Part 33

Fomisha began—

“In love God gave a heart Of burning passion to inspire That loving heart with warm desire.”

“But there is agony in bliss”

Fimishka chimed in.

“And passion free from pain there is, Ah! where, where? tell me, tell me this,”

“Ah! where, where? Tell me, tell me this,”

Fomisha put in.

“Ah! where, where? tell me, tell me this,”

Fimishka repeated.

“Nowhere in all the world, nowhere, Love bringeth grief and black despair,”

they sang together,

“And that, love’s gift is everywhere,”

Fomisha sang out alone.

“Bravo!” Paklin exclaimed. “We have had the first verse, now please sing us the second.”

“With the greatest of pleasure,” Fomishka said, “but what about the trill, Snandulia Samsonovna? After my verse there must be a trill.”

“Very well, I will play your trill,” Snandulia replied. Fomishka began again—

“Has ever lover lovéd true And kept his heart from grief and rue? He loveth but to weep anew”

and then Fimishka—

“Yea—hearts that love at last are riven As ships that hopelessly have striven For life. To what end were they given?”

“To what end were they given?”

Fomishka warbled out and waited for Snandulia to play the trill.

“To what end were they given?”

he repeated, and then they struck up together—

“Then take, Oh God, the heart away, Away, away, take hearts away, Away, away, away today.”

“Bravo! Bravo!” the company exclaimed, all with exception of Markelov.

“I wonder they don’t feel like clowns?” Nejdanov thought. “Perhaps they do, who knows? They no doubt think there is no harm in it and may be even amusing to some people. If one looks at it in that light, they are quite right! A thousand times right!”

Under the influence of these reflections he began paying compliments to the host and hostess, which they acknowledged with a courtesy, performed while sitting in their chairs. At this moment Pufka the dwarf and Nurse Vassilievna made their appearance from the adjoining room (a bedroom or perhaps the maids’ room) from whence a great bustle and whispering had been going on for some time. Pufka began squealing and making hideous grimaces, while the nurse first quietened her, then egged her on.

Solomin’s habitual smile became even broader, while Markelov, who had been for some time showing signs of impatience, suddenly turned to Fomishka: