The Created Legend

ted around them and that the turmoil of life seemed so remote from them. Life with all its bustling movement seemed indeed distant, and it was a joy to dismiss all its conditions an

d rather high at the waist, two other bands crossed each other a

d devotion to this lovable nature possessed them-it was a sweet and tender devotion. It struck a deep note in Elisaveta, who was in a mood of expectancy. If onl

air loves in the springtime, kissing all in its gladness; as a stream's currents love when they brush caressingly past boys' and girls' pink knees-such were

y remained standing on the bank and admired the porcupines of sand, studded sparsely with tall blades of grass as with spines; also th

l beauty that is immersed in it, so Elena fell

towards Piotr. His love for Elisav

the gate-this time it yielded without effort. They entered. Soon they saw a lake before them. The children and their instructresses were bathing. Th

round and ran naked upon the sand. Their legs, bare and sunburnt, seemed w

d in a circle at a fast, furious pace. The discarded clothes that lay there close by seemed unnecessary

at they more often walked about

sad Nadezhda

to awaken the human being-that

-haired Maria s

rded our clothes in order to come closer to the elements. Caressed by these, clothed by the fire of the sun's rays, we have discovered the human being in

on one's clothes afterwards. The sisters joined in with the naked dancers, and went into the water and lay on the grass under the tree

pes among the girl instructresses. There wer

ny, joyously divested themselves of all fear and shame, made great efforts and self-denials; and they laughed and they flamed, overcome by a passionate thirst

its, inclinations, and proprieties for money. They pretended that they loved children, simple life, an

ngs made by the children-books and pictures-things that belonged to this or that child. They were shown the fruit-orchard and the garden-bed

sisters

ov's house. Elisaveta espied the high turrets rising above the white wall and recalled Trirodov's neither young nor h

losed gates. The small gate was open. A quiet, white boy was looking at the sisters t

n, Vetochka10?

go in," sa

. She was sitting on the bench near the small gate and was mumbling something slowly and indisti

e. The sisters tried to draw her into conversation; they wanted to ask her things, about the ways of the house, the habits of Trirodov-they were such inquisitive girls! Ele

ow. I have seen w

d trees, and looked at the sisters with a fixed, expressionless stare. The sisters felt uncomf

n what I'

iet laughter, which was truly like the sudden

hout blundering. The evening darkness was coming on. They made haste. The

ing as he walked. When he saw the sisters he turned aside and stood behind the trees; then he strode forward quickly and faced them

u something,

d him calmly and

t is

silent w

ing a walk?"

ered Elisav

e hereabouts, unless I'm mistaken

lowing the direction from w

r fear. Ostrov winked at

t humbly. And

hat you should know," replied

ghter and said with u

essary, but it wou

t desist. They thought him repulsive. There

d Ostrov; "I will therefore venture to ask you what yo

at dissemblingly, in order to

't live hereabo

v whi

ome all the way from Moscow with your

you," said Elena coldly. "You had better appl

into a sarcastic

oot one. But suppose he's very busy, eh? How, then, would

nt and walked on rapi

far as one could judge from your light dresses and your contempt of footwear,

are not instructresses a

edulously. "I might have told y

isters attentively

Curious things they tell about him, very curious indeed. And where did he get

asked Elena. "And wha

her. "I have a well-founded suspicion that you are acquainted with Mr.

r not hope," s

gone by we lived, drank, and roamed together. And quite suddenly I lost sight of him, and now

with you. You had better go where you were going. We know noth

w, my beauty, I'd better tell you that you're expressing you

sked Elisavet

some one may come

n?" asked

ce Ostrov resumed h

w details about what Mr. Triro

aid Elisaveta

oking," said Ostrov, sud

ckly to meet him. From their haste and flustered manner Piotr understood that the man was distasteful to

is

idea that we have many interesting things to tel

sed his ha

onour to see yo

f it?" asked

to remind you," said Ostrov

doing here?"

ting these charming young lad

rrupted hi

young ladies alone an

young ladies with a polite question

replying, turne

dy to enter into conversa

ce. Possibly this was only a game, but it was cert

what is a vagran

epeated Piotr in confu

he word, and I'm rather interested to know in wh

sconcerted by the stranger

lter and without money and obtrudes upon othe

It is true that I have but little money and that I'm comp

profession?"

d with dign

an ac

once more sharply, "you l

," said Ostrov in

ned away

at once," he sai