ling； and enraged waves at the stern of the steamer； and began to feel a wild desire to break or tear something； also to go； breast foremost； against the current and to mass its pressure against himself； against his breast and his shoulders。
〃Fate！〃 said someone beside him in a hoarse and weary voice。
This word was familiar to him： his Aunt Anfisa had often used it as an answer to his questions； and he had invested in this brief word a conception of a power； similar to the power of God。 He glanced at the speakers： one of them was a gray little old man； with a kind face； the other was younger； with big； weary eyes and with a little black wedge…shaped beard。 His big gristly nose and his yellow； sunken cheeks reminded Foma of his godfather。
〃Fate！〃 The old man repeated the exclamation of his interlocutor with confidence； and began to smile。 〃Fate in life is like a fisherman on the river： it throws a baited hook toward us into the tumult of our life and we dart at it with greedy mouths。 Then fate pulls up the rodand the man is struggling； flopping on the ground； and then you see his heart is broken。 That's how it is； my dear man。〃
Foma closed his eyes； as if a ray of the sun had fallen full on them； and shaking his head； he said aloud：
〃True！ That is true！〃
The companions looked at him fixedly： the old man； with a fine； wise smile； the large…eyed man； unfriendly； askance。 This confused Foma； he blushed and walked away； thinking of Fate and wondering why it had first treated him kindly by giving him a woman； and then took back the gift from him； so simply and abusively？ And he now understood that the vague； caustic feeling which he carried within him was a grudge against Fate for thus sporting with him。 He had been too much spoiled by life； to regard more plainly the first drop of poison from the cup which was just started； and he passed all the time of the journey without sleep； pondering over the old man's words and fondling his grudge。 This grudge； however； did not awaken in him despondency and sorrow； but rather a feeling of anger and revenge。
Foma was met by his godfather； and to his hasty and agitated question； Mayakin； his greenish little eyes flashing excitedly； said when he seated himself in the carriage beside his godson：
〃Your father has grown childish。〃
〃Drinking？〃
〃Worsehe has lost his mind completely。〃
〃Really？ 0h Lord！ Tell me。〃
〃Don't you understand？ A certain lady is always around him。〃
〃What about her？〃 exclaimed Foma； recalling his Pelageya； and for some reason or other his heart was filled with joy。
〃She sticks to him andbleeds him。〃
〃Is she a quiet one？〃
〃She？ Quiet as a fire。 Seventy…five thousand roubles she blew out of his pocket like a feather！〃
〃Oh！ Who is she？〃
〃Sonka Medinskaya； the architect's wife。〃
〃Great God！ Is it possible that sheDid my fatherIs it possible that he took her as his sweetheart？〃 asked Foma； with astonishment； in a low voice。
His godfather drew back from him； and comically opening his eyes wide； said convincedly：
〃You are out of your mind； too！ By God； you're out of your mind！ Come to your senses！ A sweetheart at the age of sixty…three！ And at such a price as this。 What are you talking about？ Well； I'll tell this to Ignat。〃
And Mayakin filled the air with a jarring； hasty laughter； at which his goat…like beard began to tremble in an uncomely manner。 It took Foma a long time to obtain a categorical answer； the old man； contrary to his habit； was restless and irritated； his speech； usually fluent； was now interrupted； he was swearing and expectorating as he spoke； and it was with difficulty that Foma learned what the matter was。 Sophya Pavlovna Medinskaya； the wealthy architect's wife； who was well known in the city for her tireless efforts in the line of arranging various charitable projects； persuaded Ignat to endow seventy…five thousand roubles for the erection of a lodging…house in the city and of a public library with a reading…room。 Ignat had given the money； and already the newspapers lauded him for his generosity。 Foma had seen the woman more than once on the streets； she was short； he knew that she was considered as one of the most beautiful women in the city； and that bad rumours were afoot as to her behaviour。
〃Is that all？〃 exclaimed Foma； when his godfather concluded the story。 〃And I thought God knows what！〃
〃You？ You thought？〃 cried Mayakin； suddenly grown angry。 〃You thought nothing； you beardless youngster！〃
〃Why do you abuse me？〃 Foma said。
〃Tell me； in your opinion； is seventy…five thousand roubles a big sum or not？〃
〃Yes； a big sum；〃 said Foma； after a moment's thought。
〃Ah； ha！〃
〃But my father has much money。 Why do you make such a fuss about it？〃
Yakov Tarasovich was taken aback。 He looked into the youth's face with contempt and asked him in a faint voice：
〃And you speak like this？〃
〃I？ Who then？〃
〃You lie！ It is your young foolishness that speaks。 Yes！ And my old foolishnessbrought to test a million times by lifesays that you are a young dog as yet； and it is too early for you to bark in a basso。〃
Foma hearing this； had often been quite provoked by his godfather's too picturesque language。
Mayakin always spoke to him more roughly than his father； but now the youth felt very much offended by the old man and said to him reservedly； but firmly：
〃You had better not abuse me without reflection； for I am no longer a small child。〃
〃Come； come！〃 exclaimed Mayakin； mockingly lifting his eyebrows and squinting。
This roused Foma's indignation。 He looked full into the old man's eyes and articulated with emphasis：
〃And I am telling you that I don't want to hear any more of that undeserved abuse of yours。 Enough！〃
〃Mm！ So…o！ Pardon me。〃
Yakov Tarasovich closed his eyes； chewed a little with his lips； and； turning aside from his godson； kept silent for awhile。 The carriage turned into a narrow street； and； noticing from afar the roof of his house； Foma involuntarily moved forward。 At the same time Mayakin asked him with a roguish and gentle smile：
〃Foma！ Tell meon whom you have sharpened your teeth？ Eh？〃
〃Why； are they sharp？〃 asked Foma； pleased with the manner in which Mayakin now regarded him。
〃Pretty good。 That's good； dear。 That's very good！ Your father and I were afraid lest you should be a laggard。 Well； have you learned to drink vodka？〃
〃I drank it。〃
〃Rather too soon！ Did you drink much of it？〃
〃Why much？〃
〃Does it taste good？〃
〃Not very。〃
〃So。 Never mind； all this is not so bad。 Only you are too outspoken。 You are ready to confess all your sins to each and every pope that comes along。 You must consider it isn't always necessary to do that。 Sometimes by keeping silent you both please people and commit no sins。 Yes。 A man's tongue is very seldom sober。 Here we are。 See； your father does not know that you have arrived。 Is he home yet； I wonder？〃
He was at home： his loud； somewhat hoarse laughter was heard from the open windows of the rooms。 The noise of the carriage； which stopped at the house； caused Ignat to look out of the window； and at the sight of his son he cried out with joy：
〃Ah！ You've come。〃
After a while he pressed Foma to his breast with one hand； and； pressing the palm of his other hand against his son's forehead； thus bending his head back； he looked into his face with beaming eyes and spoke contentedly：
〃You are sunburnt。 You've grown strong。 You're a fine fellow！ Madame！ How's my son？ Isn't he fine？〃
〃Not bad looking；〃 a gentle； silver voice was heard。 Foma glanced from behind his father's shoulder and noticed that a slender woman with magnificent fair hair was sitting in the front corner of the room； resting her elbows on the table； her dark eyes； her thin eyebrows and plump； red lips strikingly defined on her pale face。 Behind her armchair stood a large philodendron…plant whose big； figured leaves were hanging down in the air over her little golden head。
〃How do you do； Sophya Pavlovna；〃 said Mayakin； tenderly； approaching her with his hand outstretched。 〃What； are you still collecting contributions from poor people like us？〃
Foma bowed to her mutely； not hearing her answer to Mayakin； nor what his father was saying to him。 The lady stared at him steadfastly and smiled to him affably and serenely。 Her childlike figure； clothed in some kind of dark fabric； was almost blended with the crimson stuff of the armchair； while her wavy； golden hair and her pale face shone against the dark background。 Sitting there in the corner； beneath the green leaves； she looked at once like a flower； and like an ikon。
〃See； Sophya Pavlovna； how he is staring at you。 An eagle； eh？〃 said Ignat。
Her eyes became narrower； a faint blush leaped to her cheeks； and she burst into laughter。 It sounded like the tinkling of a little silver bell。 And she immediately arose； saying：
〃I wouldn't disturb you。 Good…bye！〃
When she went past Foma noiselessly； the scent of perfume came to him； and he noticed that her eyes were dark blue； and her eyebrows almost black。
〃The sly rogue glided away；〃 said Mayakin in a low voice； angrily looking after her。
〃Well； tell us how was the trip？ Have you squandered much money？〃 roared Ignat； pushing his son into the same armchair where Medinskaya had been sitting awhile before。 Foma looked at him askance and seated himself in another chair。
〃Isn't she a beautiful young woman； eh？〃 said Mayakin； smiling； feeling Foma with his cunning eyes。 〃If you keep on gaping at her she will eat away all your insides。〃
Foma shuddered for some reason or other； and； saying nothing in reply； began to tell his father about the journey in a matter…of…fact tone。 But Ignat interrupted him：
〃Wait； I'll ask for some cognac。〃
〃And you are keeping on drinking all the time； they say；〃 said Foma； disapprovingly。
Ignat glanced at his son with surprise and curiosity； and asked：
〃Is this the way to speak to your father？〃
Foma became confused and lowered his head。
〃That's it！〃 said Ignat； kind…heartedly； and ordered cognac to be brought to him。
Mayakin； winking his eyes； looked at the Gordyeeffs； sighed； bid them good…bye； and； after inviting them to have tea with him in his raspberry garden