his chin propped on his hand, repeating: "That's the only thing
left for thee and me, master!"

And Misha dug and dug, inquiring from time to time: "Life isn't worth
living, is it, Timofei?"

"It is not, dear little father."

The hole had already grown fairly deep. People saw Misha's work and ran
to report about it to the speculator-owner. At first the speculator flew
into a rage, and wanted to send for the police. "What hypocrisy!" he
said. But afterward, reflecting, probably, that it would be inconvenient
to have a row with that lunatic, and that a scandal might be the result,
he betook himself in person to the churchyard, and approaching the
toiling Misha, he made a polite obeisance to him. The latter continued
to dig, as though he had not noticed his successor.

"Mikhail Andreitch," began the speculator, "permit me to inquire what
you are doing there?"

"As you see--I am digging a grave for myself."

"Why are you doing that?"

"Because I do not wish to live any longer."

The speculator fairly flung apart his hands in surprise.--"You do not
wish to live?"

Misha cast a menacing glance at the speculator:--"Does that surprise
you? Are not you the cause of it all?... Is it not you?... Is it not
thou?...[15] Is it not thou, Judas, who hast robbed me, by taking
advantage of my youth? Dost not thou skin the peasants? Is it not thou
who hast deprived this decrepit old man of his daily bread? Is it not
thou?... O Lord! Everywhere there is injustice, and oppression, and
villainy.... So down with everything,--and with me also! I don't wish to
live--I don't wish to live any longer in Russia!"--And the spade made
swifter progress than ever in Misha's hands.

"The devil knows the meaning of this!" thought the speculator: "he
actually is burying himself."--"Mikhail Andreitch,"--he began afresh,
"listen; I really am guilty toward you; people did not represent you
properly to me."

Misha went on digging.

"But why this recklessness?"

Misha went on digging--and flung the dirt on the speculator, as much as
to say: "Take that, earth-devourer!"

"Really, you have no cause for this. Will not you come to my house to
eat and rest?"

Misha raised his head a little. "Now you're talking! And will there be
anything to drink?"

The speculator was delighted.--"Good gracious!... I should think so!"

"And dost thou invite Timofei also?"

"But why ... well, I invite him also."

Misha reflected.--"Only look out ... for th