while at work； or when running on errands。 〃A fine girl； Ustinia！〃 he
sometimes exclaimed。
Ustinia used to help him whenever she could； and he helped her。 She
told him all about her life； how she had lost her parents； how her aunt had
taken her in and found a place for her in the town； how the merchant's son
had tried to take liberties with her； and how she had rebuffed him。 She
liked to talk； and Alyosha liked to listen to her。 He had heard that
peasants who came up to work in the towns frequently got married to
servant girls。 On one occasion she asked him if his parents intended
marrying him soon。 He said that he did not know； that he did not want to
marry any of the village girls。
〃Have you taken a fancy to some one； then？〃
〃I would marry you； if you'd be willing。〃
〃Get along with you； Alyosha the Pot； but you've found your tongue；
haven't you？〃 she exclaimed； slapping him on the back with a towel she
held in her hand。 〃Why shouldn't I？〃
At Shrovetide Alyosha's father came to town for his wages。 It had
come to the ears of the merchant's wife that Alyosha wanted to marry
Ustinia； and she disapproved of it。 〃What will be the use of her with a
baby？〃 she thought； and informed her husband。
The merchant gave the old man Alyosha's wages。
〃How is my lad getting on？〃 he asked。 〃I told you he was willing。〃
〃That's all right； as far as it goes； but he's taken some sort of nonsense
into his head。 He wants to marry our cook。 Now I don't approve of
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married servants。 We won't have them in the house。〃
〃Well； now； who would have thought the fool would think of such a
thing？〃 the old man exclaimed。 〃But don't you worry。 I'll soon settle
that。〃
He went into the kitchen； and sat down at the table waiting for his son。
Alyosha was out on an errand； and came back breathless。
〃I thought you had some sense in you； but what's this you've taken into
your head？〃 his father began。
〃I？ Nothing。〃
〃How； nothing？ They tell me you want to get married。 You shall get
married when the time comes。 I'll find you a decent wife； not some town
hussy。〃
His father talked and talked； while Alyosha stood still and sighed。
When his father had quite finished； Alyosha smiled。
〃All right。 I'll drop it。〃
〃Now that's what I call sense。〃
When he was left alone with Ustinia he told her what his father had
said。 （She had listened at the door。）
〃It's no good； it can't come off。 Did you hear？ He was angry
won't have it at any price。〃
Ustinia cried into her apron。
Alyosha shook his head。
〃What's to be done？ We must do as we're told。〃
〃Well； are you going to give up that nonsense； as your father told
you？〃 his mistress asked； as he was putting up the shutters in the evening。
〃To be sure we are；〃 Alyosha replied with a smile； and then burst into
tears。
From that day Alyosha went about his work as usual； and no longer
talked to Ustinia about their getting married。 One day in Lent the clerk
told him to clear the snow from the roof。 Alyosha climbed on to the roof
and swept away all the snow； and； while he was still raking out some
frozen lumps from the gutter； his foot slipped and he fell over。
Unfortunately he did not fall on the snow； but on a piece of iron over the
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door。 Ustinia came running up； together with the merchant's daughter。
〃Have you hurt yourself； Alyosha？〃
〃Ah！ no； it's nothing。〃
But he could not raise himself when he tried to； and began to smile。
He was taken into the lodge。 The doctor arrived； examined him； and
asked where he felt the pain。
〃I feel it all over；〃 he said。 〃But it doesn't matter。 I'm only afraid
master will be annoyed。 Father ought to be told。〃
Alyosha lay in bed for two days； and on the third day they sent for the
priest。
〃Are you really going to die？〃 Ustinia asked。
〃Of course I am。 You can't go on living for ever。 You must go when
the time comes。〃 Alyosha spoke rapidly as usual。 〃Thank you； Ustinia。
You've been very good to me。 What a lucky thing they didn't let us
marry！ Where should we have been now？ It's much better as it is。〃
When the priest came； he prayed with his bands and with his heart。
〃As it is good here when you obey and do no harm to others； so it will be
there；〃 was the thought within it。
He spoke very little； he only said he was thirsty； and he seemed full of
wonder at something。
He lay in wonderment； then stretched himself； and died。
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MY DREAM
I
〃As a daughter she no longer exists for me。 Can't you understand？
She simply doesn't exist。 Still； I cannot possibly leave her to the charity
of strangers。 I will arrange things so that she can live as she pleases； but
I do not wish to hear of her。 Who would ever have thought 。 。 。 the horror
of it； the horror of it。〃
He shrugged his shoulders； shook his head； and raised his eyes。 These
words were spoken by Prince Michael Ivanovich to his brother Peter； who
was governor of a province in Central Russia。 Prince Peter was a man of
fifty； Michael's junior by ten years。
On discovering that his daughter； who had left his house a year before；
had settled here with her child； the elder brother had come from St。
Petersburg to the provincial town； where the above conversation took
place。
Prince Michael Ivanovich was a tall； handsome； white…haired； fresh
coloured man； proud and attractive in appearance and bearing。 His family
consisted of a vulgar； irritable wife； who wrangled with him continually
over every petty detail； a son； a ne'er…do…well； spendthrift and roueyet a
〃gentleman；〃 according to his father's code； two daughters； of whom the
elder had married well； and was living in St。 Petersburg； and the younger；
Lisahis favourite； who had disappeared from home a year before。 Only
a short while ago he had found her with her child in this provincial town。
Prince Peter wanted to ask his brother how； and under what
circumstances； Lisa had left home； and who could possibly be the father of
her child。 But he could not make up his mind to inquire。
That very morning； when his wife had attempted to condole with her
brother…in…law； Prince Peter had observed a look of pain on his brother's
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face。 The look had at once been masked by an expression of
unapproachable pride； and he had begun to question her about their flat；
and the price she paid。 At luncheon； before the family and guests； he had
been witty and sarcastic as usual。 Towards every one； excepting the
children； whom he treated with almost reverent tenderness； he adopted an
attitude of distant hauteur。 And yet it was so natural to him that every one
somehow acknowledged his right to be haughty。
In the evening his brother arranged a game of whist。 When he retired
to the room which had been made ready for him； and was just beginning to
take out his artificial teeth； some one tapped lightly on the door with two
fingers。
〃Who is that？〃
〃C'est moi； Michael。〃
Prince Michael Ivanovich recognised the voice of his sister…in…law；
frowned； replaced his teeth； and said to himself； 〃What does she want？〃
Aloud he said； 〃Entrez。〃
His sister…in…law was a quiet； gentle creature； who bowed in
submission to her husband's will。 But to many she seemed a crank； and
some did not hesitate to call her a fool。 She was pr
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