he knew that the criminal charge brought to it means, knew the boundless power of the archpriest and not prison was frightened: was afraid for destiny of a family. Not for fear turned pale – with the burning hatred which accumulated in soul during all life full of unfair offenses and humiliations; something prikhlynut at it to a throat, brawny hands shuddered, ready to seize the dangerous enemy by a throat.
The archpriest did not understand his state and danger to which was exposed: with pleasure looked at the pale, trembling victim.
Elizar broke himself, constrained what bubbled in him, silently was tumbled down before the archpriest, kneeled, told by the silent, shivering voice:
– Forgive, a tyatenka… did not look through for the son… did not send him and I know nothing that he made, but of oversight it is guilty!. Forgive!
The face of the archpriest cleared up. A look humiliated, in ashes of the lying enemy, the poor, for something dear we howl the village – satisfied it. The gait with the zakinuty curly head and an independent air of the workman since old years revolted him. It was necessary to bend, crush the arrogant man: for this purpose he chose by the tool the child.
– Get up! – the archpriest by softer voice told – on the first time I forgive! but – look! Go! Yes go to church more often! all of you such – wandering, I live you knock about the world! Moreover here that: get out from the church apartment! That also to spirit of yours was not!
When Elizar left the popovsky house, green circles went before eyes. Only having humiliated, he could save a family from a shame and an orphanhood. The hatred which was just boiling in him cooled down, having turned into a cold and firm, insoluble lump.
– Villain! – he whispered, having looked back to the popovsky house – I will never forget, I will never forgive, I will never go to your church!
Elizar did not go home, walked along the long village. Slow steppe twilight was condensed. In houses sparks flickered here and there, women milked cows, from the field the sheep herd came back. In evening air of silent fall various evening sounds, bleating of sheep and a voice of hostesses were far heard.
Two young guys slowly went along the road and, having embraced, harmoniously sang lingering, extremely sad song: its sobbing motive reminded crying on dead men. Elizar sorted words:
You are my darling mother…
Whether you recognize the son свово small?.
Reached the end of the village and in thought stopped at the two-storeyed house of Neulybov. Above in a window fire shone.
Several minutes Elizar in thought stood on a porch, with a gloomy and gloomy face, then shook curls and resolutely knocked with an iron ring.
The door was opened by Trophîme’s son – Fedya studying at school together with Vukol, he cheerfully smiled to the father of the companion. Having learned that Trophîme Iacovlevitch of the house, Elizar rose upward. Fedka ran ahead.
Trophîme sat one at a table, in purely tidied up room arranged with bentwood chairs. From a ceiling the trailing lamp under the green tin lamp shade shone. The old man read the huge church book in an ancient cover.
At Elizar’s entrance raised the head, rose and gave a hand to the guest:
– Welcome, Elizarushka! what late? Sit down, sit down also you, there is nothing to stand, no sense in standing when you can sit!
Elizar sat down and hard took breath.
– With a big request, Trophîme Iacovlitch! I do not know how you will accept it but only not to the it is more!.
He kept silent, shook curls and suddenly started talking – passionately as if filled with inspiration:
– The thought, Trophîme Iacovlitch was at me! You know my life: since the childhood was at landowners a domestic serf, and the will left – the worker became, but I will not find the place in life. Everywhere offense to the working person! There was a wish to be beaten out from a low rank, it was wound on the cities, while the family was not – now a family! Difficult, Trophîme Iacovlitch! Young years left on factories and the plants! Was in exile – for the people! I see, you will not be beaten out! I am uneducated!. the craft does not ask to drink-eat, not the yoke, behind shoulders does not hang!. I want to settle in the village! For children I want to live, Trophîme Iacovlitch! My dream – to give to children at least small education.
– Correctly – Trophîme confirmed – for them all we live! Старшенький yours – was heard by me – studies well, can will reach business, the assistant will be! But about what such I think you began?
– And here! heavy on others corners to live! Stranny I! I live on the apartment and not everyone and will let with a family! Pay Kazhny month, and all to the house you live in the stranger! Will want – and go you want a kuda! Now here from the church apartment refused! and kuda you will go? At the kazhny man the log hut is full! Also I decided the log hut to ogorevat and there is no force! Trophîme Iacovlitch! help, the kind soul! I will pay as for the apartment, and there will pass time – my log hut will be, nobody will expel! It is not a shame to bow to you, there is no humiliation therefore – I know – you were a poor, felt need, remember it! I know, poor people are helped by you, help also me, not For goodness sake I ask – I will work!
Elizar for the second time this day kneelt.
Tears on his beard flowed.
– Get up, Elizar! – having discontentedly frowned, Trophîme told – get up, I speak, I am not a god, to him bow to one, and I am the same sinner, as well as all of us! Sit down, we will talk plainly!
Elizar hard rose from knees, and both sat down one against another.
Trophîme stroked a beard, drummed fingers.
– You want to ogorevat a log hut? that!. it is valid – a family, and the worker you is one… I know long ago… you are honest, though is poor… and your life I know… much you were offended lyudyam, distressful you, and for it I esteem you! – He kept silent, shook the head. – And I same was, maybe again I will be a poor, I do not forget about it… In Yurlovke here, on Yura, on the edge of the selling izbenka new absolutely… just built sat down to eat! and not expensively ask – only five quarter!. in two windows on the street and two to the alley, it will be rather small, well and you are the master… you ukhyotat an izbenka, will make an extension, it also will be good! and on force… you will pay five quarter to you little by little, I will not force, the raboteshka will be on my mill. I build a steam mill!. masters with the head it is necessary for me!. here we will also pay back!. Kindly! you will have a log hut, Elizar!
Elizar did not trust the ears, though knew Neulybov’s kindness. Wanted to tell something, but a spasm of a prikhlynul to a throat, tears dimmed eyes. Wanted to fall on knees again, but conservative Neulybov did not love bows. Involuntarily Elizar compared two patriarchal people of the village – Neulybov and the archpriest. What was then, he not absolutely understood. Trophîme saw him to a threshold and, having again returned to a room, began to leaf through the big book.
Coming downstairs, Elizar heard how he in a low voice slowly and distinctly continued reading:
– There
