Leo Tolstoy Archive
Written: 1852
Source: Original Text from WikiSource.org
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
"I WILL do so," Nekhlyiidov said to himself with cheerful self-satisfaction, and, recalling that he had to visit yet the rich peasant, Dutlov, he directed his steps to a tall and spacious building, with two chimneys, which stood in the middle of the village. As he was getting near it, he met, near the neighboring hut, a tall, slatternly woman, of some forty years of age, who came out to see him.
" A pleasant holiday, sir," the woman said, without the least timidity, stopping near him, smiling pleasantly, and bowing.
" Good morning, nurse," he answered. " How are you getting on ? I am going to see your neighbor."
" Yes, your Grace, that is good. But why do you not deign to call on us ? My old man would be ever so happy to see you."
" Well, I will come in, to talk with you, nurse. Is this your hut ? "
" Yes, sir."
And the nurse ran ahead. Nekhlyudov walked after her into the vestibule, sat down on a pail, took out a cigarette, and lighted it.
" It is hot there ; let us stay here and talk," he answered to the nurse's invitation to walk into the hut.
The nurse was still in her prime, and a fine-looking woman. In her features, and especially in her large black eyes, there was a great resemblance to the master's face. She put her hands under her apron, and, boldly looking at the master aud continually shaking her head, began to speak with him :
" What is the reason, sir, you are honoring Dutlov with a visit ? "
" I want him to rent from me thirty desyatinas ^ of land, and start a farm of his own, and also to buy some tim- ber with me. He has money, — why should it he idle ? What do you think about that, nurse ? "
" Well ! Of course, sir, the Dutlovs are powerful people. I suppose he is the first peasant in the whole estate," answered the nurse, nodding her head. " Last year he added a new structure out of his own timber, — he did not trouble the master. Of horses, there will be some six sets of three, outside of colts and yearlings ; and of stock, there are so many cows and sheep that when they drive them home from the field, and the women go out to drive them into the yard, there is a terrible crush at the gate ; and of bees, there must be two hundred hives, and maybe more. He is a powerful peasant, he must have money, too."
" Do you think he has much money ? " the master asked.
" People say, of course, out of malice, that the man has a great deal ; naturally, he would not tell, nor would he let his sons know, but he must have. Why should he not put his money out for a forest ? Unless he should be afraid to let out the rumor about having money. Some five years ago he invested a little money in bottom meadows with Shkalik the porter ; but I think Shkalik cheated him, so that the old man was out of three hundred rubles ; since then he has given it up. And why should he not be well fixed, your Grace," continued the nurse, "he is liviug on three parcels of land, the family is large, all workers, and the old man himself — there is nothing to be said against him — is a fine manager. He has luck in everything, so that the people are all wondering ; he has luck with the grain, with the horses, the cattle, the bees, and his children. He has married them all off. He found wives for them among his own, and now he has married Ilyushka to a free girl, — he has himself paid for her emancipation. And she has turned out to be a fine woman."
" Do they live peaceably ? " asked the master.
"As long as there is a real head in the house, there wHl be peace. Though with the Dutlovs it is as elsewhere with women : the daughters-in-law quarrel behind the oven, yet the sons live peacefully together under the old man."
The nurse grew silent for a moment.
" Now the old man wants to make his eldest son, Karp, the master of the house. He says he is getting too old and that his business is with the bees. Well, Karp is a good man, an accurate man, but he will not be such a manager as the old man, by a good deal. He has not his intellect."
"Maybe Karp will be willing to take up land and forests, what do you think ? " said the master, wishing to find out from his nurse what she knew about her neighbors.
" I doubt it, sir," continued the nurse ; " the old man has not disclosed his money to his son. As long as the old man is alive, and the money is in his house, his mind will direct affairs ; besides, they are more interested in teaming."
" And the old man will not consent ? "
" He will be afraid."
" What will he be afraid of ? "
" How can a manorial peasant declare his money, sir ? There might be an unlucky hour, and all his money would be lost ! There, he went into partnership with the porter, and he made a mistake. How could he sue him ? And thus the money was all lost ; and with the proprietor it would be lost without appeal."
" Yes, on this account — " said Nekhlyudov, blushing. " Good-bye, nurse."
" Good-bye, your Grace. I thank you humbly."
1 A desyatina is equal to 2,400 square fathoms.