such a maid, absolutely never; attentive, modest, and obedient--simply
all that could be desired. But my wife, I must confess, spoilt her too
much; she dressed her well, fed her from our own table, gave her tea to
drink, and so on, as you can imagine! So she waited on my wife like
this for ten years. Suddenly, one fine morning, picture to yourself,
Arina--her name was Arina--rushes unannounced into my study, and flops
down at my feet. That's a thing, I tell you plainly, I can't endure. No
human being ought ever to lose sight of their personal dignity. Am I
not right? What do you say? "Your honour, Alexandr Selitch, I beseech a
favour of you." "What favour?" "Let me be married." I must confess I
was taken aback. "But you know, you stupid, your mistress has no other
lady's maid?" "I will wait on mistress as before." "Nonsense! nonsense!
your mistress can't endure married lady's maids," "Malanya could take
my place." "Pray don't argue." "I obey your will." I must confess it
was quite a shock, I assure you, I am like that; nothing wounds me so--
nothing, I venture to say, wounds me so deeply as ingratitude. I need
not tell you--you know what my wife is; an angel upon earth, goodness
inexhaustible. One would fancy even the worst of men would be ashamed
to hurt her. Well, I got rid of Arina. I thought, perhaps, she would
come to her senses; I was unwilling, do you know, to believe in wicked,
black ingratitude in anyone. What do you think? Within six months she
thought fit to come to me again with the same request. I felt revolted.
But imagine my amazement when, some time later, my wife comes to me in
tears, so agitated that I felt positively alarmed. "What has happened?"
"Arina.... You understand ... I am ashamed to tell it." ...
"Impossible! ... Who is the man?" "Petrushka, the footman." My
indignation broke out then. I am like that. I don't like half measures!
Petrushka was not to blame. We might flog him, but in my opinion he was
not to blame. Arina.... Well, well, well! what more's to be said? I
gave orders, of course, that her hair should be cut off, she should be