402 THE DON FLOWS HOME
Now Gregor had nothing to conceal. His arrival
Aksinia's house was explanation enough to Stepan.
he marched straight into the breach
" But where's your wife ? "
*r Have you come to see her then ? " Stepan asked quietly,
but distinctly, and dropped his fluttering eyelashes over fy&
eyes.
" Yes, that's right/' Gregor admitted with a sigh.
He was ready for anything at that moment and, growing
sober, prepared to defend himself. But Stepan half opened
his eyes (their previous fire had faded) and said ;
" I've sent her for some vodka ; she'll be back hi a
minute. Sit down and wait/'
He went so far as to rise, revealing his tall and well-built
figure, and he pushed a chair towards Gregor. Not looking
at the housewife, he asked:
"Auntie, bring us a clean glass/' And to Gregor:
if You'll have a drink, won't you ? " #
tc Just one glass/'
"Well, sit down/'
Gregor sat down at the table. Stepan shared out the
rest of the vodka equally into the glasses, and raised his
strangely misty eyes to Gregor
" Here's to everybody/'
" And their health ! "
They clinked glasses together. They* drank. They were
silent for some time. The housewife, as nimble as a mouse,
handed the guest a plate and a fork with a dented handle.
tl Have some fish," she said. " It's mild-cured/'
" No, thank you/'
41 Go on, put some on the plate and enjoy it/1 the woman,
now greatly cheered, urged him. She was pleased beyond
expression that all was passing off so well, without a fight,
without the smashing of crockery, without shouting. The
oiBinous exchange of remarks had stopped. Now they were
eating silently, not looking at each other. The prudent
housewife took a clean hand-towel from the chest and in a
sense united Gregor with Stepan by laying the two ends
across their knees.
** Why aren't you with your company ? " Gregor asked;
studying the fish,
" I've come on a visit too/' Stepan said after a momentary