'Why, are you sending him to certain death, do you imagine ? ' Then he drank up half the liqueur and smacked his lips.
' What liqueur! What an aroma it has ! Ah, ma'am, you wouldn't find such liqueur anywhere in the district!' he said, with an expression of great pleasure.
' It is no more than thr-ee-ee years old!' said Anna Pavlovna, sobbing, ' it has—only to-day—been uncorked for you.
' Ah, Anna Pavlovna, it makes me ill to see you,
ao A COMMON STORY
began Anton Ivanitch again, 'I don't know what you deserve.'
' But only imagine, Anton Ivanitch, an only son, and he going out of my sight; it will kill me and there will be no one to bury me.'
'And what do we count for? What? Am la stranger or what ? And why in such a hurry to die ? More likely to be married than that—I would dance at the wedding. But do give over crying.'
'I cannot, Anton Ivanitch, indeed I cannot; I don't know myself why my tears will come.'
' The idea of keeping such a young man shut up ! Let him have his freedom, he will find bis wings, and then he will do wonders; there he will gain a position.'
' Good luck to your words! And why have you taken so little pie ? Take some more.'
' Yes, I will have some; just this piece. To your health, Alexandr Fedoritch ! A lucky journey, and come home quickly and get married ! Why do you blush, Sophia Vassilievna ? '
' I ?—oh, no. I'm so '
' Ah, young people, young people—he ! he ! he !'
' In your company one cannot feel one's sorrow, Anton Ivanitch,' said Anna Pavlovna, ' you know so well how to comfort one. God give you health! But do take a little liqueur.'
' I will drink a little, ma'am, I will indeed; who would not drink at such a leave-taking ! '
The breakfast came to an end. The coachman had long ago packed the carriage. They brought it round to the steps. The seivants ran about one after another. One carried a trunk, another a bundle, a third a little bag, and then ran back after something else. Like flies round a drop of syrup, the servants clustered round the carriage, and every one wanted to have a hand in it.
' Better lay the trunk so,' said one, ' and here the hamper with the provisions.'
' And where are they to put their legs then ? ' answered the other, 'the trunk's better lengthways, and the hamper we can fix alongside.'
' The feather bed will roll off, if the trunk goes lengthways; better across. What next ? Were the slippers packed ? '
' I don't know. Who packed them ? '
' I didn't. Go and see whether they are still there upstairs.'
' You go yourself.'
' And why not you ? I haven't time !'
' Here, don't forget this,' screamed a girl, holding up a small parcel above her head.
' Give it here!'
' Stuff this in somehow into the trunk, it's been forgotten to the last,' said another, jumping on the steps and handing in a brush and comb.
' Where can one stuff it now ?' cried the stout valet angrily to her. ' Get away with you, you see the trunk is at the very bottom.'
' It's the mistress's orders; doesn't matter a straw to me!'
' Well, give it here, look sharp; we can put it here in the pocket at the side.'
The shaft horse continually lifted and shook his head. The bell every time gave a shrill tinkle, reminding one of partings, but the trace horses stood thoughtfully, their heads lowered, as though they understood all the charms of the journey which lay before them, and sometimes lashed their tails or thrust out an underlip at the shaft horse. At last the fatal minute came. There was another little prayer offered up.
' Be seated, be seated, all of you !' was Anton Ivanitch's order. ' Pray sit down, Alexandr Fedoritch; and you, Yevsay, sit down. Sit down, sit down !' And he himself just sat for a second on the edge of a chair. 4< Now let us go, in God's name.'
At this point Anna Pavlovna broke down and fell upon Alexandr's neck.
'Farewell, farewell, my dear,' was heard among her sobs. ' Shall I see you again ?' Nothing more could be distinguished. At this moment the tinkle of another troika-bell was heard; a telega flew into the court, drawn by three horses. From the telega leaped out a young man, covered with dust, who rushed into the room and threw himself on Alexandr's neck.
' Pospveloffl' —' Adouev!' they exclaimed, at the same instant clasping each other in an embrace.
'From where—how—have you come?'
U'
' From home. I have been galloping day and night) on purpose to say good-bye to you/'
' Friend, friend ! true friend !' said Adouev with tears in his eyes. 'To journey 150 miles to say good-bye ! Oh, there is friendship in the world ! For life, isn't it ? ' said Alexandr, passionately clasping his friend's hand and falling into his arms.
'Till death,' he replied, pressing his hand still more warmly as he returned his embrace.
' Write to me !'
' Yes, and you too write.'
Anna Pavlovna did not know how to make enough of Pospyeloff. The departure was delayed for half an hour. At last they were ready.
All went on foot as far as the wood. Sophia and Alexandr seized their chance, while passing through a dark passage, to throw themselves in each other's arms.
'Sasha, dear Sasha!' ' Sonitchka!' they stammered, and their words were lost in a kiss.
' You will forget me there ? ' she said tearfully.
' Oh, how little you know me! I shall come back; believe me, and never another '
' Here take this quickly; it is my hair and a ring.'
He quickly put both in his pocket.
First walked Anna Pavlovna with her son and Pospyeloff, then Maria Karpovna and her daughter, and lastly the priest and Anton Ivanitch. At some distance followed the carriage. The coachman could scarcely hold in the horses. All the servants surrounded Yevsay at the gates.
' Good-bye, Yevsay Ivanitch; good-bye, old boy, don't forget us !' was heard on all sides.
' Good-bye, brothers, good-bye, don't remember ill against me.'
' Good-bye, Yevsushka, good-bye, my darling,' said his mother, hugging him. ' Here is a holy image for you; it is my blessing. Remember the faith, Yevsay. Don't give way to drink or thieving; serve the master faithfully and well. Good-bye, good-bye!'
She hid her face in her apron and went away.
' Good-bye, mother,' said Yevsay lazily.
A little girl of twelve rushed up to him.
' Say good-bye to your little sister!' said an old woman.
A COMMON STORY
23
' And where have you come from ?' said Yevsay, kissing her, ' well, good-bye, good-bye! Run home now to the hut, bare-legs/'
Agrafena stood last of all, apart from the others. Her face was livid.
'Good-bye, Agrafena Ivanovna!' said Yevsay, slowly, raising his voice and holding out his hand to her.
She let him embrace her, but did not respond to his embrace, only her face worked.
' Here's something for you!' she said, taking a little bag of something from under her apron and thrusting it upon him. ' Well of course you will walk out with the Petersburg girls, there!' she said, with a side-long glance at him. And in that glance was apparent all her suffering and her jealousy.
' I walk out, I ? ' began Yevsay. ' God blast me, strike me blind, may I sink into the earth, if I do any such
