the man who was afraid- 第23部分

All　aflush；　she　looked　at　him　so　angrily　and　spoke　with　so　much　spitefulness；　that　in　his　astonishment　he　did　not　even　feel　offended　by　her。　She　had　never　before　spoken　to　him　in　such　manner。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃　he　asked　her。

〃I　hate　you；　too！　You；　what　are　you？　Dead；　empty；　how　will　you　live？　What　will　you　give　to　mankind？〃　she　said　with　malice；　in　a　low　voice。

〃I'll　give　nothing；　let　them　strive　for　it　themselves；〃　answered　Foma；　knowing　that　these　words　would　augment　her　anger。

〃Unfortunate　creature！〃　exclaimed　the　girl　with　contempt。

The　assurance　and　the　power　of　her　reproaches　involuntarily　compelled　Foma　to　listen　attentively　to　her　spiteful　words；　he　felt　there　was　common　sense　in　them。　He　even　came　nearer　to　her；　but　she；　enraged　and　exasperated；　turned　away　from　him　and　became　silent。

It　was　still　light　outside；　and　the　reflection　of　the　setting　sun　lay　still　on　the　branches　of　the　linden…trees　before　the　windows；　but　the　room　was　already　filled　with　twilight；　and　the　sideboard；　the　clock　and　the　cupboard　seemed　to　have　grown　in　size。　The　huge　pendulum　peeped　out　every　moment　from　beneath　the　glass　of　the　clock…case；　and　flashing　dimly；　was　hiding　with　a　weary　sound　now　on　the　right　side；　now　on　the　left。　Foma　looked　at　the　pendulum　and　he　began　to　feel　awkward　and　lonesome。　Luba　arose　and　lighted　the　lamp　which　was　hanging　over　the　table。　The　girl's　face　was　pale　and　stern。

〃You　went　for　me；〃　said　Foma；　reservedly。　〃What　for？　I　can't　understand。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　speak　to　you！〃　replied　Luba；　angrily。

〃That's　your　affair。　But　nevertheless；　what　wrong　have　I　done　to　you？〃

〃You？

〃I。〃

〃Understand　me；　I　am　suffocating！　It　is　close　here。　Is　this　life？　Is　this　the　way　how　to　live？　What　am　I？　I　am　a　hanger…on　in　my　father's　house。　They　keep　me　here　as　a　housekeeper。　Then　they'll　marry　me！　Again　housekeeping。　It's　a　swamp。　I　am　drowning；　suffocating。〃

〃And　what　have　I　to　do　with　it？〃　asked　Foma。

〃You　are　no　better　than　the　others。〃

〃And　therefore　I　am　guilty　before　you？〃

〃Yes；　guilty！　You　must　desire　to　be　better。〃

〃But　do　I　not　wish　it？〃　exclaimed　Foma。

The　girl　was　about　to　tell　him　something；　but　at　this　time　the　bell　began　to　ring　somewhere；　and　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　leaning　back　in　her　chair：

〃It's　father。〃

〃I　would　not　feel　sorry　if　he　stayed　away　a　little　longer；〃　said　Foma。　〃I　wish　I　could　listen　to　you　some　more。　You　speak　so　very　oddly。〃

〃Ah！　my　children；　my　doves！　〃　exclaimed　Yakov　Tarasovich；　appearing　in　the　doorway。　〃You're　drinking　tea？　Pour　out　some　tea　for　me；　Lugava！〃

Sweetly　smiling；　and　rubbing　his　hands；　he　sat　down　near　Foma　and　asked；　playfully　jostling　him　in　the　side：

〃What　have　you　been　cooing　about？〃

〃Soabout　different　trifles；〃　answered　Luba。

〃I　haven't　asked　you；　have　I？〃　said　her　father　to　her；　with　a　grimace。　〃You　just　sit　there；　hold　your　tongue；　and　mind　your　woman's　affairs。〃

〃I've　been　telling　her　about　the　dinner；〃　Foma　interrupted　his　godfather's　words。

〃Aha！　So…o…o。　Well；　then；　I'll　also　speak　about　the　dinner。　I　have　been　watching　you　of　late。　You　don't　behave　yourself　sensibly！〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Foma；　knitting　his　brow；　ill　pleased。

〃I　just　mean　that　your　behaviour　is　preposterous；　and　that's　all。　When　the　governor；　for　instance；　speaks　to　you；　you　keep　quiet。〃

〃What　should　I　tell　him？　He　says　that　it　is　a　misfortune　to　lose　a　father。　Well；　I　know　it。　What　could　I　tell　him？〃

〃But　as　the　Lord　willed　it　so；　I　do　not　grumble；　your　Excellency。　That's　what　you　should　have　said；　or　something　in　this　spirit。　Governors；　my　dear；　are　very　fond　of　meekness　in　a　man。〃

〃Was　I　to　look　at　him　like　a　lamb？〃　said　Foma；　with　a　smile。

〃You　did　look　like　a　lamb；　and　that　was　unnecessary。　You　must　look　neither　like　a　lamb；　nor　like　a　wolf；　but　just　play　off　before　him　as　though　saying：　'You　are　our　father；　we　are　your　children；'　and　he　will　immediately　soften。〃

〃And　what　is　this　for？〃

〃For　any　event。　A　governor；　my　dear；　can　always　be　of　use　somewhere。〃

〃What　do　you　teach　him；　papa？〃　said　Luba；　indignantly；　in　a　low　voice。

〃Well；　what？〃

〃To　dance　attendance。〃

〃You　lie；　you　learned　fool！　I　teach　him　politics；　not　dancing　attendance；　I　teach　him　the　politics　of　life。　You　had　better　leave　us　alone！　Depart　from　evil；　and　prepare　some　lunch　for　us。　Go　ahead！〃

Luba　rose　quickly　and　throwing　the　towel　across　the　back　of　the　chair；　left　the　room。　Mayakin；　winking　his　eyes；　looked　after　her；　tapped　the　table　with　his　fingers　and　said：

〃I　shall　instruct　you；　Foma。　I　shall　teach　you　the　most　genuine；　true　knowledge　and　philosophy；　and　if　you　understand　them；　your　life　will　be　faultless。〃

Foma　saw　how　the　wrinkles　on　the　old　man's　forehead　were　twitching；　and　they　seemed　to　him　like　lines　of　Slavonic　letters。

〃First　of　all；　Foma；　since　you　live　on　this　earth；　it　is　your　duty　to　think　over　everything　that　takes　place　about　you。　Why？　That　you　may　not　suffer　for　your　own　senselessness；　and　may　not　harm　others　by　your　folly。　Now；　every　act　of　man　is　double…faced；　Foma。　One　is　visible　to　allthis　is　the　wrong　side；　the　other　is　concealedand　that　is　the　real　one。　It　is　that　one　that　you　must　be　able　to　find　in　order　to　understand　the　sense　of　the　thing。　Take　for　example　the　lodging…asylums；　the　work…houses；　the　poor…houses　and　other　similar　　institutions。　Just　consider；　what　are　they　for？〃

〃What　is　there　to　consider　here？〃　said　Foma；　wearily　〃Everybody　knows　what　they　are　forfor　the　poor　and　feeble。〃

〃Eh；　dear！　Sometimes　everybody　knows　that　a　certain　man　is　a　rascal　and　a　scoundrel；　and　yet　all　call　him　Ivan　or　Peter；　and　instead　of　abusing　him　they　respectfully　add　his　father's　name　to　his　own。〃

〃What　has　this　to　do　with　it？〃

〃It's　all　to　the　point。　So　you　say　that　these　houses　are　for　the　poor；　for　beggars；　consequently；　in　accordance　with　Christ's　commandment。　Very　well！　But　who　is　the　beggar？　The　beggar　is　a　man；　forced　by　fate　to　remind　us　of　Christ；　he　is　a　brother　of　Christ；　he　is　the　bell　of　the　Lord　and　he　rings　in　life　to　rouse　our　conscience；　to　arouse　the　satiety　of　the　flesh　of　man。　He　stands　by　the　window　and　sings　out：　'For　the　sake　of　Christ！'　and　by　his　singing　he　reminds　us　of　Christ；　of　His　holy　commandment　to　help　the　neighbour。　But　men　have　so　arranged　their　life　that　it　is　impossible　for　them　to　act　according　to　the　teachings　of　Christ；　and　Jesus　Christ　has　become　altogether　unnecessary　to　us。　Not　one　time；　but　perhaps　a　hundred　thousand　times　have　we　turned　Him　over　to　the　cross；　and　yet　we　cannot　drive　Him　altogether　out　of　life；　because　His　poor　brethren　sing　His　Holy　name　on　the　streets　and　thus　remind　us　of　Him。　And　now　we　have　arranged　to　lock　up　these　beggars　in　separate　houses　that　they　should　not　walk　around　on　the　streets　and　should　not　rouse　our　conscience。

〃Cle…ver！〃　whispered　Foma；　amazed；　staring　fixedly　at　his　godfather。

〃Aha！〃　exclaimed　Mayakin；　his　eyes　beaming　with　triumph。

〃How　is　it　that　my　father　did　not　think　of　this？〃　asked　Foma；　uneasily。

〃Just　wait！　Listen　further；　it　is　still　worse。　So　you　see；　we　have　arranged　to　lock　them　up　in　all　sorts　of　houses　and　that　they　might　be　kept　there　cheaply；　we　have　compelled　those　old　and　feeble　beggars　to　work　and　we　need　give　no　alms　now；　and　since　our　streets　have　been　cleared　of　the　various　ragged　beggars；　we　do　not　see　their　terrible　distress　and　poverty；　and　we　may；　therefore；　think　that　all　men　on　earth　are　well…fed；　shod　and　clothed。　That's　what　all　these　different　houses　are　for；　for　the　concealment　of　the　truth；　for　the　banishment　of　Christ　from　our　life！　Is　this　clear　to　you？〃

〃Yes！〃　said　Foma；　confused　by　the　old　man's　clever　words。

〃And　this　is　not　all。　The　pool　is　not　yet　baled　out　to　the　bottom！〃　exclaimed　Mayakin；　swinging　his　hand　in　the　air　with　animation。

The　wrinkles　of　his　face　were　in　motion；　his　long；　ravenous　nose　was　stirring；　and　in　his　voice　rang　notes　of　irritability　and　emotion。

〃Now；　let　us　look　at　this　thing　from　the　other　side。　Who　contributes　most　in　favour　of　the　poor；　for　the　support　of　these　houses；　asylums；　poor…houses？　The　rich　people；　the　merchants；　our　body　of　merchants。　Very　well！　And　who　commands　our　life　and　regulates　it？　The　nobles；　the　functionaries　and　all　sorts　of　other　people；　not　belonging　to　our　class。　From　them　come　the　laws；　the　newspapers；　scienceeverything　from　them。　Before；　they　were　land…owners；　now　their　land　was　snatched　away　from　themand　they　started　out　in　service。　Very　well！　But　who　are　the　most　powerful　people　today？　The　merchant　is　the　supreme　power　in　an　empire；　because　he　has　the　millions　on　his　side！　Isn't　that　so？〃

〃True！〃　assented　Foma；　eager　to　hear　the　sooner　that　which　was　to　follow；　and　which　was　already　sparkling　in　the　eyes　of　his　godfather。

〃Just　mark　this；〃　the　old　man　went　on　distinctly　and　impressively。　〃We　merchants　had　no　hand　in　the　arrangement　of　life；　nor　do　we　have　a　voice　or　a　hand　in　it　today。　Life　was　arranged　by　others；　and　it　is　they　that　multiplied　all　sorts　of　scabs　in　lifeidlers　and　poor　unfortunates；　and　since　by　multiplying　them　they　obstructed　life　and　spoilt　itit　is；　justly　judging；　now　their　duty　to　purify　it。　But　we　are　purifying　it；　we　contribute　money　for　the　poor；　we　look　after　themwe；　judge　it　for　yourself；　why　should　we　mend　another's　rags；　since　we　did　not　tear　them？　Why　should　we　repair　a　house；　since　others　have　lived　in　it　and　since　it　belongs　to　others？　Were　it　not　wiser　for　us　to　step　aside　and　watch　until　a　certain　time　how　rottenness　is　multiplying　and　choking　those　that　are　strangers　to　us？　They　cannot　conquer　it；　they　have　not　the　means　to　do　it。　Then　they　will　turn　to　us　and　say：　'Pray；　help　us；　gentlemen！'　and　we'll　tell　them：　'Let　us　have　room　for　our　work！　Rank　us　among　the　builders　of　this　same　life！'　And　as　soon　as　they　do　this　we；　too；　will　have　to　clear　life　at　one　sweep　of　all　sorts　of　filth　and　chaff。　Then　the　Emperor　will　see　with　his　clear　eyes　who　are　really　his　faithful　servants；　and　how　much　wisdom　they　have　saved　up　while　their　hands　were　idle。　Do　you　understand？〃

〃Of　course；　I　do！〃　exclaimed　Foma。

When　his　godfather　spoke　of　the　functionaries；　Foma　reminded　himself　of　the　people　that　were　present　at　the　dinner；　he　recalled　the　brisk