"Perhaps I have really sinned against you, then for Christ's sake forgive me."
Arina Petrovna rose and bowed till her hand touched the floor.
Pavel Vladimirych shut his eyes without replying.
"Suppose we let the question of the estate alone. You couldn't make any arrangement in your present condition. Porfiry is the lawful heir. Well, let the real estate go to him. But what about your personal property and capital?" Arina Petrovna ventured to state her point directly.
Pavel Vladimirych shuddered, but remained silent.
It is very possible that at the word "capital" he gave no thought whatsoever to his mother's insinuations, but simply mused: "September is here already. I have to collect the interest."
"If you think I desire your death, you're very much mistaken, my child.
If you would only live I should not need to complain in my old age.
What have I to grumble about? I have food and shelter here, and should I want a little additional pleasure, I can get it.
I merely wish to call your attention to the fact that there is a custom among Christians, according to which, in expectation of the life to come, we——"
Arina Petrovna paused, searching for a suitable word.
"We provide for the future of those related to us," she concluded, looking out of the window.
Pavel Vladimirych lay motionless, coughing softly. He did not betray by a single movement whether or not he was listening.
Apparently his mother was boring him.
"The capital may go from hand to hand during life," said Arina Petrovna, as though passing a trivial remark and resuming the inspection of her hands.
The patient shuddered slightly, but Arina Petrovna did not notice it and continued:
"The law, my friend, expressly permits the free transfer of capital.
Money is something one acquires. Yesterday you had it. To-day it is gone.
And nobody can call you to account for it. You can give it to whomever you choose."
Pavel Vladimirych suddenly laughed viciously.
"You probably remember the story about Polochkin," he hissed. "He gave his capital to his wife 'from hand to hand' and she ran off with her lover."
"You may rest assured, my child, I have no lover."
"Then you'll run off without a lover—with the money."
"How well you understand my motives!"
"I don't understand you at all. You gave me the reputation of a fool. Well, I am a fool.
Let me be a fool.
What wonderful tricks they have invented—to pass my money from hand to hand!
And where do I come in? I suppose you'll order me to go to a monastery for my salvation, and from there watch how you manage my money?"
He shot these words out in a volley, in a voice full of hatred and indignation.
Then he broke down completely and burst into a fit of coughing that lasted a full quarter of an hour. It was amazing to see how much strength that wretched human skeleton contained.
Finally he caught his breath and closed his eyes.
Arina Petrovna looked about in bewilderment.
Until that moment she could not believe it, somehow, but now she was fully convinced that every attempt to persuade the dying man would only serve to hasten the day of Yudushka's triumph.
Yudushka kept dancing before her eyes.
She saw him walking behind the hearse, giving his brother the last Judas kiss and squeezing out two foul tears.
Then she had a picture of the coffin being lowered into the grave and Yudushka exclaiming, "Farewell, brother!" his lips twitching and his eyes rolling upward. She heard his attempt to add a note of grief to his voice, and afterwards say, turning to Ulita: "The kutya, the kutya, don't forget to take the kutya into the house. And be sure to put on a clean table cloth. We must honor brother's memory in the house, too."
Next she saw him presiding over the funeral feast, chatting incessantly with the reverend father about the virtues of the deceased. She heard him say,
"Ah, brother, brother, you didn't wish to live with us," as he rose from the table, stretching out his hand, palm upward, to receive the father's blessing.
And lastly she saw Yudushka walking about the house with the air of a master, taking the inventory of all the effects and in doubtful cases casting suspicious glances at mother.
All these inevitable scenes of the future floated before Arina Petrovna's mental vision.
In her ears rang Yudushka's shrill, unctuous voice as he said:
"Do you remember, mother dear, the little golden shirt studs that brother had? They were so pretty. He used to wear them on holidays. I simply can't imagine where those studs could have gone to."
_____ CHAPTER V
No sooner did Arina Petrovna come downstairs, than a carriage drawn by a team of four horses made its appearance on a hill near the church.
In it, in the place of honor, was seated Porfiry Golovliov, who had removed his hat and was crossing himself at the sight of the church. Opposite him sat his two sons, Petenka and Volodenka.
The very blood froze in Arina Petrovna's veins as the thought flashed through her mind,
"Speak of the devil and he's sure to appear." The girls also lost courage, and timidly clung closer to their grandmother.
The house hitherto peaceful was suddenly filled with alarm. Doors banged, people ran about crying, "The master is coming, the master is coming!" and all the occupants of the house rushed out on the porch.
Some made the sign of the cross, some stood in silent expectation, all apparently conscious of the fact that the existing order in Dubrovino had been only temporary, and that now the real management was to begin with a real master at the head.
Under the former master some of the old, deserving serfs had enjoyed the privilege of a monthly allowance of provisions. Many of them fed their cattle on the master's hay, had kitchen gardens of their own, and altogether lived "freely." Everyone, of course, was now vitally interested to know whether the new master would permit the old order of things, or whether he would introduce a new one, similar to that which prevailed at Golovliovo.