Red Stefan by Patricia Wentworth Read Free Book Online

anything of herself didn’t go running after married men! Stood there in that doorway not half an hour ago when you were out getting in the wood, and ‘I hear Stefan is back,’ says she. ‘Oh yes, he’s back,’ I said, and in she comes and shuts the door, which she might have done before if she was going to. ‘And what can I do for you, Irina Alexievna?’ I said. ‘Is Stefan at home?’ she says, and I said, ‘No, he’s not,’ and looked for her to go, but she didn’t budge. Mercy on us, Stefan, how do you suppose the wood is going to last the winter if you’re so free with it?’”
    Stephen laughed.
    â€œI’ll get you some more, little grandmother. Did Irina ask any more questions?”
    Akulina snorted.
    â€œShe asked me if it was true that you were married, and I said it was. And then she asked after your wife, and I said she was ill, so then she stood over there and looked at her, and I could see she didn’t think much of her. There she was, still asleep, but it was easy enough to see she wouldn’t have been much more use if she was awake.”
    â€œDid she say anything?” Stephen’s voice was a little hurried.
    â€œHow could she say anything when she was asleep?”
    â€œNo— Irina . Did Irina say anything?”
    Akulina chuckled.
    â€œNot she—not a word. Just stood there and looked. It’s not very often that she hasn’t got plenty to say, but just for once in a way she was as dumb as a calf.”
    â€œShe didn’t ask any questions?”
    â€œI’m telling you she didn’t. Just looked and turned round and went out of the house again. You may well be surprised, but that’s what she did.” She chuckled again. “Her that’ll talk your head off any other time telling everybody how to do the jobs that they were doing before she was born or thought of! Why, last time she was here she as good as told me I’d get more eggs from my hens if I took up with some new-fangled notions she’d got hold of! I told her to go and talk to the hens, and see what they thought about it. ‘They’re fine talkers too,’ I said, and she got red behind the ears and stuck her chin in the air and went off about my taking down the blessed ikon and putting a picture of Lenin in its place! Yes, she’s got plenty to say for herself as a rule has Irina!”
    Elizabeth felt suddenly giddy and lay down again. It troubled her to think that this Irina had stood there looking at her in her sleep. It was strange that she had not wakened. Strange? What was there that was not strange in this new life into which she had been plunged?
    Presently Akulina went out of the house. As soon as she had gone Stephen came round the stove. Elizabeth raised herself again upon her elbow, and when he saw that she was awake he fetched her a wooden bowl of milk with an egg broken in it. She wondered how he had wrung these delicacies from Akulina. It troubled her, but she drank and felt stronger.
    Stephen put away the bowl and sat down on the edge of the stove beside her.
    â€œYou’re better,” he said.
    And Elizabeth said, “Yes.”
    He smiled very kindly.
    â€œIt was just shock, and cold, and not having enough to eat. You’ll soon be all right. Now I want to talk to you before Akulina comes back, because there are things we must settle. She won’t be very long, so we’d better get on with it. You needn’t worry to talk—I’ll do the talking. I only want you to listen and say yes, and no, and a few things like that. You’re strong enough for that, aren’t you?”
    Elizabeth felt as if she were about five years old. She said “Yes,” meekly, and when she had said it, her lips kept the faint shadow of a smile. He looked so large, sitting there with his blouse open at the neck so that the strong column of the throat showed. The bright chestnut hair