Thepeasantshadlongagogrownusedtothesightofthebridge，anditwasdifficulttoimaginetheriveratthatplacewithoutabridge。Theheapofrubbleleftfromthebuildingofithadlongbeenovergrownwithgrass，thenavvieswereforgotten，andinsteadofthestrainsofthe“Dubinushka“thattheyusedtosing，thepeasantsheardalmosteveryhourthesoundsofapassingtrain。
TheNewVillahaslongagobeensold；nowitbelongstoagovernmentclerkwhocomesherefromthetownfortheholidayswithhisfamily，drinksteaontheterrace，andthengoesbacktothetownagain。Hewearsacockadeonhiscap；hetalksandclearshisthroatasthoughhewereaveryimportantofficial，thoughheisonlyoftherankofacollegiatesecretary，andwhenthepeasantsbowhemakesnoresponse。
InObrutchanovoeveryonehasgrownolder；Kozovisdead。InRodion’shutthereareevenmorechildren。Volodkahasgrownalongredbeard。Theyarestillaspoorasever。
IntheearlyspringtheObrutchanovopeasantsweresawingwoodnearthestation。Andafterworktheyweregoinghome；theywalkedwithouthasteoneaftertheother。Broadsawscurvedovertheirshoulders；thesunwasreflectedinthem。Thenightingalesweresinginginthebushesonthebank，larksweretrillingintheheavens。ItwasquietattheNewVilla；therewasnotasoulthere，andonlygoldenpigeons——goldenbecausethesunlightwasstreaminguponthem——wereflyingoverthehouse。Allofthem——
Rodion，thetwoLytchkovs，andVolodka——thoughtofthewhitehorses，thelittleponies，thefireworks，theboatwiththelanterns；theyrememberedhowtheengineer’swife，sobeautifulandsograndlydressed，hadcomeintothevillageandtalkedtotheminsuchafriendlyway。Anditseemedasthoughallthathadneverbeen；itwaslikeadreamorafairy-tale。