Well, well the grandfather with emotion interrupted it the will was given, and the earth all one remained with landowners? When from them the earth is taken away?
When it is unknown, but there will be it inevitably! Elizar shook curls. There are secret society and confidential subland office, and those people want to lift all people on landowners. The people think that these secret people want to protect from the tsars landowners, think that noblemen and this tsar want to destroy in revenge for country will, but do not know that the tsar too at the same time with landowners! Here you also get to the core of this cunning mechanics!
All were silent. Did not wait to hear it from Elizar.
It became boring for children from a serious conversation, eyes at them began to stick together.
Well Elizar told them it is time to sleep to you and a postoyta, at bedtime I will read you songs from the good songbook: Bérengers songs is called. How many I songbooks bought, and it is better than it did not come across.
He developed the small book in a pink cover printed with ranks of short lines and, having thrown several leaves, began to read:
I am not deprived of theomancy,
I expect the end to princes of the earth:
The deserved penalty will comprehend them
All poor things kings will die!
Elizar read well as though he did not read, and told, looking in the book. After several cheerful songs came across the song under the title The falling stars. In it the grandfather talked to the grandson:
Here, the grandfather, one more fell.
Flies, flies, and it is not here!.
There was a great commander with a sigh Elizar told, closing the book conquered all countries, except ours!. When went before army on a horse, in the sky over it the star shone day and night. And here he decided to conquer Russia. Took Moscow, and inhabitants lit it. It was necessary in the winter, in severe frosts when crows on the fly fell the dead, to run back with all the army. Took him prisoner, took out to the sea, landed on the desert island and there naked chained to the rock, the black raven began to peck to it heart. Then its star was gone and did not ascend any more.
I vtepor a boy was when still you and did not exist the grandfather unexpectedly declared. Slightly I remember when the Frenchman came The people about Moscow cried I remember, dreamily Brought to spend the night prisoners: brought were slightly live, and thawed good fellows from themselves! One and remained with our mistress the painter appeared good, in Dubrov then the house new was built, so he painted with pictures of a wall and now is whole!
All got out because of a table and began to lay beds. Children got in the habitual way on a bar on polat, also Elizar went there, the grandfather laid down on the edge. Vukol as if was stuck to the father. The laurels timidly and wildly continued to consider it frowningly.
Babushka and Nastya spread a koshma on a floor. The splinter lit a log hut with the flickering light for a long time.
Well, how you lived here? Elizar asked the son missed?
No, we with Laurels always together in the field take us in the summer, and that in the wood we run, companions are Nobody ever scolds me, nevertheless
What?
Heart hurt always Why you threw me?
Elizar sighed.
Thought it will be better for you at the grandmother! In Siberia, the brother, life thin!. here so will violently send there at the other end of the world, behind the woods, behind mountains, behind swamps and live as you want!
Why violently? For what? The grandfather told for the earth? for what?
And you know Dubrova? happened there?
Happened! for a Trinity, with little girls! to look for cuckoo slezk!
There now! Well there? You love the Oak grove?
I love!
And her merchant took away from our village and one lives in it! Here men gathered for a descent and sent me to the city, to strive for Dubrova because competent I! and when it was turned back in the spring you remember, to a mozha when the bear-hunter with a she-bear came and the fire was?
I remember! The sky burned!.
We then lived in Shackles! Soon after that sent me to the city, and then to Siberia Mother went voluntarily
It when we went with a hand bell?
You remember unless? Coachmen Romanev really nearby and now live! On the road we came around here and you sleepy the grandfather and the grandmother were given! And your heart, perhaps, you speak about us, was ill?
Yes! quietly Vukol whispered.
And hear the grandfather interfered hearing goes whether lie, whether is not present I do not know as if and on Zaymishche our forest are angry too! Someone like the successors pomeshchikov! Whether tell, please, soon from swindlers the earth will be taken away?
Elizar laughed.
I speak to you, we will inevitably select when at once we move to select everything!
The old man sighed.
The grandmother put out svetets, and everything calmed down in a dark log hut.
At last, all fell asleep, except the grandfather. Having convinced that all sleep, he began to think, and the grandfather always in a whisper thought at night, silently was not able to think. Its favourite word swindler vysheptyvatsya most often at it.
Whether soon from swindlers the earth will be taken away?
And itself answered himself with a low whisper:
Not soon!.
On walls cockroaches rustled; in the afternoon they were not visible, and there was the whole army at night. It seemed, they whispered to the grandfather ominous.
He loved the earth and country work, was severe and avaricious in expenses, maltreated a family and for it was respected by all in the village. Saved money in a jug, but to hint perish the thought about it to the grandfather: will become angry.
It seemed to it that the earth from year to year will give rise worse, rains drops out less and the sun does not heat in the summer as strongly any more as before when it was young and even went to the river at night to bathe. The earth at men becomes just barely enough as if it crumbles at them under the feet. Fists increased rent for the state site many times over
The grandfather about the younger son, about the grandson whispered:
That хрестьянин, and this not хрестьянин will be!.
Thought of the son-in-law: it was painfully changed from Siberia by this
In life approached from where unclear. There were in log huts samovars and at whom and a lamp instead of a splinter. Maids frantikh. Began to wear print dresses, there and Nastka puffs up, and here became honesty less in the people!
Razorenye will be! Yafimk should marry! To marry the swindler!
The grandfather calmed down, ceased to whisper. One cockroaches whispered. Mysterious whispers rustled in darkness.
Over the sleeping dark village the first roosters sang. Flew over it terrible fairy tales, sad songs and gloomy beliefs. Till the dawn it was still far.
III
To Yafim usvatat the bride on Petty-bourgeois Farms: there the people lived purely, on city manners, and the bride was from a prosperous family; calculation inclined the grandfather to stop on this choice, though he did not love farm for a frantovstvo and city manners.