Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume XIV).djvu/308

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PYETUSHKOV

on in a severe voice—'it's unseemly. . . Come, tell me what you think?'

'What am I to think? It's for you to say. What business have I to think?'

Pyetushkov put on his coat. 'He doesn't believe me, the beast,' he thought to himself.

He went out of the house, but he did not go to see any one. He walked about the streets. He directed his attention to the sunset. At last a little after eight o'clock he returned home. He wore a smile; he repeatedly shrugged his shoulders, as though marvelling at his own folly. 'Yes,' thought he, 'this is what comes of a strong will. . .'

Next day Pyetushkov got up rather late. He had not passed a very good night, did not go out all day, and was fearfully bored. Pyetushkov read through all his poor books, and praised aloud one story in the Library of Good Reading. As he went to bed, he told Onisim to give him his pipe. Onisim handed him a wretched pipe. Pyetushkov began smoking; the pipe wheezed like a broken-winded horse.

'How disgusting!' cried Ivan Afanasiitch; 'where's my cherrywood pipe?'

'At the baker's shop,' Onisim responded tranquilly.

Pyetushkov blinked spasmodically.

'Well, you wish me to go for it?'

'No, you needn't; don't go . . . no need, don't go, do you hear?'

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