CHAPTER X
Early in the morning a slight noise wakened Raisky, and he sat up to seeMark disappear through the window. He does not like the straight way, hethought, and stepped to the window. Mark was going through the park, andvanished under the thick trees on the top of the precipice. As he had noinclination to go to bed again, he put on a light overcoat and went downinto the park too, thinking to bring Mark back, but he was already farbelow on the bank of the Volga. Raisky remained standing at the top ofthe precipice. The sun had not yet risen, but his rays were alreadygilding the hill tops, the dew covered fields were glistening in thedistance, and the cool morning wind breathed freshness. The air grewrapidly warmer, giving promise of a hot day. Raisky walked on in thepark, and the rain began to fall. The birds sang, as they darted in alldirections seeking their morning meal, and the bees and the humble-beeshummed over the flowers. A feeling of discomfort came over Raisky. Hehad a long day before him, with the impressions of yesterday and the daybefore still strong upon him. He looked down on the unchanging prospectof smiling nature, the woods and the melancholy Volga, and felt thecaress of the same cooling breeze. He went forward over the courtyard,taking no notice of the greetings of the servants or the friendlyadvances of the dogs.
He intended to go back to his room to turn the tenseness of his mood toaccount as an artistic motive in his novel; but as he hurried past theold house, he noticed that the door was half open, and went in. Sincehis arrival he had only been here for a moment with Marfinka, and hadglanced into Vera's room. Now it occurred to him to make a closerinspection. Passing through his old bedroom and two or three other rooms,he came into the corner room, then with an expression of extremeastonishment in his face he stood still.
Leaning on the window-sill, so that her profile was turned towards him,stood a girl of two or three and twenty, looking with strained curiosity,as if she were following some one with her eyes, down to the bank of theVolga. He was startled by the white, almost pallid face under the darkhair, the velvet-black eyes with their long lashes. Her face, stilllooking anxiously into the distance, gradually assumed an indifferentexpression. The girl glanced hastily over park and courtyard, then asshe turned and caught sight of him, shrank back.
"Sister Vera!" he cried.
Her face cleared, and her eyes remained fixed on him with an expressionof modest curiosity, as he approached to kiss her.
She drew back almost imperceptibly, turning her head a little so thathis lips touched her cheek, not her mouth, and they sat down oppositethe window.
Impatient to hear her voice he began: "How eagerly I have expected you,and you have stayed away so long."
"Marina told me yesterday that you were here."
Her voice, though not so clear as Marfinka's, was still fresh andyouthful.
"Grandmother wanted to send you word of my arrival, but I begged her notto tell you. When did you return? No one told me you were here."
"Yesterday, after supper. Grandmother and my sister don't know I am hereyet. No one saw me but Marina."
She threw some white garments that lay beside her into the next room,pushed aside a bundle and brought a table to the window. Then she satdown again, with a manner quite unconstrained, as if she were alone.
"I have prepared coffee," she said. "Will you drink it with me. It willbe a long time before it is ready at the other house. Marfinka gets uplate."
"I should like it very much," he replied, following her with his eyes.Like a true artist he abandoned himself to the new and unexpectedimpression.
"You must have forgotten me, Vera," he remarked after a pause, with anaffectionate note in his voice.
"No," she said, as he poured out the coffee, "I remember everything. Howwas it possible to forget you when Grandmother was for ever talkingabout you?"
He would have liked to ask her question after question, but they crowdedinto his brain in so disconnected a fashion that he did not know whereto begin.
"I have already been in your room. Forgive the intrusion," he said.
"There is nothing remarkable here," she said hastily, looking around asif something not intended for strange eyes might be lying about.
"Nothing remarkable, quite right. What book is that?"
He put out his hand for the book under her hand; she rapidly drew itaway and put it behind her on the shelf.
"You hide it as you used to hide the currants in your mouth. But show itme."
"Do you read books that may not be seen?" he said, laughingly as sheshook her head.
"Heavens! how lovely she is!" he thought. And he wondered how suchbeauty could have lost its way in such an outlandish place. He wanted totouch some answering chord in her heart, wanted her to reveal somethingof her feelings, but his efforts only produced a greater coldness.
"My library was in your hands?"
"Yes, but later Leonid Ivanovich took it over, and I was glad to berelieved of the charge."
"But he must have left you a few books?"
"Oh no! I read what I liked, and then surrendered the books."
"What did you like?"
She looked out of the window as she answered: "A great many. I havereally forgotten."
"Do you care for music?"
She looked at him inquiringly before she said, "Does that mean that Iplay myself, or like to hear music?"
"Both."
"I don't play, but I like to hear music, but what music is there here?"
"But what are your particular tastes?" Again she looked at himinquiringly. "Do you like housekeeping, or needlework. Do you doembroidery?"
"No, Marfinka likes and understands all those things."
"But what do you like? A book only occupies you for a short time. Yousay that you don't do any needlework, but you must like something,flowers perhaps."
"Flowers, yes, in the garden, but not in the house where they have to betended. I love this corner of God's earth, the Volga, the precipice, theforest and the garden--these are the things I love," she said, lookingcontentedly at the prospect from the window.
"What ties bind you to this little place?"
She gave no answer, but her eyes wandered lovingly over the trees andthe rising ground, and finally rested on the dazzling mirror of water.
"It is a beautiful place," admitted Raisky, "but the view, the riverbank, the hills, the forest--all these things would became tedious ifthey were not inhabited by living creatures which share our feelings andexchange ideas with us."
She was silent.
"Vera!" said Raisky after a pause.
"Ah!" she said, as if she had only just heard his remarks, "I don't livealone; Grandmother, Marfinka...."
"As if you shared your sympathies and thoughts with them. But perhapsyou have a congenial spirit here?"
Vera nodded her head.
"Who is that happy individual?" he stammered, urged on by envy, terrorand jealousy.
"The pope's wife with whom I have been stopping," said Vera as she roseand shook the crumbs from her apron. "You must have heard of her."
"The pope's wife!" he repeated.
"When she is here with me we both admire the Volga, we are never tiredof talking about it. Will you have some more coffee? May I have itcleared away?"
"The pope's wife," he repeated thoughtfully, without hearing herquestion, and the smile on her lips passed unobserved.
"Will you have some more coffee?"
"No. Do you care for Grandmother and Marfinka?"
"Whom else should I hold dear?"
"Well--me," he retorted, jesting.
"You too," she said, looking gaily at him, "if you deserve it."
"How does one earn this good fortune?" he asked ironically.
"Love, they say, is blind, gives herself without any merit, is indeedblind," she rejoined.
"Yet sometimes love comes consciously, by way of confidence, esteem andfriendship. I should like to begin with the last, and end with the first.So what must one do, dear sister, to attract your attention."
; "Not to make such round eyes as you are doing now for instance, not togo into my room--without me, not to try to find out what my likes anddislikes are...."
"What pride! Tell me, Sister, forgive my bluntness: Do you prideyourself on this? I ask because Grandmother told me you were proud."
"Grandmother must have her finger in everything. I am not proud. In whatconnection did she say I was?"
"Because I have made a gift of these houses and gardens to you andMarfinka. She said that you would not accept the gift. Is that true?Marfinka has accepted on the condition that you do not refuse.Grandmother hesitated, and has not come to a final decision, but waits,it seems, to see what you will say. And how shall you decide. Will asister take a gift from a brother?"
"Yes, I accept ... but no, I can buy the estate. Sell it to me.... Ihave money, and will pay you 50,000 roubles for it."
"I will not do it that way."
She looked thoughtfully out on the Volga, the precipice, and the park.
"Very well. I agree to anything you please, so long as we remain here."
"I will have the deed drawn up."
"Yes, thank you!" she said, stretching out both hands to him.
He pressed her hands, and kissed Vera on the cheek. She returned thepressure of his hands and kissed the air.
"You seem really to love the place and this old house."
"And you, do you mean to stay here long?"
"I don't know. It depends on circumstances--on you."
"On me?"
"Come over to the other house."
"I will follow you. I must first put things straight here. I have notyet unpacked."
The less Raisky appeared to notice Vera, the more friendly Vera was tohim, although, in spite of her aunt's wishes she neither kissed him noraddressed him as "thou." But as soon as he looked at her overmuch orseemed to hang on her words, she became suspicious, careful and reserved.Her coming made a change in the quiet circle, putting everything in adifferent light. It might happen that she said nothing, and was hardlyseen for a couple of days, yet Raisky was conscious every moment of herwhereabouts and her doings. It was as if her voice penetrated to himthrough any wall, and as if her doings were reflected in any place wherehe was. In a few days he knew her habits, her tastes, her likings, allthat love on her outer life. But the indwelling spirit, Vera herself,remained concealed in the shadows. In her conversation she betrayed nosign of her active imagination and she answered a jest with a gay smile,but Raisky rarely made her laugh outright. If he did her laughter brokeoff abruptly to give place to an indifferent silence. She had no regularemployment. She read, but was never heard to speak of what she read; shedid not play the piano, though she sometimes struck discords andlistened to their effects.
Raisky noticed that their aunt was liberal with observation and warningsfor Marfinka; but she said nothing to Vera, no doubt in the hope thatthe good seed sown would bear fruit.
Vera had moments when she was seized with a feverish desire for activity;and then she would help in the house, and in the most varying tasks withsurprising skill. This thirst for occupation came on her especially whenshe read reproach in her aunt's eyes. If she complained that her guestswere too much for her, Vera would not bring herself to assistimmediately, but presently she would appear in the company with a brightface, her eyes gleaming with gaiety, and astonished her aunt by thegrace and wit with which she entertained the visitors. This mood wouldlast a whole evening, sometimes a whole day, before she again relapsedinto shyness and reserve, so that no one could read her mind and heart.
That was all that Raisky could observe for the time, and it was all theothers saw either. The less ground he had to go on however, the moreactive his imagination was in seeking to divine her secret.
She came over every day for a short time, exchanged greetings with heraunt and her sister, and returned to the other house, and no one knewhow she passed her time there. Tatiana Markovna grumbled a little toherself, complained that her niece was moody, and shy, but did notinsist.
For Raisky the whole place, the park, the estate with the two houses,the huts, the peasants, the whole life of the place had lost its gaycolours. But for Vera he would long since have left it. It was in thismelancholy mood that he lay smoking a cigar on the sofa in TatianaMarkovna's room. His aunt who was never happy unless she was doingsomething, was looking through some accounts brought her by Savili;before her lay on pieces of paper samples of hay and rye. Marfinka wasworking at a piece of lace. Vera, as usual, was not there.
Vassilissa announced visitors; the young master; from Kolchino.
"Nikolai Andreevich Vikentev, please enter."
Marfinka coloured, smoothed her hair, gave a tug to her fichu, and casta glance in the mirror. Raisky shook his finger at her, making hercolour more deeply.
"The person who stayed one night here," said Vassilissa to Raisky, "isalso asking for you."
"Markushka?" asked Tatiana Markovna in a horrified tone.
"Yes," said Vassilissa.
Raisky hurried out.
"How glad he is, how he rushes to meet him. Don't forget to ask him forthe money. Is he hungry? I will send food directly," cried his auntafter him.
There stepped, or rather sprang into the room a fresh-looking,well-built young man of middle height of about twenty-three years of age.He had chestnut hair, a rosy face, grey-blue keen eyes, and a smile whichdisplayed a row of strong teeth. He laid on a chair with his hat a bunchof cornflowers and a packet carefully done up in a handkerchief.
"Good-day, Tatiana Markovna; Good-day, Marfa Vassilievna," he cried. Hekissed the old lady's hand, and would have raised Marfinka's to his lips,but she pulled it away, though he found time to snatch a hasty kiss fromit.
"You haven't been to see us for three weeks," said Tatiana Markovna,reproachfully.
"I could not come. The Governor would not let me off. Orders were givento settle up all the business in the office," said Vikentev, sohurriedly that he nearly swallowed some of the words.
"That is absurd; don't listen to him, Granny," interrupted Marfinka. "Hehasn't any business, as he himself said."
"I swear I am up to my neck in work. We are now expecting a new chiefclerk, and I swear by God we have to sit up into the night."
"It is not the custom to appeal to God over such trifles. It is a sin,"said Tatiana Markovna severely.
"What do you mean? Is it a trifle when Marfa Vassilievna will notbelieve me, and I, by God--"
"Again?"
"Is it true, Tatiana Markovna, that you have a visitor? Has BorisPavlovich arrived? Was it he I met in the corridor? I have come onpurpose--"
"You see, Granny, he has come to see my cousin. Otherwise he would havestayed away longer, wouldn't he?"
"As soon as I could tear myself away, I came here. Yesterday I was atKolchino for a minute, with Mama--"
"Is she well?"
"Thanks for the kind thought. She sends her kind regards and begs younot to forget her nameday."
"Many thanks. I only don't know whether I can come myself. I am old, andfear the crossing of the Volga."
"Without you, Granny, Vera and I will not go. We, too, are afraid ofcrossing the Volga."
"Be ashamed of yourself, Marfa Vassilievna. What are you afraid of? Iwill fetch you myself with our boat. Our rowers are singers."
"Under no circumstances will I cross with you. You never sit quiet inthe boat for a minute. What have you got alive in that handkerchief? See,Granny, I am sure it's a snake."
"I have brought you a carp, Tatiana Markovna, which I have caught myself.And these are for you, Marfa Vassilievna. I picked the cornflowers herein the rye."
"You promised not to pick any without me. Now you have not put in anappearance for more than two weeks. The cornflowers are all withered,and what can I do with them?"
"Come with me, and we'll pick some fresh ones."
"Wait," called Tatiana Markovna. "You can never sit quiet, you havehardly had time to show your nose, the perspiration still stand
s on yourforehead, and you are aching to be off. First you must have breakfast.And you, Marfinka, find out if that person, Markushka, will haveanything. But don't go yourself, send Egorka."
Marfinka seized the carp's head with two fingers, but when he began towave his tail hither and thither, she uttered a loud cry, hastilydropped him on the floor, and fled down the corridor.
Vikentev hurried after, and a few moments later Tatiana Markovna heard agay waltz in progress and a vigorous stampede, as if someone wererolling down the steps. Soon the two of them tore across the courtyardto the garden, Marfinka leading, and from the garden came the sound ofchattering, singing and laughter. Tatiana Markovna shook her head as shelooked through the window. Cocks, hens and ducks fled in panic, the dogsdashed barking at Marfinka's heels, the servants put their heads out ofthe windows of their quarters, in the garden the tall plants swayedhither and hither, the flower beds were broken by the print of flyingfeet, two or three vases were overturned, and every bird sought refugein the depths of the trees.
A quarter of an hour later, the two culprits sat with Tatiana Markovnaas politely as if nothing had happened. They looked gaily about the roomand at one another, as Vikentev wiped the perspiration from his face andMarfinka fanned her burning face with her handkerchief.
"You are a nice pair," remarked Tatiana Markovna.
"He is always like that," complained Marfinka, "he chased me. Tell himto sit quiet."
"It wasn't my fault, Tatiana Markovna. Marfa Vassilievna told me to gointo the garden, and she herself ran on in front."
"He is a man. But it does not become you, who are a girl, to do thesethings."
"You see what I have to endure through you," said Marfinka.
"Never mind, Marfa Vassilievna. Granny is only scolding a little, as sheis privileged to do."
"What do you say, Sir?" said Tatiana Markovna, catching his words. "Comehere, and since your Mama is not here, I will box your ears for you."
"But, Tatiana Markovna, you threaten these things and never do them," hesaid, springing up to the old lady and bowing his head submissively.
"Do box his ears well, Granny, so that his ears will be red for amonth."
"How did you come to be made of quicksilver?" said Tatiana Markovna,affectionately. "Your late father was serious, never talked at random,and even disaccustomed your mother from laughter!"
"Ah, Marfa Vassilievna," broke in Vikentev. "I have brought you somemusic and a new novel."
"Where are they?"
"I left them in the boat. That's the fault of the carp. I will go andfetch them now."
In a moment he was out of the door, and Marfinka would have followed ifher aunt had not detained her.
"What I wanted to say to you is----" she began.
She hesitated a little, as if she could not make up her mind to speak.Marfinka came up to her, and the old lady smoothed her disordered hair.
"What then, Granny?"
"You are a good child, and obey every word of your grandmother's. Youare not like Veroshka...."
"Don't find fault with Veroshka, Granny!"
"No, you always defend her. She does indeed respect me, but she retainsher own opinion and does not believe me. Her view is that I am old,while you two girls are young, know everything, and read everything. Ifonly she were right. But everything is not written in books," she addedwith a sigh.
"What do you want to say to me?" asked Marfinka curiously.
"That a grown girl must be a little more cautious. You are so wild, andrun about like a child."
"I am not always running about. I work, sew embroider, pour out tea,attend to the household. Why do you scold me, Grandmother," she askedwith tears in her eyes. "If you tell me I must not sing, I won't do it."
"God grant that you may always be as happy as a bird. Sing, play----"
"Then, why scold me?"
"I don't scold you; I only ask you to keep within bounds. You used torun about with Nikolai Andreevich--"
Marfinka reddened and retired to her corner.
"That is no harm," continued Tatiana Markovna. "There is nothing againstNikolai Andreevich, but he is just as wild as you are. You are mydearest child, and you will remember what is due to your dignity."
Marfinka blushed crimson.
"Don't blush, darling. I know that you will do nothing wrong, but forother people's sake you must be careful. Why do you look so angry. Comeand let me kiss you."
"Nikolai Andreevich will be here in a moment, and I don't know how toface him."
Before Tatiana Markovna could answer Vikentev burst in, covered withdust and perspiration, carrying music and a book which he laid on thetable by Marfinka.
"Give me your hand, Marfa Vassilievna," he cried, wiping his forehead."How I did run, with the dogs after me!"
Marfinka hid her hand, bowed, and returned with dignity:
_"Je vous remercie, monsieur Vikentev, vous etes bien amiable."_
He stared first at Marfinka, then at her aunt, and asked whether shewould try over a song with him.
"I will try it by myself, or in company with Grandmother."
"Let us go into the park, and I will read you the new novel," he thensaid, picking up the book.
"How could I do such a thing?" asked Marfinka, looking demurely at heraunt. "Do you think I am a child?"
"What is the meaning of this, Tatiana Markovna," stammered Vikentev inamazement. "Marfa Vassilievna is unendurable." He looked at both of them,walked into the middle of the room, assumed a sugary smile, bowedslightly, put his hat under his arm, and struggling in vain to drag hisgloves on his moist hands began: "_Mille pardons, mademoiselle, devous avoir derangee. Sacrebleu, ca n'entre pas. Oh mille pardons,mademoiselle_."
"Do stop, you foolish boy!"
Marfinka bit her lips, but could not help laughing.
"Just look at him, Granny! How can anybody keep serious when he mimicsMonsieur Charles so nicely?"
"Stop, children," cried Tatiana Markovna, her frown relaxing into smiles."Go, and God be with you. Do whatever you like."