The Upstarts: I

I

I

Kakor bi bil ravnokar kdo ustrelil skozi okno v družbo, tako je bilo nekega zimskega večera v zatohli gosposki sobi Kračeve krčme v Grobljah. Izprva je vse obsedelo mirno, brez sape, potem pa so se čuli glasni vzkliki » A-a-a! « in » Ej, ej, ej! «, celo » Oj, oj, oj!

It was as though someone had just fired a shot through the window into the company. Such was the scene one winter evening in the stuffy parlour of Krača's inn in Groblje. At first everyone sat motionless, holding their breath, but then loud exclamations rang out: "Ah-ah-ah!" and "Hey, hey, hey!", even "Oh, oh, oh!"

«; nekateri so skočili s stolov, drugi so obsedeli letargično ali strmeč, večina pa je klicala na glas: »

" Some jumped to their feet, others remained seated, either listless or staring in astonishment, while most called out loudly:

Pokažite, pokažite vendar! To je novost, to je nekaj! «

"Show us, do show us! This is news, this is something extraordinary!"

In nesrečnik, ki je povzročil ves ta nemir in vso razburjenost, stal je med vrati in vihtel v desnici najnovejšo številko uradnega lista, katero je ravnokar prinesel s pošte.

And the unfortunate fellow who had caused all this commotion and excitement stood in the doorway, waving in his right hand the latest issue of the official gazette, which he had just brought from the post office.

» Dajte sem,« kričal je notar, očitno najglasnejši v družbi, »dajte sem, Minče! To treba videti črno na belem! «

"Give it here!" shouted the notary, evidently the loudest man in the company. "Give it here, Minče! We must see it in black and white!"

Minče, krčmarjev sin, mlad, velik fant inteligentnega lica, položi smehljaje list na mizo in ponovi besede, s katerimi je nekoliko prej tolikanj razburil vso večerno družbo:

Minče, the innkeeper's son, a tall young man with an intelligent face, smilingly laid the paper on the table and repeated the words with which he had so greatly excited the entire evening company a little earlier:

» No, le čitajte! Novi naš sodnik je Andrej Vrbanoj. V zadnjem telegramu se bere tako. «

"Well, read it for yourselves! Our new judge is Andrej Vrbanoj. That's what the latest telegram says."

» Vrbanoj? Ej —— ej! « zakličeta sodni adjunkt in notar začudeno. » Vrbanoj? Kdo je to, kaj je, kje je?

"Vrbanoj? Well, well!" exclaimed the judicial deputy and the notary in astonishment. "Vrbanoj? Who is he, what is he, where does he come from?"

« vikajo davkar in njega kontrolor, učitelj in dva trgovca, ki sta navzlic dnevni konkurenci vendar sleherni večer prijateljski sedevala skupaj pri Krači, in vrhu tega šuma in vrišča se je slišalo še radovedno vpraševanje dveh oskrbnikov z bližnjih graščin, katera tudi nista vedela bolje uporabljati večernih ur nego ob grenkem pivu in šumnem vinu, katero so točili oče Krača. Samo dva póstarna moža, poštar in okrajni ranocelnik, ostala člana vse družbe, gledala sta z manjšim zanimanjem ves ta prizor. Poštar je iztrkal svojo lončeno pipo in segel po novem tobaku, doktor pa, kakor so ga sploh nazivali, zaklical je na glas po novem kozarcu piva. Notar je vtem glasno prečital telegram v uradnem listu. Vpraševanja pa le ni bilo konca in, ko je po kratkem molku pristavil: »

The tax collector and his inspector, the schoolteacher and two merchants all chimed in, despite their daily business rivalry sitting together amicably every evening at Krača's. Above this din and uproar could also be heard the curious questions of two stewards from nearby estates, who knew no better way to spend their evenings than over bitter beer and sparkling wine, served by old man Krača. Only two elderly members of the company, the postmaster and the district surgeon, watched the whole scene with less interest. The postmaster knocked the ash from his clay pipe and reached for fresh tobacco, while the doctor, as everyone called him, loudly called for another glass of beer. Meanwhile, the notary read the telegram in the official gazette aloud. But the questions showed no sign of ending, and when, after a brief silence, he added:

Oj, fin mož je ta Vrbanoj! Dobro ga poznam, pa ti tudi, Pavel? « — ozrla se je vsa družba radovedno v njega in v adjunkta, kateremu so bile namenjene zadnje besede.

"Oh, Vrbanoj is a fine fellow! I know him well, and so do you, don't you, Pavel?" The whole company turned inquisitively towards him and the deputy, to whom those last words had been addressed.

» Kaj bi ga ne poznal? Najin součenec je! «

"Of course I know him! He was our schoolmate!"

Pri tem pa je nekam zamišljeno vžigal smotko, ki mu je ugasnila v zadnji minuti, ko se je razpravljala ta novost.

As he spoke, he rather absent-mindedly lit the cigarette that had gone out on him in the final moments while this news was being discussed.

» Srečo ima, srečo! Tako mlad sodnik! « pristavil je nehote.

"He's a lucky man, a lucky man! A judge at such a young age!" he added involuntarily.

» Sedaj ste pa vi na vrsti,« vrine doktor besedo v hipni molk, med katerim vsakdo zase razmotriva nekam pikri glas, ki je zvenel iz zadnjih adjunktovih besed.

"Now it's your turn," the doctor interjected into the sudden silence, during which everyone privately pondered the somewhat pointed tone that had crept into the deputy's last words.

» Je li oženjen? « vpraša doktor pohlevno. » Kaj še!

"Is he married?" the doctor asked meekly. "Not at all!"

« zavrne ga notar. »

" the notary contradicted him. "

Štiriintrideset let ima, lep je, velik, pameten, samo proti ženskam nekoliko—«

He's thirty-four, handsome, tall, intelligent, only when it comes to women he's a little—

» Kaj? « vprašajo vsi razen adjunkta.

"What?" everyone asked, except the deputy.

» I, ne vem, kako bi dejal — nekoliko, nekoliko — neroden! « » Glej, kakšna prilika se ti nudi!

"Well, I don't know quite how to put it—a little, a little—awkward!" "Just look at the opportunity you've been handed!"

« vzklikne doktor in potrka davkarja na rame. »

" exclaimed the doctor, patting the tax collector on the shoulder. "

To bode nekaj tvojim trem gospodičnam! Kako hvaležno, takega moža učiti občevanja z ženskami! «

This will be quite something for your three young ladies! What a rewarding task, teaching a man like that how to get along with women!"

Glasen smeh je sicer zazvenel po tej zabavljici, toda vse je preveč obhajalo ugibanje o novi osebi, katero je vrgel slučaj v ta ozki krog, da bi se kdo dalje mudil pri tem vprašanju.

A loud laugh did indeed ring out at this jest, but everyone was far too absorbed in speculating about the newcomer whom chance had thrown into their little circle for anyone to dwell on the subject any longer.

» Je li pevec? « vpraša učitelj, porabivši kratek odmor v razgovoru.

"Is he a singer?" asked the schoolteacher, taking advantage of a brief lull in the conversation.

» Bas — drugi bas — oh kakov bas! « pritrdi notar.

"A bass—a second bass—oh, what a bass!" the notary confirmed.

» Kaj pa politično prepričanje? « deje eden izmed trgovcev.

"And what about his political convictions?" asked one of the merchants.

» Naroden, naroden — hud narodnjak; tu se bode uradovalo le slovenski! « hiti notar, ki je docela prevzel nalogo interpreta, ker je adjunkt trdovratno molčal.

"A true patriot, a true patriot—a staunch nationalist; official business will be conducted in Slovenian here and nothing else!" the notary hastened to say, having entirely taken over the role of interpreter because the deputy stubbornly remained silent.

» Kje bode stanoval? « vpraša poštar navidezno malomarno, toda na licu se mu vendar posveti nekovo skrivno, zvito veselje. Osem oči se sreča hkrati; zakaj tudi oče Krača je nekoliko prej stopil v sobo in obstal za učiteljevim stolom. Spogledali so se pa štirje gospodje: oče Krača, ki je imel svojo hišo in prazno stanovanje, oba trgovca, ki sta tudi imela svoji hiši in takisto prazni stanovanji, in notar, ki je bil v istem prijetnem in zaeno neprijetnem položaju.

"Where will he be staying?" asked the postmaster with an air of studied indifference, though a certain secret, cunning delight lit up his face. Eight eyes met at once, for old man Krača had also entered the room a little earlier and stopped behind the schoolteacher's chair. Four gentlemen exchanged glances: old man Krača, who owned his own house and had an empty apartment; the two merchants, who likewise owned houses with vacant apartments; and the notary, who found himself in the same agreeable yet awkward position.

» Hm — stanovanj dosti! « reče kontrolor.

"Hmm—there are plenty of apartments available!" said the inspector.

» Na izbiro! « pristavi oče Krača.

"Take your pick!" added old man Krača.

» Saj se dobi tudi soba z zajtrkom vred! « meni davkar.

"You can even get a room with breakfast included!" suggested the tax collector.

» In s postrežbo! « roga se doktor in prijatelja davkarja vnovič potrka na rame.

"And with personal service!" joked the doctor, once again patting his friend the tax collector on the shoulder.

» Ančka,« zakliče poštar, ki je z zlobnim svojim vprašanjem povzročil to napeto situacijo, »še pol četrtinke! «

"Ančka!" called the postmaster, whose mischievous question had brought about this tense situation. "Another half-quarter of wine!"

» To je osminka! « meni učitelj.

"That makes an eighth!" remarked the schoolteacher.

» Pa je lepša — taka polovica! « zavrne ga poštar. V tem praznem in vendar tu in tam kakor z ostrimi šili podstavljenem govoričenju prinese Ančka poštarju zahtevano vino. Bila je črnooka in temnolasa deklica, nekako pri osemnajstih letih, srednje, vitke rasti in živega, veselega vedenja. Z očetom Kračo je bila v daljnem sorodstvu in pri njem že več let, odkar so ji umrli roditelji. Ljudje so si pripovedovali, da hrani Krača zanjo tudi nekoliko imetja; gotovega pa ni znal nihče. Ančka je bila v hiši vse zaeno: domača hči, dekla, rejenka in točajka.

"But half a quarter sounds better—such a lovely half!" the postmaster retorted. Amid this empty chatter, which nevertheless was occasionally punctuated by sharp little barbs, Ančka brought the postmaster the wine he had requested. She was a girl of about eighteen, with black eyes and dark hair, of medium height and slender build, lively and cheerful in manner. She was distantly related to old man Krača and had lived with him for several years, ever since her parents had died. People said that Krača was also keeping some property in trust for her, but nobody knew anything for certain. In the household, Ančka was everything at once: a daughter of the house, a servant girl, a foster daughter and a barmaid.

» Novega sodnika dobimo, Ančka,« zakliče adjunkt, ki je zdajci nekam oživel, »lepega fanta — samec je in, glejte, semkaj bode hodil vsak dan, vsak večer — za to bodemo že mi skrbeli! « » Oj, to me veseli!

"We're getting a new judge, Ančka!" called the deputy, who had suddenly come to life. "A handsome young fellow—unmarried, too, and just think, he'll be coming here every day, every evening—we'll see to that ourselves!" "Oh, that makes me happy!"

« deje deklica koketno in nagajivo. »

" said the girl coquettishly and mischievously. "

Saj ste vi vsi tako hladni, tako mrzli in vi posebno, gospod adjunkt! «

You're all so cold, so terribly cold, and you especially, Mr Deputy!"

» No, ta je lepa! Odkar sem tu, govorim vam o svoji ljubezni, pa vi — vi —«

"Well, that's a fine thing to say! Ever since I've been here, I've been telling you about my love, and you—you—"

» I, seveda! « reče deklica, toda izpod črnih obrvi se ji zalesketa nekaj nepopisnega kakor resnoba in zasmeh, kakor očitanje in malomarnost — vse zaeno. Družbi nocoj ni bilo do tega razgovora, novi sodnik je tičal v vseh kotih. Dognali so skoro, kar je bilo še treba vedeti: od kod je, da je kmetski sin, da ima nekoliko podedovanega imetja, nekaj daljnih sorodnikov, da se časih bavi tudi s pisateljevanjem in, kar je bilo glavno, da se tudi ni še nikdar — poskusil ženiti. Da je bil samec, to je zvedela družba že prej. » Zaljubljen je bil pa vendar!

"Oh, of course!" said the girl. Yet beneath her dark eyebrows there flashed something indescribable, something at once serious and mocking, reproachful and indifferent—all at the same time. The company had no interest in this conversation that evening; the new judge occupied every corner of their thoughts. They had soon established nearly everything else they wanted to know: where he came from, that he was a farmer's son, that he had inherited a little property, that he had a few distant relatives, that he sometimes dabbled in writing, and, most importantly, that he had never yet—even tried to get married. The company already knew that he was a bachelor. "And yet he was in love!"

« reče notar, toda zdajci se ujame njega oko z adjunktovim in, dasi drugi umolknejo in radovedno čakajo, kako bode nadaljeval notar zanimivo svojo pripoved, vendar ne reče več nego: »

" said the notary, but at that moment his eyes met the deputy's. Although the others fell silent and waited curiously to hear how the notary would continue his interesting story, he said no more than:

Ej, to je bilo že davno! Pozabljene reči, saj veste, zarjavelo železo — pa, pustimo, pustimo — morda pove Andrej sam kdaj nekoliko več o tem. Ali to vam rečem« — in pri tem izprazni svoj kozarec – »to pa vam pravim, fin mož bode to, samo nekoliko neroden — pri ženskah! «

"Oh, that was a long time ago! Ancient history, you know—rusty iron. But let it be, let it be. Perhaps Andrej himself will tell you a little more about it one day. But I'll tell you this"—and here he emptied his glass—"I can assure you, he'll be a fine fellow, just a little awkward—with women!"

» Prijatelj davkar! Nič ne bode! « vzklikne doktor in pri glasnem smehu pomaga tudi davkar ob svojih troških. Okoli enajste ure se je jela prazniti gosposka soba. Zunaj v prvih dveh sobah je še vpilo in razgrajalo nekoliko sejmarjev, ki so se vračali z mestnega sejma in tukaj sklepali do sedaj še nedognane kupe in pogodbe, kričali in šepetali, pri vsem pa pili in trkali s kozarci. Oskrbnika sta se, sedaj ta, sedaj oni, bavila z Ančko, sedečo pri peči v prvi sobi. Mračno je bilo tam in pivci pri mizi so bili preveč utopljeni v svoje krave in vole, da bi kdo pogledal tja na klop. Tam pa je sedaj ta, sedaj oni obeh oskrbnikov hotel imeti poljub od deklice. Dobil ga nocoj ni nobeden. Minče je šel nekolikokrat mimo njih in osorno velel:

"My dear tax collector, you're out of luck!" cried the doctor, and the tax collector joined in the loud laughter at his own expense. At about eleven o'clock, the parlour began to empty. Outside, in the first two rooms, a few market traders returning from the town fair were still shouting and making a racket, concluding deals and agreements that had not yet been settled. They shouted and whispered, all the while drinking and clinking their glasses. The two estate stewards took turns entertaining themselves with Ančka, who was sitting by the stove in the first room. It was dark there, and the drinkers at the table were so engrossed in their cows and oxen that no one bothered to look towards the bench. There, meanwhile, first one and then the other of the two stewards tried to get a kiss from the girl. Neither of them got one that evening. Minče passed them several times and curtly ordered:

» Ti — tam notri nimajo vina! «

"Hey—you! There's no wine in there!"

Toda ko je Ančka postavila vino tja pred adjunkta in notarja, sedla je zopet nazaj na klop v prvi sobi in eden oskrbnikov je bil zopet tukaj.

But as soon as Ančka had set the wine down in front of the deputy and the notary, she returned to the bench in the first room, and one of the stewards was there again.

Naposled je odšlo vse, samo onadva v gosposki sobi, adjunkt in notar, ostala sta sama v živem razgovoru, ki se je šele zdaj vnel med njima in čigar predmet je segal daleč daleč nazaj v leta njiju prvega prijateljstva, v ono dobo, ko je cvetel v mladeniških srcih »lipov cvet« prve ljubezni, poln vonjave, vendar brez sadu. In vse te spomine je nocoj povzročila le ona suha tiskana novost v uradnem listu, da je novim sodnikom v Groblje imenovan Andrej Vrbanoj!

At last everyone had left, and only the two men in the parlour, the deputy and the notary, remained behind, engrossed in a lively conversation that had only just begun between them. Its subject reached far, far back into the years of their earliest friendship, to that time when the "linden blossom" of first love had flowered in their youthful hearts, full of fragrance but bearing no fruit. And all these memories had been stirred up that evening by nothing more than the dry printed announcement in the official gazette that Andrej Vrbanoj had been appointed the new judge in Groblje!