Orloff and his Wife

ial universities, Ippolít Sergyéevitch Polkánoff received a telegram fro

am briefly

od's sake, come at once to

e of one of his comrades, and to do a great deal of work there, in order to prepare himself to do justice to his lectures; and now, here it was necessary to travel more than a thousand vers

and dong ago there had been established between them those purely formal relations which are so comm

fond of eating and drinking. His face was round, covered with a network of red veins, and his eyes were merry a

r ci, regard

lieve, that that jolly young fellow was dead, bec

sion; being anything but a stupid woman, she had comprehended, that if you shoot at a stone,

efuse her request. He could work at her

a warm June evening, fatigued with a journey of forty versts[1] by posting-wagon, from the wharf to the village

the table, closely set with country viands; the air was filled with the fragrance of the lindens, the lilacs, and the damp earth, heated by the sun. In the park birds were chirping[Pg 325] noisily; now and then a bee or

wo-thirds of a m

e had become accustomed to think of her, as a woman entirely engrossed in the cares of housekeeping, broken down with the disorders of her wedded life, and he had expected to behold her nervous, pale and exhausted. But now, as he looked at her oval face, covered with healthy s

ing, of insomnia ... but, nevertheless, when they brought him home from the fields-I could scarcely stand on my feet.... They tell me that he got very excited out there, and shouted...? and on the day before he had

g

posed Ippolít Sergyéevitch, glan

, of course, she will come here more frequently t

for a husband? I'm no

e, which was oval, thin, with small, poin

al, without any idea in connection with Miss ólesoff,-you will understa

riefly, raising from his glass his

lly,-"at the age of thirty it is both late

er husband's death, but why had she summoned him

eceiving another person ... but if you do make a mistake, then, in the first case, you pay for it with the freshness of your

than for him, and he did not interrupt her, but leaned b

g

uite alone. But now my position is so strange! I am twenty-eight years old, I have not lived, I have merely been attached to the service of my husband and children,... the children are dead. And I ... what am I now? What am I to do, and how am I to live? I wou

ergyéevitch.-"But ... tell me all about this, and

ined man, who has sunk very low ... my husband di

nything that was not clear and definite. His first care was the preservation of his inward equanimity, and if anything obscure perturbed that equanimity,

r brother,-"this stupid claim has[Pg 328] alarmed me. I am so worn out, I

she continued in a melancholy tone, whic

,-a woman with a less developed sense of duty and respectability-would long ago have broken that heavy chain, but I wore it, a

sort of language, which was not natural to a person who feels deeply, and her bright eyes flitted strangely from side to side, rarely co

twittering, hopped along it, and flew away. The brother and sister

e to sit in silence, on that magnificent quiet evening, in a comfortable easy-chair, there on the terrace, listening to the

e. A great many men used to come to see my husband,-but not a single one of them was interesting! Decidedly, there is not a soul with whom to exchange a word ... agriculture, hunting, county tittle-t

t Benkóvsky?"-inquired

laughing; as she laughed, she rose from her c

ren

A

the conquest of everybody. But what a monster she is, from a

clared indifferently, stretchi

y,"-said Elizavéta Serg

erself without your hel

ctly!" his sister calle

the park. The swift beat of a horse's hoofs becam

of fragrant verdure, and all of them, decrepit with time, with rifted bark and broken boughs, seemed to form a living and friendly family of beings, closely united in an aspiration upward, toward the light. But their bark was

an inclination to doze off there in his arm

the dusky distance, the thick shadows were slowly moving, and the stillness increased every minute, inspiring confused fancies. Ippolít Sergyéevitch' imagination, yielding to the sorcery of the evening, depic

"-rang out a th

, and looked round, s

gown, over her head was thrown something white and airy, lik

g

him her hand

you were to arrive to-day, and came to see what you were like. I have n

ace, he would find there frank and coarse coquetry. But when he did look at it, he beheld large, dark eyes, which were smiling artlessly and caressingly, illuminating the handsome face. Ippolít Sergyéevitch re

some lights ... pray be se

uite at home here," she said, s

her struggled with irritation at himself, and curiosity struggled with something that was akin to fear.[Pg 332] But this young girl, blooming with health, sat opposite him, leaning against the back of her chair, closely enveloped in the material of her costume, which permitted a glimpse of the magnificent outlines of her shoulders, bosom and torso, and in a melodious voice full of masterful notes, uttered to him some trivialities, such as are usual when two unacquainted persons meet for the first time. Her dark chestnut hair curled charmingly, and

he first, and feeling that it had lost its power over it. He replied to the girl's questions, and put some questions to her himself, not being in a condition to tear his eyes from her entrancing figure. He had already c

! I was hunting for her yon

ound by t

g

each other's

at Ippolít Sergyéevitc

pour you

ase

ough he were wiping the dust from his face and eyes. He was ashamed of himself for having yielded to a burst of emotion, and this shame soon gave way to irritation against the young girl. To hi

h you, and spend all day to-morro

Stepánovitch?" asked h

he will look after him.... You kno

yéevitch drily,-"I am extremely f

d Várenka's exclamation o

o have done

only good nature, but he set it down as an

ragged Turkish divan, on the other, a harmonium, and two book-cases. Several large, soft chairs, a small smoking table beside the divan, and a chess-table at the window, completed the furniture of the room. The ceiling was low and blackened with smoke. From t

There were two of them, and outside, in the gloom of evening the dark silhouettes of the trees were outlined. He went to the windows, and opened bot

f the divan. He glanced at it, and began to undo his necktie; but then, with an abrupt

rfully, or for long-he managed to get rid of it promptly. He was convinced that a man should and can understand his emotions, and develop or suppress them; and when people[Pg 335] talked to him about the mysterious

nge influence upon him? And after having carefully scrutinized the series of impressions of that day, he was compelled to answer himself in the affirmative. Yes, it was so because she had ta

yes in her splendid, maidenly beauty. He contemplated her, closing his eyes and nerv

e which beams in the frank gaze of her deep, dark eyes is the pride of a woman who is convinced of her beauty, and is spoiled by the admiration of men. My sister said that this Váre

eal about her, for a first encou

g

rass beneath the window, a rustling resounded; it must be a tortoise or a hedgehog on the prowl. A nightingale was singing somewhere. And the moon mounted slowly in the sky, as though the fateful necessity of its movement was understood by it and wearied it. Flinging his cigarette, which

the pleasant coolness of the linen sheets, he stretched himself out, and lay still on his back. S

... Are you t

e, he fell

the preceding evening, and of the young girl. He presented himself at tea carefully dressed, cold and serious, as w

here i

imself, in silence, at the table. Elizavéta Sergyéevna scrutinized his costume in detail, smili

, and she must be in the park now ... and will soon

ith a laugh.-"Please give orders to have

e them t

myself, otherwise everything will get mixed

ce of you ... and

her shoulders to her feet in rich folds. Her costume resembled a child's blouse

e?-" and approached the tabl

shook her hand, her arm being bared to the elbow, he per

yourself!" exclaimed

m-awfully! When the violets are in bloom, I pluck them every morning after my bath, a

g

not glance at her, but he

them or not,-" he said drily, shrugging his shoulde

flush, and her deep eyes beamed with clear joy. She breathed forth health, fresh

he exclaimed.-"But how is that ..

ly, and involuntarily reflecting that this migh

iculture one and the same?-"

ecame conscious that this laugh made him writhe, for

he is s

t and serious remarks, she gazed at him with the eyes of an attentive pupil, and this pleased him. As he talked, he often turned his eyes from her face to his sister's, and in her

owly,-"so that's how it is! And

g

explained, with a sigh. Her lack of development, allied with her beauty, increased his compa

it be, that you kno

from studying the phenomen

she smiled. "Does one ma

this uninteresting conver

asants?" she continued seriously, contracting

se of the conversation. He wished to do so, because a malicious, sneering element h

om the bank-splash! It fairly bums one, all over.. you fly into the water as from a precipice, and there is a ringing in your head.... You come to the surface,[Pg 340] tear yourself out of the water, and the sun looks down at you and laughs! Then I go home through the forest, I gather flowers, I inhale the forest air until I am intoxicated; when I arrive, tea is ready! I drink tea, and before me stand flowers.. and the sun gazes at me.... Ah, if you only knew how I love the sun

ready to wipe the venomous smile fr

tion which filled her being, but this ecstasy of hers heightened his feeling of pity for her to the degree of a painfully-poignant sensation. He

r? It is all white, healthy, stimulating,

vna had rung, and when a tall maid, with a round, kind face, and r

y the dish

g

d down the room, in a preocc

witched her shoulders as though she were shaking something f

you with my

n you say so?

ade myself appear stupid

éevitch and was surprised that he h

pologetically.-"But I am very glad to talk with you ... because yo

ine me to be like?"-he

alone am wise.... Papa had a friend visiting him, he was a colonel too, like papa, and he was learned, like you ... But he was a military learned man ...

I was like that?"-enqui

ging from her chair, she ran about the r

u think so ... n

g

scanning them with her eyes screwed up,-"I'm going off to attend to so

looked after her reproachfully, and reflected, that he must have a talk with her abo

e, and be back by dinner-time. Shall we? I'm awfully glad that the day is so bright, and that I'm not at home.... For p

evening before, and with which he had emerged from his chamber that morning. But, surely, she had afforded no ground, so far, for suspicion of a desire to conquer

u do it badly.... I will do it myself, I am s

By the side of his tall, thin figure, she appeared shorter

g

s tired, but otherwise, it

. Her walk was light and graceful,-her white gown floated around her form, but not a single fold undulated. In one hand she held

llow it attentively.... And again, in the dark depths of his soul, a confused, incomprehensible apprehension of something began to tremble. He tried to annihi

ke your seat in the boat, and I

es before he could ask her to sho

endid and beautiful than the living trees, which stood on the bank, shading the water with their curved and gnarled branches. Their reflection flattered them, thr

him a sensation of repose which was novel and agreeable to him, which caressed his brain, and lulled to sleep its constant and rebellious striving to understand and to explain. Quiet peace reigned around, not a leaf quivered on the trees, and in this peace th

her face, made her appearance. She stood there, with the oars in her hands, as though invi

om the park, and that she was looking at him, but he did n

re!-" her astonished excla

nced at the girl, who was descending vivaciously and

glance at her, for this girl was,

ou will steer: is that right? We will row upstream.. it is more beautiful there ... and, in general, it is

g

a powerful stroke of the oars immediately put it alongside of the bank, an

ilful strokes. "Only, the current is weak here,... but on the Dnyépr,-Aunt Lutchítzky has an estate there-it's a t

the door,"[2] Ippolít S

d,-porogt, rapide, in

fine! One day, they came near smashing the boat, and i

been fine at all," said Ipp

th ... although I love to live. Perhaps it will b

at all there...." he said, g

ng!"-she exclaimed, with conv

le world of her imagination. She sat opposite him, with her small feet resting against a cross-bar, nailed to the bottom of the boat, and with every stroke of the oar

But there they rested on her tiny feet. Pressed against the bottom of the boat, her l

pose?"-he said to himself in vexation, an

e edge of the abyss, looked down into the water. The other shore, low and smooth, stretched away into the distance, to the green walls of the forest, and was thickly covered with grass, succulent and brilliant in hue; pale

warm?" ask

beneath her crown of waving hair, glistened drops of

ly.-"I forgot myself in looking about me

is an insult to me! We haven't gone two versts yet.... No, k

g

and shrugging his shoulders with vexation, he made no reply, thinking

a nod of her head.-"Here is the ford across the river, and from here to our house is

country during the

of the housekeeping, papa never rises from h

d it tiresome to

s business. The peasants are afraid of him he beats them, and they also once beat him terribly ... very terribly! He is remarkably honest, and he's devoted to papa and m

,-" confessed the y

n pleases me, I call him Sadi-Coco. At first he used to get angry with me for that, but one day

g

formed statue of a Chinaman; with a mixture of amazement, compassion and curiosity. But she, with ard

e interrupted her,-"but have you read

ressing diminutive of

hey always write things which I know just as well as they do. They cann

e truth?"-asked Ippolí

peak the truth, straight t

reflected, a

in that? It is my habit

to her on this point, because she

ick! To that oak-tree, yonder

an ashore broadside on, although he c

aid, and suddenly rising to her

ward her, but she was standing uninjured on[Pg 349] the shore, holdi

frighte

fall into the water

she defended herself, dropping her eyes, and drawing the boat to the bank

d out on the bank, and stood beside her.-"Isn't it fine here? Ther

high aloft, blue scraps of sky. The rays of sunlight, slender as violin-strings, quivered in the air, obliquely intersecting this narrow, green corridor. The odor of rotting foliage, of mushrooms and birch trees, surrounded them. Birds flitted past, di

and did not interfere with Várenka's finding words where

ite the truth about them. They are described as such wretched creatures, but they are only base, and there is nothing to pity them for. They want only one thing-to cheat us, to steal somethin

large place in her life; she rose to hatred, as she depicted them. Ippolít Sergyéevitch was astonished at the violence of

ing of the Fren

book. The Russian hero is a stupid, sluggish sort of fellow, he's always disgusted with something, he's always thinking of something incomprehensible, and he pities everybody, and he himself is pitiful, ve-ery pi-tiful indeed! He meditates, and talks[Pg 351] and then he goes to make a declaration of love, and then he meditates again until he gets married ... and when he is married, he says sour nonsense to his wife, and abandons her.... What is there interesting in that? It even angers me, because it resembles a deception-instead of a hero, there is always some sort of a

d in reply to you, Varvára Vasílievna,-"

urst out, with a smile.-"O

f all, what Russian a

du Terrail? Arsène Houssaye? Pierre Zaconné? Dumas, Gaboriau,[Pg 352] Borne? How fine, good heavens! Wait ... do you know what pleases me most in romances is the villains, those who so artfully weave various spiteful plots, who murder and poison,... they're clever, strong ... and when, at last, they are caught,-rage seizes upon me, and I even go so far as to cry. Everybody hates the villain, everybody is ag

said to him, she walked slowly by his side, ra

impossible in his eyes, but, at the same time, everything she had said harmonized, to perfection, with her rather rapacious beauty. Before him was an unpolished mind, which offended him by its roughness, and a woman who was seductively beautiful, who irritated his sensuality. These two forces crushed him down with all the energy of their directness, and he must set up something in opposition to them, otherwise, he felt-they might drive him o

alking!-" she exclaimed, with a s

but

k with. Your sister does not like me, and is always angry with me ... it

how did you do that?"-said Ipp

ain, there was an awful hurry, and he, the beast, was drunk! Wasn't I angry! How dared he get drunk

y as possible,-"is it nice to beat a servant? Is that noble? Reflect! D

felt sorry for the poor little soldier. And what can I do with them, except beat them?

g

er elbow, and pressed it hard with his fingers, but immediately recollected himself, and in conf

, by her simplicity and trustfulness made him so, althou

ittle, sun-burned hand, as it adjusted the folds of her gown on her bosom.-"And

Hardly,-I have no character: sometimes I feel sor

"But, surely, they are always

he inquired,

yours, for example. How difficult it is for them to live, a

and she looked attentivel

peasants, you have not lived in the country. They are unhappy, it is true-but who

ven bread enough to

g

! See what a lot of

eal of land, also ... for there are people who own tens of t

a is 2.70 acre

ll, and what of that? Is it possible ... come,

softly. This laughter confused and angered him.... There flashed

lack of rights, about the fatal struggle for a place in life and for a morsel of bread, about the power of the rich and the helplessness of the poor, and

ked along by his side, and gazed a

ds seem to slide, without disturbing its melancholy harmony. The leaves of the aspens quivere

uired, and precisely in this conflict is where you ought to look for it. Outside of it-there is no heroism. The heroes of this fight are the only ones who are worthy of admiration and imitation ... and you ought to direct your attention precisely to this spot, Varvára Vasílievna, seek your heroes

from his brow, he waited-wearied with h

ith her eyes narrowed, and on her face quivered shadows. F

possible that everybody in th

her, and compassion for himself. Why would not she accept what was so logically clear for every being endowed with the ver

hout waiting for him to reply, and in

eak truthful

the house-with you, everything is equal to everything else. But is that possible? The peasant must work, you must teach, and the Governor must watch, to see if everybody does what is necessary. And then you said, that life is a battle ... well, where is it? On the contrary, people live very peaceably. But if it is a battle, then there must be vanquished people. But the general uti

while he admired her joyous agitation, and felt sati

, unassailed by analysis, which he had aroused, worked in a di

like some other person ..

ít Sergyéevitch inqui

odded her head affirmative

g

t of

sence of the abyss of ingenuousness whic

ought-"she has read romances enough, appar

" she persisted, gazing into

e confu

it is natural. You are a woman ... I am a m

ere is no reason why you should know. You

with which it was useless to contend in view of its blind, elemental character, was altering the

ase, and the desire to marry, or to get marri

d mutely cursed both himself and her. Her bosom quivered with rich, sincere mirth, which m

... should I make for you! It's as ridiculou

g

comparison, but at his own failure to comprehend t

ing girl!"-he br

for us to turn back ... high time! We have been roaming for four hours ... and El

ntion to listen calmly to her arguments, and to controvert them with decision. It would be so easy for him to cut away the abnormal excrescence from her brain by the cold logic of his mind, if that strange, enervating, nameless sensation did not embarrass him. What was it? It resembled a disinclination to introdu

ourse. That means, that three days hence

ve, and where,

eman, Benkóvsky, will c

hy

g

ugh, gazing sea

now? He's an

my sister

said Várenka, be

then-will they

should they marry?"-asked Ipp

y, I don't know. It's the regulation thing to do! But, oh

aculated Ippolít Serg

g, truly! Please, my dear Ippolít Sergyéevitch, don't know a

nything. I have understood one thing-that my sist

as not told you that, perhaps it will not ta

e.-"I came hither to a funeral, and have hit

the wedding!-" she entreated

t sort of a person is this M

ttle eyes, a little mustache, little lips, little hands and a little fiddle.[Pg 361] He loves tend

Sergyéevitch, feeling sorry for Mr. Benkóvsky

be tall, and strong; he ought to talk loudly, his eyes should be large, fiery, and his emot

Sergyéevitch, with a dry laugh, feeling that her id

me!" she exclaime

icted a sort of wild beast! What is t

e, like County Chief Kokóvitch? or a pretty little gentleman, like Benkóvsky? Ora round-shouldered, gaunt hop-pole, like court-usher Múkhin? Or Grísha Tchernonéboff, the merchant's son, a fat man, with the asthma, and a bald head, and a red nose? What sort of children could suc

g

rnal point of view alone-that was unjust. A man may have an ugly nose, but a fine soul, pimples on his face, but a brilliant mind. He found it tiresome and difficult to enunciate these elementary truths

he exclaimed joyfully,

Sergyéevit

s, because I

erfully; the water involuntarily gurgled under the boat, little waves flowed to the shores. Ippolít Sergyéevitch watched

boat is going!" V

e no difference even without seeing her, he could picture to himse

the graceful figure of Elizavéta Sergyéevna was coming to meet them,

have had a

other hand, I have such an appet

g

yéevna's waist, whirled her lightly ro

om, lay down on the divan, and began to meditate, summing up the impressions of the day. He recalled the most trivial details of the walk, and felt that a turbid sediment was being formed from them, which was eating into his stable equilibrium of mind and feeling. He even felt the physical novelty of his mood, in the shape of a strange weight, which oppressed

il the fermentation has subside

ability to control his emotions, and for having that day conducted himself in a manner unbecoming a serious man. Alone with himsel

dark circle of some troubled sensation or other-was too much for her, and was disgraceful for him, for that was wan

hed into his head the c

by the encounter from which he had not emerged as the conqueror, although his opponent had been as weak as a child. He ought to have talked to that girl figuratively, for it was evident that she did not understand a logical argument. His duty was to exterm

ted something new, and contrary to what was already in her? And it seemed to him, that when her soul, freed from the captivity of error, s

ision upon himself as a direct obligation. Now he would meet her coldly and composedly, and would impart to h

ka?"-inquired his sister, wh

l," he replied, el

hought you would be struck

ed.-"But, to speak frankly, she is, in many ways, better than

s of very fine land, about one hundred of building timber. And, in addition, she

t to understand him, but he did not care to ex

er from that point

... I serious

ank

le out of tempe

rary. But wh

to know it, as an

atingly. That smile reminded him of Mr.

laughing at?-"

at are you l

el me

did not bury my wife two week

g

erious face, and s

rote to you what my life was like. And I often said to myself:-'My God! and was I created merely for the purpose of pleasing the coarse appetites of Nikolá? Stepánovit

s, in which she had talked a great deal about her husband's lack of characte

whether I was with him, or some other woman, when he mistook the window for the door? Yes.. and that was the way I lived for years...." She talked long and tediously to him about her sad life, and he lis

ward me for those long years of grief

asting an interrogative glance at

"-he inquired, affectiona

g

rhaps I shall .

t! I congratulate you!... But

I do no

is

ure procurator ... and, in the meantime, a poet and dreamer...

he a good man? However,

t self-delusion, that he is capable of making up to me for the past. He loves me.... I ha

at's the fashion at present ..

rt, are hardly possible between me and a man. But love is possible.... And love is the victory of the one who loves the least over the one who

ít Sergyéevitch interrupted her, feeling, with satisfac

the university,... I know that that is dangerous for me ... and, how shall I express it?... I should like t

inquired Ippolít Sergyée

not wish to give him any legal rights over my property ... and I

could be effected by a ci

ct a civil

ell, she is wise! If God created men, life re-creates them so easil

ingly explained to him

ow I mean to deal with Benkóvsky. But, before taking that step, I should like to clear

undertake this matter

e, when y

e spoke condescendingly, with a smile flitting over her lips, and, for some reason, with her eyes puckered up, Ippolít l

g

r, to his own room; she, animated by the conversation, with a

mself luxuriously, he closed it, and fidgetted about in his arm-chair, seeking a comfortable attitude, but the chair was hard; then he betook himself to the divan, and lay down on it. At first, he thought of nothin

thoughts and his imagination.

ght prove a very interesting wife if only for the reason that one do

aracter of Várenka's husband, from all sides, he

ev

that, he

g

ragments, and several drops of kerosene from the broken reservoir had fallen into one of his shoes, which he had not yet put on his feet. The shoes, of course, had been cleaned, but it b

iled his

evaporate,-" his sister advised him.-"And, in the meantime, put on

orry. It will s

it until it disappears. Really, shall n

t want them. T

lippers, of velvet ..

gue, the kerose

e good for? You w

hall not, but

is

Benk

is very touching fidelity on the part of yo

malicious

g

ery searchingly, and, he, catching that ex

s that I am irritated

e for dinner, probably,-" she

it,-" he replied, as

amiable toward my fu

essive boredom. But Elizavéta Sergyéevna said, as she

sent moment, when impoverishment so oppresses our brethren, who live upon the fruits

-said Ippolít Sergyéevitch venomously to himself, concentrating his attention upo

young fellows besides Alexander, and five young girls. And the estate has about ten mortgages on it. You know, I purchased their library, on very advantageou

g

r;-it was necessary to talk about Benkó

so easily excited, and something of an idealist, a decadent, I think. However, all the young generation are inclined to dec

se power,' as one of my comrades has defined it,-" said

hed, as

elf, the healthy scepticism, you know, which fetters the wings of all possible impulses, and

mber, in spite of the open doors. He scowled, and taking a book, he went out into the park. There, in the closely clustered family of ancient trees, wearied with gales and thu

ad seen Várenka reflected in the water, an

um!" he[Pg 373] cried to himself, conscious

that strange young girl did not make its appearance. Polkánoff lighted a cigarette, and immediately flung it into the water, reflecting that, perhaps, he had done a foolish thing in coming hither. As a matter of fact, of what use was he there? Apparently, only for the sake of preserving his sis

ime, and firmly resolving to set to work as speedily as possible. As he approached the terrace, he beheld a slender young man, in a white blouse, girt with a strap. The young man was standing with his back to the avenue, and was looking at something, as he bent o

g

ddle Ages!" exclaimed Ippol

he, and his arched brow by locks of carelessly dishevelled, waving hair. He was small, below middle stature, but his willowy figure, elegantly built, and finely proportioned, concealed this defect. He looked at Ippolít Sergyéevitch as

, with the long, slender fingers of a musician, to Ippolít S

nt shook his h

the beauty of the park. The young man answered him briefly, being anxious, evidently, merely

a long, black cord, terminating in tassels. This costume harmonized well with her calm countenance, imparting a majestic expre

g

ng to treat you to ice-cream. But why are you so bored, A

he books,-" he replied frankly

d felt awkward, comprehending that this charming young man m

lay it after dinner?" "If you like!-" and he bowed his head before her. This was

ry much,-" declared h

Schubert?-" inquired

he Shakspear of music,-" replied Benk

e difference between him and Schubert constituted one of those mysteries which did no

thoven, in particular

ealist than all the other mu

, take that as the tr

g

an extreme materialist,-" explained Be

vitch,-"But he's a nice young fellow, straig

st, who was condemned to wear th

enemies?"-he inqu

hem from the room.-"Don't forget that you hav

ll possible delicacy, and that it would be well to avoid "ideal" conversations with him, because he would, in all probability, get excited to the point of rage in arguments. But Benkóvsky stared at him with a burning glitter in his eye

men made brief replies-one with the careless familiarity of a relative, the other with the respect of the lover. And all three wer

g

e first course o

rgyéevna invited them, as she armed herself with

"-said Ippolí

you will excuse me,"

you. But you will

ot wish

materialist,-" thought

s manner seemed somewhat to cool and soften the sullen gleam of the young

enemies? Perhaps it is impolite, but I assume that people's relations to one another

le.-"The more simply, the better. And your straightforward declaration

miled sadly

nce, of itself. Now, you say-c the more simply, the better,' and I think s

ired Ippolít

he straight line of logic from th

g

urse I

rely as a mechanism, which has worked out everything, including ideas, do not you feel conscious of an inward chill, and is there not in your soul a si

l than all fantasies.... As for the metaphysical fermentation of sentiment and mind, that, you know, is a matter of

rds which are so frequent in a discussion between two well-bred men, as to whose truth is the nearer to the real truth. Elizavéta Sergyéevna smiled slightly, as she watched the play of their countenances, and composedly ate her dinner, carefully gnawing th

shall I recognize it, if I myself, at any given moment, am not what I was, am not what I shall be the following moment? You, I, we-are we merely material? But some day we shall lie beneath the holy pictures, filling the air with the vile stench of corruption.... All that will remain of

ened attentively to his s

se. But here you are, shouting. And it is not because you are an ideal

into his face, with

ble as motion, and all the other powers, which people are unsuccessfully trying to substitute for one. And it sometimes seems to me, that the[Pg 380] entire business of science amounts to complicating conceptions-that is all! I think, that it is good to believe; people laugh at me, they say: 'It is not necessary to believe, but to know,' I want to know what matter is, and they answer me, literally, thus: 'Matter is what is contained in that locality of space, in which we

the matter of the strength of stormy feeling injected into them. But, while he recognized this fact, he felt within himself a desire to retort. But the poet's huge eyes grew still larger, a passionate melancholy burned wi

e asking from you spiritual bread, and you are offering them the stone of negation! You have stolen[Pg 381] the soul of life, and if there are in it no great feats of love and suffering, you are to blame for that, for, the sla

ement.-He tried to stem the stormy eloquence of his future brother-in-law, but did not succeed, for, possessed by the inspiration of his protest, the young man heard nothing and, apparently, saw nothin

crewing up her light eyes, and in t

and amiable tones, taking advantage of the involuntary pause of the weary orator, and desirous of

conciliatory?-" he said to himself, with ren

as arranged in antique fashion, but this coiffure, in the form of a diadem, was very becoming to the masterful expression of her[Pg 382] countenance. Her l

ut only Sabbaoth and Satan are right, in whose existence I do not believe, but who must exist somewhere, for it is they who have organized life in such a dual form, and it is life which has created them.

ch, she asked the men, with an

you think

silence,-his sister's words perturbed him, but

something akin to terror at the moment, when she put her question. He tried to make her some reply, his lips trembled nervously, but no words proceeded from them. And sh

g 383] sumtotal of huge folios of philosophy are

,-" said Ippolít Sergyéevitch, with a

rks of the Promethean fire which still burn in his soul, ennob

said, with a smile. "It seems to me that you are taking a very dangerous

choes does the great intellectual movement of woman awa

interes

y th

y do not recognize the power of their beauty, do not know the taste of power over men.... They are superfluous, from a mass of causes!... But-ice-cream is a necessity!" In silence he took the little

only the[Pg 384] taste for life, but even t

In him the whole conversation had evoked a dawning sensation of boredom, and, although he pitied

ded, as he rose from the ta

lizavéta Sergyéevn

sounds of a violin being tuned. Ippolít Sergyéevitch sat in a comfortable arm-chair near the railing of the terrace, protected from the sun by a lace-like curta

-inquired Elizavéta Sergyéevna, as

little

ite

I do not

nt me to e

recite the verses which are now c

ay

e only[Pg 385] just presented themselves.

e it is to me

you are speaking with since

he was too indolent to move, and he remained, consoling himself with

y calm

am doth trou

and rhythm in the original. They are hardly of suffic

low voice o

laugh at

andest me no

inquired

for you to ask about that,"-thought Ippo

es there is

,-cold laugh

o thee is the

soul

from emotion, or f

is so

wind of songs, i

meated is it wi

e enigma of

men the road t

young man's hysterical moans, in which simultaneously resounded a touching "farewel

o thee I've r

ness of my

awai

t Sergyéevitch completed the verse, as he

other, and a well-bred man, ought to speak to her about the true character of her relations to this boy, glowing with red-hot passion? But to what could such a conversation lead, now? And he was not enough of an authority on matters of Cupid and Venus to meddle with this

t torch of passion were to fla

ck father through the rooms in his arm-chair. And as he represented her to himself engaged in those occupations, he was offended, on her account. Yes, it was indispensably necessary to open the eyes of that girl, to actuality, to acquaint he

nging sounds of the violin, and the nervous notes of the piano. One after another phras

inden bough, and bristling up the feathers on his breast, he whistled significantly, staring sidewise at the meditative man, who was

so much like a crazy man; Elizavéta Sergyée

elf guaranteed against the breaking out of any ab

St. Petersburg, Ippolít,-

g

is a very large and lively city....

are dry,"-interr

rown perfectly soft, and are covered with the mould of ve

it is so!" exc

ed Elizavéta Sergyéevna.-"But in what favor does the country stand

ecoming somewhat

-the country cannot arouse the interest of such an 'intelligéntzia,'[2] Do they know anything about it? Can it be for them anything except a good place in which to spend the summer? For them the country is a suburban villa ... and altogether, they are villa-residents, by virtue of the essential quality of their souls. They make their appearance

leave it untranslated here for the benefit of th

epaired noblemen?" aske

y that is far from flattering to you, if you wi

people are to be?" replied Ippolít S

s the developed sentiment of human dignity, who thirst for knowledge, who ar

nce," said Ippolít Serg

gave him a work on physics, and said to him-' read this, and explain to me the laws of the lever and of equilibrium and one week later, he passed my examination with so much effect, that I was simply astounded! And moreover, in reply to my commendations, he said: 'What of that? You understand this, consequently, no one forbids me to do the same-?-books are written for everybody!, What do you think of that? B

miled. Benkóvsky glanc

Sergyéevna and Benkóvsky went off again to play, and Ippolít Sergyéevitch bade them good night and retired to his own room, observing th

riting several letters to his acquaintances. He understood the motives of his sister's peculiar relations toward Benkóvsky, he understood, also, his r?le in her game. All this was not nice, but, at the same time, it was all foreign to him, in a way, and his soul was not disturbed by the parody on

g

s illuminated by the moon, and through the

rustling branches, quivering at the contact. Stepping to the window, Ippolít Sergyéevitc

ith a smile,-"let the maid love, if t

ditative indolence in the soul. Ippolít Sergyéevitch calmly enjoyed this purely-vegetable existence, postponing from day to day his resolve to set to work seriously. Sometimes he felt bored, he reproached himself for his inactivity, his lack of will, but all this did not arouse in him the desire to

him-he perceived that his sister was arguing, not from a natural impulse to explain to herself her relation to life, but merely from a provident desire to destroy and overthrow everything which might perturb the cold repose of her soul. She had worked out for herself a scheme of practice, but theories only interested her in so far as they were able to smooth over before him her hard, sceptica

ing from meddling with that affair. For, as yet, no one could tell which would be the suffering side, when sound sense should awaken in that highly inflamed young man. And this would happen-the young man was blazing too violently, and

he young girl[Pg 393] continued to please him, and to upset him with her odd remarks, but he always found her society agreeable. Her ingenuousness perplexed him, and restrained the man within him; the in

e frequently did

ufficient energy to drive out of her

n the foremost rank in his relations toward her. Sometimes he caught himself listening to her, exactly as though he were desirous of learning something from her, and he admitted that there was something about her which hampered the freedom of his mind. It happened, on o

from lack of confi

enerally accepted views. It was necessary to begin at the foundations, and her persistent questions: "why?" and "what for?" constantly led him off into the thicke

ng I do, I do according to His will, and I live-as He wants me to.... Surely, He knows how I live? W

efforts, which demanded from him constantly increasing consciousness, he extinguished in himself these flashes of sensuality, h

day my organism is growing stronger under the influence of this sun and air.. It is n

in need of a screen for its weakness and coarseness, it betakes itself for aid to the great capacity which reason possesses of imparting to a lie the physiognomy of the truth. This capacity was well developed in Ippolít Sergyéevitch, and with its aid, he successfully[Pg 395] imparted to his attraction toward Várenka the character of interest in her, pure and free from all impulses. He would not have had

ng tea, his siste

day. We must drive over there. I want to have a d

her on my behalf,-" he said, feeli

h me?-" she inquired, glanc

are to.... I think I don't.

a Sergyéevna, and dropped her eyelids, to

,-" said he,

with severity, that he was conducting himself toward that young girl exactly

said, and turned scarlet, knowing that his sister understood him. But she

g

icent at their place. And it will be less awkward for me

but his moo

unnatural in my wanting to see a pretty young girl once more?-"

, and the first sounds of the day which

ít will be

ly invaded him and filled his soul could hardly be called joy, rather was it a foreboding of joy near at hand, which pleasantly titillated the nerves. And springing from his bed, he began to dr

fore him with a penitently-comical manner, and without takin

aid, that

Elizavéta Sergyéevna,-"sh

n by that?"-her

y-" explai

g

laughed Eliza

y?"-persist

me into marriage!-she sent them solemn invitations, and cooked and baked as much for them as though I'd had a hundred wooers! And I helped her do it ... but to-day I woke up, and j

d in a full, white gown, whose folds fell in tender streams from her shoulders to her feet, enveloping her

like it?"-sh

e inquire

stand that,-" she said, becoming serious, a

up, scented ... they'll get dru

them?-" asked Ipp

ur.

d!" announced Eli

r this prank, Várya....

with you. Why should I think from morning on about what will not happen until the evening? And who can do anything to me, and what can they do? Papa? He will growl, but I can go away and not listen to, him.... A

r wits!"-Elizavéta Sergyée

he did not stop soon, and kept on depicting her suitors, and capt

to restrain himself, but could not. After tea, they began to discuss how they should fill up the day which had begun so merrily. Várenka suggested that they should r

it. I had intended to drive to your house, Várya, and turn off there on th

had that moment invented this, for[Pg 399] the purpose of leaving Várya alon

her words, but soon r

we'll go, all the same! Won't we? To-day I want to go f

rse! But Másha ... w

u are going to the Benkóvskys, w

l, take M

began to pace up and down it. This expedition charmed him, but Grigóry and Másha seemed to him superfluous. The

e around it bustled Grigóry-a red-haired, blue-eyed young fellow, with freckles on his face, and a

head; don't you see, th

d the young fellow, in a high tenor voice, as

divined who it was that had been

g

oat, and indicated Grigóry by a nod,-"he also has the repu

lievna,-" laughed Grigóry, showing

rgyéevitch, he knows a

y?" asked Ippolít Sergy

he idea! Nobody knows the

the person wh

He died long,

exander I., and to this, no doubt, was due much of his influence over the Emperor. The Code Napoléon was his ideal of legislation, and formed the foundation for a scheme of reforms and laws which he carried into effect, in part. He thereby antagonized all classes of society: the aristocracy were offended by his boldness, which they resented in a man of such low extraction, the peasants were enraged by the increase in their taxes; and so forth. He was suddenly sent into polite exile, as the governor of Nizhni Nóvgorod Province, in March, 1812, but was speedily depr

tively scanning the intelligent, eagle-like face of the

egan to read.... And now I have the first volume....[Pg 401] The first article in it is so straight, and says: 'no one,' it says, 'can excuse himself through ignorance of the laws,' Well, so I thought to myself, tha

he is?"-inqu

Sergyéevitch pursued his inquiry,

s here.... Elizavéta Sergyéevna alone must have as many as a

ka's face, which was turned with curiosity toward the broad-chested rower, while the latter, cutting the mirror-like surface of the river in measured strokes, chatted about his lite

uld I read about them? But that sort of thing is in every book ... and, in my opinion, it's entirely superfluous.... Everybody understands the sunset after his own fashion.... And everybody has his own eyes for th

?"-asked Ippol

Everybody writes about them compassionately, and makes them out to be such petty fools ... it isn't well! Folks read, and th

ome, for she began to sing, in a low tone,

take a pleasure trip? Grigóry and Másha can row on to Savyóloff dell, land there, and prepare tea for us, and meet us.... Grigóry, bring the boat

there is something which ... raises the soul in revolt. Here I've got my boots full of sand ... and have wet one foot in the water....

an arrow, in the direction of the forest, leaving behind it a long wake, which glittered like silver in the sunli

take Másha away from you ... They're both splendid people. Grigóry is begging me to sell him a small plot of ground to be paid for in instalments ... or to let him have it on a long lease ... he wants ten desyatinas. But I cannot, as long as papa is alive, and it's a pity ... I know that he would

e?"[4]-inquired Ippolít Sergy

tch's pronunciation, which lead

g

ly long and thick tongue, there isn't room for it in his m

th green scum, and surrounded by a border of greasy mu

t go ar

imed Várenka, indignantly, stamping her foot.... "It is a long way round, and t

had been tom from her shoulders, and was fluttering through the air.

myself! Ho, do you go roun

sight of dainty, striped stockings on the well-formed little feet. For an instant, it seemed to him as though the mud which separated them from each other, held a sense of warning for him or for her. But he roughly tore himself away, calling this prick in the heart stupid childishness, and hast

at-is that

ote the eye, as they triumphant

ing, he began to gaze into the astonished face of Várenka with a smile hovering over his lips. Her eyes rested questioningly on his face, but he felt as though his breast were fill

ou said?"-inquir

erses ... in Russian they sound like prose ... but you hear that they are verses, do you not? They are Italian verses, I think .

ain?" she asked him, sud

is hand.-"Will you believe it? I have forgotten w

on!-" and she moved

placed between him and the young girl a barrier of mutual distrust-tried, and could get nothing out of himself, except a

t all to her?" Ippolít

him, and not thinking well of him. And unable to devise any explana

to know how you are

k from somewhere far away, but gradually, her face changed from se

hall know, oh! they shall know! And, p

afraid

he inquired, sof

e for the

o me! Sometimes I feel like hurling them under my feet, and trampling on their faces ... tre

her eyes, that it made him uncomfortable to l

407] whom you detest.... Can it be, that there is not o

eresting people in the world.... Everybody i

id with a touch of irony, which wa

t a little, and you will meet a man who will satisfy

asked quickly,

uture h

who i

itch shrugged his shoulders, feeling dis

"-she sighed,

front of them, the dense forest made its appearance. "And do you wish to marry?"-asked Ippolít Sergyéevitch. "Yes.... I don't know! I'm not thinking about that...."

attention, and you would soon find what you want.... For many would strongly desire to ca

g

essary that I sh

forbid men

urse ... let th

a few step

on the front of her gown. There were seven of them: three large ones, which resembled stars, two, like commas in shape, and one, like a d

her voice suddenly rang o

ch.-"Yes ... only, it was long ag

ong ago," she

f the awkwardness of the question, and tearing off a branch

s nearly as often as the Christian name followed by the patronymic, which is more de

eat him, and brought him to our court-yard. He lay there, bound with ropes, and said nothing, but looked at me.... I was standing on the

g

buried in

the house, and poured him out a glass of vódka.... Then I went out and gave it to him. But his hands were bound, and he could not drink it ... and he said to me, raising his head a little-and his head was all covered with blood: 'Put it in my mouth, my lady,' I held it to his lips, and he drank so slowly, so slowly, and said: 'Thank you, my lady! God grant you happiness!'-Then, all at once, I whispered to him: 'Run!' But he answered aloud:-'If I live, I certainly will run. You may trust me for that!'

er,-"that perhaps you are waiting for him to make his escape an

g

did not understand the iron

should he sho

id-would you

I don't know ...

ff waxe

ances, that's what I have to say to you,

torted reality, was foreign to ennobling ideas, was indifferent to the sad truth of life, to the desires and tortures of mankind. His voice rang out harshly in the silence of the forest which surrounded them, and frequently, in the wayside branches, a timor

d more respect to the rights of one another. For, of course, all men desire one thing-happiness, but they proceed toward it by different paths, and those paths[Pg 411] are, sometimes, very ignominious, but that is only because they do not understand in what happiness consists. Hence, it is the duty of all practical and honest literature, to ex

here is a great deal said about suffering.... That certainly is false, but if it is false-why is it not a good thing to say a great deal about that of which there is so little! Here, you say, that in books one must seek?... exemplary feelings and thought

tood me...." he excl

y with me for that?-" she

ry ... as if there could be

] me! But why do you find it necessary that I should agree with you? And I think, also.... In general, why does everyb

the midst of her l

d to have only one word left out of all

y I find it

ching, so you regard it as indispensable th

"I wish to arouse in you the faculty of criticising eve

ingenuously looking h

how to scrutinize your emotions, your thoughts, your actions.. in ord

ay? I don't understand at all! You make it out, that truth is known to you alone.... Let us assume that I know some truth, and that everybody else k

e, without encountering any opposition. He had become accustomed to regard as stupid those people who did not agree with him; at best, he set them down as devoid of the capacity of development beyond that point, on which their mind already stood,-and toward such people, he always bore himself with disdain, mingled with compassion. But this young girl did not strike him as

is equals, but in the depths of his own soul, like all men, he thought of women sceptically and

them, a half-ruined hut, constructed of branches, bowed toward the[Pg 414] earth; inside it one could catch a glimpse of hay, and on it perched two daws. To Ippolít Sergyéevitch they appeared entirely unnecessary and absurd, in the midst of this tiny, lovely wilderness, surrounded on all sides by the dark walls of the

th a feeling akin to anger, as he stared at th

it is not more than one verst further to the place where they are awaiting

and he felt that a soft, agreeable indolence was taking posses

y. It is quiet in that forest, even painfully quiet, the ground is all carpeted with pine needles, and the forest seems to have been swept up neatly. When I ramble in it, I always think of God, for some reason o

lashed through Ippolí

ntage of dogma, to plough up

fession of his weakness before her. It would not be honorab

God?"-she inquired, as th

es you th

the learned men

not caring to talk to her on that su

ieve? Please to tell me about those who do not believe in Him at all.... I

et doze beneath the sounds of her voice. Then he began to

ves rise to the world which we see, in which the life of thought and of the grass-blade are su

or another. He explained with pleasure, perceiving the tension of thought in her face. She was t

g was God. How is that? There is simply no mention of Him th

the moment. She was a believer-to that her eyes, which were blazing with mystical fire, bore witne

! Because, assuredly, He can demand an accounting at any time-to-day, to-morrow, an hour hence.... And, you know, it sometimes seems to me-that

istened to her ravings

except the one thing whi

w-spirited condition she walked on for a long time, so that the curiosity with which Ippo

g

loud laugh was wafted to their ears, as it

? It is Másha ...

d her pace,

ha,

thought Ippolít Sergyé

nless, monotonous, and permeated with stem dignity, but on this side-the graceful birch-trees rocked their supple branches to and fro, the silvery foliage of the aspens quivered; the wild snow-ball, and hazel bushes stood in luxuriant masses, reflected in the water; yonder the sand gleamed yellow, sprinkled with reddish p

movár, emitting clouds of steam and blue smoke, and beside it, squatting on her heels, M

ng?" Várenka asked her,

g

ke a bath also. He

drink, and ... eat and drink! That I do!

efuse, you kno

ick, M

and first? Chicke

nd you may disappear! Perhap

led Másha softly, gazing

ight, go on

en.-"Can it be that she is acquainted with the sense and the details of such rela

fusion of Másha, who stood before her with downca

ke you in hand!

him...." and covering her face with her apron, she rocked to and fro, in a

a clever girl! An

seeching me, to ... let him ... into the boat ..

imming after the boat, but because it did him good to laugh. A sensation of freedom from himself pervaded him, and, now and then, he seemed to be surprised at him

t her, as through the mist of dreams. Around them reigned stillness, only the samov

red Várenka, casting an anxious gla

" he said slowly, "but I

r. For with words you cannot say much, because there are feelings for which there are no words at all. And

est, and pointing at it with her

too, in a thunderstorm ... akh, how fine! The sky is black, the lightning is vicious, it is dark, the wind roars.. at such times I feel like going out into the fields, and standing there

leasant to listen to her,-it seemed as though she were talkin

Varvára the Great Martyr, she will help against sudden death.' He spoke simply, and without fear, so that I was not frightened: I asked-'Have we lost our way?'-'Yes,' said he.-'But perhaps we shall escape?'-'How are we to escape, in such a blizzard! Now, I'm going to let go of the reins, and perhaps the horses will find the way themselves; but do you call God to mind, all the same!' He is very devout, that Yákoff. The horses halted, and stood still, and the snow drifted over us. How cold it was! The snow cut our faces. Yákoff moved from the box, and sat beside me, so that both of us might be warmer, and

nt to "mistress" and "young mistress." But these are inconvenient, in many instances. In general, they are us

wling out her words. The memory of Yákoff had diverted her fr

id you fin

y from ours. You know, our village is near here, about four versts distant. If you were to go along the shore, and then by the footpath, throu

parting to one another their impressions concerning these two persons, alone there in the heart of the forest. From afar

g

o in that direction, among t

r hand to her mouth like a

hi-is

e-thing-of something very serious, he felt,-but he did not wish to think, and this faint appeal of his m

fictitious expression of anger; but Várenka, as she took her seat in the boat, gl

slaves," said Ippolít

air, and under their feet the dry pine-needles crackled softly. In front, behind, on every side, stood the reddish pines, and only here and there, at their roots, through a layer of needles, did

stray?"-inquired I

an always, everywhere find the way I require

g

he might say a very great deal to her. But these were internal impulses of desire, flashing up on the surface of his calm mood, and dy

now and then, and a caressing s

intentions, and to all inward conflict with himself. But every time that his eyes fell upon the spots of mud on her gown, a disquieting shadow fell upon his soul. And he did n

beauty y

at him in

your peace, held your peace-an

smiled faintly, disar

beautiful ... and you are like a fairy in it ... or

not my forest, it belongs to the Crown,

ith her hand some

g

and a persistent desire to talk to her about her beauty began to blaze up within him. B

that day had breathed into their souls a sweet languor, in which all desires had sunk

to their manor with Elizavéta Sergyéevna. He saw her off, and as he reached the terrace, he surprised in himself a mournful sensation of having lost something which was indispensable to him. As he sat at the table, whereon still st

It will not hurt her, it cannot hurt her, even if I wished it. It somewhat interfe

e recalled his firm resolve to develop her

e more inclined to yield[Pg 425] their directness to metaphysics ... defending themse

eir ancient house peer the cruel eyes of poverty, which is celebrating its victory over that family. In the house, to all appearances, there is not a kopék of money, nor any provisions; they sent to the village to get eggs for dinner. There was no meat at dinner, and so old Benkóvsky talked a great de

inquired Ippolít Serg

arrying out. Imagine-it is on account of my future children,-"

eeab

ing, but eyed

aren't you a little bit afraid

uired, with an interest which w

of being strong

g

" he replied sceptically, and he bel

t you are rather cold ... too serious.. for your years. And really.... I shall be glad

house, and begged you to do so....

you wis

Whenever you find it convenient. Y

ical to you ... but the truth is, that since the day of my husband's funeral, I feel that I am reviving to new life ... I am egotist

ech! You are glad and ... go on being glad

ediately becomes better, kinder. But some over-wise people think that sufferings purify us ...

uffer-what would become of her?" I

Did she consider him handsome? Or clever? What was there about him that could please her? Something attracted her to him-that was evident to him. But it was not likely that he po

a smile of satisfaction, he pictured to himself this girl as submissive to him, conquered by him, read

I

ff's house, the tall, thin figure of a woman in a loose gray gown made its

a pleasant

shivered at this greeting,

ergyéevna introduced him, after she

Rodiónovna

riveted on his face, and Aunt Lutchítzky boomed away in her bass voice, distinctly enunc

g

to make your a

side, and laid her h

, com

old, and a hoarse cough and an irritated excla

y! Go along, see, and tel

er, perceiving that he had halted, hesitatingly.-"It's t

ith a red, wizened face, overgrown with gray moss. The upper part of this mass turned heavily, emitting a choking snort. Beh

and now he himself is conquered by diseases ... ho, ho, ho! I'm glad to see you. Varvára has been drumming in my ears al

hed forward, threw himself back, and broke into a hoarse coug

tand still! Haven't I told

g

g Thékla by the shoulder, c

d coughing. At last they moved forward, and found themselves in a small room, where it was suf

kla,-call your young mistress

eath his gray eyebrows which met over his nose, with eyes as round as those of an owl. The colonel's nose w

o see me as I am to see you...

thirst for vódka? Twenty-five years ago, one might really have rejoiced at the sight of Váska ólesoff ... and many women did rejoice ... but

begin to cough again...." Ma

's injurious! Everything is injurious, devil take it! And I see, that it's injurious for me to live! Ho, ho, ho! I[Pg 430] have lived too long ... I hope you may ne

now at him, now at Aunt Lutch

nsters she l

woman's broad bosom, flat as a board, would rend her breast. And the rustle of Aunt Lutchítzky's skirts seemed to him to be her bones rubbing against each other. The colonel reeked with some sort of liquor, sweat, and vile tobacco. Judging from the gleam in his eyes, he must often be in a fury, and Ippolít Sergyéevitch, as he imagined him in a state of exasperation, felt loathin

ay,..." remarked E

" declared Mrs. Lutc

id the visit

g

ey will rob Várya, and break her head....'-you see? I dispute it:-the daughter of Colonel ólesoff will not permit anyone to turn her head ... she'll do it herself

ful wooded country ...." replied

iful on earth. The valley of Kazanlik in Bulgaria is beautiful,... it is beautiful in Kherass

of light lilac sarpinka.[1] In her hands she held a huge bouquet of freshly-gathered flowers, and her face was beaming with pleasure. "How

s, in the Government of Sarátoff, on the lower Vólga. It is almost invari

ovna, who was sitting beside her visitor with such unnatural rigidity, that

g

nse!" she cried sternly to the

l tell about Lieutenant Yákov

[2]-be quiet! I'll

ka, are all diminutives

to?"-meditated Ippolít Sergyéevitch

though a smile of disdain quivered on the corners of

, stretching herself upward, without bending her body, and di

ace, and began to whisper somethi

o himself, casting a furtive glance at her figure, as it bent toward his sis

er, courted her seriously-Captain Shmurló, a very fine young Little Russian, even took to drink and left the service. I, also ... that is to say, I also proposed to her:- 'Margarita! marry me!' ... She would not ... it was very stupid of her, but noble, of course. And then, when I was seized with the gout, she presented herself, and said: 'You are alone in the world, I am alone ...' and so forth and so on. Touching and saintly. Eternal friendship, and we snarl at each other all the time. She comes here every summer, she even wants to sell her estate and settle down here forever, that is to say, until I die. I appreciate it-but it's all ridiculous, i

paying no heed whatever to him, and, probably, not comprehending how little agreeable the conversation with her fat

g

Rodiónovna's bass voice rang out in th

elief and followed Várenka, who lightly

rt of the colonel. It seemed as though even his half-dead legs, enveloped in bear-skin, quivered with the anticipation of pleasure. He was rolled up to the table, and stretching out

ed military anecdotes, in a hoarse voice, Margarita Bodiónovna interposed brief remar

t Ippolít Sergyéevitch sadly, deliv

this coquetry? And he felt that he was on the point of becoming angry with

n to me!" reflected Ippolít Sergyé

Have you finished your

long a

g

a stroll? I will show yo

nd will you c

to sit with Margarita Ro

rave, into which my half-dead body is rolling!" and t

ome at our house?'-" thought Ippolít Sergyéevitch, as he emerge

you li

t Sergyéevitch softly.

t. He discharged a revolver straight in his face-bang! And then he pulled his leg out from under the horse, and the other three rushed up, and more after them, and our own soldiers flew to meet them, with Yákovleff ... you know who he was?... Papa seized the dead man's rifle, sprang to his feet-and forward! But he was awfully strong, and that came near ruining him; he hit the Turk[Pg 436] over the head, and the gun broke, and he had nothing but his sword left, but it was bad and dull, and a Turk was trying to kill him with a bayonet-thrust in the breast. Then papa grasped the strap of the rifle in h

or, on the field of battle. The names of the members are inscribed in gold on the white marble walls of the gran

you had taken part in it...." remarked Ippo

ng up her eyes.-"I like war ... And I'm going, a

ll go as a

Come, you are jesting,... you would make a

stung

ssure you...." he declar

g

?" said Várenka compose

lamed up within him-to crush her so that the tears would gush forth from her eyes. He cast

them, at the end of the path, gazed forth the windows of the house. Apples kept falling from

he has come

ther swor

nion, grasping his sleeve, "let's he

sh glance at

avesdropping to the

they are by themselves, they always talk ver

ut it is not nice...." la

y always spea

atulate

d paid no attention to him for a long time, just as though she did not understand that he had come for her sake, and to see her, and[Pg 438] not to

r does not please her, and I am not interesting from the internal poi

and thought that he had to deal with coquetry u

stupid ... and hopes tha

ing into the distance,-"see, what a dark cloud ... and it is

olít Sergyéevitch. "We must tur

hy

n home before it b

not be able to get there before the thunder

e rain should l

ight with us," said V

nient...." protested

fficult to spend one

y own comfor

bout other people-each perso

g

le somewhere far away. An oppressive sultriness permeated the atmosphere, as though the approaching thunder-cloud, condensing all the bu

ck?" suggested Ip

liday is all well enough in itself, but it is tiresome to wait for it. If everything could only be done at once ... you could lie down and sleep-it is w

o change as suddenly and unexpectedly?" i

be interesting...." s

interesting?"-exclaimed Ippol

resting, if they were more ... lively ... yes, more lively! If they laughed, sang, pl

ely to her definitio

g

ogramme of the relations which sh

ht to be done swiftly, in order that life should be

remarked Ippolít Sergyéevitch softly. "

good or bad ... either handsome or homely ... that's the way to argue! But people say: 'she's quite nice, quite pretty ..

ust this division into two

w s

justic

ntained in it and one couldn't possibly get along without it. But who wants it?" She

to yourself...." said Ippolít Sergyéevitch didactically, as

elling something.-"And if I do need it, I'll find it for myself ... Why are you forever bothering yourself about people?

Why?" said Ippolít Ser

uzzle.. even without your interference! They have been feeding me on sermons the whole week, all because o

ver with the agitation which had suddenly seized upon her. Ippolít Sergyéevitch, with a mis

mean to ang

ing. Stunned by the terrific sound, they both shuddered, and halted, for an instant, but immediately set out, at a rapid pace, for the house.

!" said Várenka on the way. -"I did no

vna, and Aunt Lutchítzky, with a large straw hat

bass voice, straight in[Pg 442] Ippolít Sergyéevitch's face, as though she consid

fallen asleep..

gyéevna, indicating the sky with a nod.-"I thin

ot incommod

med Várenka staring at him with

nd you must find it tiresome to live ... always on pins and needles! The way I think about

Sergyéevna, smiling at her with a consciousness of her own superiority.-

here,-won't we?" the girl asked,

d his assen

they are likely to produce fever or a cold in the head. Moreove

discharge of a battery, and its rumblings rolled over the house. The wind burst forth, and seizing the dust and[Pg 443] rubbish on the ground, and whirled around with everything it had gathered, rising upward in a column

, winking from the dust, stood behind her. The porch was like a box, which is dark inside, but wh

esn't it? It greatly resembles a smile ... there are just such surly and taciturn people-that sort of a man remains silent, kee

at long intervals, at first, then closer and clo

d Ippolít Sergyéevitch

in that dense darkness-awkward and disagreea

I were to

as waving her arms, with cries of rapture, and standing, with her body leaning backward, as though[Pg 444] presenting her breas

... is the ma

lf from his arms with a supple, powerful motion of her bod

he said, in low tone, r

sire to embrace her, to embrace her strongly, even to pain. He had lost his self-control, and he want

nto the hous

spleasure, and slipping noiselessly

By order of the commander of the elements you

unt Lutchítzky, with the utmost seriousness, i

éevna, with a scornful grimace on her cold face.-"Thunder-stor

g his emotion, hardly found the

st long, do

rgarita Rodióno

g

ill," assente

s away from here!" declar

ling that there was some

Sergyéevna.... "We cannot pass through the Kámoff thicket of young

chambers here," annou

most shocking effect upon me!... I should like to know ... whe

in a low, broken voice,

iónovna, in her deep bass, and, spri

om with astonishment written

. I will assign you a plac

most composed of them all,

you d

lonel said

ad of the soldiers, as calmly as though he[Pg 446] were leading a dance:-he hewed, slashed, shouted, broke his sword, seized a club, and thrashed the Turks with that. He was a brave man, and there aren't many such! But he, also,

is 1 3/4 inche

when Margarita Rodiónovna thrust a smelling-bottle under his nose, and commanded him: "Smell that!" ... he seized the salts, and beg

their glare, the peals of thunder made the panes rattle in a frigh

.. Lieutenant Vyákhireff took out a bottle of brandy, put the neck in his lips, and-bul-bul-bul! And a bullet smashed the bottle to flinders! The Lieutenant looked at the neck of the bottle in his hand, and said: 'De

g

Aunt Lutchítzky aske

surprise at something which his sister was whispering to her, with her ear bent toward her. At last he succeeded in getting away from these people, and

first he resolved, that he would come to an explanation with her that very day, and immediately rejected this resolve, when he remembered, that behind it stood the obligation which he was reluctant to fulfil, of entering into definite relations to Várenka, and, of course, he could not marry that beautiful monster! He blamed himself for having gone so far in his infatuation for

rgyéevitch succeeded in repressing himself within the bounds of reason, and all his agitated emotions,

n the course of three months! And he felt himself crushed by the disgrace of the fact. He had done all he could to render her human; if he had not been able to do more, that was no fault of his. But after he ha

wiser than I, under the given circumstances, I t

Am I capable of loving, in general ... can I be a husband and a father.. have I that within me which is required for those obligations?

n summoned

rching glance, and the amiable

ily, seating himself at a distance

g

how to speak: 'is your

e, but that faint, persistent sound clearly bore witness to the firm intention of the rain to drench the earth for an interminably long time. The darkness stared in at the windows, the room wa

t Várenka a

avéta ... has been telling her some nonsense or other ...

r big eyes kept peering into the drawing-room at Ippo

nounced, with a sigh, slowly presenti

nty, it is not necessary to disturb papa, let him stay here an

...." remarked El

, in a low voice, with a

'll die all the sooner, but, on the other hand, he'll have some pleasure

, also,..." remarked

ithin him. He very much desired to move so dose to her that he could touch her gown. And, as he watched himself, according

almost with pride, that he was not afraid to speak the truth about hi

himself, he mai

, monosyllabic words, she evidently lost all desire to converse with him. O

? Do you feel bored, or a

feel depressed, much less

e matter with yo

... but ... sometimes ... an excess

ly put a counter-question.-"Whose? Papa's?

g 451] artlessness, or hopeless stupidity. But she, no

dful dislike for gloomy people.... Come, what do you

that form of uselessly wasting time said Ippolít Sergyéevit

tiresome it is here!" said the young girl bitterly.-"I know tha

e talked, the more ardent did his words become, until,

not find it tiresome in

him up, and he perceived that her wish

concealing deep within him the rep

your arrival, Liza said to me: 'You and I will help the learned man to rest and divert himself....' Bu

and all the blood flew to his hear

" he said, in a low voice, as he st

g

ou are like!" laughed

rt, clutching at the jamb of the door,

ich attracted Ippolít Sergyéevitch's attention. Then he was compelled to convince himself that the monotonous and lugubrious moaning was not resou

mself, gritting his teeth, and he threatened her with some humiliating chastisement

himself together. Aunt Lutchítzky was laughing in a dull way, as though bubbles were bursting somewhere in her ches

ghing at me!" thought

e himself on the naughty little girl, to humiliate her, for having dared to indulge in such pranks, to make her weep, and to gaze at her and laugh aloud at her tears. But his feelings could not remain long at such a pitch of intensity, he was accustomed to subject their fermentation to the power of reason, and he never expressed them until they had cooled down. His vanity was irri

g which could not be put aside, which was oppressive, and he simultaneously

sensations!" he e

h fell from somewhere to the

... t

ried and humiliated him. But, as he lay in his bed, he involuntarily pictured to himself[Pg 454] Várenka as he had beheld her on the porch, with her arms uplifted, as though for an embrace, with her bosom quivering with satisfaction at the flashing of the lightning. And again he reflected, that if he had been

ll over, leaped swiftly to his feet, and running to the door of his room, he unlocked it. Then, smiling,

pen ... that d

the sensation. Várenka.. assuredly, she had something in common with the heroine of that story,-she was capable of acting thus. In her charming exclamation: "So that's what

e noise of the rain against the windows, and cooled his fevered body. But everything

m proudly! It was the gift of an empress. But perhaps she would stand before him with drooping head, abashed, modest, with tears in her eyes. Or, she would make her appearance with a

out through the slumberous stillness. At times, and only for a brief moment, the hope of embracing the young girl died out in him; then he heard, in the hurried beating of his heart, a reproach to himself, and he recognized the fact that his recent condition was one that was foreign to him, was disgraceful to him, both painful and repulsive. But the inner world of a man

He sat up in bed, trembling, with swollen eyes, and waited, and felt that when she did make[Pg 456] her appearance, he woul

gyéevitch threw himself back feebly on his pil

ce, as she approached the bed, with the slowness of an ox. Sighing, yawning, and knocking against t

erently watching in himself the slow disappearance of the fr

decided to go and take a bath in the river, and this animated him, to a certain degree. Treading softly over the floors, he passed the room in which the colonel's snore was booming, then the door of another chamber. He paused, for an in

to the earth, in joyous, sparkling tears, they vanished. The earth was damp, but it had swallowed up all the moisture which had fallen during the night, and nowhere was there mud or a puddle visible:-Everything round about was pure, and fresh and new

d and soul during the night that was past began to release him from its folds, making

, close at hand, a fish was splashing, and this splashing, and the songs of the birds were the only sounds which broke the stillness of the morning. Had it not been damp, he might

n paces. As he strolled thus noiselessly, on the very edge of the water, he knew that new and ever new scenes awaited him. And he scrutinized in detail the outlines of every bay, and the forms

e, he came to a

ned on it like silver scales. They trickled slowly from her shoulders and breast, and fell into the water, and before falling, each drop glittered for a long time in the sunlight, as though it did no

no other desire, save that of gazing upon her. Above her head, on the branch of a hazel-bush, a nightingale was sobbing and singing, but for him, the whole light of the sun, a

e beheld for a few seconds only, for the girl suddenly raised her head,

g

which cramped him. The girl gazed at him with flashing eyes, and a frown of anger intersec

are you doing? Aren't yo

, hardly able to stand on his feet, which were trembling with his efforts to support his unnaturally-curved body, flaming with the torture of p

ovement to swim away, but halted

I will not te

his trembling lips refused to utter the w

y!"-screamed the girl.-"You

g eyes, and kneeling there, he waited for her, and he would have waited, had h

to you...." whispered the young girl, with loathi

, to her very toes, before him, very beautiful and wrathful; he saw this, and awaited her with

face from something damp and heavy

g

by a powerful blow in the breast, he fell on his back. He was not beaten again. The bushes rustled and grew still.... Incredibly long were the seconds of sullen silence which ensued after that rustling died out. The man still lay there motionless, crushed by his disgrace, and filled with an instinctive longing to hide himself

eyes he saw Várenka bending over him. Through her finger

rn ... Ekh, you stupid!... Do say that you tumbled into the water from the bank.... Aren't you ashamed

least, diminish or augment what he felt. And he made no reply to her

g

ll not see you

ered and understood that he ough

because, with a wave of her han

a tree, or something, and stared dully at the tur

... slowly ... slowly