“Is pretty Olenka's soul at peace?”
“God alone knows the secrets of other people's souls, but I think she has nothing to trouble her. She has not much to worry her, and no more sins than an infant.… She's a very good girl! Ah, now the sky is at last beginning to talk of rain.…”
A rumble was heard, somewhat like the sound of a distant vehicle or the rattle of a game of skittles. Somewhere, far beyond the forest, there was a peal of thunder. Mit'ka, who had been watching us the whole time, shuddered and crossed himself.
“A thunderstorm!” the Count exclaimed with a start. “What a surprise! The rain will overtake us on our way home.… How dark it is! I said we ought to have turned back! And you wouldn't, and went on and on.”
“We might wait in the cottage till the storm is over,” I suggested.
“Why in the cottage?” Urbenin said hastily, and his eyes blinked in a strange manner. “It will rain all night, so you'll have to remain all night in the cottage! Please, don't trouble.… Go quietly on, and Mit'ka shall run on and order your carriage to come to meet you.”
“Never mind, perhaps it won't rain all night.… Storm clouds usually pass by quickly.… Besides, I don't know the new forester as yet, and I'd also like to have a chat with this Olenka … and find out what sort of a dickey bird she is.…”
“I've no objections!” the Count agreed.
“How can you go there, if—if the place is not—not in order?” Urbenin mumbled anxiously. “Why should your Excellency sit there in a stuffy room when you could be at home? I don't understand what pleasure that can be!… How can you get to know the forester if he is ill?…”
It was very evident that the bailiff strongly objected to our going into the forester's house. He even spread his arms as if he wanted to bar the way.… I understood by his face that he had reasons for preventing us from going in. I respect other people's reasons and secrets, but on this occasion my curiosity was greatly excited. I persisted, and we entered the house.