"Yukhvanka the clever[18] wants to sell a horse," was what Nekhliudof next
read in his note-book; and he proceeded along the street to Yukhvanka's
place.[19] Yukhvanka's hut was carefully thatched with straw from the
threshing-floor of the estate; the frame-work was of new light-gray
aspen-wood (also from stock belonging to the estate), had two handsome
painted shutters for the window, and a porch with eaves and ingenious
balustrades cut out of deal planks.
[Footnote 18: _Yukhvánka-Mudr'yónui._]
[Footnote 19: _dvor._]
The narrow entry and the cold hut were also in perfect order; but the
general impression of sufficiency and comfort given by this establishment
was somewhat injured by a barn enclosed in the gates, which had a
dilapidated hedge and a sagging pent roof, appearing from behind it.
Just as Nekhliudof approached the steps from one side, two peasant women
came up on the other carrying a tub full of water. One was Yukhvanka's
wife, the other his mother.
The first was a robust, healthy-looking woman, with an extraordinarily
exuberant bosom, and wide fat cheeks. She wore a clean shirt embroidered on
the sleeves and collar, an apron of the same material, a new linen skirt,
peasant's shoes, a string of beads, and an elegant four-cornered head-dress
of embroidered red paper and spangles.
The end of the water-yoke was not in the least unsteady, but was firmly
settled on her wide and solid shoulder. Her easy forcefulness, manifested
in her rosy face, in the curvature of her back, and the measured swing of
her arms and legs, made it evident that she had splendid health and rugged
strength.
Yukhvanka's mother, balancing the other end of the yoke, was, on the
contrary, one of those elderly women who seem to have reached the final
limit of old age and decrepitude. Her bony frame, clad in a black
dilapidated shirt and a faded linen skirt, was bent so that the water-yoke
rested rather on her back than on her shoulder. Her two hands, whose
distorted fingers seemed to clutch the yoke, were of a strange dark
chestnut color, and were convulsively cramped. Her drooping head, wrapped
up in some sort of a clout, bore the most monstrous evidences of indigence
and extreme old age.
From under her narrow brow, perfectly covered with deep wrinkles, two red
eyes, unprotected by lashes, gazed with leaden expression to the ground.
One yellow tooth protruded from her sunken upper lip, and, constantly
moving, sometimes came in contact with her sharp chin. The wrinkles on the
lower part of her face and neck hung down like little bags, quivering at
every motion.
She breathed heavily and hoarsely; but her bare, distorted legs, though it
seemed as if they would have barely strength to drag along over the ground,
moved with measured steps.