the man who was afraid-第10节

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ere　two　peddlers。　One　of　them　got　17。　Well；　how　much　did　the　other　one　get？〃

〃I　know；〃　replied　Foma；　in　a　whisper；　feeling　confused　and　examining　the　face　of　Smolin；　who　was　sedately　returning　to　his　seat。　He　didn't　like　that　round；　freckled　face；　with　the　blue　eyes；　which　were　loaded　with　fat。　And　Yozhov　pinched　his　leg　and　asked：

〃Whose　son　are　you？　The　Frantic's？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃So。　Do　you　wish　me　to　prompt　you　always？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　what　will　you　give　me　for　it？〃

Foma　thought　awhile　and　asked：

〃And　do　you　know　it　all　yourself？〃

〃I？　I　am　the　best　pupil。　You'll　see　for　yourself。〃

〃Hey；　there！　Yozhov；　you　are　talking　again？〃　cried　the　teacher；　faintly。

Yozhov　jumped　to　his　feet　and　said　boldly：

〃It's　not　I；　Ivan　Andreyichit's　Gordyeeff。〃

〃Both　of　them　were　whispering；〃　announced　Smolin；　serenely。

Wrinkling　his　face　mournfully　and　moving　his　big　lip　comically；　the　teacher　reprimanded　them　all；　but　his　words　did　not　prevent　Yozhov　from　whispering　immediately：

〃Very　well；　Smolin！　I'll　remember　you　for　telling。〃

〃Well；　why　do　you　blame　it　all　on　the　new　boy？〃　asked　Smolin；　in　a　low　voice；　without　even　turning　his　head　to　them。

〃All　right；　all　right；〃　hissed　Yozhov。

Foma　was　silent；　looking　askance　at　his　brisk　neighbour；　who　at　once　pleased　him　and　roused　in　him　a　desire　to　get　as　far　as　possible　away　from　him。　During　recess　he　learned　from　Yozhov　that　Smolin；　too；　was　rich；　being　the　son　of　a　tan…yard　proprietor；　and　that　Yozhov　himself　was　the　son　of　a　guard　at　the　Court　of　Exchequer；　and　very　poor。　The　last　was　clearly　evident　by　the　adroit　boy's　costume；　made　of　gray　fustian　and　adorned　with　patches　on　the　knees　and　elbows；　by　his　pale；　hungry…looking　face；　and；　by　his　small；　angular　and　bony　figure。　This　boy　spoke　in　a　metallic　alto；　elucidating　his　words　with　grimaces　and　gesticulations；　and　he　often　used　words　whose　meaning　was　known　but　to　himself。

〃We'll　be　friends；〃　he　announced　to　Foma。

〃Why　did　you　complain　to　the　teacher　about　me？〃　Gordyeeff　reminded　Yozhov；　looking　at　him　suspiciously。

〃There！　What's　the　difference　to　you？　You　are　a　new　scholar　and　rich。　The　teacher　is　not　exacting　with　the　rich。　And　I　am　a　poor　hanger…on；　he　doesn't　like　me；　because　I　am　impudent　and　because　I　never　bring　him　any　presents。　If　I　had　been　a　bad　pupil　he　would　have　expelled　me　long　ago。　You　know　I'll　go　to　the　Gymnasium　from　here。　I'll　pass　the　second　class　and　then　I'll　leave。　Already　a　student　is　preparing　me　for　the　second　class。　There　I'll　study　so　that　they　can't　hold　me　back！　How　many　horses　do　you　have？〃

〃Three。　What　do　you　need　to　study　so　much　for？〃　asked　Foma。

〃Because　I　am　poor。　The　poor　must　study　hard　so　that　they　may　become　rich。　They　become　doctors；　functionaries；　officers。　I　shall　be　a　'tinkler。'　A　sword　at　my　side；　spur　on　my　boots。　Cling；　cling！　And　what　are　you　going　to　be？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Foma；　pensively；　examining　his　companion。

〃You　need　not　be　anything。　And　are　you　fond　of　pigeons？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃What　a　good…for…nothing　you　are！　Oh！　Eh！〃　Yozhov　imitated　Foma's　slow　way　of　speaking。　〃How　many　pigeons　do　you　have？〃

〃I　have　none。〃

〃Eh；　you！　Rich；　and　yet　you　have　no　pigeons。　Even　I　have　three。　If　my　father　had　been　rich　I　would　have　had　a　hundred　pigeons　and　chased　them　all　day　long。　Smolin　has　pigeons；　too；　fine　ones！　Fourteen。　He　made　me　a　present　of　one。　Only；　he　is　greedy。　All　the　rich　are　greedy。　And　you；　are　you　greedy；　too？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Foma；　irresolutely。

〃Come　up　to　Smolin's　and　the　three　of　us　together　will　chase　the　pigeons。〃

〃Very　well。　If　they　let　me。〃

〃Why；　does　not　your　father　like　you？〃

〃He　does　like　me。〃

〃Well；　then；　he'll　let　you　go。　Only　don't　tell　him　that　I　am　coming。　Perhaps　he　would　not　let　you　go　with　me。　Tell　him　you　want　to　go　to　Smolin's。　Smolin！〃

A　plump　boy　came　up　to　them；　and　Yozhov　accosted　him；　shaking　his　head　reproachfully：

〃Eh；　you　red…headed　slanderer！　It　isn't　worth　while　to　be　friends　with　you；　blockhead！〃

〃Why　do　you　abuse　me？〃　asked　Smolin；　calmly；　examining　Foma　fixedly。

〃I　am　not　abusing　you；　I　am　telling　the　truth；〃　Yozhov　explained；　straightening　himself　with　animation。　〃Listen！　Although　you　are　a　kissel；　butlet　it　go！　We'll　come　up　to　see　you　on　Sunday　after　mass。〃

〃Come；〃　Smolin　nodded　his　head。

〃We'll　come　up。　They'll　ring　the　bell　soon。　I　must　run　to　sell　the　siskin；〃　declared　Yozhov；　pulling　out　of　his　pocket　a　paper　package；　wherein　some　live　thing　was　struggling。　And　he　disappeared　from　the　school…yard　as　mercury　from　the　palm　of　a　hand。

〃What　a　queer　fellow　he　is！〃　said　Foma；　dumfounded　by　Yozhov's　adroitness　and　looking　at　Smolin　interrogatively。

〃He　is　always　like　this。　He's　very　clever；〃　the　red…headed　boy　explained。

〃And　cheerful；　too；〃　added　Foma。

〃Cheerful；　too；〃　Smolin　assented。　Then　they　became　silent；　looking　at　each　other。

〃Will　you　come　up　with　him　to　my　house？〃　asked　the　red…headed　boy。

〃Yes。〃

〃Come　up。　It's　nice　there。〃

Foma　said　nothing　to　this。　Then　Smolin　asked　him：

〃Have　you　many　friends？〃

〃I　have　none。〃

〃Neither　did　I　have　any　friends　before　I　went　to　school。　Only　cousins。　Now　you'll　have　two　friends　at　once。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Foma。

〃Are　you　glad？〃

〃I'm　glad。〃

〃When　you　have　lots　of　friends；　it　is　lively。　And　it　is　easier　to　study；　toothey　prompt　you。〃

〃And　are　you　a　good　pupil？〃

〃Of　course！　I　do　everything　well；〃　said　Smolin；　calmly。

The　bell　began　to　bang　as　though　it　had　been　frightened　and　was　hastily　running　somewhere。

Sitting　in　school；　Foma　began　to　feel　somewhat　freer；　and　compared　his　friends　with　the　rest　of　the　boys。　He　soon　learned　that　they　both　were　the　very　best　boys　in　school　and　that　they　were　the　first　to　attract　everybody's　attention；　even　as　the　two　figures　5　and　7；　which　had　not　yet　been　wiped　off　the　blackboard。　And　Foma　felt　very　much　pleased　that　his　friends　were　better　than　any　of　the　other　boys。

They　all　went　home　from　school　together；　but　Yozhov　soon　turned　into　some　narrow　side　street；　while　Smolin　walked　with　Foma　up　to　his　very　house；　and；　departing；　said：

〃You　see；　we　both　go　home　the　same　way；　too。〃

At　home　Foma　was　met　with　pomp：　his　father　made　him　a　present　of　a　heavy　silver　spoon；　with　an　ingenious　monogram　on　it；　and　his　aunt　gave　him　a　scarf　knitted　by　herself。　They　were　awaiting　him　for　dinner；　having　prepared　his　favourite　dishes　for　him；　and　as　soon　as　he　took　off　his　coat；　seated　him　at　the　table　and　began　to　ply　him　with　questions。

〃Well；　how　was　it？　How　did　you　like　the　school？〃　asked　Ignat；　looking　lovingly　at　his　son's　rosy；　animated　face。

〃Pretty　good。　It's　nice！〃　replied　Foma。

〃My　darling！〃　sighed　his　aunt；　with　feeling；　〃look　out；　hold　your　own　with　your　friends。　As　soon　as　they　offend　you　tell　your　teachers　about　it。〃

〃Go　on。　What　else　will　you　tell　him？〃　Ignat　smiled。　〃Never　do　that！　Try　to　get　square　with　every　offender　yourself；　punish　him　with　your　own　hand；　not　with　somebody　else's。　Are　there　any　good　fellows　there？〃

〃There　are　two；〃　Foma　smiled；　recalling　Yozhov。　〃One　of　them　is　so　boldterrible！〃

〃Whose　is　he？〃

〃A　guard's　son。〃

〃Mm！　Bold　did　you　say？〃

〃Dreadfully　bold！〃

〃Well；　let　him　be！　And　the　other？〃

〃The　other　one　is　red…headed。　Smolin。〃

〃Ah！　Evidently　Mitry　Ivanovitch's　son。　Stick　to　him；　he's　good　company。　Mitry　is　a　clever　peasant。　If　the　son　takes　after　his　father　it　is　all　right。　But　that　other　oneyou　know；　Foma；　you　had　better　invite　them　to　our　house　on　Sunday。　I'll　buy　some　presents　and　you　can　treat　them。　We'll　see　what　sort　of　boys　they　are。〃

〃Smolin　asked　me　to　come　to　him　this　Sunday；〃　said　Foma；　looking　up　at　his　father　questioningly。

〃So。　Well；　you　may　go！　That's　all　right；　go。　Observe　what　kind　of　people　there　are　in　the　world。　You　cannot　pass　your　life　alone；　without　friendship。　Your　godfather　and　I；　for　instance；　have　been　friends　for　more　than　twenty　years；　and　I　have　profited　a　great　deal　by　his　common　sense。　So　you；　too；　try　to　be　friendly　with　those　that　are　better　and　wiser　than　you。　Rub　against　a　good　man；　like　a　copper　coin　against　silver；　and　you　may　then　pass　for　a　silver　coin　yourself。〃

And；　bursting　into　laughter　at　his　comparison；　Ignat　added　seriously：

〃I　was　only　jesting。　Try　to　be；　not　artificial；　but　genuine。　And　have　some　common　sense；　no　matter　how　little；　but　your　own。　Have　you　many　lessons　to　do？〃

〃Many！〃　sighed　the　boy；　and　to　his　sigh；　like　an　echo；　his　aunt　answered　with　a　heavy　sigh。

〃Well；　study。　Don't　be　worse　than　others　at　school。　Although；　I'll　tell　you；　even　if　there　were　twenty…five　classes　in　your　school；　they　could　never　teach　you　there　anything　save　reading；　writing　and　arithmetic。　You　may　also　learn　some　naughty　things；　but　God　protect　you！　I　shall　give　you　a　terrible　spanking　if　you　do。　If　you　smoke　tobacco　I'll　cut　your　lips　off。〃

〃Remember　God；　Fomushka；〃　said　the　aunt。　〃See　that　you　don't　forget　our　Lord。〃

〃That's　true！　Honour　God　and　your　father。　But　I　wish　to　tell　you　that　school　books　are　but　a　trivial　matter。　You　need　these　as　a　carpenter　needs　an　adze　and　a　pointer。　They　are　tools；　but　the　tools　cannot　teach　you　how　to　make　use　of　them。　Understand？　Let　us　see：　Suppose　an　adze　were　handed　to　a　carpe