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第22章

creatures that once were men-第22章

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the chief thingwe all regarded her as something of our own; 

something existing as it were only by virtue of our kringels。 

We took on ourselves in turns the duty of providing her with 

hot kringels; and this became for us like a daily sacrifice 

to our idol; it became almost a sacred rite; and every day

it bound us more closely to her。  Besides kringels; we gave 

Tanya a great deal of advice to wear warmer clothes; not to 

run upstairs too quickly; not to carry heavy bundles of wood。 

She listened to all our counsels with a smile; answered them 

by a laugh; and never took our advice; but we were not 

offended at that; all we wanted was to show how much care we 

bestowed upon her。



Often she would apply to us with different requests; she asked 

us; for instance; to open the heavy door into the store…cellar; 

and to chop wood: with delight and a sort of pride; we did this 

for her; and everything else she wanted。



But when one of us asked her to mend his solitary shirt for 

him; she said; with a laugh of contempt:



〃What next! A likely idea!〃



We made great fun of the queer fellow who could entertain such 

an idea; andnever asked her to do anything else。  We loved 

herall is said in that。  





 111  TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL





Man always wants to lay his love on someone; though sometimes 

he crushes; sometimes he sullies; with it; he may poison 

another life because he loves without respecting the beloved。 

We were bound to love Tanya; for we had no one else to love。



At times one of us would suddenly begin to reason like this:



〃And why do we make so much of the wench?  What is there in 

her?  eh?  What a to…do we make about her!〃 



The man who dared to utter such words we promptly and 

coarsely cut shortwe wanted something to love:  we had 

found it and loved it; and what we twenty…six loved must be 

for each of us unalterable; as a holy thing; and anyone who 

acted against us in this was our enemy。  We loved; maybe; not 

what was really good; but you see there were twenty…six of us; 

and so we always wanted to see what was precious to us held 

sacred by the rest。



Our love is not less burdensome than hate; and maybe that is 

just why some proud souls maintain that our hate is more 

flattering than our love。  But why do they not run away from 

us; if it is so?



*       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Besides our department; our employer had also a bread…bakery; 

it was in the same house; separated from our hole only by a 

wall; but the bakersthere were four of themheld aloof from 

us; considering their work superior to ours; and therefore 

themselves better than us; they never used to come into our 

workroom; and laughed contemptuously at us when they met us 

in the yard。  We; too; did not go to see them; this was 

forbidden by our employer; from fear that we should steal

the fancy bread。 





112 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL





We did not like the bakers; because we envied them; their work 

was lighter than ours; they were paid more; and were better 

fed; they had a light; spacious workroom; and they were all so 

clean and healthyand that made them hateful to us。   We all

looked gray and yellow; three of us had syphilis; several

suffered from skin diseases; one was completely crippled by 

rheumatism。  On holidays and in their leisure time the bakers 

wore pea…jackets and creaking boots; two of them had accordions; 

and they all used to go for strolls in the town gardenwe wore 

filthy rags and leather clogs or plaited shoes on our feet; the 

police would not let us into the town gardenscould we possibly 

like the bakers?



And one day we learned that their chief baker had been drunk; 

the master had sacked him and had already taken on another; and 

that this other was a soldier; wore a satin waistcoat and a 

watch and gold chain。  We were inquisitive to get a sight of 

such a dandy; and in the hope of catching a glimpse of him we 

kept running one after another out into the yard。



But he came of his own accord into our room。  Kicking at the 

door; he pushed it open; and leaving it ajar; stood in the 

doorway smiling; and said to us:



〃God help the work!  Good…morning; mates!〃



The ice…cold air; which streamed in through the open door; 

curled in streaks of vapor round his feet。  He stood on the 

threshold; looked us up and down; and under his fair; twisted 

mustache gleamed big yellow teeth。  His waistcoat was really 

something quite out of the common; blue…flowered; brilliant 

with shining little buttons of red stones。  He also wore a watch

chain。





113  TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL





He was a fine fellow; this soldier; tall; healthy; rosy…cheeked; 

and his big; clear eyes had a friendly; cheerful glance。  He wore 

on his head a white starched cap; and from under his spotlessly 

clean apron peeped the pointed toes of fashionable; well…blacked 

boots。



Our baker asked him politely to shut the door。  The soldier did 

so without hurrying himself; and began to question us about the 

master。  We explained to him; all speaking together; that our 

employer was a thorough…going brute; a rogue; a knave; and a 

slave…driver; in a word; we repeated to him all that can and 

must be said about an employer; but cannot be repeated here。 

The soldier listened to us; twisted his mustache; and watched 

us with a friendly; open…hearted look。



〃But haven't you got a lot of girls here?〃 he asked suddenly。



Some of us began to laugh deferentially; others put on a meaning 

expression; and one of us explained to the soldier that there 

were nine girls here。



〃You make the most of them?〃 asked the soldier; with a wink。



We laughed; but not so loudly; and with some embarrassment。  

Many of us would have liked to have shown the soldier that we 

also were tremendous fellows with the girls; but not one of us 

could do so; and one of our number confessed as much; when he 

said in a low voice:



〃That sort of thing is not in our line。〃



〃Well; no; it wouldn't quite do for you;〃 said the soldier with 

conviction; after having looked us over。





114 TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL





〃There is something wanting about you all you don't look the 

right sort。  You've no sort of appearance; and the women; you 

see; they like a bold appearance; they will have a well set…up 

body。  Everything has to be tip…top for them。  That's why they 

respect strength。  They want an arm like that!〃



The soldier drew his right hand; with its turned…up shirt sleeve; 

out of his pocket; and showed us his bare arm。  It was white and 

strong; and covered with shining yellow hairs。



〃Leg and chest; all must be strong。  And then a man must be 

dressed in the latest fashion; so as to show off his looks to 

advantage。  Yes; all the women take to me。  Whether I call to 

them; or whether I beckon them; they with one accord; five at 

a time; throw themselves at my head。〃



He sat down on a flour sack; and told at length all about the 

way women loved him; and how bold he was with them。  Then he 

left; and after the door had creaked to behind him; we sat for 

a long time silent; and thought about him and his talk。  Then 

we all suddenly broke silence together; and it became apparent 

that we were all equally pleased with him。  He was such a nice; 

open…hearted fellow; he came to see us without any 

standoffishness; sat down and chatted。  No one else came to us 

like that; and no one else talked to us in that friendly sort 

of way。  And we continued to talk of him and his coming triumph 

among the embroidery girls; who passed us by with contemptuous 

sniffs when they saw us in the yard; or who looked straight 

through us as if we had been air。 





115  TWENTY…SIX MEN AND A GIRL





But we admired them always when we met them outside; or when 

they wa

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