
Rain drapes itself over a quiet villa, each drop striking the windows like a steady reminder of the world outside. Inside, the dining room becomes a small sanctuary where a mother‑in‑law and her daughter sit together, cards and a half‑finished solitaire spread before them. Their conversation drifts between the mundane—weather reports and household chores—and a deeper, unspoken yearning for the husband who has been away for days.
The two women, bound by family and expectation, reveal their inner tensions through gentle teasing and quiet sighs. The mother‑in‑law worries about her son‑in‑law’s health and the strain of his absence, while the daughter balances duty with a tender, almost nostalgic affection for the man she has yet to fully know. Their dialogue paints a portrait of a household caught between the comfort of routine and the restless pull of longing, all under the relentless patter of rain that seems to echo their thoughts.
Language
fi
Duration
~3 hours (186K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-09-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1860–1904
Best known for quiet, piercing stories and groundbreaking plays, this Russian master had a gift for making ordinary lives feel unforgettable. He trained as a doctor, wrote with unusual compassion, and helped reshape modern fiction and drama.
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