The Power of Darkness - Leo Tolstoy (the kiss of deception read online .txt) đ
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
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theyâve come to! Itâs all polished and polished I mean, itâs fine, itâs what dâye call it, itâs like inside an inn. And whatâs it all for? Whatâs the good of it? Oh, theyâve forgotten God. Forgotten, I mean. Weâve forgotten, forgotten God, God I mean! Thank you, my dear, Iâve had enough. Iâm quite satisfied. Rises. MĂtritch climbs on to the oven.
AnĂsya
Eats, and collects the dishes. If his father would only take him to task! But Iâm ashamed to tell him.
AkĂm
What dâyou say?
AnĂsya
Oh! itâs nothing.
Enter Nan.
AkĂm
Hereâs a good girl, always busy! Youâre cold, I should think?
Nan
Yes, I am, terribly. How dâyou do, grandfather?
AnĂsya
Well? Is he there?
Nan
No. But AndriyĂĄn is there. Heâs been to town, and he says he saw them at an inn in town. He says Dadâs as drunk as drunk can be!
AnĂsya
Do you want anything to eat? Here you are.
Nan
Goes to the oven. Well, it is cold. My hands are quite numb. AkĂm takes off his leg-bands and bast-shoes. AnĂsya washes up.
AnĂsya
Father!
AkĂm
Well, what is it?
AnĂsya
And is MarĂna living well?
AkĂm
Yes, sheâs living all right. The little woman is what dâye call it, clever and steady; sheâs living, and what dâye call it, doing her best. Sheâs all right; the little womanâs of the right sort I mean; painstaking and what dâye call it, submissive; the little womanâs all right I mean, all right, you know.
AnĂsya
And is there no talk in your village that a relative of MarĂnaâs husband thinks of marrying our AkoulĂna? Have you heard nothing of it?
AkĂm
Ah; thatâs MirĂłnof. Yes, the women did chatter something. But I didnât pay heed, you know. It donât interest me I mean, I donât know anything. Yes, the old women did say something, but Iâve a bad memory, bad memory, I mean. But the MirĂłnofs are what dâye call it, theyâre all right, I mean theyâre all right.
AnĂsya
Iâm that impatient to get her settled.
AkĂm
And why?
Nan
Listens. Theyâve come!
AnĂsya
Well, donât you go bothering them. Goes on washing the spoons without turning her head.
NikĂta
Enters. AnĂsya! Wife! who has come? AnĂsya looks up and turns away in silence.
NikĂta
Severely. Who has come? Have you forgotten?
AnĂsya
Now donât humbug. Come in!
NikĂta
Still more severely. Whoâs come?
AnĂsya
Goes up and takes him by the arm. Well then, husband has come. Now then, come in!
NikĂta
Holds back. Ah, thatâs it! Husband! And whatâs husband called? Speak properly.
AnĂsya
Oh bother you! NikĂta!
NikĂta
Where have you learnt manners? The full name.
AnĂsya
NikĂta AkĂmitch! Now then!
NikĂta
Still in the doorway. Ah, thatâs it! But nowâ âthe surname?
AnĂsya
Laughs and pulls him by the arm. TchilĂkin. Dear me, what airs!
NikĂta
Ah, thatâs it. Holds on to the doorpost. No, now say with which foot TchilĂkin steps into this house!
AnĂsya
Thatâs enough! Youâre letting the cold in!
NikĂta
Say with which foot he steps? Youâve got to say itâ âthatâs flat.
AnĂsya
Aside. Heâll go on worrying. To NikĂta. Well then, with the left. Come in!
NikĂta
Ah, thatâs it.
AnĂsya
You look whoâs in the hut!
NikĂta
Ah, my parent! Well, what of that? Iâm not ashamed of my parent. I can pay my respects to my parent. How dâyou do, father? Bows and puts out his hand. My respects to you.
AnĂsya
Come in!
NikĂta
Ah, thatâs it.
AnĂsya
You look whoâs in the hut!
NikĂta
Ah, my parent! Well, what of that? Iâm not ashamed of my parent.
AkĂm
Does not answer. Drink, I mean drink, what it does! Itâs filthy!
NikĂta
Drink, whatâs that? Iâve been drinking? Iâm to blame, thatâs flat! Iâve had a glass with a friend, drank his health.
AnĂsya
Go and lie down, I say.
NikĂta
Wife, say where am I standing?
AnĂsya
Now then, itâs all right, lie down!
NikĂta
No, Iâll first drink a samovar with my parent. Go and light the samovar. AkoulĂna, I say, come here!
Enter AkoulĂna, smartly dressed and carrying their purchases.
AkoulĂna
Why have you thrown everything about? Whereâs the yarn?
NikĂta
The yarn? The yarnâs there. Hullo, MĂtritch, where are you? Asleep? Asleep? Go and put the horse up.
AkĂm
Not seeing AkoulĂna but looking at his son. Dear me, what is he doing? The old manâs what dâye call it, quite done up, I meanâ âbeen thrashingâ âand look at him, what dâye call it, putting on airs! Put up the horse! Faugh, what filth!
MĂtritch
Climbs down from the oven, and puts on felt boots. Oh, merciful Lord! Is the horse in the yard? Done it to death, I dare say. Just see how heâs been swilling, the deuce take him. Up to his very throat. Oh Lord, holy Nicholas! Puts on sheepskin, and exit.
NikĂta
Sits down. You must forgive me, father. Itâs true Iâve had a drop; well, what of that? Even a hen will drink. Ainât it true? So you must forgive me. Never mind MĂtritch, he doesnât mind, heâll put it up.
AnĂsya
Shall I really light the samovar?
NikĂta
Light it! My parent has come. I wish to talk to him, and shall drink tea with him. To AkoulĂna. Have you brought all the parcels?
AkoulĂna
The parcels? Iâve brought mine, the restâs in the sledge. Hi, take this, this isnât mine!
Throws a parcel on the table and puts the others into her box. Nan watches her while she puts them away. AkĂm does not look at his son, but puts his leg-bands and bast-shoes on the oven.
AnĂsya
Going out with the samovar. Her box is full as it is, and still heâs bought more!
NikĂta
Have you brought all the parcels?
AkoulĂna
The parcels? Iâve brought mine, the restâs in the sledge.
AnĂsya
Her box is full as it is, and still heâs bought more!
NikĂta
Pretending to be sober. You must not be cross with me, father. You think Iâm drunk? I am all there, thatâs flat! As they
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