Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume XIV).djvu/50

Rh them up, and he saw me, he began at once shouting, 'Hurrah! Stand in position! right about face, guard of the roadside!'

The beggars took up his shout, and halted; while he, with his peculiar laugh, jumped on to the carriage step, and again yelled: Hurrah!

'What's the meaning of this?' I asked with involuntary astonishment.

'This? This is my company, my army—all beggars, God's people, friends of my heart. Every one of them, thanks to you, has had a glass; and now we are all rejoicing and making merry! Uncle! Do you know it's only with beggars, God's people, that one can live in the world by God, it is!'

I made him no answer but at that moment he struck me as such a kind good creature, his face expressed such childlike simple-heartedness. A light seemed suddenly as it were to dawn upon me, and I felt a pang in my heart. 'Get into the carriage,' I said to him. He was taken aback.

'What? Into the carriage?'

'Yes, get in, get in,' I repeated; 'I want to make you a suggestion. Sit down. Come along with me.'

'Well, as you will.' He sat down. 'Well, and you, my honoured friends, my dear comrades,' he added, addressing the beggars, 'fare-well, till we meet again.' Misha took off his high cap, and bowed low. The beggars all