Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/115

 Let our son stay here, and you give us ten roubles now—

. Is it, then, for another year?

(sighing). Well, if it has to be, I suppose, so to speak.

. Again for a year, from the Saturday of St. Demetrius. You will not offend us about the price, but in the meantime let us have ten roubles. Excuse us now. (Rises and bows.)

(sits down at a distance away).

. Well? If it is thus, let us go to the inn and celebrate the occasion. Come, Uncle Akím, and have some brandy.

. I do not drink, that is, no liquor.

. Well, then you will have some tea.

. Tea is my weakness. I will take some.

. And the women, too, will drink tea. You, Nikíta, drive in the sheep, and pick up the straw.

. All right. (All exeunt, except Nikita. It is growing dark.)

(lighting a cigarette). I declare, they insisted upon my telling them how I passed my time with the girls. It would take a long time to tell about that. "Marry her," says he. If I were to marry them all, I should have plenty of wives. What sense is there in my marrying, when I am living better than any married man, and people envy me? It was as though somebody pushed me to swear by the holy image. And thus I put a stop to the whole matter. They say it is dangerous to swear to an untruth. That is all foolishness,—nothing but talk. That is all.