AtmidnightVaninkareturnedwithherfather。Ahiddenfeverhadbeenconsumingheralltheevening:neverhadshelookedsolovely,andshehadbeenoverwhelmedbythehomageofthemostdistinguishednoblesandcourtiers。Whenshereturned,shefoundAnnouschkainthevestibulewaitingtotakehercloak。Asshegaveittoher,Vaninkasentheroneofthosequestioningglancesthatseemtoexpresssomuch。\"Itisdone,\"saidthegirlinalowvoice。Vaninkabreathedasighofrelief,asifamountainhadbeenremovedfromherbreast。
Greataswasherself-control,shecouldnolongerbearherfather’spresence,andexcusedherselffromremainingtosupperwithhim,onthepleaofthefatiguesoftheevening。Vaninkawasnosoonerinherroom,withthedooronceclosed,thanshetoretheflowersfromherhair,thenecklacefromherthroat,cutwithscissorsthecorsetswhichsuffocatedher,andthen,throwingherselfonherbed,shegavewaytohergrief。AnnouschkathankedGodforthisoutburst;hermistress’scalmnesshadfrightenedhermorethanherdespair。Thefirstcrisisover,Vaninkawasabletopray。Shespentanhouronherknees,then,yieldingtotheentreatiesofherfaithfulattendant,wenttobed。Annouschkasatdownatthefootofthebed。
Neitherslept,butwhendaycamethetearswhichVaninkahadshedhadcalmedher。
Annouschkawasinstructedtorewardherbrother。Toolargeasumgiventoaslaveatoncemighthavearousedsuspicion,thereforeAnnouschkacontentedherselfwithtellingIvanthatwhenhehadneedofmoneyhehadonlytoaskherforit。
Gregory,profitingbyhislibertyandwishingtomakeuseofhisthousandroubles,boughtalittletavernontheoutskirtsofthetown,where,thankstohisaddressandtotheacquaintanceshehadamongtheservantsinthegreathouseholdsofSt。Petersburg,hebegantodevelopanexcellentbusiness,sothatinashorttimetheRedHouse(whichwasthenameandcolourofGregory’sestablishment)
hadagreatreputation。Anothermantookoverhisdutiesaboutthepersonofthegeneral,andbutforFoedor’sabsenceeverythingreturnedtoitsusualroutineinthehouseofCountTchermayloff。
Twomonthswentbyinthisway,withoutanybodyhavingtheleastsuspicionofwhathadhappened,whenonemorningbeforetheusualbreakfast-hourthegeneralbeggedhisdaughtertocomedowntohisroom。Vaninkatrembledwithfear,forsincethatfatalnighteverythingterrifiedher。Sheobeyedherfather,andcollectingallherstrength,madeherwaytohischamber,Thecountwasalone,butatthefirstglanceVaninkasawshehadnothingtofearfromthisinterview:thegeneralwaswaitingforherwiththatpaternalsmilewhichwastheusualexpressionofhiscountenancewheninhisdaughter’spresence。
Sheapproached,therefore,withherusualcalmness,and,stoopingdowntowardsthegeneral,gavehimherforeheadtokiss。
Hemotionedtohertositdown,andgaveheranopenletter。Vaninkalookedathimforamomentinsurprise,thenturnedhereyestotheletter。
Itcontainedthenewsofthedeathofthemantowhomherhandhadbeenpromised:hehadbeenkilledinaduel。
Thegeneralwatchedtheeffectoftheletteronhisdaughter’sface,andgreataswasVaninka’sself-control,somanydifferentthoughts,suchbitterregret,suchpoignantremorseassailedherwhenshelearntthatshewasnowfreeagain,thatshecouldnotentirelyconcealheremotion。Thegeneralnoticedit,andattributedittothelovewhichhehadforalongtimesuspectedhisdaughterfeltfortheyoungaide-de-camp。
\"Well,\"hesaid,smiling,\"Iseeitisallforthebest。\"
\"Howisthat,father?\"askedVaninka。
\"Doubtless,\"saidthegeneral。\"DidnotFoedorleavebecausehelovedyou?\"
\"Yes,\"murmuredtheyounggirl。
\"Well,nowhemayreturn,\"saidthegeneral。
Vaninkaremainedsilent,hereyesfixed,herlipstrembling。
\"Return!\"shesaid,afteramoment’ssilence。
\"Yes,certainlyreturn。Weshallbemostunfortunate,\"continuedthegeneral,smiling,\"ifwecannotfindsomeoneinthehousewhoknowswhereheis。Come,Vaninka,tellmetheplaceofhisexile,andI
willundertaketherest。\"
\"NobodyknowswhereFoedoris,\"murmuredVaninkainahollowvoice;
\"nobodybutGod,nobody!\"
\"What!\"saidthegeneral,\"hehassentyounonewssincethedayheleft?\"
Vaninkashookherheadindenial。Shewassoheart-brokenthatshecouldnotspeak。
Thegeneralinhisturnbecamegloomy。\"Doyoufearsomemisfortune,then?\"saidhe。
\"IfearthatIshallneverbehappyagainonearth,\"criedVaninka,givingwayunderthepressureofhergrief;thenshecontinuedatonce,\"Letmeretire,father;IamashamedofwhatIhavesaid。\"
Thegeneral,whosawnothinginthisexclamationbeyondregretforhavingallowedtheconfessionofherlovetoescapeher,kissedhisdaughteronthebrowandallowedhertoretire。Hehopedthat,inspiteofthemournfulwayinwhichVaninkahadspokenofFoedor,thatitwouldbepossibletofindhim。ThesamedayhewenttotheemperorandtoldhimoftheloveofFoedorforhisdaughter,andrequested,sincedeathhadfreedherfromherfirstengagement,thathemightdisposeofherhand。Theemperorconsented,andthegeneralthensolicitedafurtherfavour。Paulwasinoneofhiskindlymoods,andshowedhimselfdisposedtograntit。ThegeneraltoldhimthatFoedorhaddisappearedfortwomonths;thateveryone,evenhisdaughter,wasignorantofhiswhereabouts,andbeggedhimtohaveinquiriesmade。Theemperorimmediatelysentforthechiefofpolice,andgavehimthenecessaryorders。
Sixweekswentbywithoutanyresult。Vaninka,sincethedaywhenthelettercame,wassadderandmoremelancholythanever。Vainlyfromtimetotimethegeneraltriedtomakehermorehopeful。
Vaninkaonlyshookherheadandwithdrew。Thegeneralceasedtospeak,ofFoedor。
Butitwasnotthesameamongthehousehold。Theyoungaide-de-camphadbeenpopularwiththeservants,and,withtheexceptionofGregory,therewasnotasoulwhowishedhimharm,sothat,whenitbecameknownthathehadnotbeensentonamission,buthaddisappeared,thematterbecametheconstantsubjectofconversationintheantechamber,thekitchen,andthestables。Therewasanotherplacewherepeoplebusiedthemselvesaboutitagreatdeal——thiswastheRedHouse。
>FromthedaywhenheheardofFoedor’smysteriousdepartureGregoryhadhissuspicions。HewassurethathehadseenFoedorenterVaninka’sroom,andunlesshehadgoneoutwhilehewasgoingtoseekthegeneral,hedidnotunderstandwhythelatterhadnotfoundhiminhisdaughter’sroom。Anotherthingoccupiedhismind,whichitseemedtohimmightperhapshavesomeconnectionwiththisevent——theamountofmoneyIvanhadbeenspendingsincethattime,averyextraordinaryamountforaslave。Thisslave,however,wasthebrotherofVaninka’scherishedfoster-sister,sothat,withoutbeingsure,Gregoryalreadysuspectedthesourcefromwhencethismoneycame。Anotherthingconfirmedhiminhissuspicions,whichwasthatIvan,whohadnotonlyremainedhismostfaithfulfriend,buthadbecomeoneofhisbestcustomers,neverspokeofFoedor,heldhistongueifhewerementionedinhispresence,andtoallquestions,howeverpressingtheywere,madebutoneanswer:\"Letusspeakofsomethingelse。\"
InthemeantimetheFeastofKingsarrived。ThisisagreatdayinSt。Petersburg,foritisalsothedayforblessingthewaters。
AsVaninkahadbeenpresentattheceremony,andwasfatiguedafterstandingfortwohoursontheNeva,thegeneraldidnotgooutthatevening,andgaveIvanleavetodoso。IvanprofitedbythepermissiontogototheRedHouse。
Therewasanumerouscompanythere,andIvanwaswelcomed;foritwasknownthathegenerallycamewithfullpockets。Thistimehedidnotbeliehisreputation,andhadscarcelyarrivedbeforehemadethesorok-kopecksring,tothegreatenvyofhiscompanions。
AtthiswarningsoundGregoryhastenedupwithallpossibledeference,abottleofbrandyineachhand;forheknewthatwhenIvansummonedhimhegainedintwoways,asinnkeeperandasbooncompanion。Ivandidnotdisappointthesehopes,andGregorywasinvitedtoshareintheentertainment。Theconversationturnedonslavery,andsomeoftheunhappymen,whohadonlyfourdaysintheyearofrespitefromtheireternallabour,talkedloudlyofthehappinessGregoryhadenjoyedsincehehadobtainedhisfreedom。
\"Bah!\"saidIvan,onwhomthebrandyhadbeguntotakeeffect,\"therearesomeslaveswhoarefreerthantheirmasters。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"saidGregory,pouringhimoutanotherglassofbrandy。
\"Imeanttosayhappier,\"saidIvanquickly。
\"Itisdifficulttoprovethat,\"saidGregorydoubtingly。
\"Whydifficult?Ourmasters,themomenttheyareborn,areputintothehandsoftwoorthreepedants,oneFrench,anotherGerman,andathirdEnglish,andwhethertheylikethemornot,theymustbecontentwiththeirsocietytilltheyareseventeen,andwhethertheywishtoornot,mustlearnthreebarbarouslanguages,attheexpenseofournobleRussiantongue,whichtheyhavesometimescompletelyforgottenbythetimetheothersareacquired。Again,ifoneofthemwishesforsomecareer,hemustbecomeasoldier:ifheisasublieutenant,heistheslaveofthelieutenant;ifheisalieutenant,heistheslaveofthecaptain,andthecaptainofthemajor,andsoonuptotheemperor,whoisnobody’sslave,butwhoonefinedayissurprisedatthetable,whilewalking,orinhisbed,andispoisoned,stabbed,orstrangled。Ifhechoosesacivilcareer,itismuchthesame。Hemarriesawife,anddoesnotloveher;childrencometohimheknowsnothow,whomhehastoprovidefor;hemuststruggleincessantlytoprovideforhisfamilyifheispoor,andifheisrichtopreventhimselfbeingrobbedbyhisstewardandcheatedbyhistenants。Isthislife?Whilewe,gentlemen,weareborn,andthatistheonlypainwecostourmothers——alltherestisthemaster’sconcern。Heprovidesforus,hechoosesourcalling,alwayseasyenoughtolearnifwearenotquiteidiots。Areweill?Hisdoctorattendsusgratis;itisalosstohimifwedie。Arewewell?Wehaveourfourcertainmealsaday,andagoodstovetosleepnearatnight。Dowefallinlove?
Thereisneveranyhindrancetoourmarriage,ifthewomanlovesus;
themasterhimselfasksustohastenourmarriage,forhewishesustohaveasmanychildrenaspossible。Andwhenthechildrenareborn,hedoesforthemintheirturnallhehasdoneforus。Canyoufindmemanygreatlordsashappyastheirslaves?\"
\"Allthisistrue,\"saidGregory,pouringhimoutanotherglassofbrandy;\"but,afterall,youarenotfree。\"
\"Freetodowhat?\"askedIvan。
\"Freetogowhereyouwillandwhenyouwill。\"
\"Iamasfreeastheair,\"repliedIvan。
\"Nonsense!\"saidGregory。
\"Freeasair,Itellyou;forIhavegoodmasters,andaboveallagoodmistress,\"continuedIvan,withasignificantsmile,\"andIhaveonlytoaskanditisdone。\"
\"What!ifafterhavinggotdrunkhereto-day,youaskedtocomebackto-morrowtogetdrunkagain?\"saidGregory,whoinhischallengetoIvandidnotforgethisowninterests,——\"ifyouaskedthat?\"
\"Ishouldcomebackagain,\"saidIvan。
\"To-morrow?\"saidGregory。
\"To-morrow,thedayafter,everydayifIliked……\"
\"Thefactis,Ivanisouryounglady’sfavourite,\"saidanotherofthecount’sslaveswhowaspresent,profitingbyhiscomradeIvan’sliberality。
\"Itisallthesame,\"saidGregory;\"forsupposingsuchpermissionweregivenyou,moneywouldsoonrunshort。\"
\"Never!\"saidIvan,swallowinganotherglassofbrandy,\"neverwillIvanwantformoneyaslongasthereisakopeckinmylady’spurse。\"
\"Ididnotfindhersoliberal,\"saidGregorybitterly。
\"Oh,youforget,myfriend;youknowwellshedoesnotreckonwithherfriends:rememberthestrokesoftheknout。\"
\"Ihavenowishtospeakaboutthat,\"saidGregory。\"Iknowthatsheisgenerouswithblows,buthermoneyisanotherthing。Ihaveneverseenthecolourofthat。\"
\"Well,wouldyouliketoseethecolourofmine?\"saidIvan,gettingmoreandmoredrunk。\"Seehere,herearekopecks,sorok-kopecks,bluenotesworthfiveroubles,rednotesworthtwentyfiveroubles,andto-morrow,ifyoulike,Iwillshowyouwhitenotesworthfiftyroubles。AhealthtomyladyVaninka!\"AndIvanheldouthisglassagain,andGregoryfilledittothebrim。
\"Butdoesmoney,\"saidGregory,pressingIvanmoreandmore,——\"doesmoneymakeupforscorn?\"
\"Scorn!\"saidIvan,——\"scorn!Whoscornsme?Doyou,becauseyouarefree?Finefreedom!Iwouldratherbeawell-fedslavethanafreemandyingofhunger。\"
\"Imeanthescornofourmasters,\"repliedGregory。
\"Thescornofourmasters!AskAlexis,askDanielthere,ifmyladyscornsme。\"
\"Thefactis,\"saidthetwoslavesinreply,whobothbelongedtothegeneral’shousehold,\"Ivanmustcertainlyhaveacharm;foreveryonetalkstohimasiftoamaster。\"
\"BecauseheisAnnouschka’sbrother,\"saidGregory,\"andAnnouschkaismylady’sfoster-sister。\"
\"Thatmaybeso,\"saidthetwoslaves。
\"Forthatreasonorforsomeother,\"saidIvan;\"but,inshort,thatisthecase。\"
\"Yes;butifyoursistershoulddie?\"saidGregory。\"Ah!\"
\"Ifmysistershoulddie,thatwouldbeapity,forsheisagoodgirl。Idrinktoherhealth!Butifsheshoulddie,thatwouldmakenodifference。Iamrespectedformyself;theyrespectmebecausetheyfearme。\"
\"FearmylordIvan!\"saidGregory,withaloudlaugh。\"Itfollows,then,thatifmylordIvanweretiredofreceivingorders,andgavetheminhisturn,mylordIvanwouldbeobeyed。\"
\"Perhaps,\"saidIvan。
\"Hesaid’perhaps,’repeatedGregory,laughinglouderthanever,——\"hesaid’perhaps。’Didyouhearhim?\"
\"Yes,\"saidtheslaves,whohaddrunksomuchthattheycouldonlyanswerinmonosyllables。
\"Well,Inolongersay’perhaps,’Inowsay’forcertain。’\"
\"Oh,Ishouldliketoseethat,\"saidGregory;\"Iwouldgivesomethingtoseethat。\"
\"Well,sendawaythesefellows,whoaregettingdrunklikepigs,andfornothing,youwillfind。\"
\"Fornothing?\"saidGregory。\"Youarejesting。DoyouthinkI
shouldgivethemdrinkfornothing?\"
\"Well,weshallsee。Howmuchwouldbetheirscore,foryouratrociousbrandy,iftheydrankfromnowtillmidnight,whenyouareobligedtoshutupyourtavern?\"
\"Notlessthantwentyroubles。\"
\"Herearethirty;turnthereout,andletusremainbyourselves。\"
\"Friends,\"saidGregory,takingouthiswatchasiftolookatthetime,\"itisjustuponmidnight;youknowthegovernor’sorders,soyoumustgo。\"Themen,habituatedlikeallRussianstopassiveobedience,wentwithoutamurmur,andGregoryfoundhimselfalonewithIvanandthetwootherslavesofthegeneral。
\"Well,herewearealone,\"saidGregory。\"Whatdoyoumeantodo?\"
\"Well,whatwouldyousay,\"repliedIvan,\"ifinspiteofthelatehourandthecold,andinspiteofthefactthatweareonlyslaves,myladyweretoleaveherfather’shouseandcometodrinkourhealths?\"
\"Iwouldsaythatyououghttotakeadvantageofit,\"saidGregory,shrugginghisshoulders,\"andtellhertobringatthesametimeabottleofbrandy。Thereisprobablybetterbrandyinthegeneral’scellarthaninmine。\"
\"Thereisbetter,\"saidIvan,asifhewasperfectlysureofit,\"andmyladyshallbringyouabottleofit。\"
\"Youaremad!\"saidGregory。
\"Heismad!\"repeatedtheothertwoslavesmechanically。
\"Oh,Iammad?\"saidIvan。\"Well,willyoutakeawager?\"
\"Whatwillyouwager?\"
\"Twohundredroublesagainstayearoffreedrinkinginyourinn。\"
\"Done!\"saidGregory。
\"Areyourcomradesincluded?\"saidthetwomoujiks。
\"Theyareincluded,\"saidIvan,\"andinconsiderationofthemwewillreducethetimetosixmonths。Isthatagreed?\"
\"Itisagreed,\"saidGregory。
Thetwowhoweremakingthewagershookhands,andtheagreementwasperfected。Then,withanairofconfidence,assumedtoconfoundthewitnessesofthisstrangescene,Ivanwrappedhimselfinthefurcoatwhich,likeacautiousman,hehadspreadonthestove,andwentout。
Attheendofhalfanhourhereappeared。
\"Well!\"criedGregoryandthetwoslavestogether。
\"Sheisfollowing,\"saidIvan。
Thethreetipplerslookedatoneanotherinamazement,butIvanquietlyreturnedtohisplaceinthemiddleofthem,pouredoutanewbumper,andraisinghisglass,cried——
\"Tomylady’shealth!Itistheleastwecandowhensheiskindenoughtocomeandjoinusonsocoldanight,whenthesnowisfallingfast。\"
\"Annouschka,\"saidavoiceoutside,\"knockatthisdoorandaskGregoryifhehasnotsomeofourservantswithhim。\"
Gregoryandthetwootherslaveslookedatoneanother,stupefied:
theyhadrecognisedVaninka’svoice。AsforIvan,heflunghimselfbackinhischair,balancinghimselfwithmarvellousimpertinence。
Annouschkaopenedthedoor,andtheycouldsee,asIvanhadsaid,thatthesnowwasfallingheavily。
\"Yes,madam,\"saidthegirl;\"mybrotheristhere,withDanielandAlexis。\"
Vaninkaentered。
\"Myfriends,\"saidshe,withastrangesmile,\"Iamtoldthatyouweredrinkingmyhealth,andIhavecometobringyousomethingtodrinkitagain。HereisabottleofoldFrenchbrandywhichIhavechosenforyoufrommyfather’scellar。Holdoutyourglasses。\"
Gregoryandtheslavesobeyedwiththeslownessandhesitationofastonishment,whileIvanheldouthisglasswiththeutmosteffrontery。
Vaninkafilledthemtothebrimherself,andthen,astheyhesitatedtodrink,\"Come,drinktomyhealth,friends,\"saidshe。
\"Hurrah!\"criedthedrinkers,reassuredbythekindandfamiliartoneoftheirnoblevisitor,astheyemptiedtheirglassesatadraught。
Vaninkaatoncepouredthemoutanotherglass;thenputtingthebottleonthetable,\"Emptythebottle,myfriends,\"saidshe,\"anddonottroubleaboutme。AnnouschkaandI,withthepermission2668
ofthemasterofthehouse,willsitnearthestovetillthestormisover。\"
Gregorytriedtoriseandplacestoolsnearthestove,butwhetherhewasquitedrunkorwhethersomenarcotichadbeenmixedwiththebrandy,hefellbackonhisseat,tryingtostammeroutanexcuse。
\"Itisallright,\"saidVaninka:\"donotdisturbyourselves;drink,myfriends,drink。\"
Therevellersprofitedbythispermission,andeachemptiedtheglassbeforehim。ScarcelyhadGregoryemptiedhisbeforehefellforwardonthetable。
\"Good!\"saidVaninkatohermaidinalowvoice:\"theopiumistakingeffect。\"
\"Whatdoyoumeantodo?\"saidAnnouschka。
\"Youwillsoonsee,\"wastheanswer。
Thetwomoujiksfollowedtheexampleofthemasterofthehouse,andfelldownsidebysideontheground。Ivanwasleftstrugglingagainstsleep,andtryingtosingadrinkingsong;butsoonhistonguerefusedtoobeyhim,hiseyesclosedinspiteofhim,andseekingthetunethatescapedhim,andmutteringwordshewasunabletopronounce,hefellfastasleepnearhiscompanions。
ImmediatelyVaninkarose,fixedthemwithflashingeyes,andcalledthembynameoneafteranother。Therewasnoresponse。
Thensheclappedherhandsandcriedjoyfully,\"Themomenthascome!\"
Goingtothebackoftheroom,shebroughtthenceanarmfulofstraw,placeditinacorneroftheroom,anddidthesameintheothercorners。Shethentookaflamingbrandfromthestoveandsetfireinsuccessiontothefourcornersoftheroom。
\"Whatareyoudoing?\"saidAnnouschka,wildwithterror,tryingtostopher。
\"Iamgoingtoburyoursecretintheashesofthishouse,\"answeredVaninka。
\"Butmybrother,mypoorbrother!\"saidthegirl。
\"Yourbrotherisawretchwhohasbetrayedme,andwearelostifwedonotdestroyhim。\"
\"Oh,mybrother,mypoorbrother!\"
\"Youcandiewithhimifyoulike,\"saidVaninka,accompanyingtheproposalwithasmilewhichshowedshewouldnothavebeensorryifAnnouschkahadcarriedsisterlyaffectiontothatlength。
\"Butlookatthefire,madam——thefire!\"
\"Letusgo,then,\"saidVaninka;and,draggingouttheheart-brokengirl,shelockedthedoorbehindherandthrewthekeyfarawayintothesnow。
\"InthenameofHeaven,\"saidAnnouschka,\"letusgohomequickly:I
cannotgazeuponthisawfulsight!\"
\"No,letusstayhere!\"saidVaninka,holdingherbackwithagraspofalmostmasculinestrength。\"Letusstayuntilthehousefallsinonthem,sothatwemaybecertainthatnotoneofthemescapes。\"
\"Oh,myGod!\"criedAnnouschka,fallingonherknees,\"havemercyuponmypoorbrother,fordeathwillhurryhimunpreparedintoThypresence。\"
\"Yes,yes,pray;thatisright,\"saidVaninka。\"Iwishtodestroytheirbodies,nottheirsouls。\"
Vaninkastoodmotionless,herarmscrossed,brilliantlylitupbytheflames,whileherattendantprayed。Thefiredidnotlastlong:thehousewaswooden,withthecrevicesfilledwithoakum,likeallthoseofRussianpeasants,sothattheflames,creepingoutatthefourcorners,soonmadegreatheadway,and,fannedbythewind,spreadrapidlytoallpartsofthebuilding。Vaninkafollowedtheprogressofthefirewithblazingeyes,fearingtoseesomehalf-burntspectralshaperushoutoftheflames。Atlasttherooffellin,andVaninka,relievedofallfear,thenatlastmadeherwaytothegeneral’shouse,intowhichthetwowomenenteredwithoutbeingseen,thankstothepermissionAnnouschkahadtogooutatanyhourofthedayornight。
ThenextmorningthesoletopicofconversationinSt。PetersburgwasthefireattheRedHouse。Fourhalf-consumedcorpsesweredugoutfrombeneaththeruins,andasthreeofthegeneral’sslavesweremissing,hehadnodoubtthattheunrecognisablebodieswerethoseofIvan,Daniel,andAlexis:asforthefourth,itwascertainlythatofGregory。
Thecauseofthefireremainedasecretfromeveryone:thehousewassolitary,andthesnowstormsoviolentthatnobodyhadmetthetwowomenonthedesertedroad。Vaninkawassureofhermaid。HersecretthenhadperishedwithIvan。Butnowremorsetooktheplaceoffear:theyounggirlwhowassopitilessandinflexibleintheexecutionofthedeedquailedatitsremembrance。Itseemedtoherthatbyrevealingthesecretofhercrimetoapriest,shewouldberelievedofherterribleburden。Shethereforesoughtaconfessorrenownedforhisloftycharity,and,underthesealofconfession,toldhimall。Thepriestwashorrifiedbythestory。Divinemercyisboundless,buthumanforgivenesshasitslimits。HerefusedVaninkatheabsolutionsheasked。Thisrefusalwasterrible:itwouldbanishVaninkafromtheHolyTable;thisbanishmentwouldbenoticed,andcouldnotfailtobeattributedtosomeunheard-ofandsecretcrime。Vaninkafellatthefeetofthepriest,andinthenameofherfather,whowouldbedisgracedbyhershame,beggedhimtomitigatetherigourofthissentence。
Theconfessorreflecteddeeply,thenthoughthehadfoundawaytoobviatesuchconsequences。ItwasthatVaninkashouldapproachtheHolyTablewiththeotheryounggirls;thepriestwouldstopbeforeherasbeforealltheothers,butonlysaytoher,\"Prayandweep\";
thecongregation,deceivedbythis,wouldthinkthatshehadreceivedtheSacramentlikehercompanions。ThiswasallthatVaninkacouldobtain。
Thisconfessiontookplaceaboutseveno’clockintheevening,andthesolitudeofthechurch,addedtothedarknessofnight,hadgivenitastillmoreawfulcharacter。Theconfessorreturnedhome,paleandtrembling。HiswifeElizabethwaswaitingforhimalone。ShehadjustputherlittledaughterArina,whowaseightyearsold,tobedinanadjoiningroom。Whenshesawherhusband,sheutteredacryofterror,sochangedandhaggardwashisappearance。Theconfessortriedtoreassureher,buthistremblingvoiceonlyincreasedheralarm。Sheaskedthecauseofhisagitation;theconfessorrefusedtotellher。Elizabethhadheardtheeveningbeforethathermotherwasill;shethoughtthatherhusbandhadreceivedsomebadnews。ThedaywasMonday,whichisconsideredanunluckydayamongtheRussians,and,goingoutthatday,Elizabethhadmetamaninmourning;theseomensweretoonumerousandtoostrongnottoportendmisfortune。
Elizabethburstintotears,andcriedout,\"Mymotherisdead!\"
Thepriestinvaintriedtoreassureherbytellingherthathisagitationwasnotduetothat。Thepoorwoman,dominatedbyoneidea,madenoresponsetohisprotestationsbutthiseverlastingcry,\"Mymotherisdead!\"
Then,tobringhertoreason,theconfessortoldherthathisemotionwasduetotheavowalofacrimewhichhehadjustheardintheconfessional。ButElizabethshookherhead:itwasatrick,shesaid,tohidefromherthesorrowwhichhadfallenuponher。Heragony,insteadofcalming,becamemoreviolent;hertearsceasedtoflow,andwerefollowedbyhysterics。Thepriestthenmadehersweartokeepthesecret,andthesanctityoftheconfessionwasbetrayed。
LittleArinahadawakenedatElizabeth’scries,andbeingdisturbedandatthesametimecuriousastowhatherparentsweredoing,shegotup,wenttolistenatthedoor,andheardall。
ThedayfortheCommunioncame;thechurchofSt。Simeonwascrowded。
Vaninkacametokneelattherailingofthechoir。Behindherwasherfatherandhisaides-de-camp,andbehindthemtheirservants。
Arinawasalsointhechurchwithhermother。TheinquisitivechildwishedtoseeVaninka,whosenameshehadheardpronouncedthatterriblenight,whenherfatherhadfailedinthefirstandmostsacredofthedutiesimposedonapriest。Whilehermotherwaspraying,sheleftherchairandglidedamongtheworshippers,nearlyasfarastherailing。
Butwhenshehadarrivedthere,shewasstoppedbythegroupofthegeneral’sservants。ButArinahadnotcomesofartobe,stoppedsoeasily:shetriedtopushbetweenthem,buttheyopposedher;shepersisted,andoneofthempushedherroughlyback。Thechildfell,struckherheadagainstaseat,andgotupbleedingandcrying,\"Youareveryproudforaslave。IsitbecauseyoubelongtothegreatladywhoburnttheRedHouse?\"
Thesewords,utteredinaloudvoice,inthemidstofthesilencewhichpreceded,thesacredceremony,wereheardbyeveryone。Theywereansweredbyashriek。Vaninkahadfainted。Thenextdaythegeneral,atthefeetofPaul,recountedtohim,ashissovereignandjudge,thewholeterriblestory,whichVaninka,crushedbyherlongstruggle,hadatlastrevealedtohim,atnight,afterthesceneinthechurch。
Theemperorremainedforamomentinthoughtattheendofthisstrangeconfession;then,gettingupfromthechairwherehehadbeensittingwhilethemiserablefathertoldhisstory,hewenttoabureau,andwroteonasheetofpaperthefollowingsentence:
\"Thepriesthavingviolatedwhatshouldhavebeeninviolable,thesecretsoftheconfessional,isexiledtoSiberiaanddeprivedofhispriestlyoffice。Hiswifewillfollowhim:sheistobeblamedfornothavingrespectedhischaracterasaministerofthealtar。Thelittlegirlwillnotleaveherparents。
\"Annouschka,theattendant,willalsogotoSiberiafornothavingmadeknowntohermasterhisdaughter’sconduct。
\"Ipreserveallmyesteemforthegeneral,andImournwithhimforthedeadlyblowwhichhasstruckhim。
\"AsforVaninka,Iknowofnopunishmentwhichcanbeinflicteduponher。Ionlyseeinherthedaughterofabravesoldier,whosewholelifehasbeendevotedtotheserviceofhiscountry。Besides,theextraordinarywayinwhichthecrimewasdiscovered,seemstoplacetheculpritbeyondthelimitsofmyseverity。Ileaveherpunishmentinherownhands。IfIunderstandhercharacter,ifanyfeelingofdignityremainstoher,herheartandherremorsewillshowherthepathsheoughttofollow。\"
Paulhandedthepaperopentothegeneral,orderinghimtotakeittoCountPahlen,thegovernorofSt。Petersburg。
Onthefollowingdaytheemperor’sorderswerecarriedout。
Vaninkawentintoaconvent,wheretowardstheendofthesameyearshediedofshameandgrief。
ThegeneralfoundthedeathhesoughtonthefieldofAusterlitz。