Page:Korolenko - Makar's Dream and Other Stories.djvu/282

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258
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

tion: listen with your ears and answer with your tongue. No hand play this time! If there is, I'll be angry."

"You've a funny way of doing things," said Galya, folding her arms. "However, I'll listen to you; but I warn you, if you begin to talk nonsense don't call on your God to help you!"

"It won't be nonsense. You see—oh, how did Kharko begin?"

"Kharko? What has Kharko to do with you and me?"

"Oh, do be quiet or I won't be able to get anything straight. Listen to me: used you to love me?"

"Would I have kissed an ugly face like yours if I hadn't?"

"And what was I then, a workman in the mill or not?"

"A workman, of course. I wish to goodness you had never become a miller!"

"Tut, tut, don't talk so much or I'll get mixed up! So you see it is clear that you loved a workman once and that therefore you ought to marry a workman now and live at the mill. And I shall go on loving you as I always have, even if I marry ten Motrias."

Galya actually rubbed her eyes; she thought she was dreaming.

"What nonsense are you talking, man? Either