17. At Gadiatch

“Good-morning, good-morning!” said the young Cossacks, and they took off and put on their hats with so much grace that one might have thought that they spent their time in doing nothing else but bowing.

“Is our Ataman coming?” asked several voices at once.

“He is coming,” answered the Cossacks.

These words, spoken by two clear, sonorous voices, seemed to draw the old singer from his pious meditation, and, abandoning with regret the better world upon which his mind was intent, he thought it his duty to come down to earthly affairs, and occupy himself with whatever was of interest to the crowd.

“My poor eyes,” he said, “can they at last behold our Ataman!”

“Is the Ataman’s wife coming?” asked a young woman, quick in her motions, small and round as a ball.

“His wife is coming,” answered the Cossacks.

“And his sister-in-law?”

“We think his sister-in-law also is coming.”

“What sister-in-law?” asked the old singer.

“Méphodiévna, the wife of our Ataman’s brother,” answered many voices.

“Méphodiévna? ” repeated the old singer. “We never hear of her at our home. Does she enjoy the favor of our Ataman and his wife?”

“Indeed she does! Indeed she does!” answered many persons. “She has only to move her finger and everything is done as she wishes!”

“Ah! She enjoys then great favor. It is certainly a great blessing for her!”

“Favor!” exclaimed an old man with an angry air, whose eyes sparkled beneath his heavy gray eyebrows, like two well-lighted windows which illumine the house under the thatched roof. “Favor! Is such a word made to be applied to such a woman! Méphodiévna, understand, is of the stamp not to care about favors from anyone. One glance will be sufficient to tell you this. She is as straight as an arrow, and you can easily see that she has never bowed her head before anyone.”

“She is, then, very proud,” asked the old singer, “and in consequence, it is very difficult to approach her? It is pride then!”