He Fell Out with the Wife (an incident)

Story by A.P. Chekhov
Translation by Howl

“Damn you! I come home from work hungry, like a dog, but God knows what I’m being fed here! And you can’t criticize! You criticize, and now there’s howling, tears! Better to be thrice anathematized, than the thing you married!”
Having said this, the husband clanged his spoon against the plate, leapt up, and in a frenzy slammed the door. The wife began to sob, pressed a napkin to her face, and also went out. The dinner was over.
The husband went to his study, lay on the couch, and buried his face in a pillow.
—The devil compelled you to marry, he thought. Here is the good “family” life! I just got married, and already I want to shoot myself!
In a quarter hour, light footsteps were heard on the other side of the door.
—Yes, all is in order … She insulted me, she hurt me, but now she’s walking near the door, she wants to make up … Like hell! I’ll hang myself before I make up with her!
The door opened with a small creak and did not shut. Someone entered and with quiet, shy steps approached the couch.
—Okay, beg my forgiveness, implore me, weep, you’ll get nothing! Frozen hell! You won’t get another word from me, even if you die … I am sleeping here and I don’t feel like talking!
The husband buried his head more deeply into his pillow and softly snored. But men are weak things, just like women. They are easily wilted and withered.
Feeling a warm body against his back, the husband stubbornly withdrew to the far edge of the couch and pulled in his leg.
—Yes … Now here we cry, snuggle, grovel … Soon we will begin with kisses on the shoulder, we’ll drop to our knees. I can’t take this pussyfooting! … Nevertheless … it will be necessary to forgive her. For her, in her condition, it’s unhealthy to be upset. I will torture her a moment longer, then I’ll punish and forgive …
Over his ear, a deep sigh softly passed. After it, another, a third … The husband felt the touch of a little hand on his shoulder.
—Well, God bless her! I’ll forgive her for the last time. She’s had plenty of torment, the poor thing! Especially because it’s all my fault! From nonsense I made such a fuss …
“Well, that’s enough, my morsel!”
The husband stretched out his arm and embraced a warm body.
“Blech!!”
Beside him lay his big dog Dianka.