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Eroshka came in, and trembling, gave Rogatchov a wretched old sword in a torn leather scabbard. In those days all noblemen wore swords with powder, but in the steppes they only put on powder twice a year. Eroshka moved away to the door and burst out crying. Pavel Afanasievitch pushed him out of the room.
"They wouldn't have been of any use in any case. I have money to buy what is necessary." "We'll see to that later on... Ah!" he exclaimed, pointing to Pavel who was at that moment coming in together with Nejdanov and the luggage from The cart, "I can recommend you my best friend here. You may rely on him absolutely, as you would on me.
The cook, Anna, comes into the dining-room, and plumps down at the master's feet. "Forgive me, for Christ's sake, Pavel Vassilitch!" she says, getting up, flushed all over. "You forgive me, too, for Christ's sake," Pavel Vassilitch responds unconcernedly. In the same manner, Anna goes up to the other members of the family, plumps down at their feet, and begs forgiveness.
Pavel Afanasievitch's father heard too of Vassily's presence, and after an interval of a few days 'for the sake of greater formality' he sallied off to Lutchinovka with the object of 'felicitating our honoured guest on his advent to the halls of his ancestors. Afanasey Lukitch was famed all over the countryside for his eloquence that is to say, for his capacity for enunciating without faltering a rather long and complicated speech, with a sprinkling of bookish phrases in it.
Meantime the wedding-day was approaching. Vassily succeeded in persuading Pavel Afanasievitch himself of the necessity of delay. Then he despatched him to Moscow to make various purchases, while he was himself in correspondence with friends in Petersburg.
Some chairs, a washstand with a small looking-glass over it, a trunk with clothes, a clock on the wall, and two ikons this was the entire outfit of the household. Pavel tried to live like the rest. He did all a young lad should do bought himself an accordion, a shirt with a starched front, a loud-colored necktie, overshoes, and a cane. Externally he became like all the other youths of his age.
"We kill a mosquito for sucking just a tiny bit of our blood," the Little Russian added in a low voice. "Well, yes, I am not saying anything about that. I only mean to say it's so disgusting." "What can you do?" returned Andrey with another shrug of his shoulders. After a long pause Pavel asked: "Could you kill a fellow like that?"
They were questioned in regard to the sentence, as to how the prisoners behaved, who delivered the speeches, and what the speeches were about. All the voices rang with the same eager curiosity, sincere and warm, which aroused the desire to satisfy it. "People! This is the mother of Pavel Vlasov!" somebody shouted, and presently all became silent. "Permit me to shake your hand."
"Good evening!" he said, smiling. "Here I am again. Yesterday they brought me here; to-day I come of my own accord. Yes, yes!" He gave Pavel a vigorous handshake, then put his hand on the mother's shoulder, and asked: "Will you give me tea?" Pavel silently regarded his swarthy, broad countenance, his thick, black beard, and dark, intelligent eyes.
"Nothing is said about Nikolay?" the mother questioned again in a low voice. Pavel fixed his stern eyes on the mother, and said distinctly: "No, there is no talk of him. He is not even thought of in connection with this affair. He is away. He went off on the river yesterday, and hasn't returned yet. I inquired for him." "Thank God!" said the mother with a sigh of relief. "Thank God!"
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