Anisim winked and wagged his head.

“The elder does not believe in God, either,” he went on.  “And the clerk and the deacon, too.  And as for their going to church and keeping the fasts, that is simply to prevent people talking ill of them, and in case it really may be true that there will be a Day of Judgment.  Nowadays people say that the end of the world has come because people have grown weaker, do not honour their parents, and so on.  All that is nonsense.  My idea, mamma, is that all our trouble is because there is so little conscience in people.  I see through things, mamma, and I understand.  If a man has a stolen shirt I see it.  A man sits in a tavern and you fancy he is drinking tea and no more, but to me the tea is neither here nor there; I see further, he has no conscience.  You can go about the whole day and not meet one man with a conscience.  And the whole reason is that they don’t know whether there is a God or not....  Well, good-bye, mamma, keep alive and well, don’t remember evil against me.”

Anisim bowed down at Varvara’s feet.

“I thank you for everything, mamma,” he said.  “You are a great gain to our family.  You are a very ladylike woman, and I am very pleased with you.”

Much moved, Anisim went out, but returned again and said: 

“Samorodov has got me mixed up in something:  I shall either make my fortune or come to grief.  If anything happens, then you must comfort my father, mamma.”

“Oh, nonsense, don’t you worry, tut, tut, tut...  God is merciful.  And, Anisim, you should be affectionate to your wife, instead of giving each other sulky looks as you do; you might smile at least.”

“Yes, she is rather a queer one,” said Anisim, and he gave a sigh.  “She does not understand anything, she never speaks.  She is very young, let her grow up.”

A tall, sleek white stallion was already standing at the front door, harnessed to the chaise.

Old Tsybukin jumped in jauntily with a run and took the reins.  Anisim kissed Varvara, Aksinya, and his brother.  On the steps Lipa, too, was standing; she was standing motionless, looking away, and it seemed as though she had not come to see him off but just by chance for some unknown reason.  Anisim went up to her and just touched her cheek with his lips.

“Good-bye,” he said.

And without looking at him she gave a strange smile; her face began to quiver, and everyone for some reason felt sorry for her.  Anisim, too, leaped into the chaise with a bound and put his arms jauntily akimbo, for he considered himself a good-looking fellow.