Wading knee deep in the water and drawing his huge figure up to its full height, he gave a wink and said: 

“This isn’t England, you see!”

Miss Fyce coolly put on another worm, gave a yawn, and dropped the hook in.  Otsov turned away, Gryabov released his hook, ducked into the water and, spluttering, waded out.  Two minutes later he was sitting on the sand and angling as before.

CHORISTERS

THE Justice of the Peace, who had received a letter from Petersburg, had set the news going that the owner of Yefremovo, Count Vladimir Ivanovitch, would soon be arriving.  When he would arrive—­there was no saying.

“Like a thief in the night,” said Father Kuzma, a grey-headed little priest in a lilac cassock.  “And when he does come the place will be crowded with the nobility and other high gentry.  All the neighbours will flock here.  Mind now, do your best, Alexey Alexeitch. . . .  I beg you most earnestly.”

“You need not trouble about me,” said Alexey Alexeitch, frowning.  “I know my business.  If only my enemy intones the litany in the right key.  He may . . . out of sheer spite. . . .”

“There, there. . . .  I’ll persuade the deacon. . .  I’ll persuade him.”

Alexey Alexeitch was the sacristan of the Yefremovo church.  He also taught the schoolboys church and secular singing, for which he received sixty roubles a year from the revenues of the Count’s estate.  The schoolboys were bound to sing in church in return for their teaching.  Alexey Alexeitch was a tall, thick-set man of dignified deportment, with a fat, clean-shaven face that reminded one of a cow’s udder.  His imposing figure and double chin made him look like a man occupying an important position in the secular hierarchy rather than a sacristan.  It was strange to see him, so dignified and imposing, flop to the ground before the bishop and, on one occasion, after too loud a squabble with the deacon Yevlampy Avdiessov, remain on his knees for two hours by order of the head priest of the district.  Grandeur was more in keeping with his figure than humiliation.

On account of the rumours of the Count’s approaching visit he had a choir practice every day, morning and evening.  The choir practice was held at the school.  It did not interfere much with the school work.  During the practice the schoolmaster, Sergey Makaritch, set the children writing copies while he joined the tenors as an amateur.

This is how the choir practice was conducted.  Alexey Alexeitch would come into the school-room, slamming the door and blowing his nose.  The trebles and altos extricated themselves noisily from the school-tables.  The tenors and basses, who had been waiting for some time in the yard, came in, tramping like horses.  They all took their places.  Alexey Alexeitch drew himself up, made a sign to enforce silence, and struck a note with the tuning fork.