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advantage。 Yes； all the women take to me。 Whether I call to
them； or whether I beckon them； they with one accord； five at
a time； throw themselves at my head。〃
He sat down on a flour sack； and told at length all about the
way women loved him； and how bold he was with them。 Then he
left； and after the door had creaked to behind him； we sat for
a long time silent； and thought about him and his talk。 Then
we all suddenly broke silence together； and it became apparent
that we were all equally pleased with him。 He was such a nice；
open…hearted fellow； he came to see us without any
standoffishness； sat down and chatted。 No one else came to us
like that； and no one else talked to us in that friendly sort
of way。 And we continued to talk of him and his coming triumph
among the embroidery girls； who passed us by with contemptuous
sniffs when they saw us in the yard； or who looked straight
through us as if we had been air。
115 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
But we admired them always when we met them outside； or when
they walked past our windows； in winter； in fur jackets and
toques to match； in summer； in hats trimmed with flowers； and
with colored parasols in their hands。 We talked； however； about
these girls in a way that would have made them mad with shame
and rage； if they could have heard us。
〃If only he does not get hold of little Tanya！〃 said the baker；
suddenly； in an anxious tone of voice。
We were silent； for these words troubled us。 Tanya had quite
gone out of our minds； supplanted； put on one side by the strong；
fine figure of the soldier。
Then began a lively discussion； some of us maintained that Tanya
would never lower herself so； others thought she would not be
able to resist him； and the third group proposed to give him a
thrashing if he should try to annoy Tanya。 And； finally； we all
decided to watch the soldier and Tanya； and to warn the girl
against him。 This brought the discussion to an end。
Four weeks had passed by since then； during this time the soldier
baked white bread； walked about with the gold…embroidery girls；
visited us often； but did not talk any more about his conquests；
only twisted his mustache； and licked his lips lasciviously。
Tanya called in as usual every morning for 〃little kringels；〃
and was as gay and as nice and friendly with us as ever。 We
certainly tried once or twice to talk to her about the soldier；
but she called him a 〃goggle…eyed calf；〃 and made fun of him
all round； and that set our minds at rest。 We saw how the
gold…embroidery girls carried on with the soldier； and we were
proud of our girl； Tanya's behavior reflected honor on us all； we
imitated her； and began in our talks to treat the soldier with
small consideration。
116 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
She became dearer to us； and we greeted her with more
friendliness and kindliness every morning。
One day the soldier came to see us； a bit drunk； and sat down
and began to laugh。 When we asked him what he was laughing
about； he explained to us：
〃Why two of themthat Lydka girl and Grushka have been
clawing each other on my account。 You should have seen the
way they went for each other！ Ha！ ha！ One got hold of the
other one by the hair； threw her down on the floor of the
passage； and sat on her！ Ha！ ha！ ha！ They scratched and tore
each others' faces。 It was enough to make one die with
laughter！ Why is it women can't fight fair？ Why do they always
scratch one another； eh？〃
He sat on the bench； healthy； fresh and jolly； he sat there and
went on laughing。 We were silent。 This time he made an
unpleasant impression on us。
〃Well； it's a funny thing what luck I have with the women…folk！
Eh？ I've laughed till I'm ill！ One wink； and it's all over
with them！ It's the d…devil！〃
He raised his white hairy hands； and slapped them down on his
knees。 And his eyes seem to reflect such frank astonishment；
as if he were himself quite surprised at his good luck with
women。 His fat； red face glistened with delight and self
satisfaction； and he licked his lips more than ever。
Our baker scraped the shovel violently and angrily along the
oven floor； and all at once he said sarcastically：
117 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
〃There's no great strength needed to pull up fir saplings； but
try a real pine…tree。〃
〃Why…what do you mean by saying that to me？〃 asked the soldier。
〃Oh； well。 。 。 。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Nothing…it slipped out！〃
〃No； wait a minute！ What's the point？ What pinetree？〃
Our baker did not answer； working rapidly away with the shovel
at the oven； flinging into it the half…cooked kringels； taking
out those that were done； and noisily throwing them on the
floor to the boys who were stringing them on bast。 He seemed
to have forgotten the soldier and his conversation with him。
But the soldier had all at once dropped into a sort of
uneasiness。 He got up on to his feet； and went to the oven；
at the risk of knocking against the handle of the shovel； which
was waving spasmodically in the air。
〃No； tell me； dowho is it？ You've insulted me。 I？ There's
not one could withstand me； n…no！ And you say such insulting
things to me？〃
He really seemed genuinely hurt。 He must have had nothing else
to pride himself on except his gift for seducing women； maybe；
except for that； there was nothing living in him； and it was
only that by which he could feel himself a living man。
There are men to whom the most precious and best thing in their
lives appears to be some disease of their soul or body。 They
spend their whole life in relation to it； and only living by it；
suffering from it； they sustain themselves on it； they complain
of it to others； and so draw the attention of their fellows to
themselves。
118 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL
For that they extract sympathy from people； and apart from it
they have nothing at all。 Take from them that disease； cure
them； and they will be miserable； because they have lost their
one resource in lifethey are left empty then。 Sometimes a
man's life is so poor； that he is driven instinctively to
prize his vice and to live by it； one may say for a fact that
often men are vicious from boredom。
The soldier was offended； he went up to our baker and roared：
〃No； tell me do…who？〃
〃Tell you？〃 the baker turned suddenly to him。
〃Well？〃
〃You know Tanya？〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； there then！ Only try。〃
〃You！〃
〃Her？ Why that's nothing to me…pooh！〃
〃We shall see！〃
〃You will see！ Ha！ ha！〃
〃She'll〃
〃Give me a month！〃
〃What a braggart you are； soldier！〃
〃A fortnight！ I'll prove it！ Who is it？ Tanya！ Pooh！〃
〃Well； get out。 You're in my way！〃
〃A fortnightand it's done！ Ah； you〃