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and this sister had a daughter called Lipa； a girl who went out to work； too。
People in Torguevo were already talking about Lipa's good looks； but her
terrible poverty put everyone off； people opined that some widower or
elderly man would marry her regardless of her poverty； or would perhaps
take her to himself without marriage； and that her mother would get
enough to eat living with her。 Varvara heard about Lipa from the
matchmakers； and she drove over to Torguevo。
Then a visit of inspection was arranged at the aunt's； with lunch and
wine all in due order； and Lipa wore a new pink dress made on purpose for
this occasion； and a crimson ribbon like a flame gleamed in her hair。 She
was pale…faced； thin； and frail； with soft； delicate features sunburnt from
working in the open air； a shy； mournful smile always hovered about her
face； and there was a childlike look in her eyes； trustful and curious。
She was young； quite a little girl； her bosom still scarcely perceptible；
but she could be married because she had reached the legal age。 She really
was beautiful； and the only thing that might be thought unattractive was
her big masculine hands which hung idle now like two big claws。
〃There is no dowry and we don't think much of that；〃 said Tsybukin
to the aunt。 〃We took a wife from a poor family for our son Stepan； too；
and now we can't say too much for her。 In house and in business alike she
has hands of gold。〃
Lipa stood in the doorway and looked as though she would say： 〃Do
with me as you will； I trust you；〃 while her mother Praskovya the work…
woman hid herself in the kitchen numb with shyness。 At one time in her
youth a merchant whose floors she was scrubbing stamped at her in a rage；
she went chill with terror and there always was a feeling of fear at the
bottom of her heart。 When she was frightened her arms and legs trembled
and her cheeks twitched。 Sitting in the kitchen she tried to hear what the
visitors were saying； and she kept crossing herself； pressing her fingers to
her forehead； and gazing at the ikons。 Anisim； slightly drunk； opened the
door into the kitchen and said in a free…and…easy way：
〃Why are you sitting in here； precious mamma？ We are dull without
you。〃
And Praskovya； overcome with timidity； pressing her hands to her lean；
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wasted bosom； said：
〃Oh； not at all。 。 。 。 It's very kind of you。〃
After the visit of inspection the wedding day was fixed。 Then Anisim
walked about the rooms at home whistling； or suddenly thinking of
something； would fall to brooding and would look at the floor fixedly；
silently； as though he would probe to the depths of the earth。 He expressed
neither pleasure that he was to be married； married so soon； on Low
Sunday； nor a desire to see his bride； but simply went on whistling。 And it
was evident he was only getting married because his father and stepmother
wished him to； and because it was the custom in the village to marry the
son in order to have a woman to help in the house。 When he went away he
seemed in no haste； and behaved altogether not as he had done on previous
visits was particularly free and easy； and talked inappropriately。
III
In the village Shikalovo lived two dressmakers； sisters； belonging to
the Flagellant sect。 The new clothes for the wedding were ordered from
them； and they often came to try them on； and stayed a long while
drinking tea。 They were making Varvara a brown dress with black lace and
bugles on it； and Aksinya a light green dress with a yellow front； with a
train。 When the dressmakers had finished their work Tsybukin paid them
not in money but in goods from the shop； and they went away depressed；
carrying parcels of tallow candles and tins of sardines which they did not
in the least need； and when they got out of the village into the open
country they sat down on a hillock and cried。
Anisim arrived three days before the wedding； rigged out in new
clothes from top to toe。 He had dazzling india…rubber goloshes； and
instead of a cravat wore a red cord with little balls on it； and over his
shoulder he had hung an overcoat； also new； without putting his arms into
the sleeves。
After crossing himself sedately before the ikon； he greeted his father
and gave him ten silver roubles and ten half…roubles； to Varvara he gave as
much； and to Aksinya twenty quarter…roubles。 The chief charm of the
present lay in the fact that all the coins； as though carefully matched； were
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new and glittered in the sun。 Trying to seem grave and sedate he pursed up
his face and puffed out his cheeks； and he smelt of spirits。 Probably he had
visited the refreshment bar at every station。 And again there was a free…
and…easiness about the man something superfluous and out of place。
Then Anisim had lunch and drank tea with the old man； and Varvara
turned the new coins over in her hand and inquired about villagers who
had gone to live in the town。
〃They are all right； thank God； they get on quite well；〃 said Anisim。
〃Only something has happened to Ivan Yegorov： his old wife Sofya
Nikiforovna is dead。 From consumption。 They ordered the memorial
dinner for the peace of her soul at the confectioner's at two and a half
roubles a head。 And there was real wine。 Those who were peasants from
our village they paid two and a half roubles for them； too。 They ate
nothing； as though a peasant would understand sauce！〃
〃Two and a half；〃 said his father； shaking his head。
〃Well； it's not like the country there； you go into a restaurant to have a
snack of something； you ask for one thing and another； others join till
there is a party of us； one has a drink and before you know where you
are it is daylight and you've three or four roubles each to pay。 And when
one is with Samorodov he likes to have coffee with brandy in it after
everything； and brandy is sixty kopeck