the man who was afraid-第4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！


he　ikons；　heaved　a　deep　sigh　and　thought：

〃Is　it　possible　that　it's　again　a　daughter？〃

At　times　he　arose；　stupidly　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　crossed　himself　in　silence；　bowing　before　the　ikons；　then　he　went　back　to　the　table；　drank　the　vodka；　which　had　not　made　him　dizzy　during　these　hours；　dozed　off；　and　thus　passed　the　whole　night　and　following　morning　until　noon。

And　then；　at　last；　the　midwife　came　down　hastily；　crying　to　him　in　a　thin；　joyous　voice。

〃I　congratulate　you　with　a　son；　Ignat　Matveyich！〃

〃You　lie！〃　said　he　in　a　dull　voice。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　batushka！〃　Heaving　a　sigh　with　all　the　strength　of　his　massive　chest；　Ignat　went　down　on　his　knees；　and　clasping　his　hands　firmly　to　his　breast；　muttered　in　a　trembling　voice：

〃Thank　God！　Evidently　Thou　didst　not　want　that　my　stem　should　be　checked！　My　sins　before　Thee　shall　not　remain　without　repentance。　I　thank　Thee；　Oh　Lord。　Oh！〃　and；　rising　to　his　feet；　he　immediately　began　to　command　noisily：

〃Eh！　Let　someone　go　to　St。　Nicholas　for　a　priest。　Tell　him　that　Ignat　Matveyich　asked　him　to　come！　Let　him　come　to　make　a　prayer　for　the　woman。〃

The　chambermaid　appeared　and　said　to　him　with　alarm：

〃Ignat　Matveyich；　Natalya　Fominichna　is　calling　you。　She　is　feeling　bad。〃

〃Why　bad？　It'll　pass！〃　he　roared；　his　eyes　flashing　cheerfully。　〃Tell　her　I'll　be　there　immediately！　Tell　her　she's　a　fine　fellow！　I'll　just　get　a　present　for　her　and　I'll　come！　Hold　on！　Prepare　something　to　eat　for　the　priest。　Send　somebody　after　Mayakin！〃

His　enormous　figure　looked　as　though　it　had　grown　bigger；　and　intoxicated　with　joy；　he　stupidly　tossed　about　the　room；　he　was　smiling；　rubbing　his　hands　and　casting　fervent　glances　at　the　images；　he　crossed　himself　swinging　his　hand　wide。　At　last　he　went　up　to　his　wife。

His　eyes　first　of　all　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　little　red　body；　which　the　midwife　was　bathing　in　a　tub。　Noticing　him；　Ignat　stood　up　on　tiptoes；　and；　folding　his　hands　behind　his　back；　walked　up　to　him；　stepping　carefully　and　comically　putting　forth　his　lips。　The　little　one　was　whimpering　and　sprawling　in　the　water；　naked；　impotent　and　pitiful。

〃Look　out　there！　Handle　him　more　carefully！　He　hasn't　got　any　bones　yet；〃　said　Ignat　to　the　midwife；　softly。

She　began　to　laugh；　opening　her　toothless　mouth；　and　cleverly　throwing　the　child　over　from　one　hand　to　the　other。

〃You　better　go　to　your　wife。〃

He　obediently　moved　toward　the　bed　and　asked　on　his　way：

〃Well；　how　is　it；　Natalya？〃

Then；　on　reaching　her；　he　drew　back　the　bed　curtain；　which　had　thrown　a　shadow　over　the　bed。

〃I'll　not　survive　this；〃　said　she　in　a　low；　hoarse　voice。

Ignat　was　silent；　fixedly　staring　at　his　wife's　face；　sunk　in　the　white　pillow；　over　which　her　dark　locks　were　spread　out　like　dead　snakes。　Yellow；　lifeless；　with　black　circles　around　her　large；　wide…open　eyesher　face　was　strange　to　him。　And　the　glance　of　those　terrible　eyes；　motionlessly　fixed　somewhere　in　the　distance　through　the　wallthat；　too；　was　unfamiliar　to　Ignat。　His　heart；　compressed　by　a　painful　foreboding；　slackened　its　joyous　throbbing。

〃That's　nothing。　That's　nothing。　It's　always　like　this；〃　said　he　softly；　bending　over　his　wife　to　give　her　a　kiss。　But　she　moaned　right　into　his　face：

〃I'll　not　survive　this。〃

Her　lips　were　gray　and　cold；　and　when　he　touched　them　with　his　own　he　understood　that　death　was　already　within　her。

〃Oh；　Lord！〃　he　uttered；　in　an　alarmed　whisper；　feeling　that　fright　was　choking　his　throat　and　suppressing　his　breath。

〃Natasha？　What　will　become　of　him？　He　must　be　nursed！　What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

He　almost　began　to　cry　at　his　wife。　The　midwife　was　bustling　about　him；　shaking　the　crying　child　in　the　air。　She　spoke　to　him　reassuringly；　but　he　heard　nothinghe　could　not　turn　his　eyes　away　from　the　frightful　face　of　his　wife。　Her　lips　were　moving；　and　he　heard　words　spoken　in　a　low　voice；　but　could　not　understand　them。　Sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bed；　he　spoke　in　a　dull　and　timid　voice：　〃Just　think　of　it！　He　cannot　do　without　you；　he's　an　infant！　Gather　strength！　Drive　this　thought　away　from　you！　Drive　it　away。〃

He　talked；　yet　he　understood　he　was　speaking　useless　words。　Tears　welled　up　within　him；　and　in　his　breast　there　came　a　feeling　heavy　as　stone　and　cold　as　ice。

〃Forgive　me。　Goodbye！　Take　care。　Look　out。　Don't　drink；〃　whispered　Natalya；　soundlessly。

The　priest　came；　and；　covering　her　face　with　something；　and　sighing；　began　to　read　gentle；　beseeching　words：

〃0h　God；　Almighty　Lord；　who　cureth　every　disease；　cure　also　Thy　servant　Natalya；　who　has　just　given　birth　to　a　child；　and　restore　her　from　the　bed　on　which　she　now　lies；　for　in　the　words　of　David；　'We　indulge　in　lawlessness　and　are　wicked　in　Thine　eyes。〃'

The　old　man's　voice　was　interrupted　now　and　then；　his　thin　face　was　stern　and　from　his　clothes　came　the　odour　of　rock…rose。

〃Guard　the　infant　born　of　her；　guard　him　from　all　possible　temptation；　from　all　possible　cruelty；　from　all　possible　storms；　from　evil　spirits；　night　and　day。〃

Ignat　listened　to　the　prayer；　and　wept　silently。　His　big；　hot　tears　fell　on　the　bare　hand　of　his　wife。　But　the　hand；　evidently；　did　not　feel　that　the　tears　were　dropping　upon　it：　it　remained　motionless；　and　the　skin　did　not　tremble　from　the　fall　of　the　tears。　After　the　prayer　Natalya　became　unconscious　and　a　day　later　she　died；　without　saying　another　wordshe　died　just　as　quietly　as　she　had　lived。　Having　arranged　a　pompous　funeral；　Ignat　christened　his　son；　named　him　Foma；　and　unwillingly　gave　his　boy　into　the　family　of　the　godfather；　his　old　friend　Mayakin；　whose　wife；　too；　had　given　birth　to　a　child　not　long　before。　The　death　of　his　wife　had　sown　many　gray　hairs　in　Ignat's　dark　beard；　but　in　the　stern　glitter　of　his　eyes　appeared　a　new　expression；　gentle；　clear　and　mild。

CHAPTER　II

MAYAKIN　lived　in　an　enormous　two…story　house　near　a　big　palisade；　where　sturdy；　old　spreading　linden　trees　were　growing　magnificently。　The　rank　branches　covered　the　windows　with　a　dense；　dark　embroidery；　and　the　sun　in　broken　rays　peeped　into　the　small　rooms；　which　were　closely　crowded　with　miscellaneous　furniture　and　big　trunks；　wherefore　a　stern　and　melancholy　semi…　darkness　always　reigned　there　supreme。　The　family　was　devoutthe　odour　of　wax；　of　rock…rose　and　of　image…lamp　oil　filled　the　house；　and　penitent　sighs　and　prayers　soared　about　in　the　air。　Religious　ceremonials　were　performed　infallibly；　with　pleasure；　absorbing　all　the　free　power　of　the　souls　of　the　dwellers　of　the　house。　Feminine　figures　almost　noiselessly　moved　about　the　rooms　in　the　half…dark；　stifling；　heavy　atmosphere。　They　were　dressed　in　black；　wore　soft　slippers　on　their　feet；　and　always　had　a　penitent　look　on　their　faces。

The　family　of　Yakov　Tarazovich　Mayakin　consisted　of　himself；　his　wife；　a　daughter　and　five　kinswomen；　the　youngest　of　whom　was　thirty…four　years　old。　These　were　alike　devout　and　impersonal；　and　subordinate　to　Antonina　Ivanovna；　the　mistress　of　the　house。　She　was　a　tall；　thin　woman；　with　a　dark　face　and　with　stern　gray　eyes；　which　had　an　imperious　and　intelligent　expression。　Mayakin　also　had　a　son　Taras；　but　his　name　was　never　mentioned　in　the　house；　acquaintances　knew　that　since　the　nineteen…year…old　Taras　had　gone　to　study　in　Moscowhe　married　there　three　years　later；　against　his　father's　willYakov　disowned　him。　Taras　disappeared　without　leaving　any　trace。　It　was　rumoured　that　he　had　been　sent　to　Siberia　for　something。

Yakov　Mayakin　was　very　queerly　built。　Short；　thin；　lively；　with　a　little　red　beard；　sly　greenish　eyes；　he　looked　as　though　he　said　to　each　and　every　one：

〃Never　mind；　sir；　don't　be　uneasy。　Even　though　I　know　you　for　what　you　are；　if　you　don't　annoy　me　I　will　not　give　you　away。〃

His　beard　resembled　an　egg　in　shape　and　was　monstrously　big。　His　high　forehead；　covered　with　wrinkles；　joined　his　bald　crown；　and　it　seemed　as　though　he　really　had　two　facesone　an　open；　penetrating　and　intellectual　face；　with　a　long　gristle　nose；　and　above　this　face　another　one；　eyeless　and　mouthless；　covered　with　wrinkles；　behind　which　Mayakin　seemed　to　hide　his　eyes　and　his　lips　until　a　certain　time；　and　when　that　time　had　arrived；　he　would　look　at　the　world　with　different　eyes　and　smile　a　different　smile。

He　was　the　owner　of　a　rope…yard　and　kept　a　store　in　town　near　the　harbour。　In　this　store；　filled　up　to　the　ceiling　with　rope；　twine；　hemp　and　tow；　he　had　a　small　room　with　a　creaking　glass　door。　In　this　room　stood　a　big；　old；　dilapidated　table；　and　near　it　a　deep　armchair；　covered　with　oilcloth；　in　which　Mayakin　sat　all　day　long；　sipping　tea　and　always　reading　the　same　〃Moskovskiya　Vedomosty；〃　to　which　he　subscribed；　year　in　and　year　out；　all　his　life。　Among　merchants　he　enjoyed　the　respect　and　reputation　of　a　〃brainy〃　man；　and　he　was　very　fond　of　boasting　of　the　antiquity　of　his　race；　saying　in　a　hoarse　voice：

〃We；　the　Mayakins；　were　merchants　during　the　reign　of　'Mother'　Catherine；　consequently　I　am　a　pure…blooded　man。〃

In　this　family　Ignat　Gordyeeff's　son　lived　for　six　years。　By　the　time　he　was　seven　years　old　Foma　was　a　big…headed；　broad…　shouldered　boy；　seemingly　older　that　his　years；　both　in　his　size　and　in　the　serious　look　of　his　dark；　almond…shaped　eyes。　Quiet；