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CHAPTER XVII.
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 He awoke, and all the horror of her position rose up in her mind. She rang. The maid entered, and in answer to her questions, replied that Kirila Petrovitch had set out the evening before for Arbatova, and had returned very late; that he had given strict orders that she was not to be allowed out of her room and that nobody was to be permitted to speak to her; that otherwise, there were no signs of any particular preparations for the wedding, except that the pope had been ordered not to leave the village under any pretext1 whatever. After disburdening herself of this news, the maid left Maria Kirilovna and again locked the door.
Her words hardened the young prisoner. Her head burned, her blood boiled. She resolved to inform Doubrovsky of everything, and she began to think of some means by which she could get the ring conveyed to the hole in the sacred oak. At that moment a stone struck against her window; the glass rattled2, and Maria Kirilovna, looking out into the courtyard, saw the little Sasha making signs to her. She knew that he was attached to her, and she was pleased to see him.
"Good morning, Sasha; why do you call me?"
"I came, sister, to know if you wanted anything. Papa is angry, and has forbidden the whole house to obey you; but order me to do whatever you like, and I will do it for you."
"Thank you, my dear Sasha. Listen; you know the old hollow oak near the arbour?"
"Yes, I know it, sister."
"Then, if you love me, run there as quickly as you can and put this ring in the hollow; but take care that nobody sees you."
With these words, she threw the ring to him and closed the window.
The lad picked up the ring, and ran off with all his might, and in three minutes he arrived at the sacred tree. There he paused, quite out of breath, and after looking round on every side, placed the ring in the hollow. Having successfully accomplished3 his mission, he wanted to inform Maria Kirilovna of the fact at once, when suddenly a red-haired ragged4 boy darted5 out from behind the arbour, dashed towards the oak and thrust his hand into the hole. Sasha, quicker than a squirrel, threw himself upon him and seized him with both hands.
"What are you doing here?" said he sternly.
"What business is that of yours?" said the boy, trying to disengage himself.
"Leave that ring alone, red head," cried Sasha, "or I will teach you a lesson in my own style."
Instead of replying, the boy gave him a blow in the face with his fist; but Sasha still held him firmly in his grasp, and cried out at the top of his voice:
"Thieves! thieves! help! help!"
The boy tried to get away from him. He seemed to be about two years older than Sasha, and very much stronger; but Sasha was more agile6. They struggled together for some minutes; at last the red-headed boy gained the advantage. He threw Sasha upon the ground and seized him by the throat. But at that moment a strong hand grasped hold of his shaggy red hair, and Stepan, the gardener, lifted him half a yard from the ground.
"Ah! you red-headed beast!" said the gardener. "How dare you strike the young gentleman?"
In the meantime, Sasha had jumped to his feet and recovered himself.
"You caught me under the arm-pits," said he, "or you would never have thrown me. Give me the ring at once and be off."
"It's likely!" replied the red-headed one, and suddenly twisting himself round, he disengaged his bristles7 from Stepan's hand.
Then he started off running, but Sasha overtook him, gave him a blow in the back, and the boy fell. The gardener again seized him and bound him with his belt.
"Give me the ring!" cried Sasha.
"Wait a moment, young master," said Stepan; "we will lead him to the bailiff to be questioned.".
The gardener led the captive into the courtyard of the manor-house, accompanied by Sasha, who glanced uneasily at his trousers, torn and stained with the grass. Suddenly all three found themselves face to face with Kirila Petrovitch, who was going to inspect his stables.
"What is the meaning of this?" he said to Stepan.
Stepan in a few words related all that had happened.
Kirila Petrovitch listened to him with attention.
"You rascal," said he, turning to Sasha: "why did you wrestle8 with him?"
"He stole a ring out of the hollow tree, papa; make him give up the ring."
"What ring? Out of what hollow tree?"
"The one that Maria Kirilovna ... the ring...." Sasha stammered9 and became confused. Kirila Petrovitch frowned and said, shaking his head:
"Ah! Maria Kirilovna is mixed up in this. Confess everything, or I will give you such a birching as you have never had in your life."
"As true as heaven, papa, I ... papa ... Maria Kirilovna never told me to do anything, papa."
"Stepan, go and cut me some fine, fresh birch twigs10."
"Stop, papa, I will tell you all. I was running about the courtyard to-day, when sister Maria Kirilovna opened the window. I ran towards her, and she accidentally dropped a ring, and I went and hid it in the hollow tree, and ... and this red-headed fellow wanted to steal the ring."
"She did not drop it accidentally,—you wanted to hide it ... Stepan, go and get the birch twigs."
"Papa, wait, I will tell you everything. Sister Maria Kirilovna told me to run to the oak tree and put the ring in the hollow; I ran and did so, but this nasty fellow——"
Kirila Petrovitch turned to the "nasty fellow" and said to him sternly:
"To whom do you belong?"
"I belong to my master Doubrovsky."
Kirila Petrovitch's face grew dark.
"It seems, then, that you do not recognize me as your master. Very well. What were you doing in my garden?"
"I was stealing raspberries."
"Ah, ah! the servant is like his master. As the pope is, so is his parish. And do my raspberries grow upon oak trees? Have you ever heard so?"
The boy did not reply.
"Papa, make him give up the ring," said Sasha.
"Silence, Alexander!" replied Kirila Petrovitch; "don't forget that I intend to settle with you presently. Go to your room. And you, squint-eyes, you seem to me to be a knowing sort of lad; if you confess everything to me, I will not whip you, but will give you a five copeck piece to buy nuts with. Give lip the ring and go."
The boy opened his fist and showed that there was nothing in his hand.
"If you don't, I shall do something to you that you little expect. Now!"
The boy did not answer a word, but stood with his head bent11 down, looking like a perfect simpleton.
"Very well!" said Kirila Petrovitch: "lock him up somewhere, and see that he does not escape, or I'll skin the whole household."
Stepan conducted the boy to the pigeon loft12, locked him in there, and ordered the old poultry13 woman, Agatha, to keep a watch upon him.
"There is no doubt about it: she has kept up intercourse14 with that accursed Doubrovsky. But if she has really invoked15 his aid——" thought Kirila Petrovitch, pacing up and down the room, and angrily whistling his favourite air,——"I am hot upon his track, at all events, and he shall not escape me. We shall take advantage of this opportunity.... Hark! a bell; thank God, that is the sheriff. Bring here the boy that is locked up."
In the meantime, a small telega drove into the courtyard, and our old acquaintance, the sheriff, entered the room, all covered with dust.
"Glorious news!" said Kirila Petrovitch: "I have caught Doubrovsky."
"Thank God, Your Excellency!" said the sheriff, his face beaming with delight. "Where is he?"
"That is to say, not Doubrovsky himself, but one of his band. He will be here presently. He will help us to apprehend16 his chief. Here he is."
The sheriff, who expected to see some fierce-looking brigand17, was astonished to perceive a lad of thirteen years of age, of somewhat delicate appearance. He turned to Kirila Petrovitch with an incredulous look, and awaited an explanation. Kirila Petrovitch then began to relate the events of the morning, without, however, mentioning the name of Maria Kirilovna.
The sheriff listened to him attentively18, glancing from time to time at the young rogue19, who, assuming a look of imbecility, seemed to be paying no attention to all that was going on around him.
"Will Your Excellency allow me to speak to you apart?" said the sheriff at last.
Kirila Petrovitch conducted him into the next room and locked the door after him.
Half an hour afterwards they returned to the hall, where the captive was awaiting the decision respecting his fate.
"The master wished," said the sheriff to him, "to have you locked up in the town gaol20, to be whipped, and then to be sent to the convict settlement; but I interceded21 for you and have obtained your pardon. Untie22 him!"
The lad was unbound.
"Thank the master," said the sheriff.
The lad went up to Kirila Petrovitch and kissed his hand.
"Run away home," said Kirila Petrovitch to him, "and in future do not steal raspberries from oak trees."
The lad went out, ran merrily down the steps, and without looking behind him, dashed off across the fields in the direction of Kistenevka. On reaching the village, he stopped at a half-ruined hut, the first from the corner, and tapped at the window. The window was opened, and an old woman appeared.
"Grandmother, some bread!" said the boy: "I have eaten nothing since this morning; I am dying of hunger."
"Ah! it is you, Mitia;[1] but where have you been all this time, you little devil?" asked the old woman.
"I will tell you afterwards, grandmother. For God's sake, some bread!"
"Come into the hut, then."
"I haven't the time, grandmother; I've got to run on to another place. Bread, for the Lord's sake, bread!"
"What a fidget!" grumbled23 the old woman: "there's a piece for you," and she pushed through the window a slice of black bread.
The boy bit it with avidity, and then continued his course, eating it as he went.
It was beginning to grow dark. Mitia made his way along by the corn kilns24 and kitchen gardens into the Kistenevka wood. On arriving at the two pine trees, standing25 like advanced guards before the wood, he paused, x looked round on every side, gave a shrill26, abrupt27 whistle, and then listened. A light and prolonged whistle was heard in reply, and somebody came out of the wood and advanced towards him.
[1] Diminutive28 of Dimitry (Demetrius).
 

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1 pretext 1Qsxi     
n.借口,托词
参考例句:
  • He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
  • He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口,没参加那个会议。
2 rattled b4606e4247aadf3467575ffedf66305b     
慌乱的,恼火的
参考例句:
  • The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
  • Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里,窗户都格格作响。
3 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
4 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
5 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 agile Ix2za     
adj.敏捷的,灵活的
参考例句:
  • She is such an agile dancer!她跳起舞来是那么灵巧!
  • An acrobat has to be agile.杂技演员必须身手敏捷。
7 bristles d40df625d0ab9008a3936dbd866fa2ec     
短而硬的毛发,刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • the bristles on his chin 他下巴上的胡楂子
  • This job bristles with difficulties. 这项工作困难重重。
8 wrestle XfLwD     
vi.摔跤,角力;搏斗;全力对付
参考例句:
  • He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
  • We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。
9 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
10 twigs 17ff1ed5da672aa443a4f6befce8e2cb     
细枝,嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
  • Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。
11 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
12 loft VkhyQ     
n.阁楼,顶楼
参考例句:
  • We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
  • By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下,他们就可以多出两间卧室。
13 poultry GPQxh     
n.家禽,禽肉
参考例句:
  • There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
  • What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?
14 intercourse NbMzU     
n.性交;交流,交往,交际
参考例句:
  • The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples.该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。
  • There was close intercourse between them.他们过往很密。
15 invoked fabb19b279de1e206fa6d493923723ba     
v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 );行使(权利等);祈求救助;恳求
参考例句:
  • It is unlikely that libel laws will be invoked. 不大可能诉诸诽谤法。
  • She had invoked the law in her own defence. 她援引法律为自己辩护。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 apprehend zvqzq     
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑
参考例句:
  • I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
  • Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。
17 brigand cxdz6N     
n.土匪,强盗
参考例句:
  • This wallace is a brigand,nothing more.华莱士只不过是个土匪。
  • How would you deal with this brigand?你要如何对付这个土匪?
18 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 rogue qCfzo     
n.流氓;v.游手好闲
参考例句:
  • The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
  • They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。
20 gaol Qh8xK     
n.(jail)监狱;(不加冠词)监禁;vt.使…坐牢
参考例句:
  • He was released from the gaol.他被释放出狱。
  • The man spent several years in gaol for robbery.这男人因犯抢劫罪而坐了几年牢。
21 interceded a3ffa45c6c61752f29fff8f87d24e72a     
v.斡旋,调解( intercede的过去式和过去分词 );说情
参考例句:
  • They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
  • He interceded with the teacher for me. 他为我向老师求情。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
22 untie SjJw4     
vt.解开,松开;解放
参考例句:
  • It's just impossible to untie the knot.It's too tight.这个结根本解不开。太紧了。
  • Will you please untie the knot for me?请你替我解开这个结头,好吗?
23 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声
参考例句:
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
24 kilns a783251ff4c9ad3d87dce8463073429b     
n.窑( kiln的名词复数 );烧窑工人
参考例句:
  • Bricks and earthware articles are baked in kilns. 砖和陶器都是在窑中烧成的。 来自辞典例句
  • The bricks are baking in the kilns. ?里正在烧砖。 来自辞典例句
25 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
26 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
参考例句:
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
27 abrupt 2fdyh     
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的
参考例句:
  • The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
  • His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
28 diminutive tlWzb     
adj.小巧可爱的,小的
参考例句:
  • Despite its diminutive size,the car is quite comfortable.尽管这辆车很小,但相当舒服。
  • She has diminutive hands for an adult.作为一个成年人,她的手显得非常小。


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