Obryv. English

  CHAPTER XXV

  At ten o'clock the big bell in the village church began to sound forMass. Tatiana Markovna's household was full of stir and bustle. Thehorses were being harnessed to the caleche and to an old fashionedcarriage. The coachmen, already drunk, donned their new dark bluecaftans, and their hair shone with grease. The women servants made a gaypicture in their many coloured cotton dresses, head and neck kerchiefs,and the maids employed in the house diffused a scent of cloves within aten yards radius. The cooks had donned their white caps in the earlymorning, and had been incessantly busy in the preparation of thebreakfast, dinner and supper to be served to the family and their guests,the kitchen, and the servants the visitors brought with them.

  Tatiana Markovna had begun to make her toilet at eight o'clock, as soonas she had given her orders; she descended to the hall to greet herguests with the reserved dignity of a great lady, and the gentle smileof a happy mother and a hospitable hostess. She had set a small simplecap on her grey hair; the light brown silk dress that Raisky had broughtfrom St. Petersburg suited her well, and round her neck she worebeautiful old lace; the Turkish shawl lay on the arm-chair in her room.

  Now she was preparing to drive to Mass, and walked slowly up and downthe hall with crossed hands, awaiting the assembly of the household. Shehardly noticed the bustle around her, as the servants went hither andthither, sweeping the carpets, cleaning the lamps, dusting the mirrors,and taking the covers from the furniture. She went first to one windowand then to the other, looking out meditatively on the road, the gardenand the courtyards.

  Vikentev's mother was dressed in pearl grey with dark lace trimmings.Vikentev himself had been in his dress coat and white gloves from eighto'clock onwards.

  Tatiana Markovna's pride and joy knew no bounds when Marfinka appeared,radiating gaiety from her bright eyes. While she slept the walls of hertwo rooms had been decorated with flowers and garlands. She was going toput on her simple blouse when she woke, but instead there lay on thechair by her bed a morning gown of lace and muslin with pink ribbons.She had not had time to give vent to her admiration when she saw on twoother chairs two lovely dresses, one pink and one blue, for her to makeher choice for the gala day.

  She jumped up, and threw on her new morning gown without waiting to puton her stockings, and when she approached her mirror she found a newsurprise in the gifts that lay on her toilet table. She did not knowwhich to look at, or which to take up.

  First she opened a lovely rosewood casket which contained a completedressing set, flasks, combs, brushes and endless trifles in glass andsilver, with a card bearing the name of her future Mama. Beside it laycases of different sizes. She threw a quick glance in the mirror,smoothed back her abundant hair from her eyes, seized all the cases in aheap, and sat down on the bed to look at them. She hesitated to openthem, and finally began with the smallest, which contained an emeraldring, which she hastily put on her finger. A larger case held earringswhich she inserted in her ears and admired in the glass from the bed.There were massive gold bracelets, set with rubies and diamonds, whichshe also put on. Last of all she opened the largest case, and lookedastonished and dazzled at its splendid contents: a chain of strungdiamonds, twenty-one to match her years. The accompanying card said:"With this gift I confide to you another, a costly one, my best offriends--myself. Take care of him. Your lover, Vikentev."

  She laughed, looked round, kissed the card, blushed, sprang from the bedand laid the case in her cupboard, in the box where she kept her bonbons.There was still another case on the table, containing Raisky's gift of awatch, whose enamel cover bore her monogram, and its chain.

  She looked at it with wide eyes, threw another glance at the other giftsand the garlanded walls, then threw herself on a chair and wept hottears of joy. "Oh, God!" she sobbed happily. "Why does everyone love meso. I do no good to anyone, and never shall."

  And so, undressed, without shoes and stockings, but adorned with rings,bracelets, diamond earrings, she tearfully sought her aunt, who caressedand kissed her darling when she heard the cause of her tears.

  "God loves you, Marfinka, because you love others, because all who seeyou are infected by your happiness."

  Marfinka dried her tears.

  "Nikolai Andreevich loves me, but he is my fiance; so does his Mama, butso does my cousin, Boris Pavlovich, and what am I to him?"

  "The same as you are to everyone. No one can look at you and not behappy; you are modest, pure and good, obedient to your Grandmother.Spendthrift," she murmured in an aside, to hide her pleasure. "Such acostly gift! You shall hear of this, Borushka!"

  "Grandmother! As if Boris Pavlovich could have guessed it. I have wanteda little enamelled watch like this for a long time."

  "You haven't asked your Grandmother why she gives you nothing?"

  Marfinka shut her mouth with a kiss.

  "Grandmother," she said, "love me always, if you want to make me happy."

  "With my love I will give you my enduring gift," she said, making thesign of the cross over Marfinka. "So that you shall not forget myblessing," she went on, feeling in her pocket--"You have given me twodresses, Grandmother, but who decorated my room so magnificently?"

  "Your fiance and Paulina Karpovna sent the things yesterday, and keptthem out of your sight. Vassilissa and Pashutka hung the garlands up atdaybreak. The dresses are part of your trousseau, and there are more tofollow." Then taking from its case a gold cross with four large diamondsshe hung it round the girl's neck, and gave her a plain, simple braceletwith the inscription: "From Grandmother to her Grandchild," and with thename and the date.

  Marfinka kissed her aunt's hand, and nearly wept once more.

  "All that Grandmother has, and she has many things, will be dividedbetween you and Veroshka. Now make haste."

  "How lovely you are to-day, Grandmother. Cousin is right. Tiet Nikonichwill fall in love with you."

  "Nonsense, chatterbox. Go to Veroshka, and tell her not to be late forMass. I would have gone myself, but am afraid of the steps."

  "Directly, Grandmother," cried Marfinka, and hastened to change herdress.

  Vera lay unconscious for half an hour before she came to herself. Thecold wind that streamed through the open window fell on her face, andshe sat up to look around her. Then she rose, shut the window, walkedunsteadily to the bed, sank down on it, and drawing the cover overherself, lay motionless.

  Overpowered with weakness she fell into a deep sleep, with her hairloose over the pillow. She slept heavily for about three hours until shewas awakened by the noise in the courtyard, the many voices, thecreaking of wheels and the sound of bells. She opened her eyes, lookedround, and listened.

  There was a light knock at the door, but Vera did not stir. There was alouder knock, but she remained motionless. At the third she got up,glanced in the glass, and was terrified by the sight of her own face.She pushed her hair into order, threw a shawl over her shoulders, pickedup Marfinka's bouquet from the floor, and laid it on the table. Therewas another knock and she opened the door. Marfinka, gay and lovely,gleaming like a rainbow in her pretty clothes, flew into the room. Whenshe saw her sister she stood still in amazement.

  "What is the matter with you, Veroshka? Aren't you well?"

  "Not quite. I offer you my congratulations."

  The sisters kissed one another.

  "How lovely you are, and how beautifully dressed!" said Vera, making afaint attempt to smile. Her lips framed one, but her eyes were like theeyes of a corpse that no one has remembered to close. But she felt shemust control herself, and hastened to present Marfinka with the bouquet.

  "What a lovely bouquet! And what is this?" asked Marfinka as she felt ahard substance, and discovered the holder set with her name and thepearls. "You, too, Veroshka! How is it you all love me so? I love youall, how I love you! But how and when you found out that I did, I cannotthink."

  Vera was not capable of answering, but she caressed Marfinka's shoulderaffectionately.

  "I must sit down," she
said. "I have slept badly through the night."

  "Grandmother calls you to Mass."

  "I cannot, darling. Tell her I am unwell, and cannot leave the houseto-day."

  "What! you are not coming?"

  "I shall stay in bed. Perhaps I caught cold yesterday. TellGrandmother."

  "We will come to you."

  "You would only disturb me."

  "Then we shall send everything over. Ah, Veroshka, people have sent meso many presents, and flowers and bonbons. I must show them to you," andshe ran over a list of them.

  "Yes, show me everything; perhaps I will come later," said Vera absently.

  "Another bouquet?" asked Marfinka, pointing to the one that lay on thefloor. "For whom? How lovely!"

  "For you too," said Vera, turning paler. She picked a ribbon hastilyfrom a drawer and fastened the bouquet with it. Then she kissed hersister, and sank down on the divan.

  "You are really ill. How pale you are! Shall I tell Grandmother, and lether send for the doctor? How sad that it should be on my birthday. Theday is spoiled for me!"

  "It will pass. Don't say a word to Grandmother. Don't frighten her.Leave me now, for I must rest."

  At last Marfinka went. Vera shut the door after her, and lay down on thedivan.