Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/205

 emerged a woman, who, seeing Sophia on the bench, stood still.

“Varvara, is it you?” asked Sophia.

It was Varvara. She stood still a moment longer, then came up to the bench and sat down.

“Where have you been?” asked Sophia.

Varvara was silent.

“You will bring the same end on yourself, young one,” said Sophia. “You heard about Mashenka, and the trampling underfoot. . . and the reins. Take care that something of that sort doesn't happen to you.”

“I don't care if jt does.”

Varvara laughed in her handkerchief, and said in a whisper —

“I have been with the priest's son.”

“Nonsense?”

“I swear.”

“It's a sin!” whispered Sophia.

“I don't care. It's nothing to regret. A sin is a sin, and better the lightning strike me than lead such a life. I am young. . . and healthy, and my husband is a hunchback, miserable, surly, worse than Diudya accursed! Before I was married I had not enough to eat and walked barefoot; but for the sake of Aliosha's money I became a slave, like a fish in a net, and I would sooner sleep with a serpent than with this