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man did not like the peasants to come up to him with their complaints and
petitions； he hated the peasants and disdained them； and if he saw some
peasants waiting at the gate； he would shout angrily：
〃Why are you standing there？ Go further off。〃
Or if it were a beggar； he would say：
〃God will provide！〃
He used to drive off on business； his wife； in a dark dress and a black
apron； tidied the rooms or helped in the kitchen。 Aksinya attended to the
shop； and from the yard could be heard the clink of bottles and of money；
her laughter and loud talk； and the anger of customers whom she had
offended； and at the same time it could be seen that the secret sale of
vodka was already going on in the shop。 The deaf man sat in the shop； too；
or walked about the street bare…headed； with his hands in his pockets
looking absent…mindedly now at the huts； now at the sky overhead。 Six
times a day they had tea； four times a day they sat down to meals； and in
the evening they counted over their takings； put them down； went to bed；
and slept soundly。
All the three cotton factories in Ukleevo and the houses of the factory
owners Hrymin Seniors； Hrymin Juniors； and Kostukov were on a
telephone。 The telephone was laid on in the local court； too； but it soon
ceased to work as bugs and beetles bred there。 The elder of the rural
district had had little education and wrote every word in the official
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documents in capitals。 But when the telephone was spoiled he said：
〃Yes； now we shall be badly off without a telephone。〃
The Hrymin Seniors were continually at law with the Juniors； and
sometimes the Juniors quarrelled among themselves and began going to
law； and their factory did not work for a month or two till they were
reconciled again； and this was an entertainment for the people of Ukleevo；
as there was a great deal of talk and gossip on the occasion of each quarrel。
On holidays Kostukov and the Juniors used to get up races； used to dash
about Ukleevo and run over calves。 Aksinya； rustling her starched
petticoats； used to promenade in a low…necked dress up and down the
street near her shop； the Juniors used to snatch her up and carry her off as
though by force。 Then old Tsybukin would drive out to show his new
horse and take Varvara with him。
In the evening； after the races； when people were going to bed； an
expensive concertina was played in the Juniors' yard and； if it were a
moonlight night； those sounds sent a thrill of delight to the heart； and
Ukleevo no longer seemed a wretched hole。
II
The elder son Anisim came home very rarely； only on great holidays；
but he often sent by a returning villager presents and letters written in very
good writing by some other hand； always on a sheet of foolscap in the
form of a petition。 The letters were full of expressions that Anisim never
made use of in conversation： 〃Dear papa and mamma； I send you a pound
of flower tea for the satisfaction of your physical needs。〃
At the bottom of every letter was scratched； as though with a broken
pen： 〃Anisim Tsybukin；〃 and again in the same excellent hand： 〃Agent。〃
The letters were read aloud several times； and the old father； touched；
red with emotion； would say：
〃Here he did not care to stay at home； he has gone in for an intellectual
line。 Well； let him！ Every man to his own job！
It happened just before Carnival there was a heavy storm of rain mixed
with hail； the old man and Varvara went to the window to look at it； and lo
and behold！ Anisim drove up in a sledge from the station。 He was quite
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unexpected。 He came indoors； looking anxious and troubled about
something； and he remained the same all the time； there was something
free and easy in his manner。 He was in no haste to go away； it seemed； as
though he had been dismissed from the service。 Varvara was pleased at his
arrival； she looked at him with a sly expression； sighed； and shook her
head。
〃How is this； my friends？〃 she said。 〃Tut； tut； the lad's in his twenty…
eighth year； and he is still leading a gay bachelor life； tut； tut； tut。 。 。 。〃
From the other room her soft； even speech sounded like tut； tut； tut。
She began whispering with her husband and Aksinya； and their faces wore
the same sly and mysterious expression as though they were conspirators。
It was decided to marry Anisim。
〃Oh； tut； tut 。 。 。 the younger brother has been married long ago；〃 said
Varvara； 〃and you are still without a helpmate like a cock at a fair。 What is
the meaning of it？ Tut； tut； you will be married； please God； then as you
choose you will go into the service and your wife will remain here at
home to help us。 There is no order in your life； young man； and I see you
have forgotten how to live properly。 Tut； tut； it's the same trouble with all
you townspeople。〃
When the Tsybukins married； the most handsome girls were chosen as
brides for them as rich men。 For Anisim； too； they found a handsome one。
He was himself of an uninteresting and inconspicuous appearance； of a
feeble； sickly build and short stature； he had full； puffy cheeks which
looked as though he were blowing them out； his eyes looked with a keen；
unblinking stare； his beard was red and scanty； and when he was thinking
he always put it into his mouth and bit it； moreover he often drank too
much； and that was noticeable from his face and his walk。 But when he
was informed that they had found a very beautiful bride for him； he said：
〃Oh well； I am not a fright myself。 All of us Tsybukins are handsome； I
may say。〃
The village of Torguevo was near the town。 Half of it had lately been
incorporated into the town； the other half remained a village。 In the first
the town half there was a widow living in her own little house； she had a
sister living with her who was quite poor and went out to work by the day；
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and this