Yama (The Pit)

he leaves of the chestnuts, acacias, and poplars had at once turned green. And, sudden

h; but was vicious, wrapped up in sadness, and in her eyes blazed a yellow fire that spoke of hatred. In vain did Little White Manka, Manka the Scandaliste, who adored her, try to turn her attention to herself-Jennka seemed not to notice her, and the conversation did not a

ge is going on in you. And Manka feels that too. Just see, how she's wasted w

negation. Tamara moved away from her a little

't butt into your soul. I only asked

out of bed, seized Tamara by the ha

r a minute. I'll tell you everything

ds on the shoulders of her mate and with

re: some one has infec

oor darli

ame ones who started a row with Platonov? I found out abou

arly then, when you went down on your knees before the singer and talked quietly a

in half the batiste handkerchief which she

trying to break Manka away from me, whom, you know, I love sincerely, in the real way. But these two-legged skunks I infect purposely, infect every evening, ten, fifteen of them. Let them rot, let them c

oked Jennka's head. "Can it be th

he richest and the most important, but not to one of you will I let them go afterward. Oh! I make believe I'm so passionate before them, t

uttered Tamara, looking down. "Perhaps you're right, at that.

the window frame and suddenly burst into bitter, searing tears-the tears of

luck: I am sick there where, in all probability, no doct

the will Jennka stopped her tears just a

she said. "Of course, yo

ourse

Jennka's room, both of

is usual brazenness, always bore himself with

ellency has come to Vanda. Allow

ooked imploringly at Jennka. If Jennka had said "No" she would have remained in the room, but Jenn

weeks (just as to Zoe, another girl, came daily anothe

ered book behind her. Her brown eye

herwise than ... well, let's say it plainly: he pricked me with pins in the breast ... While in Vilno a Polish Catholic priest used to come to me. He would dress me all in whit

Manka sudde

retend all the time that I was an innocent girl, so's I'd cry and scream. But, Jennec

den of a

re ch

burst into laug

e me believe, that I was the man, and he the woman, and that I should do it to him ... by force ... And wh

y Verka in a positive and unexpe

t simply, like all men, a libertine. At home it's tiresome for him, while here f

p to now, suddenly, with one

the portraits of their wives, brides, mothers, daughters ... However, you've seen, I think, the photographs in our water-closet? But now, just think of it, my children ... A woman loves only once, but for always, while a man loves like a he-greyhound... That he's unfaithful is nothing; but he never has even the commonest feeling of gratitude left either

eep, though deformed psychical delicacy, which is peculiar to people sentenced to death, prisoners at hard labour, and prostitutes, n

te wine and a

ibly. And again no one took the liberty of putting any question to her. Only Jennka gr

. The nasty beast has three families, a wife and five children. A governess and two children abroad. The eldest daughter from the first marriage, and a child by her. And this everybody, everybody in town knows, save his little children. And even they, perhaps, guess it and whisper among themselves. And, just imagine, he's a respected person, honoured by the whole world ... My children, it seems we've never had occasion to enter into confide

his rooms, and his wife at that time had gone to market for a suckling pig-it was Christmas. Treated me with candies, and then said it was going to be one of two things: either I must obey him in everything, or he'd at once expel me ou

ng the master's boys in our place

in the direction of her gaze, Jennka had to wring her hands. In the doorway stood Liubka, grown thin, with dark ring

he matter with you?" yelled

what: he took an

started breathing hard, and it could be seen how under the

ssion of weary helplessness. "Everybody respects you so. Talk it over,

d Liubka with her dry, burning, yet see

aten anythi

sterday, nor to

pose I give her some white wine? And Verka mea

a booby! Well! Lively! Undress yourself! Little White Manka, or you, Tamarochka, give her dry drawers, war