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gorgeous clouds； gave every evening something new； extraordinary；
incredible just what one does not believe in afterwards； when one sees
those very colours and those very clouds in a picture。
The cranes flew swiftly； swiftly； with mournful cries； as though they
were calling themselves。 Standing on the edge of the ravine； Olga looked a
long time at the flooded meadow； at the sunshine； at the bright church； that
looked as though it had grown younger； and her tears flowed and her
breath came in gasps from her passionate longing to go away； to go far
away to the end of the world。 It was already settled that she should go
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back to Moscow to be a servant； and that Kiryak should set off with her to
get a job as a porter or something。 Oh； to get away quickly！
As soon as it dried up and grew warm they got ready to set off。 Olga
and Sasha； with wallets on their backs and shoes of plaited bark on their
feet； came out before daybreak： Marya came out； too； to see them on their
way。 Kiryak was not well； and was kept at home for another week。 For the
last time Olga prayed at the church and thought of her husband； and
though she did not shed tears； her face puckered up and looked ugly like
an old woman's。 During the winter she had grown thinner and plainer； and
her hair had gone a little grey； and instead of the old look of sweetness and
the pleasant smile on her face； she had the resigned； mournful expression
left by the sorrows she had been through； and there was something blank
and irresponsive in her eyes； as though she did not hear what was said。 She
was sorry to part from the village and the peasants。 She remembered how
they had carried out Nikolay； and how a requiem had been ordered for him
at almost every hut； and all had shed tears in sympathy with her grief。 In
the course of the summer and the winter there had been hours and days
when it seemed as though these people lived worse than the beasts； and to
live with them was terrible； they were coarse； dishonest； filthy； and
drunken； they did not live in harmony； but quarrelled continually； because
they distrusted and feared and did not respect one another。 Who keeps the
tavern and makes the people drunken？ A peasant。 Who wastes and spends
on drink the funds of the commune； of the schools； of the church？ A
peasant。 Who stole from his neighbours； set fire to their property； gave
false witness at the court for a bottle of vodka？ At the meetings of the
Zemstvo and other local bodies； who was the first to fall foul of the
peasants？ A peasant。 Yes； to live with them was terrible； but yet； they were
human beings； they suffered and wept like human beings； and there was
nothing in their lives for which one could not find excuse。 Hard labour that
made the whole body ache at night； the cruel winters； the scanty harvests；
the overcrowding； and they had no help and none to whom they could
look for help。 Those of them who were a little stronger and better off could
be no help； as they were themselves coarse； dishonest； drunken； and
abused one another just as revoltingly； the paltriest little clerk or official
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treated the peasants as though they were tramps； and addressed even the
village elders and church wardens as inferiors； and considered they had a
right to do so。 And； indeed； can any sort of help or good example be given
by mercenary； greedy； depraved； and idle persons who only visit the
village in order to insult； to despoil； and to terrorize？ Olga remembered the
pitiful； humiliated look of the old people when in the winter Kiryak had
been taken to be flogged。 。 。 。 And now she felt sorry for all these people；
painfully so； and as she walked on she kept looking back at the huts。
After walking two miles with them Marya said good…bye； then
kneeling； and falling forward with her face on the earth； she began
wailing：
〃Again I am left alone。 Alas； for poor me！ poor； unhappy！ 。 。 。〃
And she wailed like this for a long time； and for a long way Olga and
Sasha could still see her on her knees； bowing down to someone at the
side and clutching her head in her hands； while the rooks flew over her
head。
The sun rose high； it began to get hot。 Zhukovo was left far behind。
Walking was pleasant。 Olga and Sasha soon forgot both the village and
Marya； they were gay and everything entertained them。 Now they came
upon an ancient barrow； now upon a row of telegraph posts running one
after another into the distance and disappearing into the horizon； and the
wires hummed mysteriously。 Then they saw a homestead； all wreathed in
green foliage； there came a scent from it of dampness； of hemp； and it
seemed for some reason that happy people lived there。 Then they came
upon a horse's skeleton whitening in solitude in the open fields。 And the
larks trilled unceasingly； the corncrakes called to one another； and the
landrail cried as though someone were really scraping at an old iron rail。
At midday Olga and Sasha reached a big village。 There in the broad
street they met the little old man who was General Zhukov's cook。 He was
hot； and his red； perspiring bald head shone in the sunshine。 Olga and he
did not recognize each other； then looked round at the same moment；
recognized each other； and went their separate ways without saying a word。
Stopping near the hut which looked newest and most prosperous； Olga
bowed down before the open windows； and said in a loud； thin； chanting
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voice：
〃Good Christian folk； give alms； for Christ's sake； that God's blessing
may be upon you； and that your parents may be in the Kingdom of Heaven
in peace eternal。〃
〃Good Christian folk；〃 Sasha began chanting； 〃give； for Christ's sake；
that God's blessing； the Heavenly Kingdom 。 。 。〃
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