506 THE DON PLOWS HOME

face, wound the edge of her grey work-a-day skirt around
her legs. *

Ilinichna stood for several seconds staring at her daughter-
in-law in superstitious horror. Against the background of
the black thundercloud which had climbed to the zenith
Natalia seemed a strange and terrible creature.

The rain came upon them impetuously. The calm before
the thunderstorm lasted only a moment. Dropping obliquely,
a sparrow-hawk began to cry anxiously, a marmot whistled
a last time close to its burrow, the violent wind threw a fine
sandy dust into Ilinichna's face and went howling over the
steppe. The old woman struggled to her feet. Her face was
deathly pale as, through the roar of the approaching storm,
she shouted :

" What are you saying ? God help you ! Whose death
are you calling for ? "

" Lord, punish him ! Punish him, Lord ! " Natalia
screamed, fixing her frenzied eyes on the majestically aujSr
wildly gathering clouds, piled into masses by the wind, lit
up by blinding flashes of lightning.

The thunder broke with a dry crash over the steppe.
Beside herself with fear, Ilinichna crossed herself, went with
uncertain steps to Natalia, and seized her shoulder.

" Go down on your knees ! D'you hear, Natalia ? "

Natalia looked at her mother-in-law with unseeing eyes,
and helplessly sank to her knees.

" Ask God for his forgiveness ! " Ilinichna authoritatively
ordered. " Ask him not to accept your prayer. Whose
death are you asking for ? The father of your own children.?.^
Oh, it's a mortal sin. . . . Cross yourself ! Bow yourself'
down to the ground ! Say : ' Lord, forgive me my wicked-
ness, sinful that I am.' "

Natalia crossed herself, whispered something with white
lips and, clenching her teeth, awkwardly fell over on her side.

§3
Washed by the downpour, the steppe turned astonishingly
green. A brilliant arching rainbow was flung from thi
distant pond right to the Don. The thunder was stiM
rumbling hollowly in the west. Muddy hill water