A SUMMER ON THE VENESEI 273 



figures of the natives, and the bearded heads of the 

 Siberiaks, were limned clear and black, like dark 

 silhouettes cut out and pasted against the glowing orb 

 of a lamp. In fact, the effect was so theatrical that the 

 onlooker almost expected to see the limelight operator 

 in the "wings"; and unconsciously I found myself 

 approving the attitude of the Giant, who stood moodily 

 beside the gangway with his arms folded under his 

 sakooy. Anastasia Ivanowna stepped into the boat 

 without a farewell, but as she pushed past him, she 

 dropped her shawl. Joseph picked it up and gave it 

 to her courteously. 



Old Prokopchuk was weeping maudlin tears, and as 

 he went down to the boat he said to his son : 



" Are you going?" 



" Yes," said the Giant laconically. 



" Will you not even come as far as the shore 

 with us ? " 



" No," said the Giant. He knew that they would 

 not hesitate to drag him by force from the boat, and 

 detain him until after the steamer had sailed. Then 

 the canoe pushed off, and we watched it disappear into 

 the dusk. I almost expected to hear the bell ring for 

 " curtain." 



The comic element was as usual supplied by Vassilli, 

 who had a fine idea of drama. He listened eagerly to 

 the duologue between father and son, and then cried 

 out delightedly : 



" Madame, did you hear them ? The old one asked 



him whether he would go back, and he said that he 



would not do so ! " 

 i8 



