ThedayhadbeenaSunday，andthehoureventide。Ontheburntplotofgroundsomebrokenglasshadbeenemittingareddishgleam，shootsofergothadbeendiffusingtheirgloss，childrenshoutingatplay，dogstrottingbackwardsandforwards，andallthings，seemingly，faringwell，sunkeninthestillnessoftheportionofthetownadjoiningtherolling，vacantsteppe，with，abovethem，onlythesky’slevel，dull-bluecanopy，andaroundthem，onlythecemetery，likeanislandamidstasea。
WithVirubov，Ihadbeensittingonabenchnearthewicket-gateofhishut，asintermittentlyhehadscrewedhislecherouseyesinthedirectionofthestout，ox-eyedlacemaker，MadameEzhov，who，afterdisposingofherformonabankhard-by，hadfallentopickingliceoutofthecurlsofhereight-year-oldPetkaKoshkodav。Presently，asswiftlyshehadrummagedtheboy’shairwithfingersgrownusedtosuchrapidmovement，shehadsaidtoherhusbandadealerinsecond-handarticles，whohadbeenseatedwithindoors，andthereforerenderedinvisible——shehadsaidwithoilyderision:
“Oh，yes，youbald-headedolddevil，you！Ofcourseyougotyourprice。Ye-es。Then，fool，yououghttohavehadaslippersmackedacrossthatKalmucksnoutofyours。Talkofmyprice，indeed！“
UponthisVirubovhadremarkedwithasigh，andinsluggish，sententioustones:
“Togranttheserfsemancipationwasasheermistake。Iamahumbleenoughservantofmycountry，yetIcanseethetruthofwhatIhavestated，sinceitfollowsasamatterofcourse。WhatoughttohavebeendoneisthatalltheestatesofthelandownersshouldhavebeenconveyedtotheTsar。Beyondadoubtthatisso。Thenboththepeasantryandthetownsfolk，thewholepeople，inshort，wouldhavehadbutasinglelandlord。Fornevercanthepeopleliveproperlysolongasitisignorantofthepointwhereitstands；andsinceitlovesauthority，itlovestohaveoveritanautocraticforce，foritscontrol。