The sleighs flew wildly down the slope, and in this impetuous flight,
in the sprinkling and crackling snow, and bitter, numbing frost,
Kseniya dreamed of a wondrous bliss: she felt a desire to embrace the
world! Life suddenly seemed so joyous.
The frost was harsh, cruel and penetrating. On regaining the house
the general bristled up like a sparrow--he was frozen--and called out
from the door-step:
"Sergius! There is a frost to-day that will certainly burst the
water-pipes. We will have to place a guard for the night."
Perhaps Sergius, and even the old man, had had a glimpse of wonderful
happiness in the sleigh's swift flight over the snow. The former
called back:
"Never mind!"--and again whirled wildly down from the old Cathedral
to the Volga, where the boats and steamers plied amid the deep-blue,
massive ice-floes, so sparkling and luminous in their snowy raiment.
But the general had now worked himself up to a state of great
excitement. He rushed indoors and roused everyone:
"I tell you, it will freeze and the pipes will burst unless you let
the water run a little. There are 27 degrees of frost!"
"But the tap is in the kitchen and Leontyevna is sleeping there,"
objected Lina.
"Well, waken her!"
"Impossible!"
"Damn rot!" snarled the general and went into the kitchen and shook
Leontyevna, explaining to her about the pipes.
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