THE SHADOWS FALL 528
stable. " Can't you see he's saddled ? Why didn't you
* unsaddle Mm, you devilish little fool ? "
Unhurriedly, still listening to the thumping in his chest,
Gregor went up to the horse, removed the saddle, and forced
a smile as he said to Dunia :
' " Father still shouting ? "
" As usual! " Dunia said with an answering smile.
<l Lead him about a little longer, sister/'
" He's quite dry now; but I will if you want me to."
" Let him have a roll if he likes, don't stop him.*'
" Now, now, brother. . . , Grieving ? "
" And why shouldn't I ? " Gregor answered with a sigh.
Moved by a feeling of compassion, Dunia kissed him on
the shoulder and, upset to the point of tears, she swiftly
turned and led the horse to the cattle yard.
Gregor went across to his father, who was diligently raking
dung out of the stable.
> " I'm getting the place ready for your charger/' the old
man said.
" Why didn't you tell me ? I'd have cleaned it out
myself/'
" A fine idea ! Why, am I helpless ? lly boy, I'm like a
flint lock; there's no wearing me out! I can still hop
around a bit! To-morrow I'm thinking of going out to sow
the rye. Are you stopping for long ? "
" A month/'
" Now that's fine ! Shall we drive out to the fields ?
You'll find it easier if you're working. . . /'
v " I'd already thought of that myself/'
The old man threw down the pitchfork, wiped the sweat
from his face with his sleeve, and said in a mysterious
tone ;
" Let's go into the hut, and you have some dinner. You
can never get away from it ... sorrow, I mean. You can't
run away from it and you can't bury yourself from it.
That's how it is. ..."
Ilinichna laid the table, and gave Gregor a clean hand-
towel. And yet again Gregor recalled: "In the old days
Natalia waited on me/' To hide his feelings he attacked the
food vigorously. He gave his father a grateful look when the
old man brought a ewer of home-made vodka, its neck
closed by a bunch of hay, from the cellar.