The Daughter of the Commandant

ct of Simbirsk, where he married Avdotia, the eldest daughter of a poor gentleman in the neighbourhood. Of the nine children born of this union I alone survived; all my brothers and sisters died young

rought up in another m

s to his care, at twelve years old I could read and write, and was considered a good judge of the points of a greyhound. At this time, to complete my education, my father

d, combed, and fed. What was the good of spending money and hirin

, that his passion was drink. But, as in our house the wine only appeared at table, and then only in liqueur glasses, and as on these occasions it somehow never came to the turn of the "outchitel" to be served at all, my Beaupré soon accustomed himself to the Russian brandy, and ended by even preferring it to all the wines of his native country as much better for the stomach. We beca

temperament, instantly sent for that rascal of a Frenchman. He was answered humbly that the "moussié" was giving me a lesson. My father ran to my room. Beaupré was sleeping on his bed the sleep of the just. As for me, I was absorbed in a deeply interesting occupation. A map had b

t the very moment when I

f Good

he began to assail him with reproaches. In his trouble and confusion Beaupré vainly strove to rise; the poor "outchitel" was dead drunk. My fat

y educatio

igeons on the roofs, and playing leapfrog with the lads of the courtyard,[5] til

ry year. He was very fond of this book; he never read it except with great attention, and it had the power of upsetting his temper very much. My mother, who knew all his whims and habits by heart, generally tried to keep the unlucky book hidden, so that

t in my company. Knight

long ago

m him on the sofa, and remained deep in a bro

he, sharply addressing my moth

mother. "Petróusha was born the same year our Au

d serve. 'Tis time he should cease running in and ou

ears. As for me, it is difficult to express the joy which took possession of me. The idea of service was mingled in my mind with the liberty and

of my departure was at once fixed. The evening before my father told me that he was goi

etróvitch," said my mot

I hope he will do all h

er, frowning. "Why do you wish

u are good enough to write to

what of

rior officer. You know very well he is

there? To spend money and commit follies. No, he shall serve with the army, he shall smell powder, he shall become a sol

ening clothes, and gave it to my father with, a trembling hand. My father re

ty pric

ent," thought I, "i

the paper. At last he finished his letter, put it with my commissio

itch R., my old friend and comrade. You ar

a moment before I thought would be delightful, now seemed horrible to me. But there was nothing for it but resignation. On the morning of the following day a travelling kibitka stood b

heir blessing, and m

ot seek for favours; do not struggle after active service, but do not refuse it either, and reme

darling. I was dressed in a short "touloup"[10] of hareskin, and over it a thick pelisse of foxsk

if he won, and, if he lost, was to crawl under the table on all fours. I stayed to watch them; the longer their games lasted, the more frequent became the all-fours performance, till at last the marker remained entirely under the table. The gentleman addressed to him some strong remarks, as a funeral sermon, and proposed that I should play a game with him. I replied that I did not know how to play billiards. Probably it seemed to him very odd. He looked at me with a sort of pity. Nevertheless, he continued talking to me. I learnt that his name was Iván I

a little town; what are you to do? One cannot always find a Jew to afford one sport. In

surprised at my rapid progress, and after a few lessons he proposed that we should play for money, were it only for a "groch

; then he advised me to taste it, always repea

, "would the servic

scored for us. I raised the stake; in short, I behaved like a little boy just set free from school. Thus the time passed very quickly. At last Zourine glanced at the clock, put dow

ourself; I can wait,

úshk

begun it. We supped with this Arinúshka. Zourine always filled

scarcely stand. At midnight Z

me to meet us

w the undoubted signs of my zeal for the service. "Where did you thus sw

stammering; "I am sure you are drunk.

fusedly the occurrences of the past evening. My meditations wer

were drunkards. We needn't talk of your mother; she has never touched a drop of anything since she was born, except 'kvass.'[14] So whose fault is it? Whose but the confounded

I turned round

liitch; I don'

uiet Savéliitch when once

adache; you won't take anything. A man who gets drunk is good for nothing. Do take a litt

boy came in, who brought

it and read

ETR' AN

e hundred roubles you lost to me y

r de

ZOUR

ference, and, addressing myself to Savéliitch, I bi

asked me in g

," I answered as c

reater. "When had you the time to run up such a debt? It is impossi

obstinate old man to obey me, it would be difficult for me in future to

mine; I lost it because I chose to lose it. I advise

Savéliitch that he clasped his han

there for like a stock?

ch began

, hearken to me who am old; write to this robber that you were only joking, that we never had so much money. A

ily, interrupting him. "Hand over the mon

tch my money. I was sorry for the poor old man, but I wished to assert m

orses were harnessed. I left Simbirsk with an uneasy conscience, and with some silent rem