, butdidnotraisehishead, , strongerthanbefore; hejumpedupbeforehim, withanendofstringroundherneck, wasMumu, ; hecaughtupMumu, andhuggedhertightinhisarms, shelickedhisnoseandeyes, andbeardandmoustache, allinoneinstant...Hestoodalittle, thoughtaminute, creptcautiouslydownfromthehay-loft, lookedround, andhavingsatisfiedhimselfthatnoonecouldseehim, madehiswaysuccessfullytohisgarret.
Gerasimhadguessedbeforethathisdoghadnotgotlostbyherowndoing, thatshemusthavebeentakenawaybythemistress' sorders; theservantshadexplainedtohimbysignsthathisMumuhadsnappedather, , fondledher, andputhertobed, thenhefelltomeditating, andspentthewholenightlonginmeditatinghowhecouldbestconcealher.
Atlasthedecidedtoleaveheralldayinthegarret, andonlytocomeinnowandthentoseeher, andtotakeheroutatnight.
Theholeinthedoorhestoppedupeffectuallywithhisoldovercoat, andalmostbeforeitwaslighthewasalreadyintheyard, asthoughnothinghadhappened, even—innocentguile!
Thedumbmanhadnevershownsuchenergyasonthatday; hecleanedandscrapedthewholecourtyard, pulledupeverysingleweedwithhisownhand, , hetoiledandlaboredsothateventheoldladynoticedhiszeal.
TwiceinthecourseofthedayGerasimwentstealthilyintoseehisprisoner; whennightcameon, helaydowntosleepwithherinthegarret, notinthehay-loft, andonlyattwoo' clockinthenighthewentouttotakeheraturninthefreshair.
Onthatday,afterwalkingaboutthecourtyardagoodwhilewithher, hewasjustturningback, , growled—wentuptothefence, sniffed, , thesuddenbarkwakedherup, herheartpalpitated, andshefeltfaint."Again, thatdog, again! Thedog, thedogagain! Oh!"
Stewardinafuryorderedthewholehouseholdtogetup.
MeanwhilethelucklessMumuhadgoneonbarking, whileGerasimtriedinvaintocallheraway, , sawlightsandshadowsmovinginthewindows, andwithaninstinctofcomingtroubleinhisheart, putMumuunderhisarm, ranintohisgarret, andlockedhimselfin.
Onthenarrowstaircaseleadingtothegarretsatoneguard; , knockedwithhisfist, shouting, "Openthedoor!"
; thathemusthanditoveratonce, , pointedtothedog, madeamotionwithhishandroundhisneck, asthoughannouncinghewouldtakeuponhimselfthetaskofkillingMumu.
"Yes, yes," thelatterassented, nodding," yes, justso."
Mumu, whowasallthewhilestandingbesidehim, , smiledscornfully, struckhimselfagainonthebreast, andslammedtothedoor.
