PREPARATIONS FOR THE CHASE
During dessert Jakoff had been sent for, and orders given him to
have ready the carriage, the hounds, and the saddle-horses--every
detail being minutely specified, and every horse called by its
own particular name. As Woloda's usual mount was lame, Papa
ordered a "hunter" to be saddled for him; which term, "hunter"
so horrified Mamma's ears, that she imagined it to be some kind
of an animal which would at once run away and bring about
Woloda's death. Consequently, in spite of all Papa's and Woloda's
assurances (the latter glibly affirming that it was nothing, and
that he liked his horse to go fast), poor Mamma continued to
exclaim that her pleasure would be quite spoilt for her.
When luncheon was over, the grown-ups had coffee in the study,
while we younger ones ran into the garden and went chattering
along the undulating paths with their carpet of yellow leaves.
We talked about Woloda's riding a hunter and said what a shame it
was that Lubotshka, could not run as fast as Katenka, and what
fun it would be if we could see Grisha's chains, and so forth;
but of the impending separation we said not a word. Our chatter
was interrupted by the sound of the carriage driving up, with a
village urchin perched on each of its springs. Behind the
carriage rode the huntsmen with the hounds, and they, again,
were followed by the groom Ignat on the steed intended for
Woloda, with my old horse trotting alongside. After running to
the garden fence to get a sight of all these interesting
objects, and indulging in a chorus of whistling and hallooing,
we rushed upstairs to dress--our one aim being to make ourselves
look as like the huntsmen as possible. The obvious way to do this
was to tuck one's breeches inside one's boots. We lost no time
over it all, for we were in a hurry to run to the entrance steps
again there to feast our eyes upon the horses and hounds, and to
have a chat with the huntsmen. The day was exceedingly warm
while, though clouds of fantastic shape had been gathering on the
horizon since morning and driving before a light breeze across
the sun, it was clear that, for all their menacing blackness,
they did not really intend to form a thunderstorm and spoil our
last day's pleasure. Moreover, towards afternoon some of them
broke, grew pale and elongated, and sank to the horizon again,
while others of them changed to the likeness of white transparent
fish-scales. In the east, over Maslovska, a single lurid mass was
louring, but Karl Ivanitch (who always seemed to know the ways of
the heavens) said that the weather would still continue to be
fair and dry.
In spite of his advanced years, it was in quite a sprightly
manner that Foka came out to the entrance steps. to give the
order "Drive up." In fact, as he planted his legs firmly apart
and took up his station between the lowest step and the spot
where the coachman was to halt, his mien was that of a man who
knew his duties and had no need to be reminded of them by
anybody. Presently the ladies, also came out, and after a little
discussions as to seats and the safety of the girls (all of which
seemed to me wholly superfluous), they settled themselves in the
vehicle, opened their parasols, and started. As the carriage was,
driving away, Mamma pointed to the hunter and asked nervously "Is
that the horse intended for Vladimir Petrovitch?" On the
groom answering in the affirmative, she raised her hands in
horror and turned her head away. As for myself, I was burning
with impatience. Clambering on to the back of my steed (I was
just tall enough to see between its ears), I proceeded to perform
evolutions in the courtyard.
"Mind you don't ride over the hounds, sir," said one of the
huntsmen,
"Hold your tongue, It is not the first time I have been one of
the party." I retorted with dignity.
Although Woloda had plenty of pluck, he was not altogether free
from apprehensions as he sat on the hunter. Indeed, he more than
once asked as he patted it, "Is he quiet?" He looked very well
on horseback--almost a grown-up young man, and held himself so
upright in the saddle that I envied him since my shadow seemed to
show that I could not compare with him in looks.
Presently Papa's footsteps sounded on the flagstones, the whip
collected the hounds, and the huntsmen mounted their steeds.
Papa's horse came up in charge of a groom, the hounds of his
particular leash sprang up from their picturesque attitudes to
fawn upon him, and Milka, in a collar studded with beads, came
bounding joyfully from behind his heels to greet and sport with
the other dogs. Finally, as soon as Papa had mounted we rode
away.
