第18章

　　Iv&aacute；nsighed，andthought，’Whathesaysistrue，’andhisheartgrewlighter。Onlyhedidnotknowhow，now，tobegintoputmattersright。

　　Butagaintheoldmanbegan，asifhehadguessedwhatwasinIvan’smind。

　　’Go，Iv&aacute；n，don’tputitoff！Putoutthefirebeforeitspreads，oritwillbetoolate。’

　　Theoldmanwasgoingtosaymore，butbeforehecoulddosothewomencamein，chatteringlikemagpies。ThenewsthatGabrielwassentencedtobeflogged，andofhisthreattosetfiretothehouse，hadalreadyreachedthem。Theyhadheardallaboutitandaddedtoitsomethingoftheirown，andhadagainhadarow，inthepasture，withthewomenofGabriel’shousehold。TheybegantellinghowGabriel’sdaughter-in-lawthreatenedafreshaction:Gabrielhadgottherightsideoftheexaminingmagistrate，whowouldnowturnthewholeaffairupsidedown；

　　andtheschoolmasterwaswritingoutanotherpetition，totheTsarhimselfthistime，aboutIv&aacute；n；andeverythingwasinthepetition——allaboutthecoupling-pinandthekitchen-garden——sothathalfofIvan’shomesteadwouldbetheirssoon。Iv&aacute；nheardwhattheyweresaying，andhisheartgrewcoldagain，andhegaveupthethoughtofmakingpeacewithGabriel。