登陆注册
38045100000030

第30章 CHAPTER III(15)

"How do you do, Sophya Pavlovna," said Mayakin, tenderly, approaching her with his hand outstretched. "What, are you still collecting contributions from poor people like us?"Foma bowed to her mutely, not hearing her answer to Mayakin, nor what his father was saying to him. The lady stared at him steadfastly and smiled to him affably and serenely. Her childlike figure, clothed in some kind of dark fabric, was almost blended with the crimson stuff of the armchair, while her wavy, golden hair and her pale face shone against the dark background. Sitting there in the corner, beneath the green leaves, she looked at once like a flower, and like an ikon.

"See, Sophya Pavlovna, how he is staring at you. An eagle, eh?"said Ignat.

Her eyes became narrower, a faint blush leaped to her cheeks, and she burst into laughter. It sounded like the tinkling of a little silver bell. And she immediately arose, saying:

"I wouldn't disturb you. Good-bye!"

When she went past Foma noiselessly, the scent of perfume came to him, and he noticed that her eyes were dark blue, and her eyebrows almost black.

"The sly rogue glided away," said Mayakin in a low voice, angrily looking after her.

"Well, tell us how was the trip? Have you squandered much money?"roared Ignat, pushing his son into the same armchair where Medinskaya had been sitting awhile before. Foma looked at him askance and seated himself in another chair.

"Isn't she a beautiful young woman, eh?" said Mayakin, smiling, feeling Foma with his cunning eyes. "If you keep on gaping at her she will eat away all your insides."Foma shuddered for some reason or other, and, saying nothing in reply, began to tell his father about the journey in a matter-of-fact tone.

But Ignat interrupted him:

"Wait, I'll ask for some cognac."

"And you are keeping on drinking all the time, they say," said Foma, disapprovingly.

Ignat glanced at his son with surprise and curiosity, and asked:

"Is this the way to speak to your father?"

Foma became confused and lowered his head.

"That's it!" said Ignat, kind-heartedly, and ordered cognac to be brought to him.

Mayakin, winking his eyes, looked at the Gordyeeffs, sighed, bid them good-bye, and, after inviting them to have tea with him in his raspberry garden in the evening, went away.

"Where is Aunt Anfisa?" asked Foma, feeling that now, being alone with his father, he was somewhat ill at ease.

"She went to the cloister. Well, tell me, and I will have some cognac."Foma told his father all about his affairs in a few minutes and he concluded his story with a frank confession:

"I have spent much money on myself."

"How much?"

"About six hundred roubles."

"In six weeks! That's a good deal. I see as a clerk you're too expensive for me. Where have you squandered it all?""I gave away three hundred puds of grain."

"To whom? How?"

Foma told him all about it.

"Hm! Well, that's all right!" Ignat approved. "That's to show what stuff we are made of. That's clear enough--for the father's honour--for the honour of the firm. And there is no loss either, because that gives a good reputation. And that, my dear, is the very best signboard for a business. Well, what else?""And then, I somehow spent more."

"Speak frankly. It's not the money that I am asking you about--Ijust want to know how you lived there," insisted Ignat, regarding his son attentively and sternly.

"I was eating, drinking." Foma did not give in, bending his head morosely and confusedly.

"Drinking vodka?"

"Vodka, too."

"Ah! So. Isn't it rather too soon?"

"Ask Yefim whether I ever drank enough to be intoxicated.""Why should I ask Yefim? You must tell me everything yourself. So you are drinking? I don't like it.""But I can get along without drinking."

"Come, come! Do you want some cognac?"

Foma looked at his father and smiled broadly. And his father answered him with a kindly smile:

"Eh, you. Devil! Drink, but look out--know your business. What can you do? A drunkard will sleep himself sober, a fool--never.

Let us understand this much at least, for our own consolation.

And did you have a good time with girls, too? Be frank! Are you afraid that I will beat you, or what?""Yes. There was one on the steamer. I had her there from Perm to Kazan.""So," Ignat sighed heavily and said, frowning: "You've become defiled rather too soon.""I am twenty years old. And you yourself told me that in your days fellows married at the age of fifteen," replied Foma, confused.

"Then they married. Very well, then, let us drop the subject. Well, you've had dealings with a woman. What of it? A woman is like vaccination, you cannot pass your life without her. As for myself, I cannot play the hypocrite. I began to go around with women when Iwas younger than you are now. But you must be on your guard with them."Ignat became pensive and was silent for a long time, sitting motionless, his head bent low on his breast.

"Listen, Foma," he started again, sternly and firmly. "I shall die before long. I am old. Something oppresses my breast. Ibreathe with difficulty. I'll die. Then all my affairs will fall on your shoulders. At first your godfather will assist you--mind him! You started quite well; you attended to everything properly;you held the reins firmly in your hands. And though you did squander a big sum of money, it is evident that you did not lose your head. God grant the same in the future. You should know this:

business is a living, strong beast; you must manage it ably; you must put a strong bridle on it or it will conquer you. Try to stand above your business. Place yourself so that it will all be under your feet;that each little tack shall be visible to you."Foma looked at his father's broad chest, heard his heavy voice and thought to himself:

"Oh, but you won't die so soon!"

This thought pleased him and awakened in him a kind, warm feeling for his father.

"Rely upon your godfather. He has enough common sense in his head to supply the whole town with it. All he lacks is courage, or he would have risen high. Yes, I tell you my days on earth are numbered.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 超级恶搞系统

    超级恶搞系统

    他拜遍名师,资质不行,但医术了得,偶然之下他与一个不知名的“腰带”融合了,在融合的过程中他的肉身飞灰烟灭,只剩下魂魄温养在腰带里,几千年后他重生在“云海市”一个弃少“秦悦”身上,得到了吊炸天的系统“超级恶搞系统”你要的东西都在这“降龙十八掌、九阳神功、葵花宝典、独孤九剑……”毁岛国、坑米国、踩屎遍天下
  • 花语居

    花语居

    小巷的的尽头,古老的花店,花儿的爱恨情仇交织错落
  • 总裁夫人你别飘了

    总裁夫人你别飘了

    :“女人,你要记住你是我的,你敢跟别的男人,小心我……”晨宝宝:“呵!男人都是大猪蹄子,你这个猪蹄子还不好吃,呸”。。
  • 龙珠之我能提取属性

    龙珠之我能提取属性

    “恭喜宿主,你从千钧蚁身上提取到了千倍力量!”“恭喜宿主,你从水熊虫身上提取到了真空生存!”“恭喜宿主,你从龙王蝾螈身上提取到了超再生能力!”“恭喜宿主,你从恒星之中,提取到可控核聚变!”李峰,穿越龙珠世界,获得万物提取系统,从此拳打宇宙帝王弗利萨,脚踢究极人造人沙鲁,横扫魔人布欧。
  • 这个地球很神秘

    这个地球很神秘

    穿越修真界万载岁月,李玄风从来没有想过,有一天他竟然还能穿越回来。灵气复苏,天道回归。远古遗迹,仙魔躯体,妖魔鬼怪……当传说变成现世,一个尘封了无尽岁月的神话时代,徐徐揭开了面纱!
  • 逍遥大雍

    逍遥大雍

    大雍朝,一段走上歧路的历史李洛冰,一个第二次重生的人。前生的落魄皇子,今世的郡王嫡亲。再从头,我命由我主,何故任凭人?
  • 爱过笑过.方知如何来过

    爱过笑过.方知如何来过

    写一位高中生杨欣在校园里发生的点点滴滴,激发对于读书生活的怀恋。
  • 只想写作的我有什么错

    只想写作的我有什么错

    “尼桑,你只属于我一个人。”没有血缘关系的妹妹抱着我,生气地说道。“王研明,”楚楚动人的同桌抱着我的作品,“我帮你改稿子吧。”“如果你听我的,”学生会大姐头指着我的稿子,“我就让你这东西上校刊。”“不,”我抱着我的稿子“我现在只想写写我的稿子,请务必不要打扰我。”一部简简单单的恋爱喜剧,共同的世界,献给热爱生活的你。
  • 校园超级少爷

    校园超级少爷

    匪气少年回过校园,携众美展开了一段轰轰烈烈的校园生活。
  • 春怨宫词

    春怨宫词

    那年人间四月天,她眉目如画,眼波流转,他剑眉星目,潇洒俊逸。邂逅相遇,适我愿兮。多年后,她说,凌霄儿你好傻,你怎么能爱上一个帝王。而他道,一个帝王,在江山与美人之间,只能选择江山。而一个男子,也不见得会选择美人。