When both the women were seated in the carriage, a sudden

embarrassment came over both of them. Anna was disconcerted by

the intent look of inquiry Dolly fixed upon her. Dolly was

embarrassed because after Sviazhsky's phrase about "this

vehicle," she could not help feeling ashamed of the dirty old

carriage in which Anna was sitting with her. The coachman Philip

and the counting house clerk were experiencing the same

sensation. The counting house clerk, to conceal his confusion,

busied himself settling the ladies, but Philip the coachman

became sullen, and was bracing himself not to be overawed in

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future by this external superiority. He smiled ironically,

looking at the raven horse, and was already deciding in his own

mind that this smart trotter in the _char-à-banc_ was only good for

_promenade_, and wouldn't do thirty miles straight off in the heat.

The peasants had all got up from the cart and were inquisitively

and mirthfully staring at the meeting of the friends, making

their comments on it.

"They're pleased, too; haven't seen each other for a long while,"

said the curly-headed old man with the bast round his hair.

"I say, Uncle Gerasim, if we could take that raven horse now, to

cart the corn, that 'ud be quick work!"

"Look-ee! Is that a woman in breeches?" said one of them,

pointing to Vassenka Veslovsky sitting in a side saddle.

"Nay, a man! See how smartly he's going it!"

"Eh, lads! seems we're not going to sleep, then?"

"What chance of sleep today!" said the old man, with a sidelong

look at the sun. "Midday's past, look-ee! Get your hooks, and

come along!"




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