Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/244

Tales from Tolstoi went off for your pleasure, and took all the money with you, and now you begin to cross-question me!"

The old man was angry. He struck his son.

Next morning Efim Tarasuich went to the starosta to report himself; he passed by Elisyei's farm. Elisyei's old woman was standing on the balcony—they exchanged greetings.

"Is it well with thee, cousin?" said she, "hast thou returned in health, dear house-swallow?"

Efim Tarasuich stopped. "Thank God," said he, "I have returned in safety. I lost thy old man on the way, but they tell me he has returned home."

The old woman began to talk, she dearly loved a gossip.

"Our bread-winner has returned," she said, "he returned long ago. Soon after the Assumption he returned, and glad were we that God brought him back. We were so anxious about him. Work indeed, he can do no more; his working days are over, but he has always got a head upon his shoulders, and it is ever so much merrier at home when he is there. And our lad there, how glad he was! 'Without him,' said he, 'it is as though there was no light in one's eyes.' It is dull with us without him, and miserable. How we missed the darling!"

"Say, is he at home now?"

"He is at home amongst his hives. He is hiving his bees. He has got some fine swarms, I can tell you. God has given such vigour to his bees that the old man does not remember the like of it. God gives us more than our merits deserve, he says. Go and see him, and right glad will he be." 194