,BOOK #a1 ,*APT] #ae 
,! ,E>LY ,MASS 

#ahiiahii 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,L\ISE ,MAUDE 

,TEXT 3 

,= ,NEKHLUD(F ?IS E>LY MASS REMA9$ = EV] AFT] ONE ( ! BRI<TE/ & MO/ VIVID MEMORIES ( HIS LIFE4 ,:5 HE RODE \T ( ! D>KNESS1 BROK5 ONLY H]E & !RE BY PAT*ES ( :ITE SN[1 9TO ! *UR*Y>D ILLUM9AT$ BY A R[ ( LAMPS >\ND ! *UR*1 ! S]VICE HAD ALREADY BEGUN4 

,! PEASANTS1 RECOGNIZ+ ,M>Y ,IVANOVNA'S NEPHEW1 L$ HIS HORSE1 :I* WAS PRICK+ UP ITS E>S AT ! SI<T ( ! LI<TS1 TO A DRY PLACE :]E HE C\LD GET (F1 PUT IT UP = HIM1 & %[$ HIM 9TO ! *UR*1 :I* WAS FULL ( PEOPLE4 ,ON ! RI<T /OOD ! PEASANTS2 ! OLD M5 9 HOME-SPUN COATS1 & CLEAN :ITE L95 B&S .<LONG /RIPS ( L95 >E WORN BY ! PEASANTS 9/EAD ( /OCK+S.> WRAPP$ R\ND !IR LEGS1 ! Y\NG M5 9 NEW CLO? COATS1 BRI<T-COLOR$ BELTS R\ND !IR WAI/S1 & TOP-BOOTS4 

,ON ! LEFT /OOD ! WOM51 ) R$ SILK K]*IEFS ON !IR HEADS1 BLACK VELVETE5 SLEEVELESS JACKETS1 BRI<T R$ %IRT-SLEEVES1 GAY-COLOR$ GRE51 BLUE1 & R$ SKIRTS1 & ?ICK LEA!R BOOTS4 ,! OLD WOM51 DRESS$ MORE QUIETLY1 /OOD BEH9D !M1 ) :ITE K]*IEFS1 HOMESPUN COATS1 OLD-FA%ION$ SKIRTS ( D>K HOME-SPUN MAT]IAL1 & %OES ON !IR FEET4 ,GAILY-DRESS$ *ILDR51 !IR HAIR WELL OIL$1 W5T 9 & \T AMONG !M4 

,! M51 MAK+ ! SIGN ( ! CROSS1 B[$ D[N & RAIS$ !IR HEADS AGA91 %AK+ BACK !IR HAIR4 

,! WOM51 ESPECIALLY ! OLD ONES1 FIX$ !IR EYES ON AN ICON SURR\ND$ ) C&IES & MADE ! SIGN ( ! CROSS1 FIRMLY PRESS+ !IR FOLD$ F+]S TO ! K]*IEF ON !IR =EHEADS1 TO !IR %\LD]S1 & !IR /OMA*S1 &1 :ISP]+ SOME?+1 /OOP$ OR KNELT D[N4 ,! *ILDR51 IMITAT+ ! GR[N-UP PEOPLE1 PRAY$ E>NE/LY :5 !Y KNEW ?AT !Y W]E BE+ OBS]V$4 ,! GILT CASE CONTA9+ ! ICON GLITT]$1 ILLUM9AT$ ON ALL SIDES BY TALL C&LES ORNAM5T$ ) GOLD5 SPIRALS4 ,! C&ELABRA WAS FILL$ ) TAP]S1 & FROM ! *OIR S\ND$ MO/ M]RY TUNES SUNG BY AMATEUR *ORI/]S1 ) BELL[+ BASS & %RILL BOYS' VOICES AMONG !M4 

,NEKHLUD(F PASS$ UP TO ! FRONT4 ,9 ! MIDDLE ( ! *UR* /OOD ! >I/OCRACY ( ! PLACE3 A L&$ PROPRIETOR1 ) HIS WIFE & SON 7! LATT] DRESS$ 9 A SAILOR'S SUIT71 ! POLICE (FIC]1 ! TELEGRAPH CL]K1 A TRADESMAN 9 TOP-BOOTS1 & ! VILLAGE ELD]1 ) A M$AL ON HIS BREA/2 & TO ! RI<T ( ! AMBO1 JU/ BEH9D ! L&$ PROPRIETOR'S WIFE1 /OOD ,MATRONA ,PAVLOVNA 9 A LILAC DRESS & FR+$ %AWL & ,KATU%A 9 A :ITE DRESS ) A TUCK$ BODICE1 BLUE SA%1 & R$ B[ 9 H] BLACK HAIR4 

,EV]Y?+ SEEM$ FE/IVE1 SOLEMN1 BRI<T1 & BEAUTIFUL3 ! PRIE/ 9 HIS SILV] CLO? VE/M5TS ) GOLD CROSSES2 ! DEACON1 ! CL]K & *ANT] 9 !IR SILV] & GOLD SURPLICES2 ! AMATEUR *ORI/]S 9 !IR BE/ CLO!S1 ) !IR WELL-OIL$ HAIR2 ! M]RY TUNES ( ! HOLIDAY HYMNS ?AT S\ND$ LIKE DANCE MUSIC2 & ! CONT9UAL BLESS+ ( ! PEOPLE BY ! PRIE/S1 :O HELD C&LES DECORAT$ ) FL[]S1 & REPEAT$ ! CRY ( 0,*RI/ IS RIS560 0,*RI/ IS RIS560 ,ALL WAS BEAUTIFUL2 BUT1 ABOVE ALL1 ,KATU%A1 9 H] :ITE DRESS1 BLUE SA%1 & ! R$ B[ ON H] BLACK HEAD1 H] EYES BEAM+ ) RAPTURE4 

,NEKHLUD(F KNEW ?AT %E FELT HIS PRES5CE )\T LOOK+ AT HIM4 ,HE NOTIC$ ?IS AS HE PASS$ H]1 WALK+ UP TO ! ALT>4 ,HE HAD NO?+ TO TELL H]1 BUT HE 9V5T$ SOME?+ TO SAY & :ISP]$ AS HE PASS$ H]3 0,AUNT TOLD ME ?AT %E W\LD BREAK H] FA/ AFT] ! LATE MASS40 ,! Y\NG BLOOD RU%$ UP TO ,KATU%A'S SWEET FACE1 AS IT ALWAYS DID :5 %E LOOK$ AT HIM4 ,! BLACK EYES1 LAU<+ & FULL ( JOY1 GAZ$ NAIVELY UP & REMA9$ FIX$ ON ,NEKHLUD(F4 

0,I KN[10 %E SAID1 ) A SMILE4 

,AT ?IS MOM5T ! CL]K WAS GO+ \T ) A COPP] C(FEE-POT .<C(FEE-POTS >E (T5 US$ = HOLD+ HOLY WAT] 9 ,RUSSIA.> ( HOLY WAT] 9 HIS H&1 &1 NOT NOTIC+ ,KATU%A1 BRU%$ H] ) HIS SURPLICE4 ,EVID5TLY HE BRU%$ AGA9/ ,KATU%A ?R\< WI%+ TO PASS ,NEKHLUD(F AT A RESPECTFUL DI/ANCE1 & ,NEKHLUD(F WAS SURPRIS$ ?AT HE1 ! CL]K1 DID NOT UND]/& ?AT EV]Y?+ H]E1 YES1 & 9 ALL ! WORLD1 ONLY EXI/$ = ,KATU%A1 & ?AT EV]Y?+ ELSE MI<T REMA9 UNHE$$1 ONLY NOT %E1 BECAUSE %E WAS ! C5T] ( ALL4 ,= H] ! GOLD GLITT]$ R\ND ! ICONS2 = H] ALL !SE C&LES 9 C&ELABRA & C&LE/ICKS W]E ALI<T2 = H] W]E SUNG !SE JOYFUL HYMNS1 0,BEHOLD ! ,PASSOV] ( ! ,LORD0 0,REJOICE1 ,O YE PEOPLE60 ,ALL--ALL ?AT WAS GOOD 9 ! WORLD WAS = H]4 ,& IT SEEM$ TO HIM ?AT ,KATU%A WAS AW>E ?AT IT WAS ALL = H] :5 HE LOOK$ AT H] WELL-%AP$ FIGURE1 ! TUCK$ :ITE DRESS1 ! WRAPT1 JOY\S EXPRESSION ( H] FACE1 BY :I* HE KNEW ?AT JU/ EXACTLY ! SAME ?AT WAS S++ 9 HIS [N S\L WAS ALSO S++ 9 H]S4 

,9 ! 9T]VAL BETWE5 ! E>LY & ! LATE MASS ,NEKHLUD(F LEFT ! *UR*4 ,! PEOPLE /OOD ASIDE TO LET HIM PASS1 & B[$4 ,SOME KNEW HIM2 O!RS ASK$ :O HE WAS4 

,HE /OPP$ ON ! /EPS4 ,! BEGG>S /&+ !RE CAME CLAMOR+ R\ND HIM1 & HE GAVE !M ALL ! *ANGE HE HAD 9 HIS PURSE & W5T D[N4 ,IT WAS DAWN+1 BUT ! SUN HAD NOT YET RIS54 ,! PEOPLE GR\P$ R\ND ! GRAVES 9 ! *UR*Y>D4 ,KATU%A HAD REMA9$ 9SIDE4 ,NEKHLUD(F /OOD WAIT+ = H]4 

,! PEOPLE CONT9U$ COM+ \T1 CLATT]+ ) !IR NAIL$ BOOTS ON ! /ONE /EPS & DISP]S+ OV] ! *UR*Y>D4 ,A V]Y OLD MAN ) %AK+ HEAD1 HIS AUNTS' COOK1 /OPP$ ,NEKHLUD(F 9 ORD] TO GIVE HIM ! ,EA/] KISS1 HIS OLD WIFE TOOK AN EGG1 DY$ YELL[1 \T ( H] H&K]*IEF & GAVE IT TO ,NEKHLUD(F1 & A SMIL+ Y\NG PEASANT 9 A NEW COAT & GRE5 BELT ALSO CAME UP4 

0,*RI/ IS RIS510 HE SAID1 ) LAU<+ EYES1 & COM+ CLOSE TO ,NEKHLUD(F HE 5VELOP$ HIM 9 HIS PECULI> BUT PLEASANT PEASANT SMELL1 &1 TICKL+ HIM ) HIS CURLY BE>D1 KISS$ HIM ?REE TIMES /RAI<T ON ! M\? ) HIS FIRM1 FRE% LIPS4 

,:ILE ! PEASANT WAS KISS+ ,NEKHLUD(F & GIV+ HIM A D>K BR[N EGG1 ! LILAC DRESS ( ,MATRONA ,PAVLOVNA & ! DE> BLACK HEAD ) ! R$ B[ APPE>$4 

,KATU%A CAU<T SI<T ( HIM OV] ! HEADS ( ?OSE 9 FRONT ( H]1 & HE SAW H[ H] FACE BRI<T5$ UP4 

,%E HAD COME \T ) ,MATRONA ,PAVLOVNA ON TO ! POR*1 & /OPP$ !RE DI/RIBUT+ ALMS TO ! BEGG>S4 ,A BEGG> ) A R$ SCAB 9 PLACE ( A NOSE CAME UP TO ,KATU%A4 ,%E GAVE HIM SOME?+1 DREW NE>] HIM1 &1 EV9C+ NO SIGN ( DISGU/1 BUT H] EYES /ILL %9+ ) JOY1 KISS$ HIM ?REE TIMES4 ,& :ILE %E WAS DO+ ?IS H] EYES MET ,NEKHLUD(F'S ) A LOOK AS IF %E W]E ASK+1 0,IS ?IS ?AT ,I AM DO+ RI<T80 0,YES1 DE>1 YES1 IT IS RI<T2 EV]Y?+ IS RI<T1 EV]Y?+ IS BEAUTIFUL4 ,I LOVE60 

,!Y CAME D[N ! /EPS ( ! POR*1 & HE CAME UP TO !M4 

,HE DID NOT MEAN TO GIVE !M ! ,EA/] KISS1 BUT ONLY TO BE NE>] TO H]4 ,MATRONA ,PAVLOVNA B[$ H] HEAD1 & SAID ) A SMILE1 0,*RI/ IS RIS560 & H] TONE IMPLI$1 0,TO-DAY WE >E ALL EQUAL40 ,%E WIP$ H] M\? ) H] H&K]*IEF ROLL$ 9TO A BALL & /RET*$ H] LIPS T[>DS HIM4 

0,HE IS1 9DE$10 ANSW]$ ,NEKHLUD(F1 KISS+ H]4 ,!N HE LOOK$ AT ,KATU%A2 %E BLU%$1 & DREW NE>]4 0,*RI/ IS RIS51 ,DMITRI ,IVANOVIT*40 

0,HE IS RIS51 9DE$10 ANSW]$ ,NEKHLUD(F1 & !Y KISS$ TWICE1 !N PAUS$ AS IF CONSID]+ :E!R A ?IRD KISS W]E NECESS>Y1 &1 HAV+ DECID$ ?AT IT WAS1 KISS$ A ?IRD TIME & SMIL$4 

0,Y\ >E GO+ TO ! PRIE/S80 ASK$ ,NEKHLUD(F4 

0,NO1 WE %ALL SIT \T H]E A BIT1 ,DMITRI ,IVANOVIT*10 SAID ,KATU%A ) EF=T1 AS IF %E HAD ACCOMPLI%$ SOME JOY\S TASK1 &1 H] :OLE *E/ HEAV+ ) A DEEP SI<1 %E LOOK$ /RAI<T 9 HIS FACE ) A LOOK ( DEVOTION1 VIRG9 PURITY1 & LOVE1 9 H] V]Y SLI<TLY SQU9T+ EYES4 

,9 ! LOVE BETWE5 A MAN & A WOMAN !RE ALWAYS COMES A MOM5T :5 ?IS LOVE HAS REA*$ ITS Z5I?--A MOM5T :5 IT IS UNCONSCI\S1 UNREASON+1 & ) NO?+ S5SUAL AB\T IT4 ,SU* A MOM5T HAD COME = ,NEKHLUD(F ON ?AT ,EA/] EVE4 ,:5 HE BR\<T ,KATU%A BACK TO HIS M9D1 N[1 ?IS MOM5T VEIL$ ALL ELSE2 ! SMOO? GLOSSY BLACK HEAD1 ! :ITE TUCK$ DRESS CLOSELY FITT+ H] GRACEFUL MAID5LY =M1 H]1 AS YET1 UN-DEVELOP$ BOSOM1 ! BLU%+ *EEKS1 ! T5D] %9+ BLACK EYES ) !IR SLI<T SQU9T HEI<T5$ BY ! SLEEPLESS NI<T1 & H] :OLE BE+ /AMP$ ) ?OSE TWO M>K$ FEATURES1 PURITY & *A/E LOVE1 LOVE NOT ONLY = HIM 7HE KNEW ?AT71 BUT = EV]YBODY & EV]Y?+1 NOT = ! GOOD ALONE1 BUT = ALL ?AT IS 9 ! WORLD1 EV5 = ?AT BEGG> :OM %E HAD KISS$4 

,HE KNEW %E HAD ?AT LOVE 9 H] BECAUSE ON ?AT NI<T & MORN+ HE WAS CONSCI\S ( IT 9 HIMSELF1 & CONSCI\S ?AT 9 ?IS LOVE HE BECAME ONE ) H]4 ,AH6 IF IT HAD ALL /OPP$ !RE1 AT ! PO9T IT HAD REA*$ ?AT NI<T4 0,YES1 ALL ?AT HORRIBLE BUS9ESS HAD NOT YET HAPP5$ ON ?AT ,EA/] EVE60 HE ?\<T1 AS HE SAT BY ! W9D[ ( ! JURYM5'S ROOM4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahih 3 ,BOOK #a1 ,*APT] #ae -- ,PUBLICATION4 
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