Page:Short Story Classics (Foreign, Volume 1, Russian, Collier, 1907).djvu/195

Rh class order. He was already going to leave when I came forward with my complaint. He immediately burst forth: 'Here,' he said, 'is to be a government inspection, you—so and so—and you dare come forward with your complaints about your vegetable garden! We are expecting privy councilors and he comes with his cabbages!' I could not control myself and said a word—not so very bad either, but it seemed to offend him and he struck me— And I stood there, as if it was the most usual thing in the world to happen. Only, when they went off, I came to my senses, washed off the blood from my face and went away."

"And what about the watch-house?"

"My wife is there, she will take care; and besides, the devil take their road, anyway!"

"Good-by, Ivanich," he said to Semen on taking leave of him; "I don't know if I shall find justice for myself."

"You don't mean to tell me that you will go on foot?"

"I shall ask them at the station to let me ride in a freighter; to-morrow I shall be in Moscow."

The neighbors took leave of each other and each went his way. Vasili stayed away for a long time. His wife did all the work for him, sleeping neither night nor day, and looked very worn and exhausted. On the third day the inspectors passed: an engine, freight-car, and two private cars, and Vasili was still absent. On the fourth day Semen saw Vasili's wife; her face was swollen with incessant weeping and her eyes were very red. "Has your husband returned?"