Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/88

Tales from Tolstoi to be done? Business is business. Besides, I am all ready now. Our host's horse, moreover, is put to. Go we must, and God be with us!" The old host was also of opinion that they ought not to go; but he had already advised them not to go, and they had not listened to him. "Perhaps age has made me fearful," thought he, "and they'll get there all right. Yet if the worst comes to the worst, we could put them up for the night without trouble."

Pete also perceived that it was dangerous to go, and he felt very uncomfortable himself, but he would not have shown it on any account, so he strengthened his heart, and persuaded himself that he did not care a bit, and was quite fortified by the reflection that the verses about

"The whirlwind brings the driving snow,"

exactly described what was going on just then in the courtyard. As for Nikita, he was altogether against going, but he had too long been accustomed to have no opinion of his own and obey others. Thus there was none to keep back the departing guests.

Vasily Andreich went to the sledge, with difficulty making out in the darkness where it was, got into it, and seized the reins.

"Go on!" cried he.

Pete, kneeling in his own sledge, let his horse go. 38