CHAPTER VI
In a _kibitka_ covered with bast, drawn by three lean and sleepynags, Raisky drove slowly to his estate. It was not without agitationthat he saw the smoke curling up from the chimneys of his own roof, thefresh, delicate green of the birches and the limes which overshadowedthis place of refuge, the gables of the old house and the pale line ofthe Volga now gleaming between the trees and now hidden from view. Heapproached nearer and nearer; now he could see the shimmer of theflowers in the garden, the avenues of lime and acacia became visible,the old elm emerged, and there, more to the left, lay the orchard. Therewere dogs in the yard, cats sunning themselves, on the roof of the newhouse flocked the pigeon and the swallows flitted around the eaves.Behind the house, on the side towards the village, linen lay out tobleach. One woman was rolling a cask, the coachman was chopping wood, apeasant got into the _telega_ and gathered up the reins--Boris sawonly unfamiliar faces. But Yakob was there and looked sleepily round.One familiar face, but how aged!
Raisky observed the scene intently. He alighted from the _kibitka_,and walked along the fence which divided house, yard, garden and parkfrom the road, feasting his eyes on the well-remembered prospect, whensuddenly his eye was caught by an unexpected apparition.
On the verandah, which led down to the garden and was decorated by lemonand pomegranate trees in tubs, and with cactus and aloe and floweringplants, stood a young girl of about twenty, scattering millet from twoplates held by a barefooted child of twelve. At her feet were assembledhens, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, sparrows and daws. She called to thebirds to come to breakfast, and cocks, hens and pigeons fell to, lookinground every moment as if they feared treason, and then again falling to.As the morning sun shed a fierce light on the busy group of birds and onthe young girl herself, Raisky saw her large, dark grey eyes, her round,healthy cheeks, her narrow white teeth, her long light-brown tresseswound twice round her head, and the strong young breasts rising andsinking underneath her white blouse. Her white, slightly tanned neck wasinnocent of collar or scarf. A hasty movement loosened one plait of hairover her head and back, but she took no notice, but continued to scatterthe corn, taking care that all received their share and that sparrowsand daws did not obtrude too much, and looking as fresh and happy as themorning itself.
"Didn't you see the goose?" she asked the little girl in a loud clearvoice.
"No," answered the child, "it is the cat's fault. Afimua says it willdie."
"I shall look after it myself. Afimua has no pity."Motionless, Raisky watched the scene without his presence beingsuspected. This must be his cousin, and how charming! But which one,Veroshka or Marfinka? Without waiting for the _kibitka_ to turn inthrough the gate, he ran forward, and stood before the young girl.
"Cousin," he cried, extending his arms.
In a moment both girls had vanished as if by magic, the sparrows wereaway on the roof, and the pigeons in flight. The servants in the yardstopped their work. Raisky looked in amazement on the emptiness and atthe corn scattered at his feet.
Then he heard in the house bustle, murmurs, movement, the clatter ofkeys, and his aunt's voice, "Where is he?" Her face lighted up when shesaw Raisky and she opened her arms, to press him to her breast.She had aged, but in so even, so healthy a fashion, that there were nounwholesome patches, no deep hanging pockets about the eyes and mouth,no sadness or gloom in her eyes. Life had not conquered her; sheconquered life, and only slowly laid down her weapons in the combat. Hervoice was not so clear as of old, and she leaned on a stick, but shemade no complaint. She still wore no cap on her short hair. Health andkindliness shone from her eyes, and not only from her eyes, from herwhole figure.
"Borushka, my friend!" Three times she embraced him. Tears stood in hereyes. In her embrace, her voice, in the sudden grip of joy, there wastenderness, affection, and ardour.
He felt that he was almost a criminal, that he had been playing with hisemotions and seeking forbidden fruit, wandering homelessly in the world,while Nature himself had been preparing for him a nest where sympathyand happiness awaited him.
"Marfinka, where are you, come here," cried her grandmother. "She was soterrified when she saw you, and terrified me too. Let me look at you,Borushka."
She led him to the light and looked at him long and earnestly.
"How ill you look," she said. "But no, you are sunburnt. The moustachesuits you, why do you grow a beard? Shave it off, Borushka, I can'tendure it. Ah! grey hairs here and there already. You are beginning toage too soon."
"It's not with age, Granny."
"Why then? Are you in good health?"
"I'm well enough. Let us talk of something else. You, thank God, arealways the same."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't alter a bit, are still as beautiful as ever. I never saw anold lady whose age adorned her so."
"Thanks for the compliment, my child. It would be better for you tospend your admiration on your sisters. I will whisper the truth to you.Two such beauties you will not find in the town, especially theother...."
"Where is my other sister?"
"On a visit to the pope's wife on the other side of the Volga. It is apity. The pope's wife has been ill and sent for her, of course just now.A messenger shall go."
"No! No! Why should anyone be disturbed on my account?"
"And you have come on your Grandmother so suddenly. We waited, waited,in vain. The peasants sat up for you at night, I have just sent Egorkaon to the highway to look for you and Savili into the town. Now you musthave your breakfast. Why is it so long in coming? The master has come,and there is nothing ready, just as if the house was nothing better thana station. Serve what is ready."
"I need nothing, Granny. I am stuffed with food. At one station I dranktea, milk at another, and at the third there was a wedding, and I wastreated to wine, meat and gingerbread."
"You are on your way home to your Grandmother, and are not ashamed toeat and drink all sorts of things. Gingerbread in the morning! Marfinkaought to have been there; she loves weddings and gingerbread. Come in.Marfinka, don't be so shy. She is ashamed because you caught her in hermorning gown. Come here, darling; he is your brother."
Tea and coffee appeared, and finally breakfast. However much heprotested Raisky had to eat, for otherwise his aunt's morning would havebeen spoiled.
"Marfinka, come here and entertain us."
After about five minutes the door opened slowly and quietly, andMarfinka entered, blushing with confusion and with downcast eyes. At herheels followed Vassilissa with a tea-tray full of sweets, preserves,cakes, etc. Marfinka stood still, betraying in her confusion a certaincuriosity. She wore lace at her neck and wrists; her hair was plaitedfirmly around her head and the waist of her barege dress encircled by ablue ribbon.
Raisky threw down his napkin, and jumped up, to stand before her inadmiration. "How lovely," he cried. "This is my little sister, MarfaVassilievna. And is the goose still alive?"
Marfinka became still more embarrassed, returned his greeting awkwardly,and retired to a corner.
"You have both gone mad," interrupted their aunt. "Is that the way togreet one another?"
"Marfa Vassilievna," said Raisky, as he sought to kiss Marfinka's hand.
"Vassilievna!" cried Tatiana Markovna. "Don't you love her any more?Marfinka, not Marfa Vassilievna! You will be addressing me as TatianaMarkovna next! Kiss one another. Are you not brother and sister?"
"I won't, Grandmama. He is teasing me about the goose. It is not politeto spy on people," she said severely.
Everybody laughed. Raisky kissed her on both cheeks, embraced her, andovercame her confusion. She kissed him in return, and her shynessvanished.
"Do you remember, Marfinka, how we used to run about and draw, and howyou cried?"
"No ... but yes. I do remember as if in a dream."
"How should she remember, when she was only five?" interrupted her aunt.
"But I do, Grandmama, as in a dream."
Raisky had hardly captured his
old memories when Marfinka disappeared.Soon she returned with sketch books, drawings and toys, and sitting downby Raisky in friendly fashion began, "Granny says that I don't remember.I remember how you used to draw, and how I sat on your knee. Granny hasall your drawings, portraits and sketch books. She has kept them all inthe dark room where the silver, the diamonds and the lace are. She gotthem out, and gave them to me a little time ago, when she heard you werecoming. Here is my portrait. How funny I looked! And here is Veroshka,and Granny, and Vassilissa. Do you remember how you held me, andVeroshka sat on your shoulder, and you carried us over the water?"
"Do you remember that too?" asked her aunt. "Boastful child! Veroshkasaid the other day...."
"This is how I draw now," said Marfinka, handing him a drawing of abunch of flowers.
"Splendid, little sister! Is it done from nature?"
"Yes, from nature. I can make wax-flowers, too."
"And do you play or sing?"
"I play the piano."
"And does Veroshka draw and play?"
Marfinka shook her head.
"Does she like needlework? No? Then is she fond of reading?"
"Yes, she reads a great deal. But she does not tell us what she reads,nor show us the book, nor even say where she got it."
"She hides herself from everybody, does my strange child," sighedTatiana Markovna. "God only knows what will become of her. Now, Marfinka,don't waste your brother's time any longer with your chatter abouttrifles. We will talk about serious matters, about the estate."
The old lady had worn a serious expression while she watched Boris as hetalked to Marfinka. She recognised his mother's features, but thechanges in his face did not escape her--the indications of vanishingyouth, the premature furrows; and she was baffled by the originalexpression of his eyes. Formerly she had always been able to read hisface, but now there was much inscribed on it that was undecipherable forher. Yet his temperament was open and affectionate and his words franklyinterpreted his thoughts.
Now his aunt stood before him wearing a most business-like expression;in her hand were accounts and a ledger.
"Are you not weary with your journey?" she said. "You are yawning andperhaps you would like a little sleep. Business can wait tillto-morrow."
"I slept a good deal on the journey. But you are giving yourself uselesstrouble, Grandmother, for I am not going to look at your accounts."
"What? You have surely come to take over the estate and to ask for anaccount of my stewardship. The accounts and statements that I sent you--"
"I have never even read, Grandmother."
"You haven't read them. I have sent you precise information about yourincome and you don't even know how your money is spent."
"And I don't want to know," answered Raisky, looking out of the windowaway towards the banks of the Volga.
"Imagine, Marfinka," he said, "I remember a verse I learnt as a child--
"'Oh Volga, proudest of rivers, Stem thy hurrying flood; Oh Volga, hearken, hearken, To the ringing song of the poet, The unknown, whose life thou hast spared.'"
"Don't be vexed with me, Borushka," cried Tatiana Markovna, "but I thinkyou are mad. What have you done with the papers I sent you? Have youbrought them?"
"Where are they?" she continued, as he shook his head.
"Granny, I tore up all the accounts, and I swear I will do the same withthese if you worry me with them."
He seized the paper, but she snatched them away, exclaiming, "You dareto tear up my accounts."
He laughed, suddenly embraced her, and kissed her lips as he had donewhen he was a child. She shook herself free and wiped her mouth.
"I toil till midnight, adding up and writing down every kopek, and hetears up my work. That is why you never wrote about money matters, gaveany orders, made any preparations, or did anything of the kind. Did younever think of your estate?"
"Not at all, Granny. I forgot all about it. If I thought at all Ithought of these rooms in which lives the only woman who loves me and isloved by me, you alone in the whole world. And now," he said, turning toMarfinka, "I want to win my sisters too."
His aunt took off her spectacles and gazed at him.
"In all my days I have never seen anything like it," she said. "Here theonly person with no roots like that is Markushka."
"What sort of person is this Markushka. Leonti Koslov writes about him.How is Leonti, Granny? I must look him up."
"How should he be? He crouches in one spot with a book, and his wife inanother. But he does not even see what goes on under his nose, and canany good come from his friendship with this Markushka. Only the otherday your friend came here to complain that that Markushka was destroyingbooks from your library. You know, don't you, that the library from theold house has been installed in Koslov's house?"
Raisky hummed an air from _"Il Barbiere."_
"You are an extraordinary man," cried his aunt angrily. "Why did youcome at all? Do talk sensibly."
"I came to see you, Granny, to live here for a little while, to breathefreely, to look out over the Volga, to write, to draw...."
"But the estate? If you are not tired we will drive out into the field,to look at the sowing of the winter-corn."
"Later on, Granny."
"Will you take over the management of the estate?"
"No, Granny, I will not.""Who then is to look after it? I am old and can no longer do all thework. Do you wish me to put the estate into strange hands?"
"Farm it yourself, Granny, so long as you take any pleasure in it."
"And if I die?"
"Then leave everything as it is."
Tatiana Markovna looked at the portrait of Raisky's mother, for a longtime she looked at the languishing eyes, the melancholy smile.
"Yes," she whispered. "I honour the memory of the departed, but hers isthe fault. She kept you by her side, talked to you, played the piano,read out of books and wept as she did so. And this is the result.Singing and painting. Now tell me, Borushka," she went on in herordinary tone, "what is to become of the house, of the linen, the silver,the diamonds? Shall you order them to be given to the peasants?"
"Do I possess diamonds and silver?"
"How often have I told you so? From your mother you have inherited allthese things; what is to be done with them. I will show you theinventory of them."
"Don't do that, for Heaven's sake. I can believe they are mine. And so Ican dispose of them as I please?"
"Of course; you are the proprietor. We live here as your guests, thoughwe do not eat your bread. See here are my receipts and expenditure," shesaid, thrusting towards another big ledger which he waved away.
"But I believe all you say, Granny," he said. "Send for a clerk and tellhim to make out a deed, by which I give the house, the land, and allthat belongs to it to my dear cousins, Veroshka and Marfinka, as dowry."The old lady wrinkled her brow, and waited impatiently till he shouldfinish speaking. "So long as you live, dear Granny," he continued, "theestate naturally remains under your control; the peasants must havetheir freedom...."
"Never," interrupted his aunt, "Veroshka and Marfinka are notbeggars--each of them has her fifty thousand roubles--and after my deaththree times that sum, perhaps more. All I have is for my little girls,and, thank God, I am not a pauper. I have a corner of my own, a bit ofland, and a roof to cover them. One would think you were a millionaire.You make gifts; you will have this, and you won't have that. Here,Marfinka! where have you hidden yourself?"
"Directly!" cried Marfinka's clear voice from a neighbouring room. Happy,gay, smiling and frank, she fluttered into the room, looked hesitatingly,first at Raisky, then at her aunt, who was nearly beside herself.
"Your cousin, Marfinka, is pleased to present you with a house, silver,and lace. You are, he thinks, a beggared, dowerless girl. Make a curtsey,thank your benefactor, kiss his hand--Well?"
Marfinka, who did not know what to say, squeezed herself flat againstthe stove and looked at her two relatives. Her aunt pushed papers a
ndbooks on one side, crossed her hands over her breast, and looked out ofthe window, while Raisky sat down beside Marfinka, and took her hand.
"Would you like to go away from here, Marfinka, into a strange house,perhaps in an altogether different district?"
"God forbid! How could such a thing happen. Who ever imagined suchnonsense?"
"Granny," laughed Raisky.
Happily "Granny" had not heard the words. Marfinka was embarrassed, andlooked out of the window.
"Here I have everything I want, the lovely flowers in the garden, thebirds. Who would look after the birds? I will never go away from here,never!"
"But Granny wants to go and take you with her."
"Granny! Where? Why?" she asked her aunt in her caressing, coaxing way.
"Don't tease me," said Tatiana Markovna.
"Marfinka, you don't want to leave home?" asked Boris.
"Not for anything in the world. How could such a thing be?"
"What would Veroshka say about it?"
"She would never be separated from the old house."
"She loves the old house?"
"Yes. She is only happy when she is here. If she were taken away from itshe would die. We both should."
"That matter is settled then, little sister. You two, Veroshka and you,will accept the gift from me, won't you?"
"I will if Veroshka agrees."
"Agreed, dear sister. You are not so proud as Granny," he said, as hekissed her forehead.
"What is agreed?" suddenly grumbled Tatiana Markovna. "You have accepted?Who told you you might accept? Grandmother will never permit you to liveat a stranger's expense. Be so kind, Boris Pavlovich, as to take overbooks, accounts, inventories and sales. I am not your paid servant." Shepushed papers and books towards him.
"Granny!"
"Granny! My name is Tatiana Markovna Berezhkov." She stood up, andopened the door into the servants' room. "Send Savili here."
A quarter of an hour later, a peasant of almost forty-five years of ageopened the door with a casual greeting. He was strongly-built, big boned,and was robust, without being fat. His eyes with their overhanging browsand wide heavy lids, wasted no idle glances; he neither spoke anunnecessary word, nor made a superfluous gesture.
"The proprietor is here," said Tatiana Markovna, indicating Raisky. "Youmust now make your reports to him. He intends to administer the estatehimself."
Savili looked askance at Raisky.
"At your orders," he said stiffly, slowly raising his eyes. "What ordersare you pleased to give?" he asked, lowering his eyes again.Raisky thought for a moment before he replied:
"Do you know an official who could draw up a document for the transferof the estate?"
"Gavril Ivanov Meshetshnikov draws up the papers we require," he said.
"Send for him."
As Savili bowed, and slowly retired, Raisky followed him with his eyes.
"An anxious rascal," was his comment.
"How should he be other than anxious," said his aunt, "when he is tiedto a wife like Marina Antipovna? Do you remember Antip? Well, she is hisdaughter. But for his marriage he is a treasure. He does my importantbusiness, sells the corn, and collects the money. He is honest andpractical, but fate deals her blows where she will, and every man mustbear his own burden. But what idea have you in your head now? Are youbeside yourself?"
"Something must be done. I am going away, and you will not administerthe estate, so some arrangement must be made."
"And is that your reason for going? I thought you were now going to takeover the management of your estate. You have done enough gadding about.Why not marry and settle here?"
She was visibly struggling with herself. It had never entered her headto give up the administration; she would not have known what to do withherself. Her idea had been to alarm Raisky, and he was taking herseriously.
"What is to be done?" she said. "I will see after the estate as long asI have the strength to do so. How else should you live, you strangecreature?"
"I receive two thousand roubles from my other estate, and that is asufficient income. I want to work, to draw, to write, to travel for alittle; and for that purpose I might mortgage or sell the other estate."
"God bless you, Borushka, what next? Are you so near beggary? You talkof drawing, writing, alienating your land; next it will be givinglessons or school teaching. Instead of arriving with four horses and atravelling carriage you sneak in, without a servant, in a miserable_kibitka_, you, a Raisky. Look at the old house, at the portraitsof your ancestors, and take shame to yourself. Shame, Borushka! Howsplendid it would have been if you had come epauletted like SergeiIvanovich, and had married a wife with a dowry of three thousand souls."
Raisky burst out laughing.
"Why laugh? I am speaking seriously when I tell you what a joy it wouldhave been for your Grandmother. Then you would have wanted the lace andthe silver, and not be flinging it away."
"But as I am not marrying, I don't need these things. Therefore it issettled that Veroshka and Marfinka shall have them."
"Your decision is final?"
"It is final. And it is further settled that if you do not like thisarrangement, everything passes into the hands of strangers. You have myword for it."
"Your word for it," cried his aunt. "You are a lost man. Where have youlived, and what have you done. Tell me, for Heaven's sake, what yourpurpose in life is, and what you really are?"
"What I am, Grandmother? The unhappiest of men!" He leaned his head backon the cushion as he spoke.
"Never say such a thing," she interrupted. "Fate hears and exacts thepenalty, and you will one day be unhappy. Either be content or feigncontent."
She looked anxiously round, as if Fate were already standing at hershoulder.
Raisky rose from the divan.
"Let us be reconciled," he said. "Agree to keep this little corner ofGod's earth under your protection."
"It is an estate, not a 'corner.'"
"Resign yourself to my gift of this old stuff to the dear girls. Alonely man like me has no use for it, but they will be mistresses of ahouse. If you don't agree, I will present it to the school...."
"The school-children! Those rascals who steal our apples, shall not haveit."
"Come to the point, Granny! You don't really want to leave this nest inyour old age."
"We'll see, we'll see. Give them the lace on their wedding-day. I can donothing with you; talk to Tiet Nikonich who is coming to dinner." Andshe wondered what would come of such strangeness.
Raisky took his cap to go out, and Marfinka went with him. She showedhim the park, her own garden, the vegetable and flower gardens, and thearbours. When they came to the precipice she looked anxiously over theedge, and drew back with a shudder. Raisky looked down on the Volga,which was in flood, and had overflowed into the meadows. In the distancewere ships which appeared to be motionless, and above hung heaped banksof cloud. Marfinka drew closer to Raisky, and looked down indifferentlyon the familiar picture.
"Come down!" he said suddenly, and seized her hand.
"No, I am afraid," she answered trembling, and drew back.
"I won't let you fall. Do you think I can't take care of you?"
"Not at all, but I am afraid. Veroshka has no fear, but goes down alone,even in the dusk. Although a murderer lies buried there, she is notafraid."
"Try, shut your eyes, and give me your hand. You will see how carefullyI take you down."
Marfinka half closed her eyes, but she had hardly taken his hand andmade one step, when she found herself standing on the edge of theprecipice. Shuddering she withdrew her hand.
"I would not go down for anything in the world," she cried as she ranback. "Where are you going to!"
No answer reached her. She approached the edge and looked timidly over.She saw how the bushes were bent noisily aside, as Raisky sprang down,step by step. How horrible! she thought as she returned to the house.