Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/80

Tales from Tolstoi cultivated five ordinary lots, and had other outlying land in reserve besides. There were six horses in the yard, three cows, two yoke-oxen, and twenty head of sheep. The family consisted of twenty-two souls, including four married sons, six grandchildren — of whom only Pete was married — two great-grandchildren, three orphans, and four daughters-in-law with their children. It was one of those few houses where, as yet, there were no divisions; but for some time past there had been some domestic unpleasantness, as is ever the case, beginning amongst the women, and due to petty squabbling which was bound, sooner or later, to end in downright division. Two of the sons lived at Moscow, among the water-carriers; and one was a soldier. There were now at home the old man, the old woman, the son who looked after the farm, a son who had arrived from Moscow for the feast, and all the women and children. Moreover, besides the people of the house, a guest was present — the neighbouring starosta.

Over the table in the living-room hung the lamp from a high support, brightly illuminating the tea-service beneath it, the water-bottle, the repast already spread forth, and the brick walling of the "beautiful corner," hung with ikons, with pictures on each side of them. In the place of honour at table sat Vasily Andreich, in a black half-pelisse, smoothing out his frozen moustaches, and blinking at all the people in the room with his prominent, hawk-like eyes. Besides Vasily Andreich, there were sitting at table a white-bearded, bald-headed old man, the master of the house, in a white shirt of home make; alongside 30