the man who was afraid-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Three　hundred！〃　interposed　Foma。

〃Three　hundred　puds。　Oh！　Thank　you！　Three　hundred　puds　of　grain；　boys！〃

But　their　response　was　weak。　The　peasants　lifted　up　their　heads　and　mutely　lowered　them　again；　resuming　their　work。　A　few　voices　said　irresolutely　and　as　though　unwillingly：

〃Thanks。　May　God　give　you。　We　thank　you　very　humbly。〃

And　some　cried　out　gaily　and　disdainfully：

〃What's　the　use　of　that？　If　they　had　given　each　of　us　a　glass　of　vodka　insteadthat　would　be　a　just　favour。　For　the　grain　is　not　for　usbut　for　the　country　Council。〃

〃Eh！　They　do　not　understand！〃　exclaimed　the　receiver；　confused。　〃I'll　go　down　and　explain　it　to　them。〃

And　he　disappeared。　But　the　peasants'　regard　for　his　gift　did　not　interest　Foma。　He　saw　that　the　black　eyes　of　the　rosy…cheeked　woman　were　looking　at　him　so　strangely　and　pleasingly。　They　seemed　to　thank　him　and　caressingly　beckoned　him；　and　besides　those　eyes　he　saw　nothing。　The　woman　was　dressed　like　the　city　women。　She　wore　shoes；　a　calico　waist；　and　over　her　black　hair　she　had　a　peculiar　kerchief。　Tall　and　supple；　seated　on　a　pile　of　wood；　she　repaired　sacks；　quickly　moving　her　hands；　which　were　bare　up　to　the　elbows；　and　she　smiled　at　Foma　all　the　time。

〃Foma　Ignatyich！〃　he　heard　Yefim's　reproachful　voice；　〃you've　showed　off　too　much。　Well；　if　it　were　only　about　fifty　puds！　But　why　so　much？　Look　out　that　we　don't　get　a　good　scolding　for　this。〃

〃Leave　me　alone！〃　said　Foma；　shortly。

〃What　is　it　to　me？　I'll　keep　quiet。　But　as　you　are　so　young；　and　as　I　was　told　to　keep　an　eye　on　you；　I　may　get　a　rap　on　the　snout　for　being　heedless。〃

〃I'll　tell　my　father　all　about　it。　Keep　quiet！〃　said　Foma。

〃As　for　melet　it　be　soso　that　you　are　master　here。〃

〃Very　well。〃

〃I　have　said　this；　Foma　Ignatyich；　for　your　own　sakebecause　you　are　so　young　and　simple…minded。〃

〃Leave　me　alone；　Yefim！〃

Yefim　heaved　a　sigh　and　became　silent；　while　Foma　stared　at　the　woman　and　thought：

〃I　wish　they　would　bring　such　a　woman　for　sale　to　me。〃

His　heart　beat　rapidly。　Though　as　yet　physically　pure；　he　already　knew　from　conversations　the　mysteries　of　intimate　relations　between　men　and　women。　He　knew　by　rude　and　shameful　names；　and　these　names　kindled　in　him　an　unpleasant；　burning　curiosity　and　shame；　his　imagination　worked　obstinately；　for　he　could　not　picture　it　to　himself　in　intelligible　images。　And　in　his　soul　he　did　not　believe　that　those　relations　were　really　so　simple　and　rude；　as　he　had　been　told。　When　they　had　laughed　at　him　and　assured　him　that　they　were　such；　and；　indeed；　could　not　be　otherwise；　he　smiled　stupidly　and　confusedly；　but　thought　nevertheless　that　the　relations　with　women　did　not　have　to　be　in　such　a　shameful　form　for　everyone；　and　that；　in　all　probability；　there　was　something　purer；　less　rude　and　abusive　to　a　human　being。

Now　looking　at　the　dark…eyed　working　woman　with　admiration；　Foma　distinctly　felt　just　that　rude　inclination　toward　her；　and　he　was　ashamed　and　afraid　of　something。　And　Yefim；　standing　beside　him；　said　admonitively：

〃There　you　are　staring　at　the　woman；　so　that　I　cannot　keep　silence　any　longer。　You　do　not　know　her；　but　when　she　winks　at　you；　you　may；　because　of　your　youthand　with　a　nature　like　yoursyou　may　do　such　a　thing　that　we'll　have　to　go　home　on　foot　by　the　shore。　And　we'll　have　to　thank　God　if　our　trousers　at　least　remain　with　us。〃

〃What　do　you　want？〃　asked　Foma；　red　with　confusion。

〃I　want　nothing。　And　you　had　better　mind　me。　In　regard　to　affairs　with　women　I　may　perfectly　well　be　a　teacher。　You　must　deal　with　a　woman　very　plainlygive　her　a　bottle　of　vodka；　something　to　eat　after　it；　then　a　couple　of　bottles　of　beer　and　after　everything　give　her　twenty　kopecks　in　cash。　For　this　price　she　will　show　you　all　her　love　in　the　best　way　possible。〃

〃You　are　lying；〃　said　Foma；　softly。

〃I　am　lying？　Why　shall　I　lie　to　you　since　I　have　observed　that　same　policy　perhaps　a　hundred　times？　Just　charge　me　to　have　dealings　with　her。　Eh？　I'll　make　you　acquainted　with　her　in　a　moment。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Foma；　feeling　that　he　could　hardly　breathe　and　that　something　was　choking　his　throat。

〃Well；　then；　I'll　bring　her　up　in　the　evening。〃

And　Yefim　smiled　approvingly　into　Foma's　face　and　walked　off。　Until　evening　Foma　walked　about　as　though　lost　in　mist；　not　noticing　the　respectful　and　beseeching　glances　with　which　the　peasants　greeted　him　at　the　receiver's　instigation。　Dread　fell　on　him；　he　felt　himself　guilty　before　somebody；　and　to　all　those　that　addressed　him　he　replied　humbly　and　gently；　as　though　excusing　himself　for　something。　Some　of　the　working　people　went　home　toward　evening；　others　gathered　on　the　shore　near　a　big；　bright　bonfire　and　began　cooking　their　supper。　Fragments　of　their　conversation　floated　about　in　the　stillness　of　the　evening。　The　reflection　of　the　fire　fell　on　the　river　in　red　and　yellow　stripes；　which　trembled　on　the　calm　water　and　on　the　window　panes　of　the　cabin　where　Foma　was　s　itting。　He　sat　in　the　corner　on　a　lounge；　which　was　covered　with　oilclothand　waited。　On　the　table　before　him　were　a　few　bottles　of　vodka　and　beer；　and　plates　with　bread　and　dessert。　He　covered　the　windows　and　did　not　light　the　lamp；　the　faint　light　from　the　bonfire；　penetrating　through　the　curtains；　fell　on　the　table；　on　the　bottles　and　on　the　wall；　and　trembled；　now　growing　brighter；　now　fainter。　It　was　quiet　on　the　steamer　and　on　the　barges；　only　from　the　shore　came　indistinct　sounds　of　conversation；　and　the　river　was　splashing；　scarcely　audible；　against　the　sides　of　the　steamer。　It　seemed　to　Foma　that　somebody　was　hiding　in　the　dark　near　by；　listening　to　him　and　spying　upon　him。　Now　somebody　is　walking　over　the　gang…plank　of　the　barges　with　quick　and　heavy　stepsthe　gang…plank　strikes　against　the　water　clangously　and　angrily。　Foma　hears　the　muffled　laughter　of　the　captain　and　his　lowered　voice。　Yefim　stands　by　the　cabin　door　and　speaks　softly；　but　somewhat　reprimandingly；　as　though　instructing。　Foma　suddenly　felt　like　crying　out：

〃It　is　not　necessary！〃

And　he　arose　from　the　loungebut　at　this　moment　the　cabin　door　was　opened；　the　tall　form　of　a　woman　appeared　on　the　threshold；　and；　noiselessly　closing　the　door　behind　her；　she　said　in　a　low　voice：

〃0h　dear！　How　dark　it　is！　Is　there　a　living　soul　somewhere　around　here？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Foma；　softly。

〃Well；　then；　good　evening。〃

And　the　woman　moved　forward　carefully。

〃I'll　light　the　lamp；〃　said　Foma　in　a　broken　voice；　and；　sinking　on　the　lounge；　he　curled　himself　up　in　the　corner。

〃It　is　good　enough　this　way。　When　you　get　used　to　it　you　can　see　everything　in　the　dark　as　well。〃

〃Be　seated；〃　said　Foma。

〃I　will。〃

She　sat　down　on　the　lounge　about　two　steps　away　from　him。　Foma　saw　the　glitter　of　her　eyes；　he　saw　a　smile　on　her　full　lips。　It　seemed　to　him　that　this　smile　of　hers　was　not　at　all　like　that　other　smile　beforethis　smile　seemed　plaintive；　sad。　This　smile　encouraged　him；　he　breathed　with　less　difficulty　at　the　sight　of　these　eyes；　which；　on　meeting　his　own；　suddenly　glanced　down　on　the　floor。　But　he　did　not　know　what　to　say　to　this　woman　and　for　about　two　minutes　both　were　silent。　It　was　a　heavy；　awkward　silence。　She　began　to　speak：

〃You　must　be　feeling　lonesome　here　all　alone？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Foma。

〃And　do　you　like　our　place　here？〃　asked　the　woman　in　a　low　voice。

〃It　is　nice。　There　are　many　woods　here。〃

And　again　they　became　silent。

〃The　river；　if　you　like；　is　more　beautiful　than　the　Volga；〃　uttered　Foma；　with　an　effort。

〃I　was　on　the　Volga。〃

〃Where？〃

〃In　the　city　of　Simbirsk。〃

〃Simbirsk？〃　repeated　Foma　like　an　echo；　feeling　that　he　was　again　unable　to　say　a　word。

But　she　evidently　understood　with　whom　she　had　to　deal；　and　she　suddenly　asked　him　in　a　bold　whisper：

〃Why　don't　you　treat　me　to　something？〃

〃Here！〃　Foma　gave　a　start。　〃Indeed；　how　queer　I　am？　Well；　then；　come　up　to　the　table。〃

He　bustled　about　in　the　dark；　pushed　the　table；　took　up　one　bottle；　then　another；　and　again　returned　them　to　their　place；　laughing　guiltily　and　confusedly　as　he　did　so。　She　came　up　close　to　him　and　stood　by　his　side；　and；　smiling；　looked　at　his　face　and　at　his　trembling　hands。

〃Are　you　bashful？〃　she　suddenly　whispered。

He　felt　her　breath　on　his　cheek　and　replied　just　as　softly：

〃Yes。〃

Then　she　placed　her　hands　on　his　shoulders　and　quietly　drew　him　to　her　breast；　saying　in　a　soothing　whisper：

〃Never　mind；　don't　be　bashful；　my　young；　handsome　darling。　How　I　pity　you！〃

And　he　felt　like　crying　because　of　her　whisper；　his　heart　was　melting　in　sweet　fatigue；　pressing　his　head　close　to　her　breast；　he　clasped　her　with　his　hands；　mumbling　to　her　some　inarticulate　words；　which　were　unknown　to　himself。

〃Be　gone！〃　said　Foma　in　a　heavy　voice；　staring　at　the　wall　with　his　eyes　wide　open。

Having　kissed　him　on　the　cheek　she　walked　out　of　the　cabin；　saying　to　him：

〃Well；　good…bye。〃

Foma　felt　intolerably　ashamed　in　her　presence；　but　no　sooner　did　she　disappear　behind　the　door　than　he　jumped　up　and　seated　himself　on　the　lounge。　Then　he　arose；　staggering；　and　at　once　he　was　seized　with　the　feeling　of　having　lost　something　very　valuable；　something　whose　presence　he　did　not　seem　to　have　noticed　in　himself　until　the　mom