Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/263

 weak drink. Let me have liquor, only a swallow! Lukérya!

. How the poor fellow is suffering!

. Had you not better let him have some?

(goes to the safe and pours out a wine-glassful). Here! That is all I will give you!

(seizes it, and drinks it with trembling hands). Lukérya! Cook! I drink, but you must understand—

. That will do! Climb on the oven, and let me not hear a word from you!

. Just see what it means for a man to weaken!

. In rivality, what is human weakness?

. What is the use of mentioning it? (The Old Cook lies down, continuing to grumble. Silence.)

. I wanted to ask you: there is a girl from our village, Aksínya's daughter, living here; well, how is she? Is she a good girl, so to speak?

. Yes, she is, I may honestly say so.

. Let me tell you truthfully, uncle, for I know the conditions here pretty well, if you want to marry your son to her, take her away at once, before she has a chance to get spoilt, or else it is bound to happen.

. That is so. For example, last year there was a girl, Natálya by name, living in our house. She was a nice girl. She was completely ruined, just like this fellow. (Points to the Old Cook.)

. A whole lot of us women go to ruin here. They all hanker for light work and sweet food. Behold, before they know it, the sweet food leads them astray, and when they are led astray, nobody wants them. They are at once sent away, and fresh ones take their place. Just so it happened with poor Natálya: she