And as though from a
distance the receiver's tiresome, unpleasant, harsh voice fell on his
ears:
"You wouldn't believe it--at last it became horrible! Such an incident
took place! A peasant came up to a certain intelligent man in Osa and
brought along with him a girl about sixteen years old.
"'What do you wish?"
"'Here,' he says, 'I've brought my daughter to your Honour.'
"'What for?'
"'Perhaps,' he says, 'you'll take her--you are a bachelor.'
"'That is, how? What do you mean?'
"'I took her around town,' he says. 'I wanted to hire her out as a
servant--but nobody would have her--take her at least as your
mistress!'
"Do you understand? He offered his own daughter--just think of it!
A daughter--as a mistress! The devil knows what that is! Eh? The man,
of course, became indignant and began abusing the peasant. But the
peasant spoke to him reasonably:
"'Your Honour! Of what use is she to me at this time? Utterly useless.
I have,' says he, 'three boys--they will be working men; it is
necessary to keep them up. Give me,' says he, 'ten roubles for the
girl, and that will improve my lot and that of my boys.
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