The House by the Dvina Read Online Free PDF

around them, and unaware of StephenТs silent disapproval of this foreigner monopolising his sister.
    Sitting together at the supper table they talked of many things. In his broken English Gherman described his life in Russia, his home, his mother.
    He tried to convey a picture of his beloved country, of her immense vastness, the endless forests, great rivers, the snows and frosts of the winter and the lovely white nights of summer when the sun glided around the horizon and there were gay midnight parties down the river. Nelly listened intently. She had lived all her life in Broughty Ferry. She had never been out of Scotland and spoke about simple mundane things. He learned that she was the eldest of four girls, that two of her five brothers were abroad in Kenya and New Zealand and Henry was hoping to go to India. Her life consisted of helping her mother in the house and travelling every Saturday afternoon by train into town to do some shopping.
    As they danced the last waltz he asked if he could take her home. She became confused. “You will have to ask Stephen,” she said unhappily.
    Stephen was cold and distant. “I and I alone will escort my sister home,”
    he answered shortly.
    That night, walking home through the dark empty streets, Gherman remembered the conversation at the supper table. “I travel to town every Saturday afternoon”, Nelly had said. The rest was simple. He knew the timetable of the trains departing in the afternoon from the small station at West Ferry. Passengers approached the platform either from the east or west entrance. Arriving early the following Saturday afternoon through the east entrance, Gherman watched the passengers coming in. Nelly, whose home was to the west of the station, was bound to come through that entrance.
    Soon after, a train steamed in. Passengers were opening doors and settling down in their compartments. He was already preparing to wait for the next one when he saw the familiar figure hurrying across the platform and disappearing into the front carriage. Running towards the same compartment he opened the door, sat down and leisurely scanned the passengers. In feigned surprise, he discovered Nelly sitting opposite. At Dundee, he accompanied her along the streets, waited patiently outside all the shops and escorted her back to the station. They travelled together back to West Ferry. This little game, as old as time itself, continued for several weeks. With a little ingenuity Gherman varied the pattern. At all times these meetings had to appear accidental. Boarding an earlier train to Dundee he would stand near some unobtrusive place and approach her casually as she mingled with the other passengers.
    One Saturday, my father boldly suggested that if Nelly cared, they could go to the theatre the following Saturday afternoon. Poor Nelly, torn between fear and longing, eventually timidly agreed. She had never been anywhere with any young man and was excited and apprehensive as the day of their appointment drew near. She hurried to finish her shopping, met Gherman and and slipped into the theatre as the curtain was rising. From that day there were no more “surprised” meetings. They met every Saturday and attended the matinee. Her sister Aggie, who was very close to Nelly, and in whom Nelly confided, helped her in every possible way. She often did all the shopping and after meeting them, travelled back with them to West Ferry. Nelly never allowed Gherman to escort her to her house. They parted as they came out of the station.
    Nelly blissfully continued meeting Gherman every Saturday. It was obvious that sooner or later someone, even innocently, might inform her parents.
    She tried not to think about it, living only for these few precious hours that passed all too quickly. In the end the inevitable happened, but not in the way she imagined. It was also my grandfatherТs custom to travel every Saturday afternoon to Dundee to his office. He usually caught an earlier train than