The Cossacks: A Tale of 1852 Read online

  Chapter XXXIV

  Late that evening, after writing this letter, Olenin went to his hosts'hut. The old woman was sitting on a bench behind the oven unwindingcocoons. Maryanka with her head uncovered sat sewing by the light of acandle. On seeing Olenin she jumped up, took her kerchief and steppedto the oven. 'Maryanka dear,' said her mother, 'won't you sit here withme a bit?' 'No, I'm bareheaded,' she replied, and sprang up on theoven. Olenin could only see a knee, and one of her shapely legs hangingdown from the oven. He treated the old woman to tea. She treated herguest to clotted cream which she sent Maryanka to fetch. But having puta plateful on the table Maryanka again sprang on the oven from whenceOlenin felt her eyes upon him. They talked about household matters.Granny Ulitka became animated and went into raptures of hospitality.She brought Olenin preserved grapes and a grape tart and some of herbest wine, and pressed him to eat and drink with the rough yet proudhospitality of country folk, only found among those who produce theirbread by the labour of their own hands. The old woman, who had at firststruck Olenin so much by her rudeness, now often touched him by hersimple tenderness towards her daughter.

  'Yes, we need not offend the Lord by grumbling! We have enough ofeverything, thank God. We have pressed sufficient CHIKHIR and havepreserved and shall sell three or four barrels of grapes and haveenough left to drink. Don't be in a hurry to leave us. We will makemerry together at the wedding.'

  'And when is the wedding to be?' asked Olenin, feeling his bloodsuddenly rush to his face while his heart beat irregularly andpainfully.

  He heard a movement on the oven and the sound of seeds being cracked.

  'Well, you know, it ought to be next week. We are quite ready,' repliedthe old woman, as simply and quietly as though Olenin did not exist. 'Ihave prepared and have procured everything for Maryanka. We will giveher away properly. Only there's one thing not quite right. Our Lukashkahas been running rather wild. He has been too much on the spree! He'sup to tricks! The other day a Cossack came here from his company andsaid he had been to Nogay.'

  'He must mind he does not get caught,' said Olenin.

  'Yes, that's what I tell him. "Mind, Lukashka, don't you get intomischief. Well, of course, a young fellow naturally wants to cut adash. But there's a time for everything. Well, you've captured orstolen something and killed an abrek! Well, you're a fine fellow! Butnow you should live quietly for a bit, or else there'll be trouble."'

  'Yes, I saw him a time or two in the division, he was alwaysmerry-making. He has sold another horse,' said Olenin, and glancedtowards the oven. A pair of large, dark, and hostile eyes glittered asthey gazed severely at him.

  He became ashamed of what he had said. 'What of it? He does no one anyharm,' suddenly remarked Maryanka. 'He makes merry with his own money,'and lowering her legs she jumped down from the oven and went outbanging the door.

  Olenin followed her with his eyes as long as she was in the hut, andthen looked at the door and waited, understanding nothing of whatGranny Ulitka was telling him.

  A few minutes later some visitors arrived: an old man, Granny Ulitka'sbrother, with Daddy Eroshka, and following them came Maryanka andUstenka.

  'Good evening,' squeaked Ustenka. 'Still on holiday?' she added,turning to Olenin.

  'Yes, still on holiday,' he replied, and felt, he did not know why,ashamed and ill at ease.

  He wished to go away but could not. It also seemed to him impossible toremain silent. The old man helped him by asking for a drink, and theyhad a drink. Olenin drank with Eroshka, with the other Cossack, andagain with Eroshka, and the more he drank the heavier was his heart.But the two old men grew merry. The girls climbed onto the oven, wherethey sat whispering and looking at the men, who drank till it was late.Olenin did not talk, but drank more than the others. The Cossacks wereshouting. The old woman would not let them have any more chikhir, andat last turned them out. The girls laughed at Daddy Eroshka, and it waspast ten when they all went out into the porch. The old men invitedthemselves to finish their merry-making at Olenin's. Ustenka ran offhome and Eroshka led the old Cossack to Vanyusha. The old woman wentout to tidy up the shed. Maryanka remained alone in the hut. Oleninfelt fresh and joyous, as if he had only just woke up. He noticedeverything, and having let the old men pass ahead he turned back to thehut where Maryanka was preparing for bed. He went up to her and wishedto say something, but his voice broke. She moved away from him, satdown cross-legged on her bed in the corner, and looked at him silentlywith wild and frightened eyes. She was evidently afraid of him. Oleninfelt this. He felt sorry and ashamed of himself, and at the same timeproud and pleased that he aroused even that feeling in her.

  'Maryanka!' he said. 'Will you never take pity on me? I can't tell youhow I love you.'

  She moved still farther away.

  'Just hear how the wine is speaking! ... You'll get nothing from me!'

  'No, it is not the wine. Don't marry Lukashka. I will marry you.'('What am I saying,' he thought as he uttered these words. 'Shall I beable to say the same to-morrow?' 'Yes, I shall, I am sure I shall, andI will repeat them now,' replied an inner voice.)

  'Will you marry me?'

  She looked at him seriously and her fear seemed to have passed.

  'Maryanka, I shall go out of my mind! I am not myself. I will dowhatever you command,' and madly tender words came from his lips oftheir own accord.

  'Now then, what are you drivelling about?' she interrupted, suddenlyseizing the arm he was stretching towards her. She did not push his armaway but pressed it firmly with her strong hard fingers. 'Do gentlemenmarry Cossack girls? Go away!'

  'But will you? Everything...'

  'And what shall we do with Lukashka?' said she, laughing.

  He snatched away the arm she was holding and firmly embraced her youngbody, but she sprang away like a fawn and ran barefoot into the porch:Olenin came to his senses and was terrified at himself. He again felthimself inexpressibly vile compared to her, yet not repenting for aninstant of what he had said he went home, and without even glancing atthe old men who were drinking in his room he lay down and fell asleepmore soundly than he had done for a long time.