the forged coupon()-第30节
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Stephen expected Volgin to 〃remunerate〃 him； as he said； being so
accustomed to the work that he did not feel the slightest repugnance for it。
Glancing at a mirror； and feeling satisfied with his appearance； Volgin
went into the dining…room。
There； thanks to the efforts of the housekeeper； the footman； and
under…butlerthe latter had risen at dawn in order to run home to sharpen
his son's scythebreakfast was ready。 On a spotless white cloth stood a
boiling； shiny； silver samovar （at least it looked like silver）； a coffee…pot；
hot milk； cream； butter； and all sorts of fancy white bread and biscuits。 The
only persons at table were the second son of the house； his tutor （a
student）； and the secretary。 The host； who was an active member of the
Zemstvo and a great farmer； had already left the house； having gone at
eight o'clock to attend to his work。 Volgin； while drinking his coffee；
talked to the student and the secretary about the weather； and yesterday's
vint； and discussed Theodorite's peculiar behaviour the night before； as he
had been very rude to his father without the slightest cause。 Theodorite
was the grown…up son of the house； and a ne'er…do…well。 His name was
Theodore； but some one had once called him Theodorite either as a joke or
to tease him； and； as it seemed funny； the name stuck to him； although his
doings were no longer in the least amusing。 So it was now。 He had been
to the university； but left it in his second year； and joined a regiment of
horse guards； but he gave that up also； and was now living in the country；
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doing nothing； finding fault； and feeling discontented with everything。
Theodorite was still in bed： so were the other members of the household…
…Anna Mikhailovna； its mistress； her sister； the widow of a general； and a
landscape painter who lived with the family。
Volgin took his panama hat from the hall table （it had cost twenty
roubles） and his cane with its carved ivory handle； and went out。
Crossing the veranda； gay with flowers； he walked through the flower
garden； in the centre of which was a raised round bed； with rings of red；
white； and blue flowers； and the initials of the mistress of the house done
in carpet bedding in the centre。 Leaving the flower garden Volgin
entered the avenue of lime trees； hundreds of years old； which peasant
girls were tidying and sweeping with spades and brooms。 The gardener
was busy measuring； and a boy was bringing something in a cart。
Passing these Volgin went into the park of at least a hundred and twenty…
five acres； filled with fine old trees； and intersected by a network of well…
kept walks。 Smoking as he strolled Volgin took his favourite path past the
summer…house into the fields beyond。 It was pleasant in the park； but it
was still nicer in the fields。 On the right some women who were digging
potatoes formed a mass of bright red and white colour； on the left were
wheat fields； meadows； and grazing cattle； and in the foreground； slightly
to the right； were the dark； dark oaks of Littleports。 Volgin took a deep
breath； and felt glad that he was alive； especially here in his cousin's home；
where he was so thoroughly enjoying the rest from his work at the bank。
〃Lucky people to live in the country；〃 he thought。 〃True； what with
his farming and his Zemstvo； the owner of the estate has very little peace
even in the country； but that is his own lookout。〃 Volgin shook his head；
lit another cigarette； and； stepping out firmly with his powerful feet clad in
his thick English boots； began to think of the heavy winter's work in the
bank that was in front of him。 〃I shall be there every day from ten to two；
sometimes even till five。 And the board meetings 。 。 。 And private
interviews with clients。 。 。 。 Then the Duma。 Whereas here。 。 。 。 It is
delightful。 It may be a little dull； but it is not for long。〃 He smiled。 After
a stroll in Littleports he turned back； going straight across a fallow field
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which was being ploughed。 A herd of cows； calves； sheep； and pigs；
which belonged to the village community； was grazing there。 The shortest
way to the park was to pass through the herd。 He frightened the sheep；
which ran away one after another； and were followed by the pigs； of which
two little ones stared solemnly at him。 The shepherd boy called to the
sheep and cracked his whip。 〃How far behind Europe we are；〃 thought
Volgin； recalling his frequent holidays abroad。 〃You would not find a
single cow like that anywhere in Europe。〃 Then； wanting to find out
where the path which branched off from the one he was on led to and who
was the owner of the herd； he called to the boy。
〃Whose herd is it？〃
The boy was so filled with wonder； verging on terror； when he gazed at
the hat； the well…brushed beard； and above all the gold…rimmed eyeglasses；
that he could not reply at once。 When Volgin repeated his question the boy
pulled himself together； and said； 〃Ours。〃 〃But whose is 'ours'？〃 said
Volgin； shaking his head and smiling。 The boy was wearing shoes of
plaited birch bark； bands of linen round his legs； a dirty； unbleached shirt
ragged at the shoulder； and a cap the peak of which had been torn。
〃Whose is 'ours'？〃
〃The Pirogov village herd。〃
〃How old are you？
〃I don't know。〃
〃Can you read？〃
〃No； I can't。〃
〃Didn't you go to school？〃
〃Yes； I did。〃
〃Couldn't you learn to read？〃
〃No。〃
〃Where does that path lead？〃
The boy told him； and Volgin went on towards the house； thinking how
he would chaff Nicholas Petrovich about the deplorable condition of the
village schools in spite of all his efforts。
On approaching the house Volgin looked at his watch； and saw that it
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was already past eleven。 He remembered that Nicholas Petrovich was
going to drive to the nearest town； and that he had meant to give him a
letter to post to Moscow； but the letter was not written。 The letter was a
very important one to a friend； asking him to bid for him for a picture of
the Madonna which was to be offered for sale at an auction。 As he
reached the house he saw at the door four big； well…fed； well…groomed；
thoroughbred horses harnessed to a carriage； the black lacquer of which
glistened in the sun。 The coachman was seated on the box in a kaftan； with
a silver belt； and the horses were jingling their silver bells from time to
time。
A bare…headed； barefooted peasant in a ragged kaftan stood at the front
door。 He bowed。 Volgin asked what he wanted。
〃I have come to see Nicholas Petrovich。〃
〃What about？〃
〃Because I am in distressmy horse has died。〃
Volgin began to question him。 The peasant told him how he was
situated。 He had five children； and this had been his only horse。 Now it
was gone。 He wept。
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃To beg。〃 And he knelt down； and remained kneeling in spite of
Volgin's expostulations。
〃What is your name？〃
〃Mitri Sudarikov；〃 answered the peasant； still kneeling。
Volgin took three roubles from his purse and gave them to the peasant；
who showed his gratitude by touching the ground with his forehead； and
then went into the house。 His host was standing in the hall。
〃Where is your letter？〃 he asked； approaching Volgin； 〃I am just off。〃
〃I'm awfully sorry； I'll write it this minute； if you will let me。 I forgot
all about it。 It's so pleasant here that one can forget anything。〃
〃All right； but do be quick。 The horses have already been standing
