Rudin

ed slightly. But her features were fine and regular, though too large for a girl of seventeen. Specially beautiful was her pure, smooth forehead above fine ey

er, saying that it was improper for a young girl to be absorbed and to appear absent-minded. But Natalya was not absent-minded; on the contrary, she studied diligently; she read and worked eagerly. Her feelings were strong and deep, but reserved; even as a child she seldom cried, and now she seldom even sighed and only grew slightly pale when anything distr

ihailovna, but did no

a said to her once, ‘or else you would be very rese

n the face and thought, ‘Wh

her. Darya Mihailovna selected them, ostensibly on a special system of her own. In reality she simply gave Natalya everything which the French bookseller forwarded her from Petersburg, except, of course, the novels of Dumas Fils and Co. These novels Darya Mihailovna read herself. Mlle, Boncourt looked specially severely and sourly through her spectacles when Natalya was reading historic

d slightly at

g for a walk?

going into

come wi

oked at Ml

ieur; avec plaisir,’ sai

s hat and wal

felt more at ease. He began to question her about her occupations and how she liked the country. She replied not

untry?’ asked Rudin, taking

country? I am very glad we ar

reat word. However, one can

rather strangely; either he envi

aim of science is to reach consciously

ively at Rudin; she d

‘she is an extraordinary woman. I understand why all our poets soug

mination,’ thought Natalya, and

is diffused everywhere, it is around us. Look at those trees, that sky on all sides there is

fancy that when you are more used to me (and he looked her in the fa

d again, and, not knowing what to say, she asked hi

oor man, you know; my affairs are in confusion, and, besides, I am ti

was su

at it is time for you to re

d so as to

you mean

hat others may rest; but you . . . you ought to

(He passed his hand over his face.) ‘To be useful!’ he repeated. ‘Even if I had any firm conviction, how

that Natalya involuntarily asked herself, were those really his — those ent

on talk alone — empty, profitless talk — on mere words,’ and his words flowed in a stream. He spoke nobly, ardently, convincingly, of the sin of cowardice and indolence, of the necessity of action. He lavished reproaches on himself, maintained that to discuss beforehand what you mean to do is as unwise as to prick with a pin the swelling fruit, that it is only a vain waste of strength an

nly moved to admiration by the splendid rapidity and flow of words on Rudin’s lips. In her eyes, however, he was something of the nature o

ved to Natalya that it was time to go in, especially as M. V

e of the avenues which led to the house, a

f them from a distance, and with an expression o

are havin

atalya, ‘we were

‘Well, let us go,’ and they

cially cordial tone, of Volintsev. The evening

erhaps be here to-day. . . . I think you

Natalya Alexyevna. She said one thi

ng was, and in profound silence they a

. Natalya did not leave her mother’s side, and was at times lost in thought, and then bent over her work. Bassistoff did not take his eyes off Rudin, constantly on the alert for him to say something brilliant. About three ho

nmoved; he saw that clearly. He did not hope to inspire in her a tenderer sentiment, and was only waiting for the time when she should be perfectly at home with h

l — that she was more a stranger to him than he had thought — or jealousy had begun to work in him, or

sister’s room, Lezhny

ack so early?’ asked

was b

udin t

es

and sat down. Alexandra Pav

bstinate man (she signified Lezhnyov) that R

muttered

began. ‘I have no doubt of the cleverness and eloqu

seen him?’ inq

alevsky is the only man she will never part with — but now he is supreme. I saw him, to be sure! He was sitting there — and she showed me of

d you come

e simply wanted to have a look at my physiognomy

a warmly, ‘that’s what you can’t forgive. But I am convinced that besides his clev

lted speaks,”’

ihailovna’s, but stopped with you. You don’t deserve it. Leave off teasing me,’

n’s y

tell me you knew him well, a

and walked up an

n nothing but oatmeal, and every penny she had she spent on him. He was educated in Moscow, first at the expense of some uncle, and afterwards, when he was grown up and fully fledged, at the expense of a rich prince whose favour he had courted — there, I beg your

nd down the room; Alexandra Pav

nd and hospitable woman; she always used to feast me on cherry jam. She loved her Mitya devotedly. People of the Petchorin type tell us that we always love those who are least capable of feeling love themselves; but it’s my idea that all mothers love their children especially when they are absent. Afterwards

s hand over his brow, and dropped i

at you have not made up anything, and yet in what an unfavourable light you have put it all! The poor old mother, her devotion, her solitary death, and that lady — What does it all amount

and again walked

he added, after a moment’s thought, ‘in reality there is a foundation of fact in what you said. I did not mean to slan

acquaintance with him, and will get to know him thoro

why are you so qui

aised his head, as thou

’t know him. Besides,

is evening,’ remarked Alexand

epeated Volintsev,

d glances, though they said nothing. What was passing in Volin