suffering. The position is interesting for such a lovely idlers like her! You can play, have fun, tickle the nerves of a twenty-three-year-old "boy" with a strong shaking, tender look, subtle, intoxicating aroma that seemed to permeate her whole being; perhaps, to tickle your nerves and then forget, like last year's snow, the unfortunate teacher and with a cheerful smile tell some similar idle girlfriend, how ridiculous this simpleton was, who dared to sigh and tremble shyly in the presence of a beautiful woman.

If I acted insincerely, then at least I had an excuse. I wanted to please her in order to achieve a position through her husband, but she ... What justified this young lady, a captivating girl of twenty-six or seven?

What made her inadvertently lean in a short dress, flashing lace panties, leaning her arms on furniture or fencing, straightening her shoes or lifting a fallen thing in front of a “modest boy”, making him shudder in earnest?

Noticing my embarrassment, Elena Alexandrovna approached me and said quietly:

- What are you thinking and hung their heads? True, the village is already tired of you and you want to quickly to the city? By the way, sorry for the question, you know, women are so curious, ”she added, laughing,“ why did you decide not to go to your home? ”

- I call up with my mother every week.

- Advises, right, not to be bored in the village?

- I do not miss! ... - I whispered.

- Do not lie! ... What fun do you have here? Here, however, my husband will come soon, and then you will go fishing with him. Are you fishing?

- Fisherman.

- Everything will be more fun! She laughed. - Is not it?

I looked up at her. She stood so cheerful, fresh, brilliant and smiled so coquettishly. I looked at her intently and boldly, and suddenly her face changed. What happened to a flirtatious tender smile! She frowned and looked at me with a stern, arrogant look, just punishing me for the courage with which I glanced at her, and showing how great a distance I was separated from her, Elena Alexandrovna Ryazanov, the wife of Leonid Grigorievich Ryazanov, a successful businessman and prominent official.

She left the balcony, without saying a word and not waiting for an answer to her question, sat at the piano and played for a long time in the dark hall, played impetuously, violently, as if indignant at something.

I sat snuggled in the corner and listened.

She cut off some bravura aria with a sharp chord, went out onto the balcony and, leaning over the railing, leaned over the camp, looking into the darkened depths of the garden. Her slim figure stood out sharply in the dark, piquantly emphasizing the feminine curves. She stood for a long time, without turning around, and, passing back, turned her head in my direction and spoke sternly:

- Are you here? Please take a look, aren't ours coming? Too late!

Soon they all came from the walk and sat down at the tea table. Elena Alexandrovna was not in the spirit; but her sister Marya Alexandrovna, as usual, pushed me bread and butter, was surprised that I did not eat enough, and asked why I was so boring.

- True, my mother has not seen? She remarked sweetly.

“Yes,” I replied.

Elena Alexandrovna looked up at me, and, it seemed to me, a smile ran through her lips.

"Laugh, laugh! - I thought. “Laugh as much as you like!”

The first days after this evening, Elena Alexandrovna maintained her strict tone and barely spoke to me, thinking, of course, that she was punishing me for the audacity I had discovered a few days ago, but after a few days she softened and became more amiable. She was exactly amused to tease me, and she often changed her address: she was kind, flirtatious, attentive, then suddenly scolded me again with the carelessness of a proud mistress and was even bold,so that Maria Alexandrovna repeatedly shrugged her shoulders and whispered with reproach, glancing at her sister with hollow big eyes. Once I even heard, hiding in the garden, as Marya Alexandrovna interrogated her sister:

- Why are you so oppressed by poor Roman Antonovich? You are sometimes just impossible with him.

- Like?

- He is a wonderful young man. So humble, so attentive and seemingly unhappy! What is the appeal?

- Do you like him? - And Elena Aleksandrovna burst into laughter. “You protect him so ardently.”

“What nonsense!” Are not you ashamed to say nonsense? I just feel sorry for him. I wonder how else he makes your appeal.

- Still would! - somehow she said self-confidently. - Dare not to make! ..

- You're just a whimsical woman! - with a heart said sister.

- May be; only in vain are you so sorry for this ... groundhog. He is not so modest as it seems. Brown his eyes often run like mice. Well, God bless him!

And the conversation of the sisters was silent.

I listened and resented. Wanting to make a difference. But how?

I began to go down less often. When Elena Alexandrovna invited me to “get bored together,” I was discouraged by the urgent work of translation, which I supposedly had to prepare on time. Ryazanova gazed at me, as if amazed at my stoicism. She wanted to continue to misbehave, but I persistently dodged. She became capricious and irritable. Obviously she was bored. For a whole week I endured voluntary retreat, and when Ryazanov, smiling incredulously, asked, “Do you all work?” I replied that “everything works.”

One afternoon, Marya Alexandrovna, Vera and Volodya gathered for a lake to watch fishing. They called Ryazanov, but she said that she would go riding, and ordered Opal to be saddled.

- Who are you going with? Alone again?

- With whom? - she asked again and added: - Roman Antonovich is holding me.

Marya Alexandrovna glanced at her sister with reproach. Indeed, Ryazanov’s tone was sloppy and harsh.

“But perhaps Roman Antonovich cannot.” He finishes the job ...

- He's really finished! - said Ryazanova. - Want to see me off? She suddenly turned to me, giving her a quick, gentle look, sharply different from the casual tone of her words.

- With great pleasure!

Marya Alexandrovna shrugged, seeing how meekly I agreed, and Verochka and Volodya even looked angrily, marveling at resignation and irresponsibility before this careless order.

Ryazanova looked at her sister with a grin, just wanted to say: “You see how obedient he is!”

Marya Alexandrovna and the children went to the lake, and we drove onto the road and immediately turned into a forest, a large dense forest that stretched for about fifteen kilometers.

At first, we walked in silence. Elena Alexandrovna was serious. I glanced sideways at the horsewoman: she was very good in her outfit; riding pants, and on top a red checkered sleeveless blouse and a cowboy hat. Slender, graceful, beautiful, glistening under the rays of the sun, she perfectly sat on a beautiful horse and precisely felt that she was admired.

- Well, keep up with me! - She said, pulled up the reins, waved her whip, let the horse trot, then at a gallop and rushed through the forest.

We rode along the forest road, among the thick thickets of trees, through which the sun barely penetrated. The forest was fresh and carried a resinous scent. Ryazanova rushed ahead like a mad woman, driving her horse with a whip when Opal reduced the pace. I could barely keep up with her; in my eyes there was only a red spot. We went deeper and deeper into the thicket, and Ryazanova all rushed like crazy ... Finally, I began to fall behind. She turned back, waved her whip and disappeared from my eyes ...

When I finally caught up with her, she was walking in steps, lowering the reins. Opal was covered in soap, and she gently ruffled his noble neck. Elena Alexandrovna was flushing and breathing intermittently ... Her eyes sparkled and smiled; his half-open lips trembled slightly.

“Thank me,” she said, laughing as I drove up to her, “what ...” Read more →