The Precipice

window. Mark was going through the park, and vanished under the thick trees on the top of the precipice. As he had no inclination to go to bed again, he put on a light overco

gan to fall. The birds sang, as they darted in all directions seeking their morning meal, and the bees and the humble-bees hummed over the flowers. A feeling of discomfort came over Raisky. He had a long day before him, with the impressions of yesterday and the day before still st

or was half open, and went in. Since his arrival he had only been here for a moment with Marfinka, and had glanced into Vera's room. Now it occurred to him to make a closer ins

th her eyes, down to the bank of the Volga. He was startled by the white, almost pallid face under the dark hair, the velvet-black eyes with their long lashes. Her face, still lookin

Vera!" h

fixed on him with an expression of modes

ad a little so that his lips touched her cheek, no

n: "How eagerly I have expected you

yesterday that

clear as Marfinka's, was

rival, but I begged her not to tell you. When

her and my sister don't know I am

pushed aside a bundle and brought a table to the window. Then she sa

nk it with me. It will be a long time before it i

ng her with his eyes. Like a true artist he aband

" he remarked after a pause, with

member everything. How was it possible to forget y

ion, but they crowded into his brain in so disconne

n your room. Forgive t

hastily, looking around as if something not i

le, quite right.

er her hand; she rapidly drew it awa

to hide the currants in y

not be seen?" he said, laugh

s way in such an outlandish place. He wanted to touch some answering chord in her heart, wan

y was in y

ch took it over, and I was gla

have left you

I liked, and then su

did yo

as she answered: "A great m

care for

e she said, "Does that mean that I

ot

ke to hear music, but w

he looked at him inquiringly. "Do you like hou

s and understands

a short time. You say that you don't do any needle

e this corner of God's earth, the Volga, the precipice, the forest and the garden-thes

d you to this

ngly over the trees and the rising ground, and

hills, the forest-all these things would became tedious if they were not inha

as si

d Raisky af

just heard his remarks, "I don't li

and thoughts with them. But perhap

dded he

l?" he stammered, urged on b

g," said Vera as she rose and shook the crumbs

s wife!" h

, we are never tired of talking about it. Will you

ully, without hearing her question, and

ave some mo

e for Grandmoth

should I

he retort

looking gaily at him,

this good fortune?"

es herself without any merit,

nd friendship. I should like to begin with the last, and end with the

r instance, not to go into my room-without me, not t

ntness: Do you pride yourself on this? I ask

in everything. I am not proud. In

that true? Marfinka has accepted on the condition that you do not refuse. Grandmother hesitated, and has not come to a final

estate. Sell it to me.... I have money,

ot do it

out on the Volga, the

anything you please, so

ve the dee

e said, stretching o

a on the cheek. She returned the pre

o love the place a

you mean to s

depends on circu

n

to the ot

irst put things straight her

and was hardly seen for a couple of days, yet Raisky was conscious every moment of her whereabouts and her doings. It was as if her voice penetrated to him through any wall, and as if her doings were reflected in any place where he was. In a few days he knew her habits, her tastes, her likings, all that love on her outer life. But the indwelling spirit, Vera herself, remained concealed in the shadows. In he

and warnings for Marfinka; but she said nothing to Vera, n

h in her aunt's eyes. If she complained that her guests were too much for her, Vera would not bring herself to assist immediately, but presently she would appear in the company with a bright face, her eyes gleaming with gaiety, and asto

l the others saw either. The less ground he had to go on however,

d returned to the other house, and no one knew how she passed her time there. Tatiana Markovna

have left it. It was in this melancholy mood that he lay smoking a cigar on the sofa in Tatiana Markovna's room. His aunt who was never happy unless she was doing something, was l

visitors; the young m

evich Vikentev

her fichu, and cast a glance in the mirror. Raisky s

ht here," said Vassilissa to R

Tatiana Markovna

said Va

hurri

forget to ask him for the money. Is he hungry? I w

-three years of age. He had chestnut hair, a rosy face, grey-blue keen eyes, and a smile which displayed a row of st

ssed the old lady's hand, and would have raised Marfinka's to his lips, bu

for three weeks," said Tat

re given to settle up all the business in the office," said Vik

Granny," interrupted Marfinka. "He has

now expecting a new chief clerk, and I swe

God over such trifles. It is a si

le when Marfa Vassilievna will

ga

visitor? Has Boris Pavlovich arrived? Was it he

e my cousin. Otherwise he would hav

ay, I came here. Yesterday I was a

she

e sends her kind regards and beg

ther I can come myself. I am old, a

d I will not go. We, too, are

What are you afraid of? I will fetch you m

it quiet in the boat for a minute. What have you got alive

I have caught myself. And these are for you, Marfa V

ot put in an appearance for more than two weeks. The cor

and we'll pick

perspiration still stands on your forehead, and you are aching to be off. First you must have breakfast. An

egan to wave his tail hither and thither, she uttered a loud cr

d from the garden came the sound of chattering, singing and laughter. Tatiana Markovna shook her head as she looked through the window. Cocks, hens and ducks fled in panic, the dogs dashed barking at Marfinka's heels, the servants put their head

othing had happened. They looked gaily about the room and at one another, as Vikentev wipe

pair," remarked

mplained Marfinka, "he chase

arfa Vassilievna told me to go into the

not become you, who are a

e to endure through

Granny is only scolding a litt

catching his words. "Come here, and since your

gs and never do them," he said, springing up to

ranny, so that his ears

ovna, affectionately. "Your late father was serious, never talk

in Vikentev. "I have brought

e are

at's the fault of the carp.

, and Marfinka would have followed

to say to you i

e up her mind to speak. Marfinka came up to her

then,

every word of your grandmother's

ault with Ver

ot believe me. Her view is that I am old, while you two girls are young, know everything, and read

o say to me?" asked

tle more cautious. You are so wi

ttend to the household. Why do you scold me, Grandmother," she asked w

y always be as happy a

why sco

to keep within bounds. You used to

ned and retire

inst Nikolai Andreevich, but he is just as wild as you are. You are

blushed

wrong, but for other people's sake you must be carefu

e here in a moment, and I

in, covered with dust and perspiration, carrying mus

," he cried, wiping his forehead. "Ho

and, bowed, and re

onsieur Vikentev, vo

at her aunt, and asked whether s

yself, or in compan

will read you the new novel," he

d Marfinka, looking demurely at her

, walked into the middle of the room, assumed a sugary smile, bowed slightly, put his hat under his arm, and struggling in vain to drag his glo

you fool

lips, but could n

n anybody keep serious when he mi

, her frown relaxing into smiles. "Go, a