The Cossacks: A Tale of 1852

extinguished. Only the sound of bells, borne over the city from the church towers, suggests the approach of morning. The streets are deserted. At rare intervals

ght reflected on the gilt mountings of the icons. Workmen are already getting up after

ntrance a carriage, a sledge, and a cabman's sledge, stand close together with their backs to the curbstone. A three-horse sledge

ittle man, sits looking with tired kindly eyes at his friend, who is about to start on a journey. Another, a tall man, lies on a sofa beside a table on which are empty bottles, and plays with his watch-key. A third, wearing a short, fur-lined coat, is pacing up and down the room stopping now and then to crac

u at least to understand me as I understand myself, and not look at the matter superficially. You say

tter, and his look seemed to express

'To be loved is in your opinion as great a happiness as to lo

e than enough!' confirmed the plain lit

of his arm. 'If it all happened reasonably, and not all topsy-turvy-not in our way but in a way of its own! Why, it's as if I had stolen that love! You think so too, don't deny it. You must think so. But will you believe it, of all the horrid and stupid things I have found time to do in my life-and there are many-this is one I

cigar to master his sleepiness. 'The fact is that

speak again, and put his hands to his head,

han that desire! But then, again, does such love exist? There always remains something incomplete. Ah well! What's the use of talk

e man who lay on the sofa playing with his wat

o go,' he continued. 'Wh

hers as much as it did him. A man is never such an egotist as at moments of spiritual ecstasy. At s

entering the room in a sheepskin coat, with a scarf tied round his head.

anyusha's head, his felt boots and sleepy face, seemed to be ca

d he, feeling for the unfast

he room. The friends kissed once, then again, and after a pause, a third time. The man in the fur-lined c

d will be frank with you because I am fond of you ...

s friend, smiling

perha

e last part of the conversation and wondering why gentlefolk always talk about one and the same thing. 'To

ed the tall ma

y-six

a moment, but said nothing a

wo continue

short plain man with the mild eyes. Tears fille

with a blush to the tall man, 'will you settl

ng on his gloves. 'How I envy you!' he added qui

said: 'Well then, come along!' He even moved a little to make room

id the tall one. But his wish was that the other would g

in said, 'Good-bye,' and a voice cried, 'Re

sledge-drivers began moving, clicking their tongues and pulling at the rei

hat an idea to go to the Caucasus-as a cadet, too! I wouldn't

es

separ

themselves out of one dark street into another, past houses he had never before seen. It seemed to Olenin that only travellers starting on a long journey