Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/157

 the fool, and answered every serious question with a joke, Olga Ivanovna was jealous of the picture, and hated it, but for the sake of good manners, she stood before it five minutes, and, sighing as people sigh before holy things, said softly —

“Yes, you never painted like that before. Do you know, it almost frightens me.”

And she began to implore him to love her, not to forsake her, to pity her — poor and unfortunate! She kissed his hand, cried, made him swear his love, and boasted that without her influence he would go off the track and perish utterly. Thus having spoilt his good humour, and humiliated herself, she would drive away to a dressmaker, or to some actress friend to ask for free tickets.

Once when she found Riabovsky out she left a note swearing that if he did not visit her at once she would take poison. And he, frightened, came and stayed to dinner. Ignoring her husband's presence, he spoke to her impudently ; and she answered in the same tone. They felt chained to one another; they were despots and foes; and their anger hid from them their own rudeness, which even close-clipped Korosteleff remarked. After dinner Riabovsky said good-bye hastily and went.

“Where are you going?” asked Olga Ivanovna. She stood in the hall, and looked at him with hatred.

Riabovsky frowned and Winked, and named a woman