Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/139

. You ask her why the unclean one has taken her there.

. Why to town? In town there is much of everything if you only have the means. O Lord!

. I have heard it myself. "I will buy you a shawl," says he, "I will," truly, says he. "You shall pick it out yourself," says he. And she dressed herself up: she put on the plush sleeveless coat and the French kerchief.

. It is true: a girl's chastity goes as far as the threshold. Let her step across it, and she forgets everything. Shameless one!

. Well, what is there to be ashamed of? Celebrate as long as there is any money! O Lord! Is it too early for supper? (Anísya keeps silent.) In the meantime I will warm myself. (Climbs on the oven.) O Lord! Most Holy Mother of God! St. Nicholas!

(enter). Your man has not come back yet?

. No.

. It is time he should have. I wonder whether he has not gone to our inn. Sister Fékla told me that a number of sleighs from town were standing there.

. Anyútka, O Anyútka

. What?

. Run down, Anyútka, to the inn, and see whether he is not there, and drunk.

(jumping down from the oven, and putting on her coat). Right away!

. Has he taken Akulína with him?

. For what else would he go there? She is the cause of it all. He said that he had to go to the bank to get some money, but it is only she who is taking him to town.