Part 64 (2/2)

Just at that awful moment when the coffin disappeared from view and the earth became a barrier for ever between the quick and the dead, Sina uttered a piercing shriek. Her sobs echoed through the quiet burial- ground, painfully affecting the little group of silent mourners. She no longer cared to hide her secret from the others who now all guessed it, horrified that death should have separated this handsome young woman from her lover to whom she had longed to give all her youth and beauty, and who now lay dead in the grave.

They led her away, and the sound of her weeping gradually subsided. The grave was hastily filled in, a mound of earth being raised above it on which little green fir-trees were planted.

Schafroff grew restless.

”I say, somebody ought to make a speech. Gentlemen, this won't do!

There ought to be a speech,” he said, hurriedly accosting the bystanders in turn.

”Ask Sanine,” was Ivanoff's malicious suggestion. Schafroff stared at the speaker in amazement, whose face wore an inscrutable expression.

”Sanine? Sanine? Where's Sanine?” he exclaimed. ”Ah! Vladimir Petrovitch, will you say a few words? We can't go away without a speech.”

”Make one yourself, then,” replied Sanine morosely. He was listening to Sina, sobbing in the distance.

”If I could do so I would. He really was a very re... mark... able man, wasn't he? Do, please, say a word or two!”

Sanine looked hard at him, and replied almost angrily. ”What is there to say? One fool less in the world. That's all!”

The bitter words fell with startling clearness on the ears of those present. Such was their amazement that they were at a loss for a reply, but Dubova, in a shrill voice, cried:

”How disgraceful!”

”Why?” asked Sanine, shrugging his shoulders. Dubova sought to shout at him, threatening him with her fists, but was restrained by several girls who surrounded her. The company broke up in disorder. Vehement sounds of protest were heard on every side, and like a group of withered leaves scattered by the wind, the crowd dispersed. Schafroff at first ran on in front, but soon afterwards came back again.

Riasantzeff stood with others aside, and gesticulated violently.

Lost in his thoughts, Sanine gazed at the angry face of a person wearing spectacles, and then turned round to join Ivanoff, who appeared perplexed. When referring Schafroff to Sanine he had foreseen a _contretemps_ of some sort, but not one of so serious a nature. While it amused him, he yet felt sorry that it had occurred. Not knowing what to say, he looked away, beyond the grave-stones and crosses, to the distant fields.

A young student stood near him, engaged in heated talk. Ivanoff froze him with a glance.

”I suppose you think yourself ornamental?” he said.

The lad blushed.

”That's not in the least funny,” he replied.

”Funny be d----d! You clear off!”

There was such a wicked look in Ivanoff's eyes that the disconcerted youth soon went away.

Sanine watched this little scene and smiled.

”What fools they are!” he exclaimed.

Instantly Ivanoff felt ashamed that even for a moment he should have wavered.

<script>