"I know you will be fond of him, of my Páshenka," the old lady
continued,--"he is such a splendid fellow! Would you believe me, not a
year goes by without his sending me money, and he also helps Annushka
my daughter, and all from his wages alone. Truly I shall always thank
God," she concluded with tears in her eyes, "that he has given me such
a child."
"Does he write you often?" I asked.
"Rarely, _bátiushka,_--not more than once a year; and sometimes when
he sends money he writes a little word, and sometimes he doesn't. 'If
I don't write you, _mámenka,_' he says, 'it means that I'm alive and
well; but if any thing should happen,--which God forbid,--then they
will write you for me.'"
When I gave the captain his mother's gift (it was in my room), he asked
me for some wrapping-paper, carefully tied it up, and put it away. I
gave him many details of his mother's life: the captain was silent.
When I had finished, he went into a corner, and took a very long time
in filling his pipe.
"Yes, she's a fine old lady," said he from the corner, in a rather
choked voice: "God grant that we may meet again!"
Great love and grief were expressed in these simple words.
"Why do you serve here?" I asked.
"Have to serve," he replied with decision. "And double pay means a good
deal for our brother, who is a poor man."
The captain lived economically; he did not play cards, he rarely drank
to excess, and he smoked ordinary tobacco, which from some inexplicable
reason he did not call by its usual name,[7] but _sambrotalicheski
tabák._ The captain had pleased me even before this. He had one of
those simple, calm Russian faces, and looked you straight in the eye
agreeably and easily. But after this conversation I felt a genuine
respect for him.
[Footnote 1: _Nabég_ (pronounced Na-be-ukh), the Invasion or Raid.]
[Footnote 2: One and a third miles.]
[Footnote 3: An affectionate diminished diminutive: Pavel (Paul),
Pasha, Pashenka.]
[Footnote 4: _ládanka,_ the bag containing sacred things worn by the
pious, together with the baptismal cross.]
[Footnote 5: _golubchik._]
[Footnote 6: _moï bátiushka._]
[Footnote 7: _tiutiún._]