human
What is it, brother? I asked him.--
gpt
Why art not thou cheerful? Hast thou any grief?
human
I have, master, I have, he said at last.--
gpt
And such a grief that it would be better if I were not alive. My wife is dead.
human
Didst thou love her ... thy wife?
gpt
I did, master. This is the eighth month since ... but I cannot forget. It is eating away my heart ... so it is! And why must she die? She was young! Healthy!... In one day the cholera settled her.
human
And was she of a good disposition?
gpt
Akh, master! sighed the poor fellow, heavily.--
human
And on what friendly terms she and I lived together! She died in my absence. When I heard here that they had already buried her, I hurried immediately to the village, home. It was already after midnight when I arrived. I entered my cottage, stopped short in the middle of it, and said so softly: 'Masha! hey, Masha!' Only a cricket shrilled.--Then I fell to weeping, and sat down on the cottage floor, and how I did beat my palm against the ground!--'Thy bowels are insatiable!' I said.... 'Thou hast devoured her ... devour me also!'--Akh, Masha!
gpt
Masha,