His
entrance was greeted by a general but pretty friendly neighing. He
was made to sit down at the table, was helped to vodka and
sausage. He, for his part, sent a tramp he knew after beer, and,
glass in hand, delivered three absurd speeches: one about the
self-determination of Ukraine; another about the goodness of
Little Russian sausage, in connection with the beauty and
domesticity of the women of Little Russia; and the third, for some
reason, about trade and industry in the south of Russia. Sitting
alongside of Lukeriya, he was all the time trying to embrace her
around the waist, and she did not oppose this. But even his long
arms could not encompass her amazing waist. However, she clasped
his hand powerfully under the table, until it hurt, with her
enormous, soft hand, as hot as fire.
At this moment among the huckstresses, who up to now had been
tenderly kissing, certain old, unsettled quarrels and grievances
flickered up. Two of the wives, bending toward each other just
like roosters ready to enter battle, their arms akimbo, were
pouring upon each other the most choice, out-of-the-way oaths:
"Fool, stiff, daughter of a dog!" one was yelling.
Pages:
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332