"Let me alone! Let me alone! you devil!" she shrieked2 in a high treble voice.
"Leave go of me then!" answered the tenor3 voice of a man.
"I won't let go of you, you wretch4! you monster!"
"Shut up, and leave go of me!"
"Not if you kill me—I won't let you go!"
"What, you won't? Then take that, you heretic!"
"Help! He is killing5 me! Help!"
"Will you let go of me then?"
"You may go on beating me, you dog, till you have killed me!"
"I can't do that in a hurry—you take more killing than that!"
At the first words of such a dialogue, the painter Soutchkoff's apprentice6, Senka Tschischik, who from one day's end to the other was busy in one of the sheds in the yard rubbing and mixing colours, used to rush out in hot haste, and whilst his little black mouse eyes flashed, he would shout with all his might, so that his voice rang right across the court—
"There's another row up at Orloff's the cobbler."
The little Tschischik was an ardent7 lover of every sort of adventure and story. As soon as there appeared to be trouble at the Orloffs he would run quickly to the window of their dwelling8, lie down on his stomach, poke9 his mischievous10 shock head of hair and his thin face, smeared11 with ochre and vermilion, as far as he could into the gloom of the cellar, and watch with curiosity all that went on in the dark, damp hole, from which arose a smell of musty cobbler's wax and of sour batter12. There, on the floor of this hole were to be seen two figures, rolling over each other on the ground, groaning13 and cursing.
"You want to kill me, then?" gasped15 at this moment, in a warning, breathless voice, the woman.
"Don't be afraid!" the man mockingly reassured16 her in a tone of suppressed violence.
Heavy dull blows were then heard, falling on something soft; then sobs17 and sighs, and the panting of a man, who seemed to be making efforts to move a heavy object.
"Blast it all! Now he has given her a good one!—with the boot-last," cried Tschischik, watching what was going on in the cellar, whilst the public who had gathered round—the porter, Lewtschenko, the accordion18-player Kisljakoff, a couple of tailor's apprentices19, and other amateurs of gratuitous20 amusement,—were all impatient to get news from Senka, and pulled him, now by his legs and now by his many-coloured trousers.
"Well, what's going on now? what's he doing to her this time?" they would ask.
"Now he is sitting astride of her, and is banging her nose into the ground," explained Senka, who with true enjoyment21 was taking in every action of the play.
The public pushed nearer to the windows of the Orloffs' dwelling. They burned with curiosity to see with their own eyes all the developments of the struggle, and although they knew well of old every point in the attack and defence in the war which Grischka Orloff waged against his wife, they always appeared equally surprised and astonished.
"No, but what a devil he is! He has beaten her again, has he not, till she is bleeding?" asked one of them.
"Her nose is all over blood.... It is running down," Senka informed them.
"Ah! good heavens! What a terror, what a wretch he is!" cried some women, full of sympathy.
The men regarded the matter from a more abstract and philosophic22 point of view.
"He will certainly end by killing her," they said.
The accordion-player remarked in a prophetic voice—
"He'll stick a knife into her some day; you take my word for it He'll get tired of always knocking her about, and some day will put an end to the whole business in a hurry."
"Now he has let go of her," said Senka in a whisper, springing up from the ground, and bounding on one side like an india-rubber ball. Immediately afterwards he took up another post of observation in a corner of the court, for he knew that Grischka Orloff would now appear above ground.
Most of the spectators went off rapidly, for they had no desire to come face to face with the enraged23 cobbler. Now that the fight was over Grischka had lost all interest in their eyes, and besides it was not without danger to come across him under these circumstances.
So it happened that when Orloff emerged from his cellar, there was generally, with the exception of Senka, no living soul to be seen in the courtyard. Breathing heavily, his shirt torn, his hair tumbled, with fresh scratches on his still excited and perspiring24 face, Grischka Orloff, with bloodshot eyes would glance suspiciously round the court. With his hands behind his back, he would walk slowly towards an old sledge25 which was leaning against the wall of a dilapidated wool-shed. Sometimes he would whistle and throw threatening glances around, as if he were challenging all the dwellers26 in Petounukoff's house to battle. Then he would sit down on the sledge, and with the sleeve of his shirt wipe the blood away from his face. He would remain for a long time motionless, glowering27 darkly at the wall of the opposite house, where the plaster was crumbling28 away, and where a variety of colours had been smeared on by the house-painter Soutchkoff's apprentices, who had the habit, when they left off work, of cleaning their brushes on this part of the wall.
The cobbler Orloff was about thirty years old. His dark, nervous, finely-cut face was adorned29 with a black moustache, under which showed full red lips. Above a prominent nose thick black eyebrows30 were drawn31 close together; dark restless flashing eyes looked out from under them. The curly hair that hung forward on his forehead fell behind over his brown strong neck in thick ringlets. Orloff was of middle height, a little bent32 with a slight stoop—the result of his special work,— muscular and full-blooded; but now he sat on the sledge as if in a dull state of stupor33, and gazed blankly at the variegated34 wall, his breath coming in heavy gasps35 and throbs36.
The sun had already gone off the courtyard, in which there still reigned37 a dull twilight38; a mingled39 smell of oil-paint, of tar40, of sauerkraut and of rotting vegetable matter hung heavy on the sultry evening air. From the windows of the two-storied dwelling there came a sound of song and of oaths, which rang through the court, whilst a drunken man thrust an inquiring head out of a window from behind a corner, looked across at Orloff, and then disappeared with a mocking laugh.
The time came for the painters to leave their work; they passed by Orloff, throwing mocking glances at him, winking41 meaningly at one another, and filled the courtyard with the sounds of their Kostroma dialect Then they separated—each going his own way, the one to the bath, the other to the vodka-shop.
Later on, the tailors came down from the second storey into the courtyard; half-dressed, bow-legged fellows who were making merry over the dialect of their painter comrades. The whole court was once more filled with noise, jovial42 laughter and jokes. Orloff sat silent in his corner, taking no notice of any one. No one went near him, no one dared to joke with him, for all knew that at these moments he was like a raging animal.
Completely swayed by his dark desperate mood, which seemed to weigh on his breast and oppress his breathing, he sat there as if rooted to the spot.
From time to time his nostrils43 swelled44 and his lips parted, showing two rows of big yellow teeth. A dark indescribable feeling of anguish45 seemed to hold him inexorably; red spots swam before his eyes. A sense of utter melancholy46 took possession of him, and to this was added a burning thirst for vodka. He knew that he would feel more lighthearted when he had had something to drink, but he was ashamed while it was still light to show his torn and ragged47 condition in the street, where every one knew him personally as Grigori Orloff the cobbler. He had a feeling of his own dignity, and would not expose himself as a butt48 for general mirth. But neither could he go home to wash and dress himself,—for there, lying bleeding on the ground, was his wife whom he had greviously ill-used, and whom, at any price, he must not look on at present.
There, no doubt, she is lying groaning, and he feels that she is a martyr49, and that he has been a thousand times guilty towards her. All this he realizes quite clearly and distinctly. He knows well that where she is concerned he has much to blame himself, and this consideration increases even more the hatred50 which he feels towards her. A vague but dominating feeling of anger gnaws51 his soul, prevailing52 over every other feeling, whilst an inconsolable melancholy overwhelms his inmost being, and he gives way consciously to the dull heavy misery53 which has taken possession of him, but against which he knows no other remedy than—a pint54 of vodka....
The accordion-player Kisljakoff crosses the yard. He is wearing a velvet55 tunic56 without sleeves; a red silk shirt and wide trousers tucked into his stockings; on his feet are smartly-polished shoes. Under his arm he carries in a green bundle his accordion; he has twisted up his black moustache, his cap is worn jauntily57 on one side, and his whole countenance58 beams with the joy of living. Orloff liked his brisk liveliness, his cordial ways, and his playing, and he envied him his bright, happy-go-lucky life, free from all care.
"I greet thee, Grischka, proud conqueror59, returning blood-stained from the fray60!" cried jokingly the accordion-player.
Orloff did not feel angry with Kisljakoff's joke, though he had heard it already for the fiftieth time. He knew that the accordion-player meant no harm, but only wanted to have a little innocent fun with him.
"Well, brother; so you have been acting61 Plevna again?" Kisljakoff asked the cobbler, as he remained for a moment standing62 before him.
"Ah! Grischka, you are indeed a melancholy-looking swain!... Come along with me to the only place which is of any good to such as you and me ... we will go and have a drop together!"
"It's too early yet," objected Orloff, without moving his head.
"I shall await thee then with silent longing63!..." said Kisljakoff, turning away.
After a time Orloff followed him. As soon as he had left, there issues from the cellar a short, plump woman's form. A handkerchief is bound tightly round her head, allowing only one eye and a piece of her cheek to be seen; she walks with tottering64 steps, leaning for support against the wall, crosses the courtyard, going straight to the place where a short time before her husband had sat, and sits down precisely65 in the same spot No one is surprised at her appearance, they are all accustomed to it, and they know she will sit there till Grischka, drunk and repentant66, returns from the dram-shop. She has come up into the courtyard, because the air is too heavy in the cellar, and because she will have to guide the drunken steps of Grischka on his return.
The steps are very steep and half broken away; once before, when Grischka returned from the dram-shop he fell down, and sprained67 his arm, so that he could not work for a fortnight, and she, in order that they might live, had been obliged to pawn68 everything they possessed69. From that time Matrona had taken good care of him. Sometimes one of the inhabitants of the house would come and speak to her; generally it was Lewtschenko, a retired70, bearded non-commissioned officer, a very sensible worthy71 "Little Russian," with a smooth shaven head and a purple nose.
He would sit down, with a yawn and a stretch, and remark—"Well, have you been catching72 it again?"
"What's that to you?" Matrona would reply in an unfriendly tone.
"Nothing in the world!" said the "Little Russian," and then they both remained silent for a while.
Matrona would gasp14; something seemed to be choking her breath.
"What a pity it is to think that you are always at loggerheads with one another! Can't you alter things?" the "Little Russian" would begin again.
"That's our business," replied Orloff's wife shortly.
"Of course it is! Of course it's your business..." agreed Lewtschenko, nodding his head to show that he was entirely73 at one with her on this point.
"What are you driving at?" continued Matrona in an angry voice.
"La! la! la! What a bad temper you are in! You won't let one say a word to you! Whenever I see you and Grischka, I say to myself, what a pair they are! They worry each other like two dogs! You ought both to be beaten twice a day, morning and evening—then perhaps the desire for quarrelling would be knocked out of you." And he went away angrily and Matrona was glad; for several times there had been whisperings and gossipings in die court, caused by Lewtschenko's attempts to be friendly; so she was vexed74 with him, as she was with everybody who mixed themselves up with her affairs.
Lewtschenko, in spite of his forty years, walked with a soldierly stride to a corner of the yard, when suddenly Tschischik, the painter's apprentice, ran like a ball between his legs.
"That was a nasty one she gave you, little uncle!" he whispered with a precocious75 air to the non-commissioned officer, winking cunningly in the direction of Matrona.
"You'll get something nasty from me, if you don't look out! do you understand!" the "Little Russian" threatened him, though he was really laughing behind his moustache. He liked the lively little lad, who knew all the secrets of the court, and he really enjoyed having a gossip with him.
"There is nothing to be done with her," continued Senka, without paying any attention to Lewtschenko's threat, and going on with his revelations. "Maximka, the painter, has also tried—but what did he get for his pains?... a box on the ear!... I saw it myself...."
The, but half grown, lively little lad of twelve absorbed greedily all the filth76 and evil with which his life was surrounded, just as a sponge absorbs the water in which it lies; and the delicate wrinkles on his forehead showed that Senka Tschischik had already begun to think.
In the courtyard it grew dark. Overhead was stretched a square patch of dark blue sky on which twinkled the shimmering77 glory of the stars. The courtyard itself with its steep walled sides looked like a deep pit, at the bottom of which sat, huddled78 up in a corner, the form of Matrona, resting after the beating she had received, and awaiting the return of her drunken husband....
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收听单词发音
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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4
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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9
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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10
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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11
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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12
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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13
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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14
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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15
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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16
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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17
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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18
accordion
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| n.手风琴；adj.可折叠的 | |
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19
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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20
gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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21
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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22
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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23
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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24
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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25
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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26
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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27
glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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28
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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29
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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30
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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31
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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32
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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33
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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34
variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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36
throbs
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| 体内的跳动( throb的名词复数 ) | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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39
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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40
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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41
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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42
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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43
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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44
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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45
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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47
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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48
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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49
martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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50
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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51
gnaws
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| 咬( gnaw的第三人称单数 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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52
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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53
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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54
pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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55
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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56
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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57
jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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58
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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60
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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61
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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62
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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63
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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64
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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65
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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67
sprained
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| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
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68
pawn
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| n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押 | |
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69
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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70
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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71
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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72
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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75
precocious
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| adj.早熟的；较早显出的 | |
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76
filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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