Page:Chekhov - The Witch and Other Stories.djvu/254

Rh girl and looked up at Yegor's face. Her face was simply radiant with happiness.

"Sit down? If you like " said Yegor in a tone of indifference, and he chose a spot between two fir-trees. "Why are you standing? You sit down too."

Pelagea sat a little way off in the sun and, ashamed of her joy, put her hand over her smiling mouth. Two minutes passed in silence.

"You might come for once," said Pelagea.

"What for?" sighed Yegor, taking off his cap and wiping his red forehead with his hand. "There is no object in my coming. To go for an hour or two is only waste of time, it's simply upsetting you, and to live continually in the village my soul could not endure. You know yourself I am a pampered man.  I want a bed to sleep in, good tea to drink, and refined conversation.  I want all the niceties, while you live in poverty and dirt in the village.  I couldn't stand it for a day. Suppose there were an edict that I must live with you, I should either set fire to the hut or lay hands on myself. From a boy I've had this love for ease; there is no help for it."

"Where are you living now?"

"With the gentleman here, Dmitry Ivanitch, as a huntsman. I furnish his table with game, but he keeps me more for his pleasure than anything."

"That's not proper work you're doing, Yegor Vlassitch. For other people it's a pastime, but with you it's like a trade  like real work."