The Man Who Was Afraid by Maksim Gorky
page 19 of 537 (03%)
page 19 of 537 (03%)
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costly, solid things. If you don't want these, I'll burn them,
I'll sell them, I'll give them away--and I'll get new ones! Do you want me to?" "What for?" said she calmly. He wondered, at last, how one so young and healthy could live as though she were sleeping all the time, caring for nothing, going nowhere, except to the church, and shunning everybody. And he used to console her: "Just wait. You'll bear a son, and then an altogether different life will commence. You are so sad because you have so little anxiety, and he will give you trouble. You'll bear me a son, will you not? "If it pleases God," she answered, lowering her head. Then her mood began to irritate him. "Well, why do you wear such a long face? You walk as though on glass. You look as if you had ruined somebody's soul! Eh! You are such a succulent woman, and yet you have no taste for anything. Fool!" Coming home intoxicated one day, he began to ply her with caresses, while she turned away from him. Then he grew angry, and exclaimed: "Natalya! Don't play the fool, look out!" |
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