Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/198

 I threw myself on the boards at Vasya's feet and said, ‘We two are guilty before thee, Vassili Maksimuitch; forgive us for the love of Christ!’ and then I rose and said to Mashenka, ‘It is your duty, Marya Semionovna, to wash Vassili Maksimuitch's feet, and be to him an obedient wife, and pray for me to God that He, the All-Merciful, may forgive me my sin.’ I was inspired by a heavenly angel! I spoke edification; spoke with such feeling that I began to cry. And two dajs later up to me comes Vasya. ‘I forgive you,’ says he ; ‘I forgive you, Matiusha, and I forgive my wife; God be with you both. She is a soldier's wife after all, and women are queer things; she is young, it was hard for her to guard herself. She is not the first, and she will not be the last. There is only one thing,’ he added. ‘I beg you henceforth to live as if there was nothing between us; let nothing be seen, and I,’ he says, ‘will try to please her in everything so that she may love me again.’ He gave me his hand on it, drank some tea, and went away contented. ‘Glory be to God!’ I said to myself; and I felt happy that all had been settled so well. But hardly had Vasya got outside the yard when Mashenka appears. I had no peace, you see! She hung on my neck, howled, and implored me ‘For the love of God do not forsake me! I cannot live without thee! I cannot, I cannot!’”

“The shameless trull!” sighed Diudya.