The Precipice

he saw the smoke curling up from the chimneys of his own roof, the fresh, delicate green of the birches and the limes which overshadowed

gs in the yard, cats sunning themselves, on the roof of the new house flocked the pigeon and the swallows flitted around the eaves. Behind the house, on the side towards the village, linen lay out to bleach. One woman w

fence which divided house, yard, garden and park from the road, feasting his eyes on th

cocks, hens and pigeons fell to, looking round every moment as if they feared treason, and then again falling to. As the morning sun shed a fierce light on the busy group of birds and on the young girl herself, Raisky saw her large, dark grey eyes, her round, healthy cheeks, her narrow white teeth, her long light-brown tresses wound twice round her head, and the strong young breasts

?" she asked the little g

"it is the cat's fault.

ence being suspected. This must be his cousin, and how charming! But which one, Veroshka or Marfinka? Wit

cried, extend

e roof, and the pigeons in flight. The servants in the yard stopped their work.

so healthy a fashion, that there were no unwholesome patches, no deep hanging pockets about the eyes and mouth, no sadness or gloom in her eyes. Life had not conquered her; she conquered life, and only slowly laid down her weapons in t

stood in her eyes. In her embrace, her voice, in the sudd

s and seeking forbidden fruit, wandering homelessly in the world, while Nature h

ndmother. "She was so terrified when she saw you, a

ight and looked at h

ts you, why do you grow a beard? Shave it off, Borushka, I can't endure it

with age

Are you in

k of something else. You, th

do you

s beautiful as ever. I never saw an

nd your admiration on your sisters. I will whisper the truth to you. Tw

my other

Volga. It is a pity. The pope's wife has been ill and

d anyone be distur

sent Egorka on to the highway to look for you and Savili into the town. Now you must have your breakfast. Why is it so long in com

ion I drank tea, milk at another, and at the third there was

ead in the morning! Marfinka ought to have been there; she loves weddings and gingerbread. Come in. Marfinka, don

wever much he protested Raisky had to eat, for oth

me here and e

followed Vassilissa with a tea-tray full of sweets, preserves, cakes, etc. Marfinka stood still, betraying in her confusion a certain curiosity.

her in admiration. "How lovely," he cried. "This is my litt

rassed, returned his greeting aw

errupted their aunt. "Is that

id Raisky, as he sought

Marfinka, not Marfa Vassilievna! You will be addressing me as Tatia

e about the goose. It is not polite

eks, embraced her, and overcame her confusion. S

how we used to run about a

I do remember a

, when she was only five

randmama, as

used to draw, and how I sat on your knee. Granny has all your drawings, portraits and sketch books. She has kept them all in the dark room where the silver, the diamonds and the lace are. She got them out, and gave them to me a little

ed her aunt. "Boastful child! V

id Marfinka, handing him a d

e sister! Is it

e. I can make wa

you play

y the

eroshka dra

shook h

ework? No? Then is s

s not tell us what she reads, nor show us

nly knows what will become of her. Now, Marfinka, don't waste your brother's time any long

pe her-the indications of vanishing youth, the premature furrows; and she was baffled by the original expression of his eyes. Formerly she had always been able to read his

g a most business-like expression; i

. "You are yawning and perhaps you would like a

re giving yourself useless trouble, Grandmothe

tate and to ask for an account of my stewardshi

r even read,

ecise information about your income and yo

d Raisky, looking out of the window

said, "I remember a ve

, proudest

hurryin

hearken,

ging song

hose life thou

rkovna, "but I think you are mad. What have you done

she continued, as

, and I swear I will do the same wi

atched them away, exclaiming, "

d her lips as he had done when he was a chil

y work. That is why you never wrote about money matters, gave any orders, made a

ooms in which lives the only woman who loves me and is loved by me, you alone in the

f her spectacles

g like it," she said. "Here the only pers

. Leonti Koslov writes about him. How

and can any good come from his friendship with this Markushka. Only the other day your friend came here to complain that that Markushka

an air from

ried his aunt angrily. "Why did y

r a little while, to breathe freely, to loo

we will drive out into the field, to l

on, G

ver the manageme

r it? I am old and can no longer do all the work. D

nny, so long as you ta

if I

everything

aisky's mother, for a long time she looked a

ano, read out of books and wept as she did so. And this is the result. Singing and painting. Now tell me, Borushka," she went on in her o

ss diamonds

have inherited all these things; what is to be don

I can believe they are mine. And so

gh we do not eat your bread. See here are my receipts and expenditure

belongs to it to my dear cousins, Veroshka and Marfinka, as dowry." The old lady wrinkled her brow, and waited impatiently till he should finish sp

m, perhaps more. All I have is for my little girls, and, thank God, I am not a pauper. I have a corner of my own, a bit of land, and a roof to cover the

y, gay, smiling and frank, she fluttered into the room, looked hesitati

silver, and lace. You are, he thinks, a beggared, dowerless gi

her two relatives. Her aunt pushed papers and books on one side, crossed her hands over her

Marfinka, into a strange house, perhap

ch a thing happen. Who ev

" laughe

he words. Marfinka was embarrass

s in the garden, the birds. Who would look after

ts to go and ta

he asked her aunt in he

me," said Tat

't want to leave h

n the world. How co

Veroshka s

be separated fr

es the o

s here. If she were taken away fro

sister. You two, Veroshka and you, wi

f Veroshk

not so proud as Granny," he sa

ndmother will never permit you to live at a stranger's expense. Be so kind, Boris Pavlovich, as to take over

ann

hkov." She stood up, and opened the door i

He was strongly-built, big boned, and was robust, without being fat. His eyes with their overhanging brows and

dicating Raisky. "You must now make your reports to

ked askanc

"What orders are you pleased to give?" he asked, lowering hi

could draw up a document fo

nikov draws up the pape

for

owly retired, Raisky fo

rascal," was

ughter. But for his marriage he is a treasure. He does my important business, sells the corn, and collects the money. He is honest and practical,

ay, and you will not administer the es

going to take over the management of your estate. You hav

give up the administration; she would not have known what to do with her

the estate as long as I have the strength to do so

fficient income. I want to work, to draw, to write, to travel for a li

ng with four horses and a travelling carriage you sneak in, without a servant, in a miserable kibitka, you, a Raisky. Look at the old house, at the portraits of your ancestors, and t

urst out

y it would have been for your Grandmother. Then you would hav

these things. Therefore it is settled th

cision i

do not like this arrangement, everything passes in

have you lived, and what have you done. Tell me, for Heaven's

ppiest of men!" He leaned his hea

hears and exacts the penalty, and you will one da

d, as if Fate were alread

se from t

gree to keep this little corner of

state, not

lonely man like me has no use for it, but they will be mistresses o

se rascals who steal our

You don't really want to lea

I can do nothing with you; talk to Tiet Nikonich who is coming t

recipice she looked anxiously over the edge, and drew back with a shudder. Raisky looked down on the Volga, which was in flood, and had overflowed into the meadows. In the di

aid suddenly, and

she answered trembl

l. Do you think I ca

r, but goes down alone, even in the dusk. Althoug

e me your hand. You will see

hand and made one step, when she found herself standing on

in the world," she cried as she

. She saw how the bushes were bent noisily aside, as Raisky sprang dow