738 THE DON FLOWS HOME
for a peasant's coat, and everything would go according to ^
prescription ; no one would say a word to him, nobody
would reproach him, everything would settle down of itself,
and he would live and end his days as a peaceable grain-
grower and a model villager. But no, the reality didn't lookS
quite so simple.
He cautiously opened Zykov's wicket-gate, which was
hanging by one hinge. Wearing well patched, huge felt
boots and a three-cornered cap drawn right down over his
eyes, Prokhor was walking towards the steps, jauntily
swinging an empty milking pail. White drops of milk
sprinkled invisibly over the snow.
" Had a good night, comrade commander ? " he greeted
Gregor.
"Praise be!"
" Getting drunk's proper work ! "
" But why is the pail empty ? Have you been milking v
the cow yourself ? "
With a nod Prokhor shifted his cap to the back of his
head, and only then did Gregor notice that his friend's face
was gloomy.
" Well, is the devil going to milk her for me ? Yes, I've
milked her, the accursed female ! I only hope she gets belly-
ache as the result ' " Prokhor furiously flung away the
pail, and curtly said " Let's go into the hut."
" How about your wife ? " Gregor asked irresolutely.
" The devils have eaten her with kvass ! Before there
was any sign of dawn she raked herself together and drove
off to Kruzhilinsky for firewood. She set about me as soonj
as I arrived home after leaving you last night. She lectured
me to further orders, and then she jumped up . * I'm going
off to get some firewood. Maksaev's daughters-in-law are
going to-day, and I'll go with them/ ' Go by all means,' I
thought, ' go for pears if you like, and a smooth road to
you !' I got up, lit the stove, and went to milk the cow.
I milked her all right ! Do you think a man's capable of
doing such things with only one arm ? "
f< You should have asked some woman to do it for you,
you idiot!"
" A sheep's an idiot, it'll suck at its mother until the
Feast of the Blessed Virgin ; but all my life I've never beeiu
an idiot. I thought I'd manage it by myself. Well, and I