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RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD 27
great sin, I might forgive you if your fault consisted
only of theft. But an innocent little girl has
suffered on your account. Reflect that, because of your
sin, Feklusha has been subjected to public disgrace;
she has been flogged. On her account I cannot
pardon you. If you insist on remaining with us, I can
consent to it only on condition that you beg
Feklu-sha’s pardon, and kiss her hand in the presence of all
the servants. If you will agree to this, then you may
remain, and God be with you !"
No one expected that Marya Vasilievna would
agree to such a condition. How was she, such a
haughty creature, to accuse herself publicly before a
little serf girl, and kiss her hand! But, to the
universal amazement, Marya Vasilievna did agree to it.
An hour after this decision all the house-servants
were assembled in the ante-room of our house to look
on at a curious spectacle, Marya Vasilievna kissing
Feklusha’s hand. My father had stipulated that this
should take place in solemn and public fashion.
A large crowd assembled. Every one wished to
see. The heads of the household were present also,
and we children begged permission to look on.
I shall never forget the scene which followed.
Feklusha, confused by the honor which had so
unexpectedly fallen to her lot, and also fearing, probably,
that Marya Vasilievna would take revenge later on
for her enforced humiliation, came to her master and
began to entreat that she and Marya Vasilievna
might be excused from the handkissing.
"I forgive her without that," she said, almost in
tears.
But papa, who had screwed himself up to a lofty
pitch, and had convinced himself that he was acting
in accordance with the demands of strict justice, only
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