lth! As soon as we get there he will dart out of his room and will
begin calling me names. 'How? Why so?' he will cry. 'Why did you not
come at the right time? I am not a dog to be hanging about waiting on
you devils all day. Why did you not come in the morning? Go away! Get
out of my sight. Come again to-morrow.' And I shall say: 'Mr. Doctor!
Pavel Ivanitch! Your honor!' Get on, do! plague take you, you devil! Get
on!"

The turner lashed his nag, and without looking at the old woman went on
muttering to himself:

"'Your honor! It's true as before God.... Here's the Cross for you,
I set off almost before it was light. How could I be here in time if
the Lord.... The Mother of God... is wroth, and has sent such a
snowstorm? Kindly look for yourself.... Even a first-rate horse could
not do it, while mine--you can see for yourself--is not a horse but a
disgrace.' And Pavel Ivanitch will frown and shout: 'We know you! You
always find some excuse! Especially you, Grishka; I know you of old!
I'll be bound you have stopped at half a dozen taverns!' And I shall
say: 'Your honor! am I a criminal or a heathen? My old woman is giving
up her soul to God, she is dying, and am I going to run from tavern to
tavern! What an idea, upon my word! Plague take them, the taverns!' Then
Pavel Ivanitch will order you to be taken into the hospital, and I shall
fall at his feet.... 'Pavel Ivanitch! Your honor, we thank you most
humbly! Forgive us fools and anathemas, don't be hard on us peasants! We
deserve a good kicking, while you graciously put yourself out and mess
your feet in the snow!' And Pavel Ivanitch will give me a look as
though he would like to hit me, and will say: 'You'd much better not be
swilling vodka, you fool, but taking pity on your old woman instead
of falling at my feet. You want a thrashing!' 'You are right there--a
thrashing, Pavel Ivanitch, strike me God! But how can we help bowing
down at your feet if you are our benefactor, and a real father to us?
Your honor! I give you my word,... here as before God,... you
may spit in my face if I deceive you: as soon as my Matryona, this same
here, is well again and restored to her natural condition, I'll make
anything for your honor that you would like to order! A cigarette-case,
if you like, of the best birchwood,... balls for croquet, skittles of
the most foreign pattern I can turn.... I will make anything for you!
I won't take a farthing from you. In Moscow they would charge y