tter liked by the peasants; he was a bully, and rarely failed to improve when he could upon the severity of his master's measures towards them. A week after the events above recorded Bar

s in his own village," said

at Drevno." This was a village within the boundaries of Maximof's estate, but seven

or," said the Count; "you know very well and so do the peasa

he fellow of your objection, but he was imp

y you wages to sit and listen while my peasan

ing him good, the flogging caused him to abuse and threaten me to my face; I was som

yourself useless to me we must part. My authority must be absolute and you are my representative. As for this ma

urned him out of the village with contemptuous words and threats directed not only against himself but also against

had said. "We would deprive him of no rights; we both are and remain his serfs and

aturday at Drevno, this being Thursday, he contrived to be absent for two days in a distant part of the estate; so that when a dep

appened that the girl Olga was required that day at the manor-house in order to act as substitute for one of the servants, who fel

e wench then

replied that the peasants had told her it was Olga's

outraged Barin; "

ge," replied the trembling

Count, almost speechless with rage. Then he remembered that t

orses to," he roared

y reminded the lord

fellow then,

ng for his sledge-to the parents of Olga, who protested with tears that the agent had nev

s not even as though we had wished the wench married there; naturally

hose of Olga's grandparents as well as her parents, and of the children small and large. All wept and scolded in a body when the Bar

thing would do but to marry Ivan Patkin, who is a devil, not a man! If the Barin fetches

t condescended to turn up in time. He was not one to put himself out, however, for a mere marriage of serfs. Maidens walked about the village singing the dirges and melancholy songs which are or used to be a recognised prelude to the marriage of one of the

rophecies with her own acquiescence thrown in. But Olga preferred to drive around with Ivan of whom she was extremely fond; for this-strange to say-was a love-match, a rare thing indeed in t

y knew well enough that he dared not fulfil his threats, and that he would prefer to report to his master that certain floggings had been inflicted than actually inflict them. As for the Barin himself, he rarely came to the village. The people of

h had performed the rite; neither could he separate husband and

d snow road. The wedding was to take place at two and Olga was now being dressed by her maidens at the house of Ivan's parents. The melancholy songs were in full ch

t up his trap here, leaving with Gavril, the driver, a message for the Starost that if he were too late and the marriage

bing news: the Barin had arrived to stop the wedding. The Starost was a sturdy independen

nd the priest will obey him. He has gone stra

arry Olga, to whom he was sincerely attached. This fatal-looking hitch at the last moment was

of the next estate rose against their Barin, who oppressed them, and slew

aws are different also. Disappear in the forest with Olga, if you will, and be married to-morrow, or

village he met the Barin himself returning from his visit to the priest whom he had abused and threatened and browbeaten until the unfortunate cleric began to fear that the fur

Barin he would have told himself that he would not only not salute the Count if he should meet him, but that he would fall upon

?" said the

in," repli

moment the wretched peasant was upon his knees blubbering and beseeching, rage in

when you come Olga shall come also. I will show you both, and the rest of the village too, that I am to be

en dressed for her marriage. He found her alone, deserted by her maidens-who had fled from the wrath

he driver, that he would return as soon as the horses should be sufficiently rested. Olga might return in his sledge, he added,