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Updated: June 12, 2025
"To go towards the lake now would be certain death," replied Volodia brokenly. "No, Elena Andreïevna; we must trust in God. He alone can save her if she is on the water now! Pray Heaven she may not have started!" As he spoke, a long procession of terrified peasants came winding up the road towards the great house.
I'm sure I try to remember what you teach me, though the things are so difficult. I'm not so very lazy, Elena!" Elena stooped her dark brown head over the little golden one. "You're a darling, Daria! I know you do your best, when you don't forget all about it!" Volodia Ivanovitch had devoted his two best rooms to the children.
"Gone to see Marsha's sick child," said Elena, clinging to little Daria with one hand, and gazing at Volodia with eyes full of terror. "Ah, then it is true. It was her I saw! The poor mistress! Aïe! Aïe! Don't move, children! Don't stir. Here is your only safety," cried Volodia in piercing tones. "The river has flooded into the lake, and the dam may go any moment. The village will be overwhelmed.
I wish very much to go on with it." Uncle Volodia pondered. It might be an amusement for the poor girl, and no one need know of the crazy notion of selling them. "If you like, Matoushka. Do just as you like," he said. So it was decided that Elena should be driven over to Mourum on the next market day.
"It's not for ourselves, Volodia Ivanovitch, but for those poor innocent children; I can't refuse what's kindly meant. Meanwhile, Elena and Boris, were getting slowly used to their changed life.
The few relations they had, made no sign to show they knew of their existence; but they were not without friends, and one of the first and truest of these was Volodia. "Don't trouble about this lawsuit, Elena Andreïevna," he said, on one of his frequent visits to the great house.
All the week the children looked forward to this expedition, for with the exception of an occasional visit to Volodia Ivanovitch's shop in the village, it was the only break in the quiet monotony of their lives.
"I always thought the Barin would have his own again," cried Volodia triumphantly, forgetting that only a moment before he had been full of dismal prophecies. Adam and Var-Vara wept for joy, and Ivan stood by smiling complacently.
The bed had faded blue satin hangings; and a large Turkish rug and two ricketty gilt chairs, completed an effect which Uncle Volodia and his wife considered to be truly magnificent. Boris slept in the room adjoining. This was turned into a sitting-room in the daytime, and furnished in the same luxurious manner.
"I have sent notices to all the peasants, describing the box, and offering a reward. Who knows, Elena? it may be discovered!" Time passed on, and though Mr. Olsheffsky made many expeditions into the town of Mourum, and drove all round the country, making enquiries of the peasants, he could hear nothing of the wooden box. "It's one of the secrets of the lake," said Volodia.
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