Part 57 (1/2)
”n.o.body said a good word. All of them curse you and threaten you.”
”Well, and Peter Mikhyeev? What does he say? He, too, I suppose, is cursing me?”
”No, Mikhail s.e.m.e.novich, Peter is not cursing.”
”What does he say?”
”He is the only one of all the peasants who is not saying anything. He is a wise peasant. I wondered at him, Mikhail s.e.m.e.novich.”
”How so?”
”All the peasants were wondering at what he was doing.”
”What was he doing?”
”It is wonderful. I rode up to him. He is ploughing the slanting desyatina at Turkin Height. As I rode up to him, I heard some one singing such nice, high tones, and on the plough-staff something was s.h.i.+ning.”
”Well?”
”It was s.h.i.+ning like a light. I rode up to him, and there I saw a five-kopek wax candle was stuck on the cross-bar and burning, and the wind did not blow it out. He had on a clean s.h.i.+rt, and was ploughing and singing Sunday hymns. And he would turn over and shake off the dirt, but the candle did not go out. He shook the plough in my presence, changed the peg, and started the plough, but the candle was still burning and did not go out.”
”And what did he say?”
”He said nothing. When he saw me, he greeted me and at once began to sing again.”
”What did you say to him?”
”I did not say anything to him, but the peasants came up and laughed at him: 'Mikhyeev will not get rid of his sin of ploughing during Easter week even if he should pray all his life.'”
”What did he say to that?”
”All he said was: 'Peace on earth and good-will to men.' He took his plough, started his horses, and sang out in a thin voice, but the candle kept burning and did not go out.”
The clerk stopped laughing. He put down the guitar, lowered his head, and fell to musing.
He sat awhile; then he sent away the cook and the elder, went behind the curtain, lay down on the bed, and began to sigh and to sob, just as though a cart were driving past with sheaves. His wife came and began to speak to him; he gave her no answer. All he said was:
”He has vanquished me. My turn has come.”
His wife tried to calm him.
”Go and send them home! Maybe it will be all right. See what deeds you have done, and now you lose your courage.”
”I am lost,” he said. ”He has vanquished me.”
His wife cried to him: