The House by the Dvina Read Online Free

darlings.” The magic effect of this never failed to throw me into fits of laughter. I myself would then start calling in unison with Babushka. The “little darlings” rushed across from all directions Ч chickens, hens, all colours and sizes with trailing wings and piercing cries, geese, turkeys appearing from nowhere. Ducks, only seconds before diving peacefully in the depth of the pond for weeds and little fish, were suddenly galvanised into hurrying up the bank, madly rolling across the lawns, in a frenzy working their way through the hedges stumbling and falling over themselves, inevitably to arrive too late.
    In the winter, when all the windows and French doors were sealed in double frames, the balcony became inaccessible. The snow lay thick up to the top of the railings and only the faint, lace-like tracks of the crows and sparrows marred the smooth white perfection. At the far end of the yard was the lodge. It was divided by a narrow passage into two separate houses, each containing two rooms. In one lived Mikhailo with his young wife Masha. The other half housed Vassily the gardener and a young boy named Yashka employed to run messages, deliver notes and perform endless tasks.
    During the winter the hens were transferred to VassilyТs warm house from their summer quarters. Vassily cheerfully shared his two rooms with Yashka and the hens, periodically opening the cages. The Дhens ambled around his feet, clucking contentedly, as they pecked away at the wooden floor for some invisible insects. Straight ahead at the far end of the yard, curving to the right in a crescent, were the stables, the coach house and an old cow shed where were housed the Scottish black-faced ewes imported by my father. In Scotland, my father was strongly advised against this whim. The sheep in Scotland, they argued, were used to wandering in the hills nibbling the sweet, rich grass. My father was adamant. He was convinced they would become adjusted. He was right. The sheep not only became adjusted but thrived, multiplied and grew magnificent thick coats.
    At first they timidly nibbled the grass on the drying lawn in front of the stables, but later, little by little, they ventured outside the gates and trotted down to the river exploring the banks. The banks of the Dvina in our parts were high, built up by great boulders to keep the ice floes and spring floods at bay. Between these boulders grew all kinds of succulent grasses and herbs. It was here the sheep found what must have been the nearest resemblance to their own natural habitat in Scotland. Soon they became a familiar sight to all passers-by.
    Every evening they trotted back to their shed. During the long clear nights of the arctic summer when there was no darkness and the sun still shone, these sheep were aware it was evening and some deep instinct drove them back to the only shelter they knew. Through the dark winter months, while the sun made a brief appearance, fodder was thrown on to the snow and the sheep came out of their dark quarters. After they were fed, they would enjoy short excursions down to the river while there was still a little daylight. One day when Vassily was sweeping away the snow from the path beside the gate his ears were suddenly assailed by the shrill sound of terrified bleating. He was horrified to see the whole flock rushing back from the river and past him through the gates, followed closely by a large dog. Mikhailo and Vassily were peasants. They recognised at once that this animal was not a dog but a wolf driven by hunger from the woods across the river. For a short time the wolf was trapped in the yard, his retreat cut off by Mikhailo and Vassily, with Yashka joining in the hunt holding a long poker. The young servant girls ran out of the kitchen waving towels. They were accompanied by the hysterical barking of Scotka and Borseek running behind them at a safe distance. The whole cavalcade in wild excitement, stumbling and falling in the snow, advanced