Page:Pushkin - Russian Romance (King, 1875).djvu/257

 red and yellow leaves that lay in its course. I entered the village at sunset and stopped before the little post-house. A fat old woman came into the lobby (where poor Dounia had once kissed me) and replied to my inquiries by saying that the old station-master had been dead about a year, that a brewer was settled in his house, and that she herself was the brewer's wife. I began to regret my useless drive and the seven roubles I had profitlessly expended.

"What did he die of?" I inquired of the brewer's wife.

"Drink, sir," answered she.

"And where is he buried?"

"Behind the enclosure, next to his late missus."

"Could anybody conduct me to the grave?"

"Why not? Here, Vanka! leave off pulling the cat about. Take this gentleman to the churchyard, and show him the station-master's grave."

At these words a ragged, red-haired lad, who was blind of one eye, ran up to me, and set out as my guide.

"Didst thou know the dead man?" I asked him by the way.

"How was I not to know him? He taught me how to make reed whistles. Many a time have we shouted after him when on his way from the public-house (God rest his soul!), ' Daddy, daddy, give us some nuts!' And he would then throw nuts at us. He always played with us." "And do travellers ever talk of him?"

"There are few travellers now. The assessor may oc-