Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/265

 angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother. . .”

“‘The young child and his mother,’” repeated Olga. She reddened with joy. until I bring thee word. . . ."

“. . . and flee into Egypt. . . and be thou there”

At the word “until” Olga could not longer restrain her emotion and began to cry. Marya followed her example, and Ivan Makaruitch's sister cried also. The old man coughed and fussed about, seeking a present for his grandchild, but he found nothing, and waved his hand. When the reading ended, the visitors dispersed to their, homes, deeply touched, and pleased with Olga and Sasha.

As the day was Sunday the family remained in the hut. The old woman, whom husband, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren alike addressed as “grandmother,” did everything with her own hands: she lighted the stove, set the samovar; she even worked in the fields; and at the same time growled that she was tortured with work. She tortured herself with dread that the family might eat too much, and took care that her husband and daughters-in-law did not sit with idle hands. Once when she found that the innkeeper's geese had got into her kitchen-garden, she rushed at once out of the house armed with a long stick ; and for half an hour screamed