Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/252

 hold, what a queen of a girl you have gotten for a wife for your son. Now you ought to set up the drinks, to do it according to property.

. That is entirely unnecessary. (An awkward silence.)

. I understand your peasant life quite well. I must tell you, I am myself considering about some land somewhere. I should like to build me a little house, and take to farming. I would not mind out your way.

. It is a very good thing!

. In rivality, with money you can receive all kinds of pleasures in the village.

. I should say so! The life in the country, let me say, is in any case freer than in the city.

. Well, will you take me into your Commune, if I should settle in your village?

. Why not? You will treat the old men to liquor, and they will take you at once.

. You will open a wine establishment, for example, or an inn, and you will live such a life that you won't have to die. You will lord it, and nothing more.

. We will see about that later. All I want is to live out my days in peace. I live comfortably here, and I should hate to leave the place: Leoníd Fédorovich is a man of rare kindness.

. This is so in rivality. But how is it about our affair? Will it really be without consequences?

. He would like to help you.

. Evidently he is afraid of his wife.

. He is not afraid, but there is no agreement.

. You ought to try for us, father, for how can we get along without it? The land is small—

. We will see what will come of Tatyána's attempt. She has undertaken to help you.

(drinking tea). Father, take pity on