The distrustful peasants of Boguchárovo refuse Mary’s gift of grain.
Summary:
An hour after Mary told Dron to give Andrew’s grain to whoever needed it, all the peasants had assembled outside and wished to have a word with her. Apparently, they think she has called for them to assemble. Also, they believe she is ordering them to leave. She goes and talks to them. They seem reluctant to speak, but Mary tells them she is not ordering them to leave. In addition, she says if they go to the Moscow estate, she will continue to provide for them, and that ‘All that is mine is yours”. They say they don’t want the grain, but they will not directly tell Mary their reason for refusing it. They looked angry, and appeared to think Mary was ordering them to leave against their will. Someone says Mary is trying to lure them into bondage. Eventually, Mary gives up and goes back into the house.
quote from the chapter:
And again all the faces in that crowd bore an identical expression, though now it was certainly not an expression of curiosity or gratitude, but of angry resolve.
But you can’t have understood me, said Princess Mary with a sad smile. Why don’t you want to go? I promise to house and feed you, while here the enemy would ruin you….
But her voice was drowned by the voices of the crowd.
We’re not willing. Let them ruin us! We won’t take your grain. We don’t agree.
Again Princess Mary tried to catch someone’s eye, but not a single eye in the crowd was turned to her; evidently they were all trying to avoid her look. She felt strange and awkward.
Oh yes, an artful tale! Follow her into slavery! Pull down your houses and go into bondage! I dare say! ‘I’ll give you grain, indeed!’ she says, voices in the crowd were heard saying.
With drooping head Princess Mary left the crowd and went back to the house.
Book 10, Chapter 11
The distrustful peasants of Boguchárovo refuse Mary’s gift of grain.
Summary:
An hour after Mary told Dron to give Andrew’s grain to whoever needed it, all the peasants had assembled outside and wished to have a word with her. Apparently, they think she has called for them to assemble. Also, they believe she is ordering them to leave. She goes and talks to them. They seem reluctant to speak, but Mary tells them she is not ordering them to leave. In addition, she says if they go to the Moscow estate, she will continue to provide for them, and that ‘All that is mine is yours”. They say they don’t want the grain, but they will not directly tell Mary their reason for refusing it. They looked angry, and appeared to think Mary was ordering them to leave against their will. Someone says Mary is trying to lure them into bondage. Eventually, Mary gives up and goes back into the house.
quote from the chapter:
And again all the faces in that crowd bore an identical expression, though now it was certainly not an expression of curiosity or gratitude, but of angry resolve.
But you can’t have understood me, said Princess Mary with a sad smile. Why don’t you want to go? I promise to house and feed you, while here the enemy would ruin you….
But her voice was drowned by the voices of the crowd.
We’re not willing. Let them ruin us! We won’t take your grain. We don’t agree.
Again Princess Mary tried to catch someone’s eye, but not a single eye in the crowd was turned to her; evidently they were all trying to avoid her look. She felt strange and awkward.
Oh yes, an artful tale! Follow her into slavery! Pull down your houses and go into bondage! I dare say! ‘I’ll give you grain, indeed!’ she says, voices in the crowd were heard saying.
With drooping head Princess Mary left the crowd and went back to the house.
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