his father began。
〃I？ Nothing。〃
〃How； nothing？ They tell me you want to get married。 You shall get
married when the time comes。 I'll find you a decent wife； not some town
hussy。〃
His father talked and talked； while Alyosha stood still and sighed。
When his father had quite finished； Alyosha smiled。
〃All right。 I'll drop it。〃
〃Now that's what I call sense。〃
When he was left alone with Ustinia he told her what his father had
said。 （She had listened at the door。）
〃It's no good； it can't come off。 Did you hear？ He was angry
won't have it at any price。〃
Ustinia cried into her apron。
Alyosha shook his head。
〃What's to be done？ We must do as we're told。〃
〃Well； are you going to give up that nonsense； as your father told
you？〃 his mistress asked； as he was putting up the shutters in the evening。
〃To be sure we are；〃 Alyosha replied with a smile； and then burst into
tears。
From that day Alyosha went about his work as usual； and no longer
talked to Ustinia about their getting married。 One day in Lent the clerk
told him to clear the snow from the roof。 Alyosha climbed on to the roof
and swept away all the snow； and； while he was still raking out some
frozen lumps from the gutter； his foot slipped and he fell over。
Unfortunately he did not fall on the snow； but on a piece of iron over the
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