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d have nothing in common with me； and that in all probability they would never meet my eyes again！
Next came a pair of post…horses； with the traces looped up to their collars。 On one of them a young postillion…his lamb's wool cap cocked to one side…was negligently kicking his booted legs against the flanks of his steed as he sang a melancholy ditty。 Yet his face and attitude seemed to me to express such perfect carelessness and indolent ease that I imagined it to be the height of happiness to be a postillion and to sing melancholy songs。
Far off； through a cutting in the road； there soon stood out against the light…blue sky； the green roof of a village church。 Presently the village itself became visible； together with the roof of the manor…house and the garden attached to it。 Who lived in that house？ Children； parents； teachers？ Why should we not call there and make the acquaintance of its inmates？
Next we overtook a file of loaded waggonsa procession to which our vehicles had to yield the road。
〃What have you got in there？〃 asked Vassili of one waggoner who was dangling his legs lazily over the splashboard of his conveyance and flicking his whip about as he gazed at us with a stolid； vacant look； but he only made answer when we were too far off to catch what he said。
〃And what have YOU got？〃 asked Vassili of a second waggoner who was lying at full length under a new rug on the driving…seat of his vehicle。 The red poll and red face beneath it lifted themselves up for a second from the folds of the rug； measured our britchka with a cold； contemptuous look； and lay down again； whereupon I concluded that the driver was wondering to himself who we were； whence we had come； and whither we were going。
These various objects of interest had absorbed so much of my time that； as yet； I had paid no attention to the crooked figures on the verst posts as we passed them in rapid succession； but in time the sun began to burn my head and back； the road to become increasingly dusty； the impedimenta in the carriage to grow more and more uncomfortable； and myself to feel more and more cramped。 Consequently； I relapsed into devoting my whole faculties to the distance…posts and their numerals； and to solving difficult mathematical problems for reckoning the time when we should arrive at the next posting…house。
〃Twelve versts are a third of thirty…six； and in all there are forty…one to Lipetz。 We have done a third and how much； then？〃； and so forth； and so forth。
〃Vassili；〃 was my next remark； on observing that he was beginning to nod on the box…seat； 〃suppose we change seats？ Will you？〃 Vassili agreed； and had no sooner stretched himself out in the body of the vehicle than he began to snore。 To me on my new perch； however； a most interesting spectacle now became visible namely； our horses； all of which were familiar to me down to the smallest detail。
〃Why is Diashak on the right today； Philip； not on the left？〃 I asked knowingly。 〃And Nerusinka is not doing her proper share of the pulling。〃
〃One could not put Diashak on the left；〃 replied Philip； altogether ignoring my last remark。 〃He is not the kind of horse to put there at all。 A horse like the one on the left now is the right kind of one for the job。〃
After this fragment of eloquence； Philip turned towards Diashak and began to do his best to worry the poor animal by jogging at the reins； in spite of the fact that Diashak was doing well and dragging the vehicle almost unaided。 This Philip continued to do until he found it convenient to breathe and rest himself awhile and to settle his cap askew； though it had looked well enough before。
I profited by the opportunity to ask him to let me have the reins to hold； until； the whole six in my hand； as well as the whip； I had attained complete happiness。 Several times I asked whether I was doing things right； but； as usual； Philip was never satisfied； and soon destroyed my felicity。
The heat increased until a hand showed itself at the carriage window； and waved a bottle and a parcel of eatables； whereupon Vassili leapt briskly from the britchka； and ran forward to get us something to eat and drink。
When we arrived at a steep descent； we all got out and ran down it to a little bridge； while Vassili and Jakoff followed； supporting the carriage on either side； as though to hold it up in the event of its threatening to upset。
After that； Mimi gave permission for a change of seats； and sometimes Woloda or myself would ride in the carriage； and Lubotshka or Katenka in the britchka。 This arrangement greatly pleased the girls； since much more fun went on in the britchka。 Just when the day was at its hottest； we got out at a wood； and； breaking off a quantity of branches； transformed our vehicle into a bower。 This travelling arbour then bustled on to catch the carriage up； and had the effect of exciting Lubotshka to one of those piercing shrieks of delight which she was in the habit of occasionally emitting。
At last we drew near the village where we were to halt and dine。 Already we could perceive the smell of the placethe smell of smoke and tar and sheep…and distinguish the sound of voices； footsteps； and carts。 The bells on our horses began to ring less clearly than they had done in the open country； and on both sides the road became lined with hutsdwellings with straw roofs； carved porches； and small red or green painted shutters to the windows； through which； here and there； was a woman's face looking inquisitively out。 Peasant children clad in smocks only stood staring open…eyed or； stretching out their arms to us； ran barefooted through the dust to climb on to the luggage behind； despite Philip's menacing gestures。 Likewise； red…haired waiters came darting around the carriages to invite us； with words and signs； to select their several hostelries as our halting…place。
Presently a gate creaked； and we entered a courtyard。 Four hours of rest and liberty now awaited us。
II。 THE THUNDERSTORM
The sun was sinking towards the west； and his long； hot rays were burning my neck and cheeks beyond endurance； while thick clouds of dust were rising from the road and filling the whole air。 Not the slightest wind was there to carry it away。 I could not think what to do。 Neither the dust…blackened face of Woloda dozing in a corner； nor the motion of Philip's back； nor the long shadow of our britchka as it came bowling along behind us brought me any relief。 I concentrated my whole attention upon the distance… posts ahead and the clouds which； hitherto dispersed over the sky； were now assuming a menacing blackness； and beginning to form themselves into a single solid mass。
From time to time distant thunder could be hearda circumstance which greatly increased my impatience to arrive at the inn where we were to spend the night。 A thunderstorm always communicated to me an inexpressibly oppressive feeling of fear and gloom。
Yet we were still ten versts from the next village； and in the meanwhile the large purple cloudbankarisen from no one knows wherewas advancing steadily towards us。 The sun； not yet obscured； was picking out its fuscous shape with dazzling light； and marking its front with grey stripes running ri