The Schoolmaster and other stories - Penn State University

The Schoolmaster & other stories“He has been writing all night,” whispers his wife witha scared expression on her face. “Sh!”No one dares to speak or move or make a sound. Hissleep is something sacred, and the culprit who offendsagainst it will pay dearly for his fault.“Hush!” floats over the flat. “Hush!”IN AN HOTEL“LET ME TELL YOU, my good man,” began MadameNashatyrin, the colonel’s lady at No. 47, crimson andspluttering, as she pounced on the hotel-keeper. “Eithergive me other apartments, or I shall leave your confoundedhotel altogether! It’s a sink of iniquity! Mercyon us, I have grown-up daughters and one hears nothingbut abominations day and night! It’s beyond everything!Day and night! Sometimes he fires off such thingsthat it simply makes one’s ears blush! Positively like acabman. It’s a good thing that my poor girls don’t understandor I should have to fly out into the street withthem… He’s saying something now! You listen!”“I know a thing better than that, my boy,” a huskybass floated in from the next room. “Do you rememberLieutenant Druzhkov? Well, that same Druzhkov wasone day making a drive with the yellow into the pocket160