第61章

“Imaytellyou，“atlengththecrook-backedoldwomanremarkedassheattemptedtostraightenherself，“thatthoughmyhusbandwasnotwithoutenemies，healsohadaparticularfriendnamedAndrei，andthatwhenfailingstrengthwasbeginningtomakelifedifficultforusinouroldhomeontheDon，andfolktooktorevilingandgirdingatmyhusband，Andreicametousoneday，andsaid:’Yakov，letnotyourhandsfailyou，fortheearthislarge，andinallpartshasbeengiventomenfortheiruse。Iffolkbecruel，theyaresothroughstupidityandprejudice，andmustnotbejudgedforbeingso。Liveyourownlife。Lettheirsbetheirs，andyoursyours，sothat，dwellinginpeace，whileyieldingtonone，youshallintimeovercomethemall。’“

“ThatiswhatVasiltoousedtosay。Heusedtosay:’Lettheirsbetheirs，andoursours。’“

“Aye，neveragoodworddies，but，wheresoeveritbeuttered，fliesthencethroughtheworldlikeaswallow。“

Ufimcorroboratedthiswithanod。

“Trueindeed！“heremarked。“ThoughalsoithasbeensaidthatagoodwordisChrist’s，andabadwordthepriest’s。“

Oneoftheoldwomenshookherheadvigorouslyatthis，andcroaked:

“Thebadnessliesnotinanywordofapriest，butinwhatyouyourselfhavejustsaid。Youaregreyheaded，Ufim，yetoftenyouspeakwithoutthought。“

PresentlyUfim’swifereappeared，and，wavingherhandsasthoughshewerebrandishingasieve，begantoventrenewedvolleysofvirulentabuse。

“MyGod，“shecried，“whatsortofamanisthat？Why，amanwhoneitherspeaksnorlistens，butforeverkeepsbayingatthemoonlikeadog！“

“NOWshe’sstarted！“Ufimdrawled。

Westwardtherewerearising，andsoaringskyward，cloudsofsuchasimilaritytobluesmokeandblood-redflamethatthesteppeseemedalmosttobeindangerofcatchingfirethence。Meanwhileasofteveningbreezewascaressingtheexpanseasawhole，andcausingthegraintobenddrowsilyearthwardasgolden-redripplesskimmeditssurface。Onlyintheeasternquarterwhencenight’sblack，sultryshadowwasstealthilycreepinginourdirectionhaddarknessyetdescended。

Atintervalstherecameventedfromthewindowabovemyheadthehotodourofadeadbody；and，wheneverthathappened，thedog’sgreynostrilsandmuzzlewouldquiver，anditseyeswouldblinkpitifullyasitgazedaloft。Glancingattheheavens，Ufimremarkedwithconviction:

“Therewillbenoraintonight。“

“DoyoukeepsuchathingasaPsalterhere？“Iinquired。

“Suchathingasawhat？“

“AsaPsalter——abook？“

Noanswerfollowed。

Fasterandfasterthesouthernnightwentondescending，andwipingthelandcleanofheat，asthoughthatheathadbeendust。

UponmetherecameafeelingthatIshouldliketogoandburymyselfinsomesweet-sme

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