eir shoulders； ran over the gang…planks to the shore； and from the shore； carts； heavily laden with the long…expected corn； went off slowly to the village。 The women sang songs； the peasants jested and gaily abused one another； the sailors representing the guardians of peace； scolded the working people now and then； the gang…planks； bending under the feet of the carriers； splashed against the water heavily； while on the shore the horses neighed； and the carts and the sand under the wheels were creaking。
The sun had just risen； the air was fresh and invigorating and densely filled with the odour of pines； the calm water of the river； reflecting the clear sky； was gently murmuring； breaking against the sides of the vessels and the chains of the anchors。 The loud and cheerful noise of toil； the youthful beauty of nature； gaily illumined by the sunbeamsall was full of a kind…hearted； somewhat crude； sound power； which pleasantly stirred Foma's soul； awakening in him new and perplexed sensations and desires。 He was sitting by the table under the awning of the steamer and drinking tea； together with Yefim and the receiver of the corn； a provincial clerka redheaded； short…sighted gentleman in glasses。 Nervously shrugging his shoulders the receiver was telling in a hoarse voice how the peasants were starving； but Foma paid little attention to his words； looking now at the work below； now at the other side of the rivera tall； yellow； sandy steep shore； whose edges were covered with pine trees。 It was unpeopled and quiet。
〃I'll have to go over there；〃 thought Foma。 And as though from a distance the receiver's tiresome； unpleasant； harsh voice fell on his ears：
〃You wouldn't believe itat last it became horrible！ Such an incident took place！ A peasant came up to a certain intelligent man in Osa and brought along with him a girl about sixteen years old。
〃'What do you wish？〃
〃'Here；' he says； 'I've brought my daughter to your Honour。'
〃'What for？'
〃'Perhaps；' he says； 'you'll take heryou are a bachelor。'
〃'That is； how？ What do you mean？'
〃'I took her around town；' he says。 'I wanted to hire her out as a servantbut nobody would have hertake her at least as your mistress！'
〃Do you understand？ He offered his own daughterjust think of it！ A daughteras a mistress！ The devil knows what that is！ Eh？ The man； of course； became indignant and began abusing the peasant。 But the peasant spoke to him reasonably：
〃'Your Honour！ Of what use is she to me at this time？ Utterly useless。 I have；' says he； 'three boysthey will be working men； it is necessary to keep them up。 Give me；' says he； 'ten roubles for the girl； and that will improve my lot and that of my boys。'
〃How is that？ Eh？ It is simply terrible； I tell you。〃
〃No good！〃 sighed Yefim。 〃As they sayhunger will break through stone walls。 The stomach； you see； has its own laws。〃
This story called forth in Foma a great incomprehensible interest in the fate of the girl； and the youth hastened to enquire of the receiver：
〃Well； did the man buy her？〃
〃Of course not！〃 exclaimed the receiver； reproachfully。
〃Well； and what became of her？〃
〃Some good people took pity on herand provided for her。〃
〃A…h！〃 drawled Foma； and suddenly he said firmly and angrily： 〃I would have given that peasant such a thrashing！ I would have broken his head！〃 And he showed the receiver his big tightly…clenched fist。
〃Eh！ What for？〃 cried the receiver in a sickly； loud voice； tearing his spectacles from his eyes。 〃You do not understand the motive。〃
〃I do understand it！〃 said Foma； with an obstinate shake of his head。
〃But what could he do？ It came to his mind。〃
〃How can one allow himself to sell a human being？〃
〃Ah！ It is brutal； I agree with you。〃
〃And a girl at that！ I would have given him the ten roubles！〃
The receiver waved his hand hopelessly and became silent。 His gesture confused Foma。 He arose from his seat； walked off to the railing and looked down at the deck of the barge； which was covered with an industriously working crowd of people。 The noise intoxicated him； and the uneasy something； which was rambling in his soul； was now defined into a powerful desire to work； to have the strength of a giant； to possess enormous shoulders and put on them at one time a hundred bags of rye； that every one looking at him might be astonished。
〃Come now； hurry up there！〃 he shouted down in a ringing voice。 A few heads were raised to him； some faces appeared before him； and one of themthe face of a dark…eyed womansmiled at him a gentle and enticing smile。 Something flared up in his breast at this smile and began to spread over his veins in a hot wave。 He drew back from the railing and walked up to the table again； feeling that his cheeks were burning。
〃Listen！〃 said the receiver； addressing him； 〃wire to your father asking him to allow some grain for waste！ Just see how much is lost here。 And here every pound is precious！ You should have understood this！ What a fine father you have；〃 he concluded with a biting grimace。
〃How much shall I allow？〃 asked Foma； boldly and disdainfully。 〃Do you want a hundred puds？ ＇A pud is a weight of 40 Russian pounds。＇ Two hundred？〃
〃II thank you！〃 exclaimed the receiver； overjoyed and confused； 〃if you have the right to do it。〃
〃I am the master！〃 said Foma； firmly。 〃And you must not speak that way about my fathernor make such faces。〃
〃Pardon me！ II do not doubt that you have full power。 I thank you heartily。 And your father； tooin behalf of all these men in behalf of the people！〃
Yefim looked cautiously at the young master； spreading out and smacking his lips； while the master with an air of pride on his face listened to the quick…witted speech of the receiver； who was pressing his hand firmly。
〃Two hundred puds！ That is Russian…like； young man！ I shall directly notify the peasants of your gift。 You'll see how grateful they will behow glad。〃 And he shouted down：
〃Eh； boys！ The master is giving away two hundred puds。〃
〃Three hundred！〃 interposed Foma。
〃Three hundred puds。 Oh！ Thank you！ Three hundred puds of grain； boys！〃
But their response was weak。 The peasants lifted up their heads and mutely lowered them again； resuming their work。 A few voices said irresolutely and as though unwillingly：
〃Thanks。 May God give you。 We thank you very humbly。〃
And some cried out gaily and disdainfully：
〃What's the use of that？ If they had given each of us a glass of vodka insteadthat would be a just favour。 For the grain is not for usbut for the country Council。〃
〃Eh！ They do not understand！〃 exclaimed the receiver； confused。 〃I'll go down and explain it to them。〃
And he disappeared。 But the peasants' regard for his gift did not interest Foma。 He saw that the black eyes of the rosy…cheeked woman were looking at him so strangely and pleasingly。 They seemed to thank him and caressingly beckoned him； and besides those eyes he saw nothing。 The woman was dressed like the city women。 She wore shoes； a calico waist； and over her black hair she had a peculiar kerchief。 Tall and supple； seated on a pile of wood； she repaired sacks； quickly moving her hands； which were bare up to the elbows； and she smiled at Foma all the time。
〃Foma Ignatyich！〃 he heard Yefim's reproachful voice； 〃you've showed off too much。 Well； if it were only about fifty puds！ But why so much？ Look out that we don't get a good scolding for this。〃
〃Leave me alone！〃 said Foma； shortly。
〃What is it to me？ I'll keep quiet。 But as you are so young； and as I was told to keep an eye on you； I may get a rap on the snout for being heedless。〃
〃I'll tell my father all about it。 Keep quiet！〃 said Foma。
〃As for melet it be soso that you are master here。〃
〃Very well。〃
〃I have said this； Foma Ignatyich； for your own sakebecause you are so young and simple…minded。〃
〃Leave me alone； Yefim！〃
Yefim heaved a sigh and became silent； while Foma stared at the woman and thought：
〃I wish they would bring such a woman for sale to me。〃
His heart beat rapidly。 Though as yet physically pure； he already knew from conversations the mysteries of intimate relations between men and women。 He knew by rude and shameful names； and these names kindled in him an unpleasant； burning curiosity and shame； his imagination worked obstinately； for he could not picture it to himself in intelligible images。 And in his soul he did not believe that those relations were really so simple and rude； as he had been told。 When they had laughed at him and assured him that they were such； and； indeed； could not be otherwise； he smiled stupidly and confusedly； but thought nevertheless that the relations with women did not have to be in such a shameful form for everyone； and that； in all probability； there was something purer； less rude and abusive to a human being。
Now looking at the dark…eyed working woman with admiration； Foma distinctly felt just that rude inclination toward her； and he was ashamed and afraid of something。 And Yefim； standing beside him； said admonitively：
〃There you are staring at the woman； so that I cannot keep silence any longer。 You do not know her； but when she winks at you； you may； because of your youthand with a nature like yoursyou may do such a thing that we'll have to go home on foot by the shore。 And we'll have to thank God if our trousers at least remain with us。〃
〃What do you want？〃 asked Foma； red with confusion。
〃I want nothing。 And you had better mind me。 In regard to affairs with women I may perfectly well be a teacher。 You must deal with a woman very plainlygive her a bottle of vodka； something to eat after it； then a couple of bottles of beer and after everything give her twenty kopecks in cash。 For this price she will show you all her love in the best way possible。〃
〃You are lying；〃 said Foma； softly。
〃I am lying？ Why shall I lie to you since I have observed that same policy perhaps a hundred times？ Just charge me to have dealings with her。 Eh？ I'll make you acquainted with her in a moment。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Foma； feeling that he could hardly breathe and that something was choking his throat。
〃Well； then； I'll bring her up in the evening。〃
And Yefim smiled approvingly into Foma's face and walked off。 Un