A Daughter of Albion (Chekhov)
Short summary
Rural Russia, late 19th century. Fyodor Andreitch Otsov, the district Marshal of Nobility, arrived at the estate of landowner Gryabov, who was fishing by the river with an Englishwoman.
Otsov found Gryabov sitting on the riverbank beside Miss Fyce, both silently fishing. Gryabov complained about the tedium of fishing yet admitted he couldn't stop. He openly insulted the Englishwoman in Russian, certain she couldn't understand him, mocking her appearance and disdainful attitude.
When Gryabov's fishing hook caught on something underwater, he decided he must wade into the river to free it. Embarrassed to undress in front of the Englishwoman, he tried unsuccessfully to make her leave.
"I must undress before her... It's a lesson for these foreigners!... Nobody asks her not to understand!" Gryabov took off his boots and his trousers, flung off his undergarments and remained in the costume of Adam.
Miss Fyce remained unmoved by Gryabov's nakedness, merely twitching her eyebrows and continuing to fish with cool dignity. After freeing his hook, Gryabov returned to the riverbank and resumed fishing beside her, as though nothing unusual had happened.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Otsovs arrival and the fishing scene
A fine carriage with rubber tires pulled up to the house of a landowner named Gryabov. Fyodor Andreitch Otsov, the district Marshal of Nobility, stepped out and was greeted by a drowsy footman who informed him that the master of the house and the English governess were fishing at the river. Otsov decided to join them and walked to the riverbank.
When Otsov reached the river, he found Gryabov sitting on the sand with his legs tucked under him like a Turk, fishing intently. Beside him stood a tall, thin Englishwoman who was also angling. Both were completely motionless, focused on their floats in the water. Otsov laughed at the scene and greeted his friend.
Gryabovs complaints about fishing and the Englishwoman
Gryabov complained about the poor fishing that day. He had been sitting there since morning without catching anything, and neither had the Englishwoman. Despite finding it boring, he couldn't bring himself to leave. When Otsov suggested they abandon fishing and go have some vodka instead, Gryabov insisted on staying, hoping the fish would bite better toward evening.
He continued to grumble about wasting his day fishing instead of attending to important matters like haymaking or attending a church service. Gryabov then began disparaging the Englishwoman standing next to them, using crude language. When Otsov expressed concern about speaking this way in front of a lady, Gryabov dismissed his worries.
"Oh, confound her, it doesn't matter, she doesn't understand a syllable of Russian, whether you praise her or blame her, it is all the same to her! Just look at her nose! Her nose alone is enough to make one faint."
The Englishwoman merely yawned, put a new worm on her hook, and continued fishing. Gryabov expressed his amazement that she had lived in Russia for ten years without learning a word of Russian. He continued to mock her appearance, particularly her nose, and claimed she had a repulsive smell.
When Gryabov mentioned her name, Miss Fyce turned toward him and gave him a disdainful glance before looking at Otsov with the same contempt. Gryabov chuckled at her reaction and admitted he only kept her for his children's sake. Otherwise, he claimed, he wouldn't let her anywhere near his estate.
The problem with the fishing hook
Suddenly, Gryabov felt a tug on his fishing line and jumped up excitedly. However, when he tried to pull out the hook, it appeared to be caught on something underwater, possibly a stone. His face showed distress as he tugged at the line, muttering oaths and sighing with frustration.
Realizing he would have to wade into the water to free his hook, Gryabov became concerned about undressing in front of the Englishwoman. Despite Otsov's suggestion to abandon the fishing altogether, Gryabov insisted on continuing, explaining that evening was the best time for fishing.
Gryabov tried to communicate with Miss Fyce, asking her to move away so he could undress privately. He attempted to use broken French and gestures, pointing toward the bushes to indicate where she should go. The Englishwoman responded with a long English sentence, which made both men laugh heartily. She clearly did not understand what he wanted.
The Englishwoman, hearing her name, deliberately turned her nose in Gryabov's direction and scanned him with a disdainful glance... And all this in silence, with dignity and deliberation.
Gryabovs bold solution and Miss Fyces indifference
Frustrated by the communication barrier and determined to retrieve his hook, Gryabov made a bold decision. Despite the presence of the Englishwoman, he began removing his clothes. He took off his coat, waistcoat, boots, trousers, and finally all his undergarments, standing completely naked on the riverbank.
Otsov was mortified by his friend's behavior, turning crimson with embarrassment and laughter. He urged Gryabov to get into the water quickly or cover himself. Miss Fyce, however, merely twitched her eyebrows and blinked, a haughty, disdainful smile passing over her face. She showed no sign of shock or embarrassment at Gryabov's nakedness.
As Gryabov waded into the cold water, he continued to marvel at the Englishwoman's composure and her apparent feeling of superiority. Standing at full height in the water, he gave a wink and declared, "This isn't England, you see!" Miss Fyce remained completely unperturbed, coolly baiting her hook with another worm, yawning, and dropping it back into the water. After freeing his hook, Gryabov returned to the shore and resumed fishing as if nothing unusual had happened.
The Englishwoman twitched her brows and blinked... A haughty, disdainful smile passed over her yellow face... Miss Fyce coolly put on another worm, gave a yawn, and dropped the hook in.