Under the yoke, p.11
Under the Yoke, page 11
roses.*
Sister Nimfidora was sure he had come after an engagement
as schoolmaster.
Sister Solomona and Sister Parashkeva asserted that
neither of these reports was correct ; that he had come
there to look out for a wife ; and that, as a matter of fact,
they knew on whom his choice had fallen.
Sister Apraxia was ready to swear that he was a Russian
prince in disguise, who had come to inspect the old fortress
and distribute funds for their church. But less faith was
attached to what Sister Apraxia said, because she was not
on visiting terms with the best houses, but drew her information
from the wife of Petko Buzzouniak or Fachko
Dobiche's family.
Sister Hajji Rovoama listened to all these confident
* The scene where the story is laid is in the heart of the
"
Valley of
Roses," where the famous attar is produced.
54 UNDER THE YOKE
assertions, and smiled behind her moustachios (of which
Nature had been very prodigal to her). She knew all
about it, but wanted to enjoy the efforts of the Sisters to
find out the truth. The oracle declared itself only late at
night.
The next morning the whole convent knew that the
stranger OgnianofE was a Turkish spy.
One of the chief reasons — perhaps the only one — why
Hajji Rovoama launched this unflattering rumour touching
OgnianofE was the fact that he had not yet paid his respects
to her : this was a mortal affront to her vanity, which gained
for Ognianoff a relentless enemy.
It was Sunday. Service was nearly over in the convent
chapel, which was thronged with worshippers. Crowds
stood outside under the chapel windows, beneath the spreading
branches of the great pear tree. Most of these were
young girls or married women from the town, all decked
with flowers and arrayed in their brightest Sunday frocks,
like dolls. They prattled merrily together, turning from
time to time to the door to inspect the Sunday dresses of the
other representatives of the fair sex who were continually
flocking into the convent. The rest were nuns, mostly
young, who were engaged, with no less merriment, in looking
about them, giggling and laughing perpetually. From time
to time they would rush forward in swarms to pick up the
ripe golden pears as they fell from the tree, and occasionally
a battle royal would ensue for the possession of the fruit,
after which they would return heated and flushed to the rest
of the worshippers, crossing themselves.
Service was over. A stream of people emerged from the
chapel and flowed into the cells.
Hajji Rovoama's cell, though somewhat richly furnished,
was small and could scarcely contain her guests. The nun
received them with a gratified smile, whilst Rada, in a clean
black frock and hood, went round serving preserves and
coffee on a red tray. After an hour the stream began to
decrease. Hajji Rovoama rose frequently to look from the
window, as if she expected some special visitor. Soon a
fresh batch came in, among whom was Alafranga, Stefchoff,
Pope Stavri, Necho Pironkoff, and a young schoolmaster.
Evidently it was these whom she was expecting. She gave
a friendly greeting to her new visitors, who all shook hands
also xvith Rada ; Stefchoff, indeed, gave her hand a proTHE
NUNNERY 55
longed pressure, accompanied with a wink ; this threw the
girl into a state of confusion, and she blushed rosy-red. "
Kiriak, I want to ask you again about that business of
the doctor's," the nun inquired after the usual greetings ; "
there are all sorts of stories about it."
" What stories ?
"
asked Stefchoff.
"
They say that you purposely tried to make the Bey believe
the papers were treasonable, so as to injure Sokoloff."
Stefchoff flamed up.
" Whoever says that is a fool and a
liar. The papers taken from his pocket were a copy of the
Nezavisimost — No. 30 — ^and a proclamation. Necho was
there ; he can tell you if I am speaking the truth."
Necho promptly assented.
" We don't require to ask Necho. What can Necho tell
us ?
"
declared Pope Stavri. *' We know the whole business.
Wherever the doctor goes he carries the gallows with
him. I said so only last night to Selamsiz. I went to his
house to taste his new raki — he knows just how much aniseed
to put in. But how are you. Sister ; are you all right?
"
" As you see, Father. I feel as young as they oungest of
them," said the nun, who at once turned again to Stefchoff.
" But don't you really know who changed the papers ?
"
Hajji Rovoama could scarcely keep her tongue from
revealing her " discovery. The police will find out."
"
I wouldn't give a farthing for your police. Shall I tell
you who it is — shall I ?
"
she grinned ; then bending over
to hio ear, she whispered a name. But the secret was in so
loud a whisper that the whole party heard it. Necho, the
member, tossed his rosary up to the ceiling in glee ; the
little schoolmaster looked meaningly, first at one, then at
another ; and Pope Stavri interposed a pious
' Good Lord,
lead us not into temptation !
"
Rada fled in shame to the cellar.
" There he is — there he is !
"
cried Stefchoff, noticing
Sokoloff as he passed through the courtyard with two
friends. One was Vikenti and the other Kralich. All
crowded to the window.
This gave the nun an opportunity of disclosing her second
discovery.
" Do you know who he is ?
"
" What the stranger ? He's a certain Boicho Ognianoff,"
answered Stefchoff ;
" but he looks to me as if he had something
to do with the Committee too,"
56 UNDER THE YOKE
Hajji Rovoama shook her head in sign of dissent.
*' Don't you think so ?
"
asked Stefchoff.
"
No, no ; he's another sort " altogether." He's a revolutionary, I'll be bound."
" Not he — a spy," answered the nun authoritatively.
Stefchoff glanced at her in amazement.
"
" Everybody knows it but you." Anathema upon him," cried Pope Stavri.
Hajji Rovoama watched jealously to see where they
would go in.
"
They've gone in to Sister Christina's cell," she cried.
Sister Christina had an evil reputation. She passed for a
patriot, and was connected with the Committees. Levski
had once spent the night in her cell.
"
It's curious how fond the deacons are of Sister
Christina ,
' ' added Hajj
i Rovoama with a bitter smile . "Do
you know that Vikenti's going to throw up the frock ? And
quite right too, poor boy — he became a monk too young." " He did right — you must either marry early or else
become a monk early," affirmed Pope Stavri.
"
Well, I agree with you as to the first."
" Hush ! hush ! for shame !
'*
*' He's going to send an offer of marriage to Orlianko's
daughter. If she accepts him, he'll throw up the frock
and they'll be married in Roumania. But I think she'll
have nothing to say to him," and the nun cast an attentive
and protecting glance at the little schoolmaster, for whom
she was preparing the girl just alluded to. The schoolmaster
blushed with confusion.
Just then fresh visitors arrived.
" Ah ! there's brother !
"
cried Rovoama, running to
meet Yordan Diamandieff.
The visitors rose and followed her out. Stefchoff
remained a little behind the rest, seized Rada's hand to
say goodbye and pinched her blushing cheek. She slapped
him on the face and recoiled from him.
" Aren't you ashamed of yourself ?
"
she murmured,
choking, and fled with tears in her eyes to her own cell.
Stefchoff, who was as unmannerly with women as he was
conceited and pompous with men, adjusted the tassel of
his fez which had been disarranged by the blow, gazed
menacingly after Rada, and left the house looking vexed.
RADA'S TRIALS 57
CHAPTER XI : RADA'S TRIALS
Rada Gospojina, as she was called to show that she belonged
to the
"
Gospoja
"
(Sister) Hajji Rovoama, was a
tall, slender, and pretty girl, mth regular features, and a
frank and simple countenance ; her face looked still whiter
and prettier from under the black hood she wore.
Rada had been an orphan from her earliest years, and
had lived nearly all her life under the roof of Hajji Rovoama,
who had taken charge of her while yet a baby. Her
protectress had made a "
probationer
"
of her — that is to
say, a girl who is preparing to become a nun, and obliged
her to wear the regulation black. At present Rada acted
as teacher in the lowest class at the girl's school, for which
she received a salary of ten pounds a year.
The lot of all orphan girls is a hard one. Too soon bereft
of a father's love and protection, as well as the tender care
of a mother, exposed to the kindness or cruelty of the world,
they grow up without ever an affectionate encouraging smile
being bestowed on them, surrounded by the indifferent faces
of strangers. They are like plants which have sprouted and
bloomed in some dark cellar, joyless and unscented. Let
but a gladdening ray of kindly light fall upon them, and
their hidden perfume scents the air.
Rada had grown up in the pernicious and suffocating
atmosphere of convent life, under the severe unsympathetic
supervision of the old mischief-maker, and in the power of
that stony-hearted woman, who had never experienced the
holy feelings of maternal love : her young soul had pined
in the foul and marshy soil of conventual malice and talebearing.
It never for a moment occurred to Hajji Rovoama
that she might have behaved more humanely to the orphan ;
she was too busy with her intrigues to see that her despotism
was daily becoming more felt and more insupportable to
Rada, in proportion as the girl's nature developed and her
seK-respect increased. That is how Rada, though a schoolmistress,
was to be seen waiting at table at the house of
Hajji Rovoama's brother Yordan.
For some days Rada had been very busy, because the
annual examination-day was approaching. The eventful
morning arrived. The girls began to flock into school quite
early, all decked out and arrayed in their best by their
mothers. They flitted about like a swarm of bees.
58 UNDER THE YOKE
conning their lessons over yet once more before the
examination.
Church was over and people began to crowd into the
schoolhouse, according to the custom, to be present at the
examination. The doors, windows, and platform, were
tastefully decorated with flowers, and the picture of Saints
Kiril and Metod * was half hidden by a gorgeous frame of
roses festooned with garlands of ivy. The front benches
were soon filled up by the pupils, and the rest of the floor
was occupied by the spectators, the most important being in
front, and some of these were even provided with chairs,
amongst the latter being several of our acquaintances. But
a few empty seats still remained for such distinguished
visitors as might yet come. Meanwhile, Rada was busily
marshalling her pupils along the benches, and whispering to
them a few last instructions. Her sweet face was flushed
with excitement on this momentous day, and her great
moist eyes made her look prettier than ever. Transparent
rosy clouds flitted across her cheeks and showed the agitation
of her simple soul. Rada felt that a hundred curious
looks were directed towards her, and the thought made her
shy and uncomfortable. But when the head schoolmistress
began her speech, and everybody's attention was fixed on
her, Rada felt a great relief, and began to pluck up her
courage. She even ventured to look round her ; with delight
she noticed the absence of Kiriak Stefchoff. The
speech ended in solemn silence, the custom of applauding
not having yet been introduced. The examination began
as appointed in the programme, with the little ones in the
lowest class. The kind pleasant face of the head teacher and
her encouraging speech had inspired the children with confidence.
Rada followed the children's replies with the closest
attention, and every little blunder they made was reflected
by a painful contraction of her features. But their clear,
ringing little voices, their tiny red lips which seem to attract
kisses, decided their fate. She caressed them with her
glance, encouraged them with a heavenly smile, and tried to
instil her whole soul into their faltering little lips.
At that moment the crowd standing at the door divided
and made way for two belated guests, who passed along
* The pioneers of Slavonic civilisation, who introduced Christianity
into Bulgaria, in the tenth century, and were the authors of the Cyrillic
alphabet.
- —
RADA'S TRIALS 6^
quietly and sat down, in the empty seats. Rada looked up
and saw them. The elder of the two was the chairman of
the School Committee — Chorbaji Micho — the other was
Kiriak Stefchoff . Involuntarily she grew pale with dismay.
But she tried hard not to see his face, which filled her with
aversion and terror.
Eariak Stefchoff exchanged a few nods of recognition,
without, however, greeting his neighbour, Sokoloff, who did
not look at him : he crossed his legs and assumed a haughty
and defiant air. He listened carelessly, glancing every now
and then towards a comer where Lalka, Yordan's daughter,
was standing with her friends. Once or twice only he
scanned Rada from head to foot, sternly and contemptuously.
His face expressed only self-conceit and ferocity.
From time to time he sniffed at a carnation which he held
in his hand. The teacher, Clement, handed the book to
Alafranga Mikhalaki, who, however, waved it away, saying
he would examine the children in French. The teacher
turned to the right and offered the book this time to
Stefchoff, who took it and moved his chair forward.
A dull murmur arose from the crowd. Everybody stared
at Kiriak. The subject for examination was the abridged
history of Bulgaria. Stefchoff laid the book on the table,
passed his hands through his hair as if to refresh his
memory, and propounded a question aloud. The child
