“Who teaches her and who tells her? Answer me that, Masha. Oh, you may well cross yourself! Ask her if you want to know anything and if you are not afraid of her teacher. Have done then. What are you after?”
While the girls talked, two of the young men of the village had crept behind Grusha unseen. Each held one of her plaits in his hand as a rein, and they began shouting as to a restive horse, when she struggled to escape. Grusha’s heavy plaits were favorite playthings, never safe from attack; for she was a belle in the village. In the confusion of the romp, Masha turned away and walked off.
“I will go to Anna Evauovna,” she said to herself.
It is easy to state the positions of Grusha and Masha. They were only two little Russian peasant girls, who worked in the garden of the Prince in Summer, and about his great house in winter.
But for Anna Evauovna, the Prince himself could hardly have defined her position. She had been Njania (nurse) to his children, and was now housekeeper. Anna Evauovna was the only peasant on the estate who wore a cap, who spoke a pure Russian, and wore dresses and shoes. She was older by years than her actual days numbered, capable, resolute, silent and invaluable to her employers. The peasants spoke to her with deference, calling her Anna Evauovna. Behind her back they called her the old witch, and the Princess had been appealed to for protection from her more than once.
Anna Evauovna was in the housekeeping room assorting the house linen from the wash, when Masha came to her and humbly proffered her request to know the future.
The old woman looked up at the girl keenly.
“He who wants to know too much grows old too soon, Masha,” she said.
“Tell me only a little then, Anna Evauovna, but tell me that.”
“Have it your own way then, Masha. Open the drawer of the table and look in the left hand corner, and you will find a pack of cards under a wooden box that has a strange smell about it. Bring them to me, but no, I forgot—the box has something lying open in it which you might touch and find harmful.”