A Nobleman's Nest

e you, although eight years have passed since I saw you last. You wer

,"-replied Liza:-"she ha

ieve?"-said Lavrétzky, as he m

es

at that time, such as one does not for

laughter were resounding; he had imparted some gossip of the town to Márya Dmítrievna and Gedeónovsky, who had already returned from the garden, and was him

in!"-she exclaimed, in a drawling and almos

étzky; and shook her proffered hand in a frien

kh, how delighted I am! Permit me, in the first

yself to Lizavéta Mikhaílovn

sky.... But pray sit down! I look at you, and I s

I don't want to cast the evil eye on you-you

rievna, dreamily.-"Whence come you now? Where have you left ... that is, I meant

vrétzky,-"and to-morrow I set out for my es

you will liv

tiny village about twenty-five v

you inherited fro

e s

Ivánitch! You have a sp

scowled

l wing; and, for the present, I need nothing more.

h Lavrétzky. Márya Dmítrievna recovered her composure, leaned back in her chair, and only interjected a word from time to time; but, all the while, she gazed so compassionatel

"-replied Márya

to me that you were

the least; evidently, my good man, nothing affects thee any more than water does a goose; any one else would have pined away with grief, b

lips, fairly overflowed with native health, with strong, durable force. He was magnificently built,-and his blond hair curled all over his head, like a young man's. Only

of sugar-refining, concerning which two French pamphlets had recently made their appearance, and

-she said, moving back from his face.-"Eh! What a splendid fellow thou art! Thou hast grown older, but hast not grown in the least less comely, really! But why art thou kissing my hands,-kiss me myself, if my wrinkled cheeks are not repulsive to thee. Can it be, that thou didst not ask aft

g,"-said Lavré

ence, and they don't give him a cup of tea! Go, Liza, and see about it, as quickly as possible. I r

d Pánshin, approaching the angry old

grown to resemble thy mother, the darling,"-she went on, turning again to Lavrétzky:-"

away to-mo

ith

o Vasíli

morr

es

but the Lord only knew how much longer thou wouldst ramble about abroad. Well, but thou art a dashing fine fellow, a fine fellow; thou canst still lift ten puds in one hand as of yore, I suppose? Thy deceased father, excuse me, was cranky in some respects, but he did well when he hired a Swiss for thee; thou rememberest, how thou and he had fistfights; that's called gymnastics, isn't it?-Bu

of Lavrétzky's conversation with the mistress of the house, Pánshin, and Márfa Timoféevna, he had sat in a corner, attentively blin

so plain?" Liza made him no reply, and without a smile, and with eyebrows slightly elevated, and blushing, she stared at the floor, but did not withdraw her hand; and up-stairs, in Márfa Timoféevna's chamber, by the light of the shrine-lamp, which hung in front of the dim, ancient holy pictures, Lavrétzky was sitting in an arm-chair, with his elbows on his knees, and his face in his hands; the old woman, standing be