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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Russian Gentleman, by S. T. (Sergei
+Timofeevich) Aksakov, Translated by J. D. Duff
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: A Russian Gentleman
+
+
+Author: S. T. (Sergei Timofeevich) Aksakov
+
+
+
+Release Date: February 6, 2012  [eBook #38781]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Hunter Monroe and the Online Distributed Proofreading
+Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by
+Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)
+
+
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      http://www.archive.org/details/russiangentleman00aksauoft
+
+
+      
+      
+      
+A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+————
+
+_UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME_
+
+1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._ net
+A RUSSIAN SCHOOLBOY
+
+1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._ net
+YEARS OF CHILDHOOD
+
+BY
+SERGE AKSAKOFF
+
+Translated from the Russian by
+J. D. DUFF
+FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
+
+LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD
+
+————
+
+A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+by
+
+SERGE AKSAKOFF
+
+Translated from the Russian by J. D. Duff
+
+Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
+
+SECOND IMPRESSION
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+London
+Edward Arnold
+1917
+
+All rights reserved
+
+
+
+————
+
+TO J. F. D.
+
+————
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE
+
+
+Serge Aksakoff,¹ the author of this Russian classic, was born at Ufa, in
+the district of Orenburg, on September 20, 1791. His father held some
+office in the law-court of the town, and his grandfather lived in the
+country as the owner of large estates, to which Aksakoff ultimately
+succeeded. His grandfather had migrated about 1760 from Simbirsk to Ufa,
+where the population consisted mainly of Tatars and a number of Finnish
+tribes—Mordvinians, Choovashes, and others.
+
+   ¹ The name is pronounced Aksākoff, not Aksăkoff, and his birthplace
+     is called by Russians _Oo-fá_, not _Yéw-fa_.
+
+Aksakoff was educated at Kazan, and entered the Civil Service in 1808.
+After serving in many different capacities—he was censor of the Press at
+Moscow for some years—he retired in 1839 and devoted himself exclusively
+to literature. He married in 1816; and his two sons, Constantine and
+Ivan, both played a conspicuous part in the public life of Russia. He
+died at Moscow, after a long and painful illness, on April 30, 1859.
+
+His high and secure place among Russian writers Aksakoff owes to three
+works—his _Years of Childhood_ and _Recollections_, which are
+autobiography, and his _Family History_, which is here translated under
+the title of _A Russian Gentleman_. This is his most famous work: his
+portrait of his grandfather is his masterpiece, and his descriptions of
+his parents’ courtship and marriage are as vivid and minute as his
+pictures of his own early childhood.
+
+He began to write this book soon after his retirement from the public
+service. Portions of it were published in a Moscow magazine in 1846; and
+the whole work appeared, with the addition of a short Epilogue, in 1856.
+He published _Recollections_ in the same volume; and _Years of
+Childhood_—which should have preceded _Recollections_—followed in 1858,
+the last year of his life.
+
+_A Russian Gentleman_ seems a suitable title for this book, because the
+whole scene, in which a multitude of characters appear, is entirely
+dominated and permeated by the tremendous personality of Aksakoff’s
+grandfather, Stepan Mihailovitch. Plain and rough in his appearance and
+habits, but proud of his long descent; hardly able to read or write, but
+full of natural intelligence; capable of furious anger and extreme
+violence in his anger, but equally capable of steadfast and even
+chivalrous affection; a born leader of men and the very incarnation of
+truth, honour, and honesty—Stepan Mihailovitch is more like a Homeric
+hero than a man of modern times.
+
+The reader, when he reflects that Aksakoff’s present narrative ends with
+the day of his own birth, will be inclined to think that the author must
+have had a lively imagination. I therefore translate the sentence with
+which Skabichevsky, a critic of reputation, begins his review of
+Aksakoff’s work:—
+
+"Aksakoff’s books are remarkable, first of all, on this ground: you will
+find in them no trace of creative or inventive power."
+
+I suppose myself that he derived his information chiefly from his
+mother; but there are certainly scenes in the book which he cannot have
+owed to this source.
+
+This translation has been made from the Moscow edition of 1900. I should
+say here: (1) that I have abridged some of the topographical detail at
+the beginning of the book; (2) that I have dealt freely with the Notes
+which Aksakoff added, sometimes promoting them to the text, and
+sometimes omitting them wholly or in part. I know of two previous
+translations. A German translation, _Russische Familienchronik_, by
+Sergius Raczynski, was published at Leipzig in 1858. This seems to me a
+good translation, and I have found it useful in some difficulties. An
+English translation "by a Russian Lady" was published at Calcutta in
+1871; and there is a copy in the British Museum. I have not seen this;
+but I have heard that it is inadequate, and the first few sentences,
+which were copied out for me, seem to bear this out.
+
+I have completed a translation of Aksakoff’s remaining book of
+Memoirs—his _Recollections_ of school and college; and I hope that it
+may be published after a short interval.
+
+    J. D. DUFF.
+
+    _Cambridge._
+    _Jan. 11, 1917._
+
+                                  ————
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE
+    FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF
+      1. _The Migration_
+      2. _The Government of Orenburg_
+      3. _Fresh Scenes._
+      4. _My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days_
+    FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF
+    FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF
+    FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO
+    FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA
+
+                                  ————
+
+                          A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF
+
+
+
+1. _The Migration_
+
+
+When my grandfather lived in the Government of Simbirsk, on the
+ancestral estate granted to his forefathers by the Tsars of Muscovy, he
+felt cramped and confined. Not that there was really want of room; for
+he had arable land and pasture, timber and other necessaries in
+abundance; but the trouble was, that the estate which his
+great-grandfather had held in absolute possession, had ceased to belong
+to one owner. This happened quite simply: for three successive
+generations the family consisted of one son and several daughters; and,
+when some of these daughters were married, their portions took the shape
+of a certain number of serfs and a certain amount of land. Though their
+shares were not large, yet, as the land had never been properly
+surveyed, at this time four intruders asserted their right to share in
+the management of it. To my grandfather, life under these conditions was
+intolerable: there was no patience in his passionate temperament; he
+loved plain dealing and hated complications and wrangles with his kith
+and kin.
+
+For some time past, he had heard frequent reports about the district of
+Ufa—how there was land there without limit for the plough and for stock,
+with an indescribable abundance of game and fish and all the fruit of
+the earth; and how easy it was to acquire whole tracts of land for a
+very trifling sum of money. If tales were true, you had only to invite a
+dozen of the native Bashkir chiefs in certain districts to partake of
+your hospitality; you provided two or three fat sheep, for them to kill
+and dress in their own fashion; you produced a bucket of whisky, with
+several buckets of strong fermented Bashkir mead and a barrel of
+home-made country beer—which proves, by the way, that even in old days
+the Bashkirs were not strict Mahometans—and the rest was as simple as A
+B C. It was said, indeed, that an entertainment of this kind might last
+a week or even a fortnight: it was impossible for Bashkirs to do
+business in a hurry, and every day it was necessary to ask the question,
+"Well, good friend, is it time now to discuss my business?" The guests
+had been eating and drinking, without exaggeration, all day and all
+night; but, if they were not completely satisfied with the
+entertainment, if they had not had enough of their monotonous singing
+and playing on the pipe, and their singular dances in which they stood
+up or crouched down on the same spot of ground, then the greatest of the
+chiefs, clicking his tongue and wagging his head, would answer with much
+dignity and without looking his questioner in the face: "The time has
+not come; bring us another sheep!" The sheep was forthcoming, as a
+matter of course, with fresh supplies of beer and spirits; and the tipsy
+Bashkirs began again to sing and dance, dropping off to sleep wherever
+they felt inclined. But everything in the world has an end; and a day
+came at last when the chief would look his host straight in the face and
+say: "We are obliged to you, _batyushka_,² ever so much obliged! And
+now, what is it that you want?" The rest of the transaction followed a
+regular fashion. The customer began with the shrewdness native to your
+true Russian: he assured the Bashkir that he did not want anything at
+all; but, having heard that the Bashkirs were exceedingly kind people,
+he had come to Ufa on purpose to form a friendship with them, and so on.
+Then the conversation would somehow come round to the vast extent of the
+Bashkir territory and the unsatisfactory ways of the present tenants,
+who might pay their rent for a year or two and then pay no more and yet
+continue to live on the land, as if they were its rightful owners; it
+was rash to evict them, and a lawsuit became unavoidable. These remarks,
+which were true enough to the facts, were followed up by an obliging
+offer to relieve the kind Bashkirs of some part of the land which was
+such a burden to them; and in the end whole districts were bought and
+sold for a mere song. The bargain was clinched by a legal document, but
+the amount of land was never stated in it, and could not be, as it had
+never been surveyed. As a rule, the boundaries were settled by landmarks
+of this kind: "from the mouth of such and such a stream as far as the
+dead beech-tree on the wolf-track, and from the dead beech-tree in a
+bee-line to the watershed, and from the watershed to the fox-earths, and
+from the fox-earths to the hollow tree at Soltamratka," and so on. So
+precise and permanent were the boundaries enclosing ten or twenty or
+thirty thousand _dessyatines_³ of land! And the price of all this might
+be about one hundred _roubles_⁴ and presents worth another hundred, not
+including the cost of the entertainments.
+
+   ² "Father," a title of respect or affection.
+
+   ³ 100 _dessyatines_ = 270 acres.
+
+   ⁴ A _rouble_ is worth about 2_s._
+
+Stories of this kind had a great attraction for my grandfather. As a man
+of strict integrity, he disapproved of the deception practised on the
+simple Bashkirs; but he considered that the harm lay, not in the
+business itself, but in the method of transacting it, and believed that
+it was possible to deal fairly and yet to buy a great stretch of land at
+a low price. In that case he could migrate with his family and transfer
+half of his serfs to the new estate; and thus he would secure the main
+object of this design. For the fact was, that for some time past he had
+been so much worried by unending disputes over the management of the
+land—disputes between himself and the relations who owned a small part
+of it—that his desire to leave the place where his ancestors had lived
+and he himself was born, had become a fixed idea. There was no other
+means of securing a quiet life; and to him, now that his youth was past,
+a quiet life seemed more desirable than anything else.
+
+So he scraped together several thousand _roubles_, and said good-bye to
+his wife, whom he called Arisha when he was in a good humour and Arina
+when he was not; he kissed his children and gave them his blessing—his
+four young daughters and the infant son who was the single scion and
+sole hope of an ancient and noble family. The daughters he thought of no
+importance: "What’s the good of them? They look out of the house, not
+in; if their name is Bagroff⁵ to-day, it may be anything on earth
+to-morrow; my hopes rest entirely on my boy, Alexyéi"—such were my
+grandfather’s parting words, when he started to cross the Volga on his
+way to the district of Ufa.
+
+   ⁵ Bagroff is a pseudonym for Aksakoff.
+
+But perhaps I had better begin by telling you what sort of a man my
+grandfather was.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch Bagroff—this was his name—was under the middle
+height; but his prominent chest, uncommonly broad shoulders, sinewy
+arms, and wiry muscular frame, gave proof of his extraordinary
+strength. When it happened, in the rough-and-tumble amusements of
+young men, that a number of his brother-officers fastened on him at
+once, he would hurl them from him, as a sturdy oak hurls off the
+rain-drops, when its branches rock in the breeze after a shower. He
+had fair hair and regular features; his eyes were large and dark-blue,
+quick to light up with anger but friendly and kind in his hours of
+composure; his eyebrows were thick and the lines of his mouth pleasant
+to look at. The general expression of his features was singularly
+frank and open: no one could help trusting him; his word or his
+promise was better than any bond, and more sacred than any document
+guaranteed by Church or State. His natural intelligence was clear and
+strong. All landowners of that time were ignorant men, and he had
+received no sort of education; indeed he could hardly read and write
+his native language. But, while serving in the Army, and before he was
+promoted from the ranks, he had mastered the elementary rules of
+arithmetic and the use of the reckoning-board—acquirements of which he
+liked to speak even when he was an old man. It is probable that his
+period of service was not long; for he was only quarter-master of the
+regiment when he retired. But in those days even nobles served for
+long in the ranks or as non-commissioned officers, unless indeed they
+passed through this stage in their cradles, first enrolled as
+sergeants in the Guards and then making a sudden appearance as
+captains in line regiments. Of the career of Stepan Mihailovitch in
+the Army I know little; but I have been told that he was often
+employed in the capture of the highwaymen who infested the Volga, and
+always showed good sense in the formation of his plans and reckless
+courage in their execution; that the outlaws knew him well by sight
+and feared him like fire. On retiring from the Army, he lived for some
+years on his hereditary estate of Bagrovo⁶ and became very skilful in
+the management of land. It was not his way to be present from morning
+to night where his labourers were at work, nor did he stand like a
+sentry over the grain, when it was coming in and going out; but, when
+he was on the spot, he looked to some purpose, and, if he noticed
+anything amiss, especially any attempt to deceive him, he never failed
+to visit the offender with a summary form of punishment which may
+rouse the displeasure of my readers. But my grandfather, while acting
+in accordance with the spirit of his age, reasoned in a fashion of his
+own. In his view, to punish a peasant by fines or by forced labour on
+the estate made the man less substantial and therefore less useful to
+his owner; and to separate him from his family and banish him to a
+distant estate was even worse, for a man deprived of family ties was
+sure to go downhill. But to have recourse to the police was simply out
+of the question; that would have been considered the depth of disgrace
+and shame; every voice in the village would have been raised to mourn
+for the offender as if he were dead, and he would have considered
+himself as disgraced and ruined beyond redemption. And it must be said
+for my grandfather, that he was never severe except when his anger was
+hot; when the fit had passed away, the offence was forgotten.
+Advantage was often taken of this: sometimes the offender had time to
+hide, and the storm passed by without hurting any one. Before long,
+his people became so satisfactory that none of them gave him any cause
+to lose his temper.
+
+   ⁶ Bagrovo is a pseudonym for Aksakovo.
+
+After getting his estate into good order, my grandfather married; his
+bride was Arina Vassilyevna Nyeklyoodoff, a young lady of little fortune
+but, like himself, of ancient descent. This gives me an opportunity to
+explain that his pedigree was my grandfather’s foible: he was moderately
+well-to-do, owning only 180 serfs, but his descent, which he traced
+back, by means of Heaven knows what documents, for six hundred years all
+the way to a Varyag⁷ prince called Shimon, he valued far more than any
+riches or office in the State. At one time he was much attracted by a
+rich and beautiful girl, but he would not marry her, merely because her
+great-grandfather was not a noble.
+
+   ⁷ The earliest Russian chronicles report that the Russian empire was
+     founded in the 8th century by certain foreign princes called
+     _Varyags_. The nationality of these princes has been a subject of
+     endless controversy, some historians maintaining that they were
+     Norsemen, others denying it.
+
+After this account of Stepan Mihailovitch, let us go back to the course
+of the narrative.
+
+My grandfather first crossed the Volga by the ferry near Simbirsk, and
+then struck across the steppe on the further side, and travelled on till
+he came to Sergievsk, which stands on a hill at the meeting of two
+rivers and gives a name to the sulphur springs twelve _versts_⁸ from the
+town. The deeper he plunged into the district of Ufa, the more he was
+impressed by the spaciousness and fertility of that country. The first
+place where he found trees growing was the district of Boogoorooslan;
+and in the town of that name, perched on a high hill above the river, he
+made a halt, wishing to make inquiries and learn more particulars of the
+lands that were for sale. Of land belonging to the Bashkirs there was
+little left in this district: some of the occupiers were tenants of the
+Crown, whom the Government had settled on lands confiscated for
+rebellion, though later they granted a general pardon and restored their
+territory to the Bashkir owners; part of the land had been let to
+tenants by the Bashkirs themselves; and part had been bought up by
+migrating landowners. Using Boogoorooslan as a centre, my grandfather
+made expeditions to the surrounding districts and spent some time in the
+beautiful country watered by the Ik and the Dyoma.⁹ It is an enchanting
+region; and even in his old age Stepan Mihailovitch often spoke with
+enthusiasm of the first impression produced on him by the astonishing
+richness of that soil. But he did not allow himself to be carried away.
+Ascertaining on the spot that any purchaser of Bashkir land was quite
+sure to be involved in endless disputes and lawsuits—for it was
+impossible for the acquirer to make sure either of his own title or of
+the number of the former owners—my grandfather, who feared and hated
+like poison the very name of a lawsuit, resolved to buy no land direct
+from the Bashkirs or without formal legal documents to confirm his
+ownership. Thus he hoped to exclude the possibility of disputes, and
+surely he had reason for such a hope; but things turned out very
+differently, and the last claim was only settled by his youngest
+grandson when he was forty years old.
+
+   ⁸ A _verst_ is two-thirds of a mile.
+
+   ⁹ Pronounce Dyáw-ma.
+
+My grandfather returned reluctantly from the banks of the Ik and the
+Dyoma to Boogoorooslan, where he bought land from a Russian lady near
+the river of that name and distant twenty-five _versts_ from the town.
+The river is rapid and deep and never runs dry. For forty _versts_, from
+the town of Boogoorooslan to the Crown settlement of Fair Bank, the
+country on both sides of the river was uninhabited, so that there was
+ample room; and the amenities of the spot were wonderful. The river was
+so transparent that, if you threw in a copper coin, you could see it
+resting on the bottom even in pools fifteen feet deep. In some places
+there was a thick border of trees and bushes—birches, poplars,
+service-trees, guelder-roses, and bird-cherries, where the hop-bines
+trailed their green festoons and hung their straw-coloured clusters from
+tree to tree; in other places, the grass grew tall and strong, with an
+infinite profusion of flowers, including tall Meadow Sweet, Lords’ Pride
+(the scarlet Lychnis), Kings’ Curls (the Martagon lily), and Cat-grass
+or Valerian. The river flows along a valley varying in breadth and
+bordered on both sides by sloping hills with a steep cliff here and
+there; the slopes were thickly covered with hard-wood trees of all
+sorts. As you got out of the valley, the level steppe spread out before
+you, a black virgin soil over two feet in depth. Along the river and in
+the neighbouring marshes, wild ducks of all kinds, and geese, woodcocks,
+and snipe made their nests and filled the air with their different notes
+and calls; while on the table-land above, where the grass grew thick and
+strong, the music in the air was as rich and quite distinct. Every kind
+of bird that lives in the steppe bred there in multitudes—bustards,
+cranes, and hawks; and on the wooded slopes there were quantities of
+black-game. The river swarmed with every variety of fish that could
+endure its ice-cold water—pike, perch, chub, dace, and even salmon. Both
+steppe and forest were filled beyond belief with wild creatures. In a
+word, the place was, and still is, a paradise for the sportsman.
+
+My grandfather bought about 12,000 acres for 2500 _roubles_. That was a
+large sum in those days, and the price was much higher than was
+generally paid. When he had assured his title by legal documents, he
+went back with a light heart to his expectant family in the Government
+of Simbirsk. There he set to work with fierce energy and made all
+preparations for transferring at once a portion of his serfs to the new
+estate. It was an anxious and troublesome job, because the distance was
+considerable—about 400 _versts_. That same autumn twenty families of
+serfs started for the district of Boogoorooslan, taking with them
+ploughs and harrows with rye for sowing. They chose their ground and set
+to work on the virgin soil. Two thousand acres were lightly ploughed,
+then harrowed, and sown with winter rye; two thousand more were ploughed
+in preparation for the spring sowing; and some cottages were built. When
+this was done, the men travelled back to spend the winter at home. When
+winter was over, twenty more labourers again went forth; and, as the
+spring advanced, they sowed the two thousand acres with spring wheat,
+erected fences round the cottages and byres, and made stoves for the
+cottages out of clay. The second party then returned home. These were
+distinct from the actual settlers, who remained at home, preparing for
+their move and selling off what they did not need—their houses and
+kailyards, stock and corn, and all sorts of odds and ends.
+
+The date fixed was the middle of June, that the colonists might reach
+their destination before St. Peter’s Day,¹⁰ when hay-cutting begins. The
+carts were packed with the women and children and old people, and
+awnings of bast bent over them to protect them from the sun and rain;
+the indispensable pots and pans were piled up inside, the cocks and hens
+perched on the top, and the cows tied on behind; and off they started.
+The poor settlers shed bitter tears as they parted for ever with their
+past life, with the church in which they had been christened and
+married, and with the graves of their fathers and grandfathers. Nobody
+likes moving, and a Russian peasant least of all; but to move in those
+days to an unknown land inhabited by unbelievers, where the churches
+were so distant that a man might die without confession and infants
+remain long unchristened, a land of which rumour reported evil as well
+as good—this seemed a terrible ordeal. When the peasants had gone, my
+grandfather started after them. He had taken a vow that, when
+circumstances allowed, he would build a church dedicated to the
+Presentation of Our Lady—it was actually built by his son—and he named
+the new settlement after the festival. But the peasants, whose example
+was followed by their neighbours, called it New Bagrovo, after their
+master and in memory of Old Bagrovo, from which they had come; and to
+this day the formal name is only used in legal documents. No one knows
+the village, with its fine stone church and high manor-house, by any
+other name than Bagrovo. With unremitting care and attention my
+grandfather watched the labour of the people on their own land and on
+his; the hay was mown, the winter rye and spring corn were cut down and
+carried, and the right moment was chosen for each operation. The yield
+of the crops was fabulous. The peasants thought things were not so bad
+after all. By November, cottages were built for them all, and the
+beginning of a house for the owner was run up. All this was not done
+without help from neighbours. In spite of the long distances, they came
+willingly to lend a hand to the new landowner, who proved to be sensible
+and friendly; they ate and drank and turned to with a will, and sang as
+they worked. In that winter my grandfather went to Simbirsk and brought
+back his wife and children with him.
+
+  ¹⁰ June 29.
+
+Next year forty more serfs were transferred and set up in their new
+abodes; and this proved an easier job. My grandfather’s first operation
+in this year was to build a mill; without it, it had been necessary to
+drive forty _versts_ to get his corn ground. A spot was chosen where the
+river was not deep, the bottom sound, and the banks high and solid. Then
+a dam of earth and brushwood was started from each bank, like a pair of
+hands ready to clasp; next, the dam was wattled with osiers, to make it
+more substantial; and all that remained was to stop the swift strong
+current and force it to fill the basin intended for it. The mill itself,
+with two pairs of millstones, was built beforehand on the lower bank.
+All the machinery was ready and even greased. It was the business of the
+river, when checked in its natural course, to fill the broad dam and
+pour through wooden pipes down upon the great wheel. When all was ready
+and four long oaken piles had been firmly driven into the clay bottom of
+the river, my grandfather invited his neighbours to lend him their
+assistance for two days; and they came, bringing horses and carts,
+spades, forks, and axes. On the first day, great piles of brushwood,
+straw, manure, and fresh-cut sods were heaped up on both banks of the
+Boogoorooslan, while the river continued to pour down its waters at its
+own sweet will. Hardly any one slept that night, and next morning at
+sunrise about a hundred men set to work to dam the stream; they all
+looked solemn and serious, as if they had important business before
+them. They began on both sides at the same moment. With loud cries they
+hurled with sturdy arms faggots of brushwood into the water; part was
+carried down by the stream, but part stuck against the piles and sank
+across the channel. Next came bundles of straw weighted with stones,
+then soil and manure, then more brushwood, followed by more straw and
+manure, and, on the top of all, a thick layer of sods. All this
+accumulation was swallowed up till it rose at last above the surface of
+the water. At once, a dozen strong and active men sprang on to the
+barrier and began to tread it and stamp it down. The operation was
+performed with the utmost speed; and the general excitement was so great
+and the noise so vociferous, that a passer-by, if he had not known the
+reason of it, might have been frightened. But there was no one there to
+be frightened by it: only the uninhabited steppes and dark forests and
+all the region round re-echoed the shouts of the labourers. The voices
+of women and children swelled the chorus; for such an important affair
+aroused interest in every breast, and the noise and excitement were
+universal. The resistance of the river was not overcome at once. For
+long it tore away and carried down brushwood and straw, manure and turf;
+but man at last conquered. The baffled water stopped, as if reflecting;
+then it turned back, and rose till it poured over its banks and
+inundated the fields. By evening the mill-pond had taken shape; or one
+might call it a floating lake, where the banks and all the green grass
+and bushes had disappeared; only the tops of submerged trees, doomed to
+die, stuck up here and there. Next day the mill began to work, and goes
+on working and grinding to this day.
+
+
+
+2. _The Government of Orenburg_
+
+
+How wonderful in those days was that region, in its wild and virginal
+richness! It is different now; it is not even what it was when I first
+knew it, when it was still fresh and blooming and undeflowered by hordes
+of settlers from every quarter. It is changed; but it is still beautiful
+and spacious, fertile and infinitely various, the Government of
+Orenburg. The name sounds strange, and the termination "burg" is
+inappropriate enough. But when I first knew that earthly paradise, it
+was still called the "Province of Ufa."
+
+Thirty years ago, one who was born within it¹¹ expressed in verse his
+fears for the future of the land; and these have been realised in part,
+and the process still goes on. But still hast thou power to charm,
+wondrous land! Bright and clear, like great deep cups, are thy
+lakes—Kandry and Karatabyn. Full of water and full of all manner of fish
+are thy rivers, whether they race down the valleys and rocky gorges of
+the Ural Mountains, or steal softly, glittering like a string of jewels,
+through the prairie-grass of the steppes. Wondrous are these rivers of
+the steppe, formed by the union of countless little streams flowing from
+deep water-holes—streams so tiny that you can hardly see the trickle of
+water in them. And thy rivers that flow swift from fountain-heads and
+run under the shade of trees and bushes are transparent and cold as ice
+even in the heat of summer; and all kinds of trout, good to eat and
+beautiful to see, live there; but they soon die out, when man begins to
+defile with unclean hands the virgin streams of their clear cool
+retreats. Fertile is the black soil of thy corn-land, and rich thy
+pastures; and thy fields are covered in spring with the milk-white
+blossom of the cherry-tree and wild peach, while in summer the fragrant
+strawberries spread over them like a scarlet cloth, and the small
+cherries that turn purple later when they ripen in autumn. Rich is the
+harvest that rewards the peasant, however idle and ignorant, when he
+scratches with his rude ploughshare the surface of thy soil. Fresh and
+green and mighty stand thy forests of all manner of trees; and buzzing
+swarms of wild bees fill their self-chosen nests among the leaves with
+the fragrant honey of the lime blossom. The Ufa marten, with its
+priceless fur, is still to be found in the wooded head-waters of the
+great rivers.
+
+  ¹¹ Aksakoff himself.
+
+The original inhabitants of the land are men of peace, the wandering
+tribes of Bashkirs. Their herds of horses and cattle and flocks of
+sheep, though far smaller than they were once, are still numerous. When
+the fierce storms of winter are over, the Bashkirs crawl forth, thin and
+wasted like flies in winter. With the first warmth and the first
+sprouting of the grass they drive out into the open their half-starved
+herds and flocks, and drag themselves after them, with their wives and
+children. A few weeks change them beyond recognition, both men and
+animals. What were mere skeletons have become spirited and tireless
+horses; and the stallion proudly guards his mares as they graze, and
+keeps both man and beast at a distance. The meagre cattle have grown
+fat, and their udders swell with milk. But for cow’s milk the Bashkir
+cares nothing. For the _koumiss_¹² is now in season and already
+fermenting in the bags of horse-hide; and every creature that can drink,
+from the infant in arms to the tottering old man, swallows the
+health-giving beverage, a drink for heroes. And the result is
+marvellous: all the traces of winter and starvation soon disappear, and
+even the troubles of old age; their faces fill out, and pale sunken
+cheeks take on the hue of health. But their deserted villages are a sad
+and even alarming sight. A traveller unfamiliar with the country might
+well start, appalled by the emptiness and deadness of the place. There
+stand the deserted huts with their white chimneys, and the empty
+window-frames look mournfully at him like human faces with no eyes in
+the sockets. He may hear the bark of a half-starved watch-dog, whom his
+master visits and feeds at long intervals, or the mewing of a cat that
+has run wild and finds food for herself; but that is all: not one human
+being remains.
+
+  ¹² Mare’s milk, fermented.
+
+How varied and picturesque, each in its own way, are the different
+regions of the land—the forests, the steppes, and, more than all, the
+hills, where all metals, even gold, are found along the slopes of the
+Ural ridge! How vast the expanse, from the borders of Vyatka and Perm,
+where the mercury often freezes in winter, to the little town of Guryeff
+on the edge of Astrakhan, where small grapes ripen in the open
+air—grapes whose wine the Cossack trades in and drinks himself for
+coolness in summer and warmth in winter. How noble is the fishing in the
+Urals, unlike any other both in the fish that are caught and in the
+manner of catching them! It only needs a faithful and lively description
+to attract general attention.
+
+But I must ask pardon. I have gone too far in the description of the
+beautiful country where I was born. Now let us go back and observe the
+life and unwearied activity of my grandfather.
+
+
+
+3. _Fresh Scenes._
+
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had peace at last. Many a time he thanked God from
+the bottom of his heart, when the move was completed and he found
+elbow-room on the banks of the Boogoorooslan. His spirits rose, and even
+his health was better. No petitions, no complaints, no disputes, no
+disturbance! No tiresome relations, no divided ownership! No thieves to
+fell his trees, no trespassers to trample down his corn and meadows! He
+was undisputed master at last in his own house, and beyond it: he might
+feed sheep, or mow grass, or cut firewood where he pleased without a
+word from any one.
+
+The peasants too soon became accustomed to the new habitation and soon
+grew to love it. And that was but natural. Old Bagrovo had wood, but
+little water; meadow-land was so scarce that it was hard for them to
+find grazing for one horse and one cow apiece; and, though the natural
+soil was good, it had been cropped over and over from time immemorial
+till its fertility was exhausted. The new site gave them wide and
+fertile fields and meadows, never touched till now by ploughshare or
+scythe; it gave them a rapid river with good fresh water, and springs in
+abundance; it gave them a broad pond with fish in it and the river
+running through it; and it gave them a mill at their very doors, whereas
+before they had to travel twenty-five _versts_ to have a load of corn
+ground, and perhaps to wait after all a couple of days till their turn
+came.
+
+It surprises you perhaps that I called Old Bagrovo waterless; and you
+may blame my ancestors for choosing such a spot to settle in. But they
+were not to blame, and things were different in old days. Once on a time
+Old Bagrovo stood on a pretty stream, the Maina, which took its rise
+from the Mossy Lakes three _versts_ distant; and also along the whole
+settlement there stretched a lake, not broad but long and clear, and
+deep in the middle, with a bottom of white sand; and another streamlet,
+called The White Spring, issued from this lake. So it was in former
+times, but it is quite another story now. Tradition tells that the Mossy
+Lakes were once deep round pools surrounded by trees, with ice-cold
+water and treacherous banks, and no one ventured near them except in
+winter, because the banks were said to give way under foot and engulf
+the bold disturber of the water-spirit’s solitary reign. But man is the
+sworn foe of Nature, and she can never withstand his treacherous warfare
+against her beauty. Ancient tradition, unsupported by modern instances,
+ceased to be believed. The people steeped their flax on the banks and
+drove their herds there to water; and the Mossy Lakes were polluted by
+degrees, and grew shallow at the edges, and even dried up in places
+where the wood all round was cut. Then a thick scurf formed on the top;
+moss grew over it, and the vein-like roots of water-plants bound it
+together, till it was covered with tussocks and bushes and even
+fir-trees of some size. One of the pools is now entirely covered; of the
+other are left two deep water-holes, which even now are formidable for a
+stranger to approach, because the soil, with all its covering of plants
+and bushes and trees, rises and falls beneath the foot like a wave at
+sea. Owing to the dwindling of these lakes, the Maina now issues from
+the ground some distance below the settlement, and its upper waters have
+dried up. The lake by the village has become a filthy stinking canal;
+the sandy bottom is covered to a depth of over seven feet by mud and
+refuse of all kinds from the peasants’ houses; of the White Spring not a
+trace is left, and the memory of it will soon be forgotten.
+
+When my grandfather had settled down at New Bagrovo, he set to work,
+with all his natural activity and energy, to grow corn and breed stock.
+The peasants caught the contagion of his enthusiasm and worked so hard
+and steadily that they were soon as well set up and provided for as if
+they had been old inhabitants. After a few years, their stackyards took
+up thrice as much room as the village-street; and their drove of stout
+horses, their herds and flocks and pigs, would have done honour to a
+large and prosperous settlement.
+
+After the success of Stepan Mihailovitch, migration to Ufa or Orenburg
+became more fashionable every year. Native tribes came streaming from
+every quarter—Mordvinians, Choovashes, Tatars, and Meshchers, and plenty
+of Russian settlers too—Crown-tenants from different districts, and
+landowners, large and small. My grandfather began to have neighbours.
+His brother-in-law, Ivan Nyeklyoodoff, bought land within twelve
+_versts_ of Bagrovo, transferred his serfs there, built a wooden church,
+named his estate Nyeklyoodovo, and came to live there with his family.
+This afforded no gratification to my grandfather, who had a strong
+dislike to all his wife’s relations—all "Nyeklyoodovdom," as he used to
+call them. Then a landowner called Bakmétyeff bought land still closer,
+about ten _versts_ from Bagrovo, on the upper waters of the Sovrusha,
+which runs to the south-west like the Boogoorooslan. On the other side,
+twelve _versts_ along the river Nasyagai, another settlement was
+planted, Polibino, which now belongs to the Karamzin family. The
+Nasyagai is a larger and finer river than the Boogoorooslan, with more
+water and more fish in it, and birds still breed there much more freely.
+On the road to Polibino, and eight _versts_ from Bagrovo, a number of
+Mordvinians settled in a large village called Noikino, and built a mill
+on the streamlet of Bokla. Close to the mill, the Bokla runs into the
+Nasyagai, which rolls its swift strong current straight to the
+south-west, and is reinforced by the Boogoorooslan not far from the town
+of that name. Then the Nasyagai unites with the Great Kinel, and loses
+thenceforth its sounding and significant¹³ name.
+
+  ¹³ Na-sya-gai = "Pursuer."
+
+The latest arrivals were some Mordvinian colonists, a detachment from
+the larger settlement at Mordovsky Boogoorooslan, nine _versts_ from
+Bagrovo. This smaller settlement, called Kivatsky, was within two
+_versts_ of my grandfather, down the river; and he made a wry face at
+first; for it reminded him of old times in Simbirsk. But the result was
+quite different. They were good-tempered, quiet people, who respected my
+grandfather as much as the official in charge of them.
+
+Before many years had passed, Stepan Mihailovitch had gained the deep
+respect and love too of the whole district. He was a real benefactor to
+his neighbours, near or far, old or new, and especially to the latter,
+owing to their ignorance of the place and lack of supplies, and the
+various difficulties which always befall settlers. Too often people
+start off on this difficult job without due preparation, without even
+providing themselves with bread and corn or the means to buy them. My
+grandfather’s full granaries were always open to such people. "Take what
+you want, and pay me back next harvest, if you can; and if you
+can’t—well, never mind!"—with such words as these he used to distribute
+with a generous hand corn seed and flour. And more than this: he was so
+sensible, so considerate towards petitioners, and so inflexibly strict
+in the keeping of his word, that he soon became quite an oracle in that
+newly settled corner of the spacious district of Orenburg. Not only did
+he help his neighbours by his generosity, but he taught them how to
+behave. To speak the truth was the only key to his favour: a man who had
+once lied to him and deceived him was ill advised if he came again to
+Bagrovo: he would be certain to depart with empty hands, and might think
+himself lucky if he came off with a whole skin. My grandfather settled
+many family disputes and smothered many lawsuits at their first birth.
+People travelled from every quarter to seek his advice and hear his
+decision; and both were punctiliously followed. I have known grandsons
+and great-grandsons of that generation and heard them speak of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and the figure of the strict master but kind benefactor is
+still unforgotten. I have often heard striking facts told about him by
+simple people, who shed tears and crossed themselves as they ejaculated
+a prayer for his soul’s rest. It is not surprising that his peasants
+loved so excellent a master; but he was loved also by his personal
+servants who had often to endure the terrible storms of his furious
+rage. Many of his younger servants spent their last days under my roof;
+and in their old age they liked to talk of their late master—of his
+strict discipline and passionate temper, and also of his goodness and
+justice; and they never spoke of him with dry eyes.
+
+Yet this kind, helpful, and even considerate man was subject at times to
+fearful explosions of anger which utterly defaced the image of humanity
+in him and made him capable, for the time, of repulsive and ferocious
+actions. I once saw him in this state when I was a child—it was many
+years after the time I am writing about—and the fear that I felt has
+left a lively impression on my mind to this day. I seem to see him
+before me now. He was angry with one of his daughters; I believe she had
+told him a lie and persisted in it. It was impossible to recognise his
+former self. He was trembling all over and supported on each side by a
+servant; his face was convulsed, and a fierce fire shot from his eyes
+which were clouded and darkened with fury. "Let me get at her!"—he
+called out in a strangled voice. (So far, my recollection is clear; and
+the rest I have often heard others tell.) My grandmother tried to throw
+herself at his feet, to intercede for the culprit; but in an instant her
+kerchief and cap flew to a distance, and Stepan Mihailovitch was
+dragging his wife though she was now old and stout, over the floor by
+her hair. Meantime, not only the offender, but all her sisters, and even
+their brother with his young wife and little son,¹⁴ had fled out of
+doors and sought concealment in the wood that grew round the house. The
+rest of them spent the whole night there; but the daughter-in-law,
+fearing that her child would catch cold, went back and passed the night
+in a servant’s cottage. For a long time my grandfather raged at large
+through the deserted house. At last, when he was weary of dragging his
+wife about by the hair, and weary of striking his servants, Mazan and
+Tanaichonok, he dropped upon his bed utterly exhausted and soon fell
+into a deep sleep which lasted till the following morning.
+
+  ¹⁴ _I.e._ the author, who in childhood was called Seryozha (short for
+     Serghéi).
+
+At dawn Stepan Mihailovitch woke up. His face was bright and clear, and
+his voice cheerful as he hailed his wife. She hurried in at once from
+the next room, looking as if nothing had happened the day before. "I
+want my tea! Where are the children, and Alexyéi and his wife? I want to
+see Seryozha"—thus spoke the madman on his waking, and all the family
+appeared, composed and cheerful, in his presence. But there was one
+exception. His daughter-in-law was a woman of strong character herself,
+and no entreaties could induce her to smile so soon upon the wild beast
+of the day before; and her little son kept constantly saying, "I won’t
+go to grandfather! I’m frightened!" She really did not feel well and
+excused herself on that ground; and she kept her child in her room. The
+family were horrified and expected a renewal of the storm. But the wild
+beast of yesterday had wakened up as a human being. He talked playfully
+over his tea and then went himself to visit the invalid. She was really
+unwell and was lying in bed, looking thin and altered. The old man sat
+down beside her, kissed her, said kind things to her, and caressed his
+grandson; then he left the room, saying that he would find the day long
+"without his dear daughter-in-law." Half an hour later she entered his
+room, wearing a pretty dress which he used to say especially became her,
+and holding her son by the hand. My grandfather welcomed her almost in
+tears: "Just see!" he said fondly; "though she was not well, she got up
+and dressed, regardless of herself, and came to cheer up an old man."
+His wife and daughters bit their lips and looked down; for they all
+disliked his favourite; but she answered his affectionate greeting with
+cheerful respect, and looked proudly and triumphantly at her
+ill-wishers.
+
+But I will say no more of the dark side of my grandfather’s character. I
+would rather dwell on his bright side and describe one of his good days,
+which I have often and often heard spoken of.
+
+
+
+4. _My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days_
+
+
+It was the end of June, and the weather was very hot. After a stifling
+night, a fresh breeze set in from the East at dawn, the breeze which
+always flags when the sun grows hot. At sunrise my grandfather awoke. It
+was hot in his bedroom; for the room was not large, and, though the
+window with its narrow old-fashioned sash was raised as high as it would
+go, he had curtains of home-made muslin round his bed. This precaution
+was indispensable: without it, the wicked mosquitos would have kept him
+awake and devoured him. The winged musicians swarmed round the bed,
+drove their long probosces into the fine fabric which protected him, and
+kept up their monotonous serenade all through the night. It sounds
+absurd, but I cannot conceal the fact that I like the shrill high note
+and even the bite of the mosquito; for it reminds me of sleepless nights
+in high summer on the banks of the Boogoorooslan, where the bushes grew
+thick and green and all round the nightingales called; and I remember
+the beating heart of youth and that vague feeling, half pleasure and
+half pain, for which I would now give up all that remains of the sinking
+fire of life.
+
+My grandfather woke up, rubbed the sweat off his high forehead with a
+hot hand, put his head out between the curtains, and burst out laughing.
+His two servants, Mazan and Tanaichonok, lay stretched on the floor;
+their attitudes might have made any one laugh, and they snored lustily.
+"Confound the rascals! How they snore!" said my grandfather, and smiled
+again. You could never be sure about Stepan Mihailovitch. It might have
+been expected that such forcible language would have been followed up by
+a blow in the ribs from the blackthorn staff which always stood by his
+bed, or a kick, or even a salutation in the form of a stool. But no: my
+grandfather had laughed on opening his eyes, and he kept up that mood
+throughout the day. He rose quickly, crossed himself once or twice, and
+thrust his bare feet into a pair of old rusty leather slippers; then,
+wearing only his shirt of coarse home-made linen—my grandmother would
+not give him any better—he went out upon the stoop,¹⁵ to enjoy the
+freshness and moisture of the morning all round him.
+
+  ¹⁵ This word from S. Africa seems best for an unroofed veranda, such
+     as this was.
+
+I said just now that Arina Vassilyevna would not give her husband finer
+linen; and the reader will remark with justice that this is inconsistent
+with the relations between the two. I am sorry, but I cannot help it. It
+is really true that female persistence triumphed, as it always does,
+over male violence. My grandmother got more than one beating over the
+coarse linen, but she continued to supply him with it till at last her
+husband got used to it. He resorted once to extreme measures: he took an
+axe and chopped up all his objectionable shirts on the threshold of his
+room, while my grandmother howled at the sight and implored him to beat
+_her_ rather than spoil his good clothes. But even this device failed:
+the coarse shirts appeared once more, and the victim submitted. I must
+apologise for interrupting my narrative, in order to meet an imaginary
+objection on the part of the reader.
+
+Without troubling any one, he went himself to the store-room, fetched a
+woollen mat, and spread it out on the top step of the stoop; then he sat
+down upon it, meaning to follow his regular custom of watching the sun
+rise. To see sunrise gives every man a kind of half-conscious pleasure;
+and my grandfather felt an added satisfaction when he looked down over
+his courtyard, by this time sufficiently equipped with all the buildings
+necessary for his farming operations. The court was not, indeed, fenced;
+and the animals, when turned out of the peasants’ yards, used to pay it
+passing visits, before they were all gathered together and driven to the
+common pasture. So it was on this morning; and the same thing was
+repeated every evening. Some pigs, fresh from the mire, rubbed and
+scratched themselves against the very stoop on which my grandfather was
+sitting, while they feasted with grunts of satisfaction on crab-shells
+and other refuse from the table which that unsophisticated household
+deposited close to the steps. Cows and sheep also looked in, and it was
+inevitable that these visitors should leave uncleanly tokens behind
+them. But to this my grandfather did not object in the least. On the
+contrary, he looked with pleasure at the fine beasts, taking them as a
+certain indication that his peasants were doing well. The loud cracking
+of the herdsman’s long whip soon evicted the trespassers. Now the
+servants began to stir. The stout groom, Spiridon—known even in advanced
+old age as "little Spirka"—led out, one after another, three colts, two
+bays and one brown. He tied them to a post, rubbed them down, and
+exercised them at the end of a long halter, while my grandfather admired
+their paces and also admired in fancy the stock he hoped to raise from
+them—a dream which he realised with entire success. Then the old
+housekeeper came forth from the cellar in which she slept, and went down
+to the river to wash. First she sighed and groaned, according to her
+invariable custom; then she turned towards the sunrise and said a
+prayer, before she set to work at washing and scrubbing plates and
+dishes. Swallows and martins twittered cheerfully as they cut circles in
+the air, quails called loudly in the fields, the song of the larks
+rained down from the sky, the hoarse note of the sitting landrails came
+from the bushes, and the bleat of the snipe from the neighbouring marsh,
+the mocking-birds imitated the nightingales with all their might; and
+forth from behind the hill issued the bright sun! Blue smoke rose in
+columns from the peasants’ houses and then swayed in the breeze like the
+fluttering flags of a line of ships; and soon the labourers were
+plodding towards the fields.
+
+My grandfather began to feel a desire for cold water to wash in and then
+for his tea. He roused his two servants from their ungainly attitudes;
+and they jumped up in a great fright at first, but were soon reassured
+by his good-humoured voice: "Mazan, my washing things! Tanaichonok, wake
+Aksyutka and your mistress, and then tea!" There was no need to repeat
+these orders: clumsy Mazan was already flying at top speed to the spring
+for water, carrying a glittering copper basin, while handy Tanaichonok
+woke up Aksyutka, a young but ugly maid; and she, while she put straight
+the kerchief on her head, called her mistress, Arina Vassilyevna, now
+grown old and stout. In a few minutes all the household were on their
+legs, and all knew by this time that the old master had got out of bed
+on the right side! A quarter of an hour later, a table was standing by
+the stoop—the white tablecloth was home-made and adorned with a
+pattern—a _samovar_,¹⁶ in the shape of a large copper teapot, was
+hissing on the table, and Aksyutka was busy about the tea. Meanwhile
+Arina Vassilyevna was greeting her husband. On some mornings it was the
+etiquette to sigh and look sorrowful; but to-day she asked after his
+health in a loud cheerful voice: "How had he slept? What dreams had he
+had?" Stepan Mihailovitch greeted his wife affectionately and called her
+"Arisha"; he never kissed her hand, but sometimes gave her his to kiss
+as a sign of favour. Arina Vassilyevna, in her pleasure, looked quite
+young and pretty; one forgot her stout awkward figure. She brought a
+stool at once and sat down on the stoop beside my grandfather, which she
+never ventured to do unless he was in a very good humour. "Come, Arisha,
+let us have a cup of tea together before it gets hot," said Stepan
+Mihailovitch; "it was a stifling night, but I slept so sound that I have
+forgotten all my dreams. How did you sleep?" This question was a signal
+mark of favour, and my grandmother replied at once that, when Stepan
+Mihailovitch had a good night, she of course had one too, but that
+Tanyusha¹⁷ was restless all night. Tanyusha was the youngest daughter
+and, as often happens, her father’s favourite. He was vexed to hear this
+account of her, and ordered that she was not to be called but to sleep
+on till she woke. She had been called at the same time as her sisters
+Alexandra and Elizabeth, and was dressed already; but no one ventured to
+mention this fact. She made haste to undress, got back into bed, and had
+the shutters drawn. She could not get to sleep, but she lay in the dark
+for two hours; and her father was pleased that Tanyusha had had her
+sleep out. The only son,¹⁸ who was now nine, was never wakened early.
+But the two elder daughters appeared immediately; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch gave them his hand to kiss and called them by their pet
+names, Lexanya and Lizanka. They were both clever girls, and Alexandra
+had also inherited her father’s active mind and violent temper but none
+of his good qualities. My grandmother, a very simple woman, was entirely
+under the thumb of her daughters; and, whenever she ventured to play
+tricks upon Stepan Mihailovitch, it was because they had put her up to
+it; but she was so clumsy that she seldom succeeded, and her husband
+knew very well who was at the bottom of it. He knew also that his
+daughters were prepared to deceive him whenever they got the
+chance—though, for the sake of a quiet life, he let them suppose that he
+was blind to their goings-on. But this only lasted while he was in a
+good temper: as soon as he got angry, he stated his view of their
+conduct in the most unsparing and uncomplimentary terms, and sometimes
+even chastised them. But, like true daughters of Eve, they were not
+discouraged. When the fit of anger passed and the cloud lifted from
+their father’s brow, they started again upon their underhand schemes,
+and pretty often they were successful in carrying them out.
+
+  ¹⁶ An urn, with a central receptacle for hot charcoal. In this case,
+     the receptacle is inserted where the teapot lid should be.
+
+  ¹⁷ A diminutive form of Tatyana.
+
+  ¹⁸ The author’s father, called throughout Alexyéi; his real name was
+     Timoféi (Timothy). So his mother, whose name was Márya (Mary) is
+     called Sofya (Sophia).
+
+When he had drunk his tea and talked about things in general with his
+womankind, my grandfather got ready to drive out. Some time before, he
+had said to Mazan, "My horse!"—and an old brown gelding was already
+standing by the steps, harnessed to a long car, a very comfortable
+conveyance, with an outer frame-work of netting and a plank, covered
+with felt, to sit on. Spiridon, the driver, wore a simple livery: he had
+bare feet and nothing on but his shirt, with a red woollen belt, from
+which hung a key and a copper comb. On a similar occasion on the
+previous day, he had worn no hat; but this had been disapproved of, and
+he now wore some head-gear which he had woven out of broad strips of
+bast.¹⁹ My grandfather made merry over this "sunbonnet." Then he put on
+his own cap and long coat of unbleached home-made cloth, placed beneath
+him his heavy cloak in case of rain, and took his seat on the car.
+Spiridon also folded his coat and sat upon it; it was made of unbleached
+cloth but dyed bright red with madder. Madder grew freely in the fields
+round Bagrovo, and was so much used that the servants about the house
+were called by the neighbours "redbreasts"; I have heard the nickname
+myself fifteen years after my grandfather’s death.
+
+  ¹⁹ The inner bark of the lime-tree, used for many purposes in Russia.
+
+In the fields, Stepan Mihailovitch found everything to his mind. He
+examined the rye-crop; it was now past flowering and stood up like a
+wall, as high as a man; a light breeze was blowing, and bluish-purple
+waves went over it, now lighter and now darker in the sunlight; and the
+sight gladdened his heart. He visited the young oats and millet and all
+the spring-sown crops, and then went to the fallow, where he ordered his
+car to be driven backwards and forwards over the field. This was his
+regular way of testing the goodness of the work: any spot of ground that
+had not been properly ploughed and harrowed gave the light car a jolt;
+and, when my grandfather was not in a good humour, he stuck a twig or a
+stick in the ground at the place, sent for the bailiff if he was not
+present, and settled accounts with him on the spot. But to-day all went
+well: his wheels may have encountered such obstacles, but he took no
+notice of them. His next point was the hay-fields, where he admired the
+tall thick steppe-grass which was to fall beneath the scythe before many
+days were past. He paid a visit to the peasants’ fields also, to see for
+himself, who had a good crop and who had not; and he drove over their
+fallow to test it. He noticed everything and forgot nothing. Passing
+over an untilled strip, he saw some wild strawberries nearly ripe; he
+stopped and, with Mazan’s help, picked a large handful of splendid big
+berries, which he took home as a present for his "Arisha." In spite of
+the great heat, he was out till nearly noon.
+
+As soon as my grandfather’s car was seen descending the hill, dinner was
+set on the table, and all the family stood on the steps to receive him.
+"Well, Arisha," he called out cheerfully, "what splendid crops God is
+giving us this year! Great is His goodness! And here are some
+strawberries for you; they are nearly ripe; the pickers must go out
+to-morrow." This attention was almost too much for my grandmother. As he
+spoke, he walked into the house, and the smell of the hot cabbage-soup
+came to meet him from the parlour. "Ah! I see dinner’s ready; good!"
+said Stepan Mihailovitch more cheerfully than before, and walked
+straight into the parlour and sat down at table, without visiting his
+own room. I should mention that my grandfather had a rule: at whatever
+hour, early or late, he returned from the fields, dinner must be on the
+table, and Heaven help the women, if they did not notice him coming and
+failed to serve the meal in time! There were occasions when such neglect
+gave rise to sad consequences; but, on this happy day, everything went
+without a hitch. Behind my grandfather’s chair stood a stout lad,
+holding a birch-bough with the leaves on, to drive away the flies. The
+hottest weather will not make a true Russian refuse cabbage-soup, and my
+grandfather supped his with a wooden spoon, because silver would have
+burnt his lips. Soup was followed by a fish-salad, made of kippered
+sturgeon, as yellow as wax, and shelled crayfish. All the courses were
+of this light kind, and were washed down with _kvass_²⁰ and home-made
+beer; the drinks were iced and so was the salad. There were days when
+dinner was eaten in terrible stillness and silent dread of an explosion;
+but this was a cheerful meal, with much loud talking and laughing. Every
+boy and girl about the place had heard that the master was in a cheerful
+temper, and they all crowded into the parlour in hopes of a "piece." He
+gave them all something good to eat; for there was five times as much
+food on the table as the family could eat.
+
+  ²⁰ A drink made of malt and rye.
+
+Immediately after dinner he went to lie down. All flies were expelled
+from the bed-curtains, and the curtains drawn round him with the ends
+tucked under the mattress; and soon his mighty snoring proclaimed that
+the master was asleep. All the rest went to their rooms to lie down.
+Mazan and Tanaichonok, when they had had their dinner and swallowed
+their share of the remnants from the dining-room table, also lay down in
+the passage, close to the door of my grandfather’s bedroom. Though they
+had slept before dinner, they went to sleep again at once; but they were
+soon wakened by the heat and the burning rays of the sun coming through
+the windows. They felt a strong desire to cool their parched throats
+with some of their master’s iced beer; and the bold scamps managed to
+get it in the following way. My grandfather’s dressing-gown and nightcap
+were lying on a chair near the half-open door of his room. Tanaichonok
+put them on and sat down on the stoop, while Mazan went off to the
+cellar with a jug and wakened the old housekeeper, who like every soul
+in the house was fast asleep. He said his master was awake and wanted an
+iced tankard at once. She was surprised at his waking so soon; but Mazan
+then pointed to the figure in the dressing-gown and nightcap sitting on
+the stoop. The beer was drawn at once and ice added; and Mazan went
+quickly back with his prize. The cronies shared the jug between them and
+then replaced the garments. An hour later their master awoke in
+excellent humour, and his first words were, "Iced beer!" This frightened
+the rascals; and, when Tanaichonok hurried off to the cellar, the
+housekeeper guessed at once where the previous jug had gone. She
+produced the liquor, but followed the messenger back herself, and found
+the real Simon Pure sitting on the stoop and wearing the dressing-gown.
+The truth came out at once; and Mazan and Tanaichonok shaking with fear
+fell at their master’s feet. And what do you think my grandfather did?
+He burst out laughing, sent for his wife and daughters, and told them
+the story with loud bursts of laughter. The culprits breathed again, and
+one of them even ventured to grin. But Stepan Mihailovitch noticed this
+and very nearly grew angry: he frowned, but the composing effect of his
+good day was so strong that his face cleared up, and he said with a
+significant look, "Well, I forgive you this once; but, if it happens
+again ..."—there was no need to end the sentence.
+
+It is certainly strange that the servants of a man so passionate and so
+violent in his moments of passion should dare to be so impudent. But I
+have often noticed in the course of my life that the strictest masters
+have the most venturesome and reckless servants. My grandfather had
+other experiences of a similar kind. This same servant, Mazan, was
+sweeping out his master’s room one day and preparing to make the bed,
+when he was suddenly tempted by the soft down of the bedding and
+pillows. He thought he would like a little taste of luxury; so down he
+lay on his master’s bed and fell asleep. My grandfather himself came
+upon him sound asleep, and only laughed! He did, indeed, give the man
+one good rap with his staff; but that was nothing—he only did it in
+order to see how frightened Mazan would be. Worse tricks than these were
+played upon Stepan Mihailovitch in his time. During his absence from
+home, his cousin and ward, Praskovya Ivanovna Bagroff, was given in
+marriage to a dangerous and disreputable man whom he detested; the girl,
+who was only fourteen and a great heiress, was an inmate of Bagrovo and
+very dear to its owner. It is true that the plot was executed by the
+girl’s relations on her mother’s side; but Arina Vassilyevna gave her
+consent, and her daughters were actively engaged in it. But I shall
+return to my narrative for the present and leave this incident to be
+told later.
+
+He woke up at five in the afternoon and drank his iced beer. Soon
+afterwards he wanted his tea, in spite of the sultry heat of the day;
+for he believed that a very hot drink makes hot weather more bearable.
+But first he went down to bathe in the cool waters of the river, which
+flowed under the windows of the house. When he came back, the whole
+family were waiting for him at the tea-table—the same table set in the
+shade, with the same hissing teapot and the same Aksyutka. When he had
+drunk his fill of his favourite sudorific beverage, with cream so thick
+that the curd on it was yellow, my grandfather proposed that the whole
+party should make an expedition to the mill. The plan was received with
+joy; and Alexandra and Tatyana, who were fond of angling, took
+fishing-rods with them. Two cars were brought round in a minute. Stepan
+Mihailovitch and his wife took their seats on one, and placed between
+them their one boy,²¹ the precious scion of their ancient and noble
+line; while the other carried the three daughters, with a boy to dig for
+worms on the mill-dam and bait their hooks for the young ladies. When
+they reached the mill, a seat was brought out for Arina Vassilyevna, and
+she sat down in the shade of the building, not far from the mill-race
+where her daughters were fishing. Meanwhile Elizabeth, the eldest,
+partly to please her father and partly from her own interest in such
+matters, went with Stepan Mihailovitch to inspect the mill and the
+pounding-machine. The little boy either watched his sisters fishing—he
+was not allowed to fish himself in deep places—or played beside his
+mother, who never took her eyes off him, in her fear that the child
+would somehow tumble in.
+
+  ²¹ The author’s father.
+
+Both sets of millstones were at work, one making wheat-flour for the
+master’s table, and the other grinding rye for a neighbour; and there
+was millet under the pounding-machine. My grandfather was well
+acquainted with all farming operations: he understood a mill thoroughly
+and explained all the details to his attentive and intelligent
+companion. He saw in a moment any defect in the machinery or mistake in
+the position of the stones. One of them he ordered to be lowered half a
+notch, and the rye-meal came out finer, to the great satisfaction of its
+owner. At the other stone, his ear detected at once that one of the cogs
+on the small wheel was getting worn. He stopped the current, and
+Boltunyónok,²² the miller, jumped down beside the wheel. He looked at it
+and felt it and then said, "You are quite right, _batyushka_ Stepan
+Mihailovitch! One of the cogs is a little worn." "A little you call
+it!"—said my grandfather, not at all vexed: "but for my coming, the
+wheel would have snapped this very night!" "I am sorry I did not notice
+it, Stepan Mihailovitch." "Well, never mind! Bring a new wheel, and take
+the worn cog off the other; and mind the new cog is neither thicker nor
+thinner than the rest; the whole secret lies in that." The new wheel,
+fitted and tested beforehand, was fixed at once and greased with tar;
+and the current was turned on by degrees, also by my grandfather’s
+instructions; at once the stone began to hum and grind smoothly and
+evenly, with no stumbling or knocking. The visitors went next to the
+pounding-machine, where my grandfather took a handful of millet from the
+mortar. He blew the chaff away and said to the man who had brought the
+grain to the mill, a Mordvinian and an old acquaintance: "Have a care,
+friend Vaska! If you look, every grain is pounded already, and, if you
+go on, you will have less of it." Vaska tried it himself and saw that my
+grandfather was right. He said, "Thank you," ducked his head by way of
+bowing, and ran off to stop the current. Their last visit was to the
+poultry-yard, where a large number of ducks and geese, hens and turkeys,
+were looked after by an old woman and her little grand-daughter.
+Everything here was in excellent order. As a sign of special favour, my
+grandfather gave both of them his hand to kiss, and ordered that the
+hen-wife should get an extra allowance of 20 lbs. of wheat-flour every
+month to make pies with. Stepan Mihailovitch rejoined his wife in good
+spirits. Everything had gone right: his daughter had shown intelligence,
+the mill was working well, and the hen-wife, Tatyana Gorozhana,²³ was
+attending to her duties.
+
+  ²² A nickname: "Little Chatterer," a diminutive of _boltún_.
+
+  ²³ She had got this nickname ("the town-woman") because she had spent
+     part of her youth in some town.
+
+The heat had long been abating; coolness came from the water and from
+the approach of evening; a long cloud of dust drifted along the road and
+came nearer the village with the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle;
+the sun was losing light and sinking behind the steep hill. Stepan
+Mihailovitch stood on the mill-dam and surveyed the wide mirror of the
+pond as it lay motionless in the frame of its sloping banks. A fish
+jumped from time to time; but my grandfather was no fisherman. "Time to
+go home, Arisha," he said at last: "I expect the bailiff is waiting for
+me." Seeing his good humour, his daughters asked leave to fish on: they
+said the fish would take better at sunset, and they would walk home in
+half an hour. Leave was given, and the old couple started for home on
+one of the cars, while Elizabeth took her little brother in the other.
+As Stepan Mihailovitch had expected, the bailiff was waiting for him by
+the stoop, and some peasants and their wives were there with him; they
+had got a hint from the bailiff, who knew already that his master was in
+the right mood, and now seized the opportunity to state some exceptional
+needs or prefer some exceptional requests. Not one of them was
+disappointed. To one my grandfather gave corn, and forgave an old debt
+which the man could have paid; another was allowed to marry his son
+before the winter²⁴ and to a girl of their own choosing; he gave leave
+to a soldier’s wife,²⁵ who was to be turned out of the village for
+misconduct, to go on living with her father; and so on. Nor was that
+all: strong home-made spirits were offered to each of them, in a silver
+cup which held more than an ordinary dram. Then my grandfather gave his
+orders to the bailiff, shortly and clearly, and went off to his supper
+which had been standing ready some time. The evening meal did not differ
+much from the midday dinner; but the cooler air probably gave a keener
+edge to appetite. It was a custom with Stepan Mihailovitch to send his
+family off to bed and sit up for half an hour or so on the stoop, with
+nothing on but his shirt, for the sake of coolness. This day he stayed
+there longer than usual, laughing and jesting with Mazan and
+Tanaichonok; he made them wrestle and fight with their fists, and urged
+them on till they began to hit out in earnest and even clutched each
+other by the hair. He had laughed his fill; and now a word of command,
+and the tone it was spoken in, brought them to their senses and parted
+them.
+
+All the landscape lay before him, still and wonderful, enfolded by the
+short summer night. The glow of sunset had not yet disappeared, and
+would go on till it gave place to the glow of dawn. Hour by hour, the
+depths of the vault of heaven grew darker; hour by hour, the stars
+flashed brighter, and the cries of the night birds grew louder, as if
+they were becoming more familiar with man; the clack of the mill sounded
+nearer in the misty damp of the night air. My grandfather rose from his
+stoop, and crossed himself once or twice, looking at the starry sky.
+Then, though the heat in his bedroom was stifling, he lay down on the
+hot feather-bed and ordered his curtains to be drawn round him.
+
+  ²⁴ After harvest is the normal time for peasants’ marriages.
+
+  ²⁵ A _soldatka_ is a woman whose husband is away serving in the Army.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF
+
+
+I promised to give a separate account of Mihail Maximovitch Kurolyessoff
+and his marriage with my grandfather’s cousin, Praskovya Ivanovna
+Bagroff. This story begins about 1760, earlier than the time described
+in the First Fragment of this history, and ends much later. I shall now
+fulfil my promise.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was the only son of Mihail Bagroff; Mihail had a
+brother Peter, whose only daughter was Praskovya Ivanovna. As she was
+his only cousin and the sole female representative of the Bagroff family
+in that generation, my grandfather was much attached to her. While still
+in the cradle she lost her mother, and her father died when she was ten.
+Her mother, one of the Baktéyeff family, was very rich and left to her
+daughter 900 serfs, a quantity of money, and still more in silver and
+valuables; and her father’s death added 300 serfs to her property.
+Praskovya Ivanovna was therefore a rich orphan, and would bring a great
+fortune to her future husband. After her father’s death she lived at
+first with her grandmother, Mme. Baktéyeff; then she paid a long visit
+to Bagrovo; and finally Stepan Mihailovitch took her to his house as a
+permanent inmate. He was quite as fond of his orphan cousin as of his
+daughters and was very affectionate to her in his own way. But she was
+too young, too babyish, one might say, to appreciate her cousin’s love
+and tenderness, which never took the form of spoiling, while, under her
+grandmother’s roof, where she had spent some time, she had grown
+accustomed to indulgence. So it is not surprising that she grew tired of
+Bagrovo and wished to go back to old Mme. Baktéyeff. Praskovya Ivanovna,
+though she was not beautiful, had regular features and fine intelligent
+grey eyes; her dark eyebrows, long and rather thick, were a sign of her
+masculine strength of character; she was tall and well-made, and looked
+eighteen when she was only fourteen. But, in spite of her physical
+maturity, her mind and feelings were still those of a mere child: always
+lively and merry, she capered and frisked, gambolled and sang, from
+morning till night. She had a remarkable voice and was passionately fond
+of joining with the maids in their singing or dancing or swinging; or,
+when nothing of that kind was to be had, she played with her dolls all
+day, invariably accompanying her occupation with popular songs of all
+sorts, of which she knew even then an immense number.
+
+A year before Praskovya Ivanovna went to live at Bagrovo, Mihail
+Kurolyessoff, an officer in the Army, came on leave to the Government of
+Simbirsk. He belonged to a noble family in the district, and was then
+twenty-eight years old. He was a fine-looking fellow, and many people
+called him handsome; but some said that, in spite of his regular
+features, there was something unpleasing about him; and I remember to
+have heard as a child debates on this point between my grandmother and
+her daughters. Entering the Army at fifteen, he had served in a regiment
+of high reputation in those days and had risen to the rank of major. He
+did not often come home on leave, and he had little reason to come,
+because the serfs—about 150 in all—who formed his property, owned little
+land and were scattered about. As a matter of course, he had received no
+proper education, but he had a ready tongue and wrote in an easy correct
+style. Many of his letters have passed through my hands; and they prove
+clearly that he was a man of sense and tact and also firm of purpose and
+business-like. I don’t know his exact relationship to our immortal
+Suvóroff;²⁶ but I found in the correspondence some letters from the
+great captain, which always begin thus—
+
+        "Dear Sir and cousin, Mihail Maximovitch,"
+        and end—
+
+    "With all proper respect for you and my worthy cousin, Praskovya
+    Ivanovna,
+
+        "I have the honour to be," etc.
+
+  ²⁶ A famous general in the reign of Catherine II. and a great popular
+     hero.
+
+Kurolyessoff was little known in the Government of Simbirsk. But "rumour
+runs all over the earth," and perhaps the young officer on leave
+permitted himself some "distractions" as they are called; or perhaps the
+soldier servant whom he brought with him, in spite of his master’s
+severity, let something leak out at odd times. Whatever the reason, an
+opinion gradually took shape about him, which may be summed up in the
+following statements—"Toe the line, when you parade before the
+Major"—"Mind your P’s and Q’s, when talking to Kurolyessoff"—"When one
+of his men is caught out, he shows no mercy, though he may try to shield
+him"—"When he says a thing, he means it"—"He’s the very devil when his
+temper’s up." People called him "a dark horse" and "a rum customer"; but
+every one admitted his ability as a man of business. There were also
+rumours, probably proceeding from the same sources, that the Major had
+certain weaknesses, which, however, he gratified with due regard to time
+and place. But these failings were excused by the charitable proverbs—"A
+young man must sow his wild oats," and "It’s no crime in a man to
+drink," and "The man who drinks and keeps his head, Scores two points,
+it must be said." So Kurolyessoff had not a positively bad reputation;
+on the contrary many people thought highly of him. Insinuating and
+courteous in his address, and respectful to all persons of rank and
+position, he was a welcome guest in every house. As he was a near
+neighbour of the Baktéyeff family, and indeed a distant connexion, he
+soon managed to make his way into their good graces; they took a great
+liking to him and sounded his praises everywhere. At first he had no
+special object, but was merely following his invariable rule—to make
+himself agreeable to persons of rank and wealth; but later, when he met
+in their house Praskovya Ivanovna, lively, laughing, and rich, and
+looking quite old enough to be married, he formed a plan of marrying her
+himself and getting her wealth into his hands. With this definite object
+in view, he redoubled his attentions to her grandmother and aunt, till
+the two ladies quite lost their heads about him; and at the same time he
+paid court so cleverly to the girl herself, that she soon had a liking
+for him, as she naturally would for a man who agreed to everything she
+said, gave her everything she asked, and spoiled her in every possible
+way. Next he showed his hand to her relations: he professed that he had
+fallen in love with the orphan girl, and they believed that he was
+suffering all a passionate lover’s pangs, mad with longing, and haunted
+by his darling’s image day and night. They approved of his plan and took
+the poor victim of love under their protection. The favour and
+connivance of her relations made it easy for him to proceed along his
+path: he did everything he could to entertain and amuse the child—taking
+her out for drives behind his spirited horses, pushing her in the swing
+and sitting beside her in it himself, singing with her the popular songs
+which he sang very well, giving her many trifling presents, and ordering
+amusing toys for her from Moscow.
+
+Kurolyessoff knew, however, that the consent of her cousin and guardian
+was a necessary preliminary to complete success, and therefore tried to
+get into the good graces of Stepan Mihailovitch. Under various pretexts
+and provided with introductory letters from Praskovya Ivanovna’s
+relations, he paid a visit at Bagrovo; but the visit proved a failure.
+At first sight this may seem strange; for some of the young officer’s
+qualities were likely to appeal to Stepan Mihailovitch. But my
+grandfather, as well as his quick eye and sound sense, had that
+instinct, peculiar to men who are perfectly honest and straightforward
+themselves, which is instantly conscious of the hidden guile and crooked
+ways even of a complete stranger—the instinct which detects evil under a
+plausible exterior and surmises its future development. Kurolyessoff’s
+respectful manner and polite speeches did not take him in for a moment:
+he guessed at once that there was some knavery underneath. There were
+other objections. My grandfather’s own life was very strict, and the
+reports of the Major’s peccadilloes which had casually come to his ear,
+though many people treated them lightly enough, filled his honest breast
+with disgust; and, though he was himself capable of furious anger, he
+hated deliberate unkindness and cold cruelty. For all these reasons his
+reception of his guest was cool and dry, though Kurolyessoff talked in a
+sensible practical way on all subjects and especially the management of
+land. Praskovya Ivanovna had now come to live with my grandfather; and,
+when the Major began, on the strength of their old acquaintance, to pay
+her compliments which she accepted with pleasure, his host’s head bent a
+little to one side, his eyebrows met, and he shot a look at his guest
+which was hardly hospitable. Arina Vassilyevna, on the contrary, and her
+daughters, had been charmed straight off by the young man’s seductions
+and were quite inclined to say kind things to him; but the storm-signals
+on the face of Stepan Mihailovitch quenched their ardour and made them
+all hold their tongues. The guest tried to restore the harmony of the
+party and to resume their agreeable conversation. But it was no use: he
+received short answers from them all, and his host was not even quite
+polite. Though it was getting late and an invitation to stay the night
+would have been the natural thing, there was nothing for it but to take
+his leave. "The man is a knave and rotten all through," said Stepan
+Mihailovitch to his family; "but perhaps he won’t come here again." No
+voice was raised to contradict him; but, behind his back, the women went
+on for a long time praising the dashing young officer; and one who liked
+to listen to his merits and to tell of them herself, was the orphan girl
+with the large fortune.
+
+With the taste of this rebuff in his mouth, Kurolyessoff went back and
+told Mme. Baktéyeff of his failure. The people there knew my grandfather
+well, and at once abandoned all hope that he would give his consent.
+Long consideration brought no solution of the difficulty. The bold Major
+suggested that her grandmother should invite the girl on a visit, and
+that the marriage should take place without the consent of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; but both Mme. Baktéyeff and her daughter, Mme. Kurmysheff,
+were convinced that Stepan Mihailovitch would not let his cousin go
+alone, or, if he did, would be slow about it, and the Major’s leave was
+nearly at an end. Then he proposed a desperate scheme—to induce
+Praskovya Ivanovna to elope with him, and to get married in the nearest
+church; but her relations would not hear of such a scandalous expedient,
+and Kurolyessoff went back to his regiment. The ways of Providence are
+past finding out, and we cannot judge why it came about that this
+nefarious scheme was crowned with success. Six months later, Mme.
+Baktéyeff heard one day that Stepan Mihailovitch was called away to some
+distance by very important business and would not return for some time.
+His destination and errand I do not know; but it was some distant place,
+Astrakhan or Moscow, and the business was certainly legal, because he
+took with him his man of business. A letter was sent at once to Stepan
+Mihailovitch, begging that the child, during the absence of her cousin
+and guardian, might stay with her grandmother. A curt answer was
+received—that Parasha was very well where she was, and, if they wished
+to see her, they were welcome to visit Bagrovo and stay as long as they
+liked. Stepan Mihailovitch sent this plain answer, and gave the
+strictest injunctions to his always submissive wife, that she was to
+watch Parasha as the apple of her eye and never let her out of the house
+alone; and then he started on his journey.
+
+Mme. Baktéyeff was constantly sending letters and messages to Praskovya
+Ivanovna and my grandfather’s womankind; and she sent news of his
+departure at once to Kurolyessoff, adding that the absence would be a
+long one, and asking whether the Major could not come on leave, to take
+a personal share in the promotion of their scheme. She herself and her
+daughter went at once to Bagrovo. She had always been on friendly terms
+with Arina Vassilyevna, and now, on discovering that she also liked
+Kurolyessoff, revealed the fact that the young officer was passionately
+in love with Parasha; she launched out into praise of the suitor, and
+said, "There is nothing I wish so much as to see the poor little orphan
+comfortably settled in my lifetime; I am sure she will be happy. I feel
+that I have not long to live, and therefore I should like to hurry on
+the business." Arina Vassilyevna, on her side, entirely approved of the
+plan but expressed doubts whether Stepan Mihailovitch would consent:
+"Heaven knows why," she said, "but he took a strong dislike to that
+delightful Kurolyessoff." Arina Vassilyevna’s elder daughters were
+summoned to a council presided over by Mme. Baktéyeff and her daughter,
+a strong partisan of the Major’s; and it was settled that the
+grandmother, as the girl’s nearest relation, should manage the affair,
+without involving Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters; it was to appear
+that they knew nothing about it and took no hand in it. I have said
+already that Arina Vassilyevna was a kind-hearted and very simple woman;
+her daughters sympathised entirely with Mme. Baktéyeff, and it is not
+surprising that she was persuaded by them to promote a scheme which was
+sure to provoke the furious rage of Stepan Mihailovitch.
+
+Meantime the innocent victim laughed and sang, with no suspicion that
+her fate was being decided. They often spoke of Kurolyessoff in her
+presence, praised him to the skies, and assured her that he loved her
+more than his own life, was constantly studying how to please her, and
+would certainly bring her a number of presents from Moscow on his next
+visit. All this she heard with pleasure, and often said that she loved
+Kurolyessoff better than any one in the world. While Mme. Baktéyeff was
+at Bagrovo, she had a letter forwarded to her, in which Kurolyessoff
+assured her that he would come, as soon as he could get leave. Arina
+Vassilyevna promised to say nothing when writing to her husband, and
+also to send Parasha to her grandmother’s house, in spite of her
+husband’s strict orders to the contrary, on the pretext that her nearest
+relative was dangerously ill. When the two ladies left Bagrovo and went
+home, Praskovya Ivanovna cried and asked to go with them; the Major was
+expected soon, and that was an additional attraction; but permission was
+refused, out of respect, it was said, to her guardian’s strict orders.
+Kurolyessoff had some difficulty in getting leave, and it was two months
+before he arrived. Immediately afterwards a special messenger was
+despatched to Bagrovo, with a letter from Mme. Kurmysheff to Arina
+Vassilyevna; the lady wrote that her mother was desperately ill and
+wished to see her grand-daughter and give her her blessing; she
+therefore asked that Parasha might be sent, with an escort. She also
+wrote that Stepan Mihailovitch would certainly have sent the child to
+see the last of her grandmother, and could not possibly resent this
+infraction of his commands. The letter was clearly intended to be shown
+by Arina Vassilyevna, in order to protect herself from her husband’s
+displeasure. True to her promise and reassured by this letter, Arina
+Vassilyevna made her preparations at once and took Parasha herself to
+the place where the grandmother was supposed to be dying; she stayed
+there a week and returned home charmed by the politeness of Kurolyessoff
+and also by some presents which he had brought from Moscow for her, and
+for her daughters as well. Praskovya Ivanovna was very happy: her
+grandmother took a sudden turn for the better; that fairy godmother, the
+Major, had brought her a number of presents and toys from Moscow and
+stayed in the house continuously. He flattered her in every possible
+way, and soon took her fancy so completely, that, when her grandmother
+told her he wished to marry her, she was charmed. She ran up and down
+through the house like a perfect child, telling every one she met that
+she was going to marry the Major and would have capital fun—driving all
+day with him behind his fine trotters, swinging on a swing of immense
+height, singing, or playing with dolls, not little dolls, but big ones
+that were able to walk and bow. You can judge by this, how far the poor
+little bride realised her position. Fearing that reports might reach
+Stepan Mihailovitch, the plotters went to work quickly: they invited the
+neighbours to a formal betrothal, at which the pair exchanged rings and
+kisses, sat side by side at table, and had their healths drunk. At
+first, the bride got tired of the ceremony where she had to sit still so
+long and listen to so many congratulations; but, when she was allowed to
+have her new doll from Moscow beside her, she quite cheered up,
+introducing the doll to every one as her daughter, and making it curtsey
+when she did, in acknowledgment of their kind wishes. A week later, the
+marriage took place with all due formality; the bride’s age was given as
+seventeen instead of fifteen, but no one would have guessed the truth,
+to look at her.
+
+Though Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters knew what the end must be,
+yet the news of the marriage, which came sooner than they expected,
+filled them with horror. The scales fell from their eyes, and they now
+realised what they had been about, and that neither the grandmother’s
+sham illness nor her letter would serve to cover them from the just
+wrath of Stepan Mihailovitch. Before she heard of the marriage, Arina
+Vassilyevna had written to her husband that she had taken the child to
+her grandmother: "It was quite necessary," she wrote, "because the old
+lady was in a dying state. I stayed there a whole week, and mercifully
+the invalid took a good turn; but they insisted on keeping Parasha till
+her grandmother got well. I was helpless: I could not take her by force,
+so I agreed against my will and hurried back to our own children, who
+were quite alone at Bagrovo. And now I am afraid that you will be
+angry." In answering, he said she had done a foolish thing and told her
+to go back and fetch Parasha home at all costs. Arina Vassilyevna sighed
+and shed tears over this letter, and was puzzled how to act. The young
+couple soon came to pay her a visit. Parasha seemed perfectly happy and
+cheerful, though some of her childish gaiety had gone. Her husband
+seemed happy too, and at the same time so composed and sensible that his
+clever arguments had power to lull Arina Vassilyevna’s fears to rest. He
+proved to her convincingly that her husband’s wrath must all fall upon
+the grandmother: "And she," said he, "owing to that dangerous
+illness—though now, thank God! she is better—had a perfect right not to
+wait for the consent of Stepan Mihailovitch; she knew that he would be
+slow in giving it, though of course he must have given it in time. It
+was impossible for her to delay, owing to her critical condition, and it
+would have been hard for her to die without seeing her orphan
+grand-daughter settled in life; her place could not be filled even by a
+brother, far less by a mere cousin." Many soothing assurances of this
+kind were forthcoming, backed by some very handsome presents which were
+received by the Bagrovo ladies with great satisfaction and some sinking
+of heart. Other presents were left, to be given to Stepan Mihailovitch.
+Kurolyessoff advised Arina Vassilyevna not to write to her husband till
+he answered the letter of intimation from the young couple; and he
+assured her that he and his wife would write this at once. He did not
+really dream of writing: his sole object was to delay the explosion and
+get time to take root in his new position. Immediately after his
+marriage, he applied for leave to retire from the Army, and got it very
+soon. He then began by paying a round of visits with his bride to all
+the relations and friends on both sides. At Simbirsk he began by calling
+on the Governor and neglected no one of any importance who could be
+useful to him. All were enthusiastic in praise of the handsome young
+couple, and they were so popular everywhere, that the marriage was soon
+sanctioned by public opinion. Thus several months passed away.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had had no news from home for a long time, and his
+lawsuit dragged on interminably. He was suddenly seized by a longing to
+see his family again, and returned one fine day to Bagrovo. Arina
+Vassilyevna trembled all over when she heard the awful words, "The
+master has come!" Hearing that all were alive and well, he entered his
+house in high spirits, kissed his Arisha and daughters and son, and then
+asked in an easy tone, "But where on earth is Parasha²⁷?" Encouraged by
+her husband’s kind manner, Arina Vassilyevna answered: "I don’t know for
+certain where she is; perhaps, with her grandmother. Of course you heard
+long ago, _batyushka_, that she was married." I shall not describe my
+grandfather’s amazement and fury; but his fury became twice as hot, when
+he heard the name of the bridegroom. He was proceeding to settle
+accounts with his wife on the spot, when she and all her daughters fell
+at his feet and showed him Mme. Baktéyeff’s letter; thus she had time to
+convince him that she knew nothing about it and had been deceived
+herself. The fury of Stepan Mihailovitch was now diverted to Mme.
+Baktéyeff; he ordered fresh horses to be ready, rested two hours, and
+then galloped straight off to her house. The battle royal that took
+place between the two may be imagined. The old lady stood his first
+torrent of unmeasured abuse without flinching; then she drew herself up,
+grew hot in her turn, and delivered her own attack upon my grandfather.
+"How dare you make this furious assault on me," she asked, "as if I was
+your bond-slave? Do you forget that my birth is quite as good as yours,
+and that my late husband held a much higher rank than you? I am a nearer
+relation to Parasha, I am her own grandmother, and her guardian as much
+as you are. I arranged for her settlement without waiting for your
+consent, because I was dangerously ill and did not wish to leave her
+dependent upon you. I knew your infernal temper; under your roof, the
+child would have had a taste of the stick some day. Kurolyessoff is an
+excellent match for her, and Parasha fell in love with him of herself.
+Everybody likes him and praises him. I know he did not take your fancy;
+but just ask your own family, and you will soon find out that they can’t
+say enough in his praise!"
+
+  ²⁷ A short form of Praskovya, which itself represents the Greek name
+     Paraskeva.
+
+"You lie, you old swindler!" roared my grandfather; "you deceived my
+wife by pretending that you were dying! Kurolyessoff has bewitched you
+and your daughter by the power of the devil, and you have sold your
+grand-daughter into his hands!"
+
+This was too much for Mme. Baktéyeff, and she let out in her rage that
+Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were in league with her and had
+themselves accepted presents at different times from Kurolyessoff. This
+disclosure turned the whole force of my grandfather’s rage back upon his
+own family. He threatened that he would dissolve the marriage on the
+ground that Parasha was not of age, and then started home. On the way he
+turned aside to visit the priest who had performed the ceremony, and
+called him to account. But the priest met his attack very coolly, and
+showed him with no hesitation the certificate of affinity, the
+signatures of the grandmother, the bride, and the witnesses, and also
+the baptismal certificate which alleged that Praskovya Ivanovna was
+seventeen. This was a fresh blow to my grandfather, for it deprived him
+of all hope of breaking the hateful marriage; and it increased
+enormously his anger against his wife and daughters. I shall not dwell
+upon his behaviour when he got home: it would be too painful and
+repulsive. Thirty years later, my aunts could never speak of that day
+without trembling. I shall only say, that the culprits made a full
+confession, that he sent back all the presents, including those intended
+for himself, to Mme. Baktéyeff, to be forwarded to the proper quarter,
+that the elder daughters long kept their beds, and that my grandmother
+lost all her hair and went about for a whole year with her head
+bandaged. He sent a message to the Kurolyessoffs forbidding them to dare
+to appear before him, and ordered that their names should never be
+mentioned in his house.
+
+Time rolled on, healing wounds whether of mind or body, and calming
+passions. Within a year Arina Vassilyevna’s head was healed, and the
+anger in the heart of Stepan Mihailovitch had cooled. At first he
+refused either to see or hear of the Kurolyessoffs, and would not even
+write to Praskovya Ivanovna; but, when a year had passed and he heard
+from all quarters good accounts of her way of life, and was told that
+she had suddenly become sensible beyond her years, his heart softened
+and he became anxious to see the cousin whom he had loved. He reasoned
+that she, as a perfect child, was less to blame than any of the rest,
+and gave her leave to come, without her husband, to Bagrovo; and, as a
+matter of course, she came at once. The reports were true: one year of
+marriage had wrought such a change in Praskovya Ivanovna, that Stepan
+Mihailovitch could hardly believe it. It was puzzling also, that she now
+showed towards her cousin a kind of love and gratitude which she had
+never felt in her girlhood, and was still less likely, one would think,
+to feel after her marriage. In his eyes, which filled with tears when
+they met, did she read how much love was concealed under that harsh
+exterior and that arbitrary violence? Had she any dark foreboding of the
+future, or did she dimly realise that here was her one support and stay?
+Or did she feel unconsciously, that the rough cousin who had opposed her
+happiness and still disliked her husband, loved her better than all the
+women who had indulged her by falling in with all her childish wishes? I
+cannot answer these questions; but all were struck by the change. In her
+careless childhood she had been indifferent to her cousin, thinking
+little of his rights and her duties; and now she had every reason to
+resent his treatment of her grandmother; yet she felt to him now as a
+devoted daughter feels to a tender father when both have long known and
+loved one another. Whatever the cause of it, this sudden feeling ended
+only with her life.
+
+But what was the remarkable change that had come over so young a woman
+as Praskovya Ivanovna, after one year of married life? The foolish child
+had turned into a sensible but cheerful woman. She frankly confessed
+that they had all behaved badly to Stepan Mihailovitch. For herself only
+she pleaded youth and ignorance, and, for her grandmother, her husband,
+and the rest, their blind devotion to her. She did not ask him to pardon
+the chief criminal at once; but she hoped that in time, when he saw her
+happiness and the unwearied care with which her husband managed her
+property and looked after her estates, her cousin would forgive the
+culprit and admit him at Bagrovo. My grandfather, though he made no
+answer at the time, was completely conquered by this appeal. He did not
+keep his "clever cousin"—as he now began to call her—long at his house;
+he said that her place was now elsewhere, and soon sent her back to her
+husband. At parting, he said: "If you are as well satisfied with your
+husband a year hence, and if he behaves as well to you as he does now, I
+shall be reconciled to him." A year later, as he knew that Kurolyessoff
+was behaving well and paying the utmost attention to the management of
+his wife’s property, and found his cousin, when he saw her, looking
+healthy and happy and cheerful, Stepan Mihailovitch told her to bring
+her husband with her to Bagrovo. He received Kurolyessoff cordially,
+frankly confessed his former doubts, and ended by promising to treat him
+as a kinsman and friend, on condition of continued good conduct. The
+guest behaved very cleverly: he was less furtive and less insinuating
+than he used to be, but just as respectful, attentive, and tactful. His
+bearing was clearly more confident and self-assured; he was giving the
+closest attention to agricultural problems, on which he asked advice
+from my grandfather—advice which he took in very quickly and followed
+with remarkable skill. He was connected in some distant way with Stepan
+Mihailovitch, and addressed him as "uncle" and treated the rest of the
+family as relations. Even before the scene of reconciliation or
+forgiveness, he had rendered a service of some kind to Stepan
+Mihailovitch; my grandfather was aware of this and thanked him for it
+now; he even gave him a similar commission to execute. In fact, the
+visit passed off very well. But, though all the circumstances seemed to
+speak in favour of Kurolyessoff, my grandfather still said: "The lad is
+all right: he is clever and sensible; but somehow I don’t take to him."
+
+It was in the course of the next year that Stepan Mihailovitch made his
+move to the district of Ufa. For three years after his marriage,
+Kurolyessoff behaved with discretion and moderation, or at least
+concealed his conduct with such care that nothing got round. Besides, he
+was constantly moving about and spent little time at home. There was
+only one report, which spread everywhere with exaggeration—that the
+young landowner was a very strict master. During the next two years he
+did wonders in the way of improving his wife’s property, and established
+his character for unceasing activity, bold enterprise, and steadfast
+perseverance in the execution of his schemes. The property had been
+mismanaged previously: the land had been injured by neglect, and the
+peasants brought in very little income, not because there was no market
+for their grain, but because they were spoilt and lazy, and had too
+little land; and another difficulty was that some of them belonged to
+three different owners—Mme. Baktéyeff and her daughter as well as
+Praskovya Ivanovna. Kurolyessoff began by transferring some of the
+peasants to new ground, while he sold the old land at a good profit. He
+bought about 20,000 acres of steppe in the Government of Simbirsk (now
+Samára) and the district of Stavropolsk—excellent arable land, level and
+easy to plough, with over three feet of black soil. The land lay on the
+river Berlya, which had some coppices on its banks near the source; and
+there was also "Bear Hollow," which was left untouched for some time and
+is now the only forest on the property. He settled 350 serfs here. This
+estate turned out highly profitable, because it was only a hundred
+_versts_ from Samára and about fifty from a number of ports on the
+Volga. It is well known that the value of an estate in our country
+depends entirely upon the market for grain.
+
+Next, Kurolyessoff went off to the district of Ufa and bought from the
+Bashkirs 60,000 acres. The soil, though good, was not as productive as
+that in Simbirsk, but there was a considerable quantity of wood, not
+only firewood, but timber for building. He planted two colonies there,
+one of 450 serfs and the other of 50; and he called the larger
+"Parashino" and the smaller "Ivanovka." As the Simbirsk estate was
+called "Kurolyessovo," each of the properties bore one of the names of
+his wife. Such a romantic fancy has always seemed to me curious,
+considering the sort of man that Kurolyessoff turned out to be; but some
+will maintain that these inconsistencies are common enough. He also made
+a seat for himself and his wife in the village of Choorassovo, fifty
+_versts_ from Simbirsk; this was a separate property of 350 serfs which
+his wife had inherited from her mother. He built there a splendid
+mansion, according to the ideas of those days, with all the usual
+appurtenances; it was finely decorated and furnished, and painted with
+frescoes inside and out; the chandeliers and bronzes, the silver plate
+and china, were a wonder to behold. The house was situated on the slope
+of a hill, from which more than twenty excellent springs came bubbling
+out. The house and the hill stood in the centre of an orchard, very
+large and productive, stocked with apple-trees and cherry-trees of every
+possible sort. The internal arrangements—the service and cooking, the
+horses and carriages—were luxurious and substantial. There was a
+constant succession of visitors at Choorassovo, either country
+neighbours, of whom there were a good many, or people from Simbirsk;
+they ate and drank, took walks and played cards, sang and talked, and
+were generally noisy and merry. Kurolyessoff dressed his wife up like a
+doll, anticipated all her wishes, and entertained her from morning till
+night, that is, when he happened to be at home. In short, after a few
+years, he had attained such a position all round, that good people
+admired him and bad people envied him. Nor did he forget the claims of
+religion: in place of an old tumbledown wooden erection, he built a new
+church of stone and equipped it splendidly; he even formed an excellent
+choir out of the household servants. Praskovya Ivanovna was quite
+contented and happy. She gave birth to a daughter in the fourth year of
+her marriage, and to a son a year later, but she soon lost them, the
+girl in infancy, and the boy when he was three. She had become so
+attached to the boy that this loss cost her dear. For a whole year her
+eyes were never dry, her excellent constitution was seriously affected,
+and she had no more children. Meanwhile her husband’s reputation and
+influence grew by leaps and bounds. It is true that his behaviour to the
+small landowners was arbitrary and harsh; yet they, if they did not like
+him, were exceedingly afraid of him; and people of importance thought it
+only to his credit, that he made his inferiors know their proper place.
+His absences from home became more frequent and longer, from year to
+year, especially after the sad year in which Praskovya Ivanovna lost her
+son and would not be comforted. It is probable that he grew weary of
+tears and sighs and solitude; for she refused to have any visitors for a
+whole year. But indeed the most cheerful and noisy society at
+Choorassovo was no attraction to Kurolyessoff.
+
+Little by little, certain rumours began to spread abroad and gain
+strength. According to these reports, the Major was not merely strict,
+as was said before, but cruel; in the privacy of his estates at Ufa he
+gave himself up to drink and debauchery; he had gathered round him a
+band, with whom he drank and committed excesses of every kind; and,
+worse still, several victims had already been killed by him in the fury
+of his drunken violence. The police and magistrates of the district, it
+was said, were all his creatures: he had bribed some with money and
+others with drink and terrorised them all. The small landowners and
+inferior officials went in terror of their lives: if any dared to act or
+speak against him, they were seized in broad daylight and imprisoned in
+cellars or corn-kilns, where they were fed on bread and water and
+suffered the pangs of cold and hunger; and some were unmercifully
+flogged with an instrument called a "cat." Kurolyessoff had a special
+fancy for this implement, which was merely a leather whip with seven
+tails and knots at the end of each tail. They remained for some time
+after Kurolyessoff’s death in a store-room at Parashino, for show, not
+for use; and I saw them there myself; they were burnt by my father when
+he inherited the property. These reports were only too well founded: the
+reality far surpassed the timid whisper of rumour. Kurolyessoff’s thirst
+for blood, inflamed to madness by strong drink, grew unchecked to its
+full proportions, till it presented one of those horrible spectacles at
+which humanity shudders and turns sick. The instinct of the tiger is
+terrible indeed, when combined with the reasoning power of a man.
+
+At last the rumours were changed into certain knowledge; and of all the
+people with whom Praskovya Ivanovna lived—relations, neighbours, and
+servants, every one knew the real truth about Kurolyessoff. When he
+returned to Choorassovo from the scene of his exploits, he always showed
+the same respect to rank, the same friendly attention to his equals, the
+same anxiety to please his wife. She had now got over her loss and had
+recovered health and spirits; the house was as full of visitors as it
+used to be, and something was always going on. At Choorassovo,
+Kurolyessoff never struck any of the servants, leaving the bailiff and
+the butler in sole possession of this amusement; but they all knew about
+him and trembled at a mere look. Even relations and intimate friends
+showed some discomfort and embarrassment in his company. But Praskovya
+Ivanovna noticed nothing, or, if she did, ascribed it to a quite
+different cause—the involuntary respect which every one felt for her
+husband’s remarkable success as a landowner, his splendid establishment,
+and his general intelligence and firmness of purpose. Sensible people
+who loved Praskovya Ivanovna, when they saw her perfectly composed and
+happy, were glad of her ignorance and hoped it might last as long as
+possible. There were, no doubt, some women among her dependants and
+humble neighbours whose tongues itched uncommonly, and who felt a strong
+desire to pay the Major out for his contemptuous treatment of them, by
+disclosing the truth; but, apart from the fear they could not help
+feeling, which would probably not have deterred them, there was another
+obstacle which prevented the fulfilment of their kind intentions. It was
+simply impossible to bring any tales against her husband to Praskovya
+Ivanovna. She was clever, keen-sighted, and determined; and, as soon as
+she detected any hidden innuendo to the detriment of Kurolyessoff, she
+knitted her dark eyebrows and said in her downright way that any offence
+of the kind would be punished by perpetual exclusion from her house. As
+the natural result of such a significant warning, nobody ventured to
+interfere in what was not their business. There were two servants in the
+house, a favourite attendant of her late father’s and her own old nurse,
+whom she specially favoured, though they were not admitted to such close
+intimacy as old servants often were in those days; but they too were
+powerless. To them it was a matter of life and death that their mistress
+should know the real truth about her husband; for they had near
+relations who were personal attendants of Kurolyessoff’s and were
+suffering beyond endurance from their master’s cruelty. At last they
+determined to tell the whole story to their mistress. They chose a time
+when she was alone, and went together to her room; but the old nurse had
+hardly mentioned Kurolyessoff’s name, when Praskovya Ivanovna flew into
+a violent passion. She told the woman that, if she ever again ventured
+to open her mouth against her master, she would banish her from her
+presence for ever and send her to live at Parashino. Thus all possible
+channels were blocked, and all mouths were stopped, that might have
+informed against the criminal. Praskovya Ivanovna loved her husband and
+trusted him absolutely. She knew that people like to meddle with what
+does not concern them, and like to trouble the water, that they may
+catch fish; and she had made up her mind at once and laid down an
+absolute rule, to listen to no tales against her husband. It is an
+excellent rule, and indispensable for the preservation of domestic
+peace. But there is no rule that does not admit of exceptions; and
+perhaps, in the present case, the resolute temper and strong will of the
+wife, added to the fact that all the wealth belonged to her, might have
+checked the husband at the outset of his career. As a sensible man, he
+would not have cared to deprive himself of all the advantages of a
+luxurious life; he would not have gone to such extremes or given such
+free play to his monstrous passions. It is more likely that, like many
+other men, he would have taken his pleasures in moderation and with
+precaution.
+
+Thus several years went by, during which Kurolyessoff gave himself up
+without restraint to his evil tendencies. His degeneration was rapid,
+and at last he began to commit incredible crimes, and always with
+impunity. I shall not describe in detail the kind of life he led on his
+estates, especially at Parashino, and also in the villages of the
+district; the story would be too repulsive. I shall say no more than is
+necessary to convey a true conception of this formidable man. During the
+early years when his whole attention was given to organising his wife’s
+estates, he deserved to be called the most far-seeing, practical, and
+watchful of agents. To all the infinitely various and troublesome
+business, involved in removing peasants and settling them down in
+distant holdings, he gave his personal and unremitting attention. He
+kept constantly in view one object only, the well-being of his
+dependants. He could spend money where it was needed; he saw that it
+came to hand at the right time and in the right quantity; he anticipated
+all the wants and requirements of the settlers. He accompanied them
+himself for a great part of their journey, and met them himself at the
+end of it, where they found everything prepared for their reception. It
+is true that he was too severe and even cruel in the punishment of
+culprits; but he was just, and could keep his eyes shut at times. From
+time to time he allowed himself a little relaxation, when he disappeared
+for a day or two to amuse himself; but he could throw off the effects of
+his debauchery like water off a duck’s back, and come to work again with
+fresh vigour.
+
+So long as he had the burden of his work upon his shoulders, it took up
+all his powers of mind and kept him from the fatal passion for drink,
+which robbed him of his senses and removed the curb from his monstrous
+inhuman passions. Work was his salvation; but, when he had got both the
+new estates, Kurolyessovo and Parashino, into order, and built
+manor-houses at both, with a second smaller house at Parashino, then
+came the season of little work and much leisure. Drunkenness, with its
+usual consequences, and violence, gained complete mastery over him, and
+developed by degrees into an insatiable thirst for human blood and human
+suffering. Encouraged by the passive fear of all around him, he soon
+ceased to set any limit to his arbitrary violence. He chose from among
+his dependants a score of ruffians, fit instruments for his purposes,
+and formed them into a band of robbers. They saw that their master bore
+a charmed life, and believed in his power; drunken and debauched
+themselves, they carried out all his insane orders willingly and boldly.
+If any man offended Kurolyessoff by the slightest independence in word
+or action—if, for example, he failed to turn up when invited to one of
+their drunken revels—the gang set off at once at a sign from their
+master, seized the culprit either secretly or openly wherever they found
+him, and brought him back to Parashino, where he was treated with insult
+and chained up in a cellar underground or flogged by their master’s
+orders. Kurolyessoff was a man of taste: he liked good horses, and he
+liked good pictures—he thought them good at least—to adorn his walls. If
+anything of the kind took his fancy in a neighbour’s house or in any
+house where he happened to be, he at once proposed an exchange; in case
+of a refusal, he would sometimes, if he was in a good humour, offer
+money; but, if this also was refused, he gave warning that he would take
+it and give nothing for it. And he did actually turn up with his gang a
+short time after, pack up whatever he wanted, and carry it off.
+Complaints were made, and the preliminary steps for an inquiry were
+taken. But Kurolyessoff saw this must be stopped at once. He sent a
+message to the district magistrate, that he would flay with the "cat"
+any officer of the law who dared to present himself; and he remained
+master of the situation. Meantime the man who had dared to complain was
+seized and beaten, on his own estate and in his own house, with his wife
+and children kneeling round and imploring mercy. It was Kurolyessoff’s
+custom to make it up with his victims after a time: sometimes he offered
+them pecuniary compensation, but more often he restored peace by
+terrorising them; in any case, the stolen goods remained his lawful
+property. During his carouses he liked to boast that he had taken "that
+pretty thing in the gilt frame" from so-and-so, and that inlaid
+writing-table from some one else; and often these very people were
+sitting at the table, pretending to be deaf or plucking up heart to
+laugh at their own losses. There were even worse acts of violence, but
+these also went scot free.
+
+Kurolyessoff had a very powerful constitution: though he drank a great
+deal, it never disabled him but only put him on the move and roused a
+horrible activity in his clouded brain and inflamed body. One of his
+favourite amusements was to harness teams of spirited horses to a
+miscellaneous assortment of carriages, to pack the carriages with his
+ragtag and bobtail of men and women, and then scour over the fields and
+through the villages at full gallop, with the jingling of bells and the
+singing and shouting of his drunken rabble. He took a stock of liquor
+with him on these occasions and made every one he met, without regard to
+calling or sex or age, drink till they were intoxicated; and any one who
+dared to refuse was first flogged, and then tied to a tree or a post,
+though it might be raining or freezing at the time. Of more revolting
+acts of violence I say nothing. One day he was driving in this state of
+mind through a village, and, as he passed a threshing-floor, noticed a
+woman of remarkable beauty. "Stop!" he called out. "Petrushka, what do
+you think of that woman?" "She’s uncommonly pretty," said Petrushka.
+"Would you like to marry her?" "How can I marry another man’s wife?"
+asked Petrushka with a grin on his face. "I’ll show you how! Seize her,
+my lads, and put her in the carriage beside me!" They did so; the woman
+was taken straight to the parish church, and there, though she protested
+that she had a husband living and two children, was married to
+Petrushka; and no complaints were made either in Kurolyessoff’s lifetime
+or in that of his widow. When the estate came into my father’s hands, he
+restored this woman with her husband and children to her former owner;
+her first husband had long been dead. My father also distributed various
+articles of property to their former owners when they asked for them;
+but many of the things had got worn out by tossing about in
+lumber-rooms. It is hard to believe that such things could happen in
+Russia, even eighty years ago; but the truth of the narrative it is
+impossible to dispute.
+
+This life of drunken and criminal violence, horrible and disgusting
+enough in itself, led on to worse, till the man’s natural cruelty became
+a ferocious thirst for blood. To inflict torture became with him a
+necessity as well as a pleasure. On the days when he could not gratify
+this passion, he was depressed and listless, uneasy and even ill; and
+this was why his visits to Choorassovo grew steadily rarer and his stay
+there shorter. But, on his return to the solitude of Parashino, he made
+haste to reward himself for his abstinence. He had only to watch the
+labourers at their work, to secure a sufficient number of victims; no
+excuses were accepted, and it is always possible to find trifling cases
+of neglect on the land if you are determined to hunt for them. Yet it
+was the personal servants and people about the house who suffered most
+from his ferocity. He seldom flogged a peasant, unless the man had
+committed a serious offence or was personally known to him; but his
+bailiffs and clerks suffered as much at his hands as the household
+servants. He spared no one: every one of his favourites had, some time
+or other, been flogged within an inch of his life, and some of them many
+times. It is remarkable that, when Kurolyessoff got violently angry,
+which seldom happened, he did not use violence; but, when he had got
+hold of a man and intended to torture him for his own amusement, he
+would say in a quiet and even affectionate tone: "Well, my good friend
+Grigóri Kuzmitch,"—Grishka²⁸ being his usual name—"it can’t be helped;
+come, and I will settle accounts with you." Thus he would speak to his
+head-groom, who for some unknown reason was put to the torture more
+often than others. "Scratch him up a bit with the cat," said the master
+with a smile, and then the torture went on for hours, while the master
+drank tea with brandy in it, smoked his pipe, and from time to time
+passed jests on his victim till unconsciousness supervened. Trustworthy
+witnesses have assured me that only one expedient proved successful in
+saving life after such an ordeal: the lacerated body of the victim was
+wrapped up in sheepskins taken warm from the animals’ backs as soon as
+they were slaughtered. Kurolyessoff would carefully examine his victim;
+then, if content, he would say, "Well, that’s enough; take him away"—and
+then he became cheerful, jocular, and amiable for the whole day and
+sometimes for several days. In order to complete the portrait of this
+monster, I shall quote his own words which he repeated more than once
+among his boon-companions: "Don’t talk to me of the knout or the stick!
+They kill a man before you mean it. The ’cat’ is the thing for me: it
+gives pain without taking life!" I have told here only a tithe of what I
+know, but perhaps I have said enough. It is remarkable, as an instance
+of the inexplicable inconsistencies of corrupt human nature, that
+Kurolyessoff, at a time when he had reached the extreme limit of
+debauchery and cruelty, was zealously engaged in building a stone church
+at Parashino. At the time I am about to describe, the outside of the
+church was finished, and workmen had been hired for the internal
+decoration: carpenters, carvers, gilders, and _ikon_²⁹-painters had been
+at work for some months and were occupying all the smaller manor-house
+of Parashino.
+
+  ²⁸ A diminutive form of Grigóri (Gregory).
+
+  ²⁹ An _ikon_ is a sacred image, kept in a church or hung on the wall
+     of a room.
+
+Praskovya Ivanovna had now been married fourteen years. She noticed
+something strange about her husband, whom for two years she had only
+seen at long intervals for a few days at a time, but she did not even
+suspect anything like the truth. She went on with her easy cheerful way
+of life: in summer she gave great attention to her orchard and the
+water-springs which she left in their natural state and liked to clean
+out with her own hands; at other seasons she spent her time with her
+visitors and became a great lover of cards. Suddenly she received, by
+post or special messenger, a letter from an old lady for whom she had
+great respect, a distant relation of her husband’s. This letter gave a
+full description of Kurolyessoff’s life, and ended in this way, that it
+would be sinful not to open the eyes of the mistress of a thousand
+serfs, when they were suffering such monstrous cruelty and she could
+protect them by cancelling the legal authority she had given her husband
+to manage her estates. "Their blood cries to heaven," she wrote, "and at
+this moment a servant known to you, Ivan Onufrieff, is dying in
+consequence of cruel maltreatment. You have nothing to fear yourself
+from Kurolyessoff: he will not venture to show his face at Choorassovo,
+and your good neighbours and the Governor himself will protect you."
+
+This letter fell like a thunderbolt on Praskovya Ivanovna. I have heard
+her say myself that she was quite stunned for some minutes; but she was
+supported by her firm faith in God and the uncommon strength of her
+will, and soon determined on a step from which most brave men would have
+shrunk. She ordered horses to be harnessed, saying that she was going to
+Simbirsk, and then, with one maid and a man and the coachman, drove
+straight to Parashino. It was a long journey of 400 _versts_, and she
+had plenty of leisure to think over what she was doing. She used to say
+herself that she had formed no plan of action whatever; she merely
+wished to see with her own eyes and find out for certain what her
+husband was doing and how he lived. She did not entirely trust the
+letter from his kinswoman, who lived at a distance and might have been
+deceived by false reports; and she did not choose to question her old
+nurse at Choorassovo. The thought of danger never entered her head: her
+husband had always been so gentle and respectful with her, that it
+seemed to her quite natural and quite possible to induce him to return
+in her carriage to Choorassovo. She timed herself to arrive at Parashino
+in the evening, left her carriage outside the village, and walked
+unrecognised—few of the people there knew her—accompanied by her maid
+and man, to the court of the mansion-house. She passed through the back
+entrance, made her way to a wing from which loud sounds of singing and
+laughter were issuing, and opened the door with a steady hand.
+
+Fortune, as if on purpose, had brought together everything that could
+reveal at one flash the kind of life her husband was leading. More
+intoxicated than usual, he was carousing with his boon-companions.
+Dressed in a shirt of red silk, he held a glass of punch in one hand³⁰
+while a tipsy herd of servants, retainers, and country women danced and
+sang before him. Praskovya Ivanovna nearly fainted at the sight. She
+understood all now. Unnoticed, because the room was crowded with people,
+she shut the door and left the house. On the steps she came face to face
+with one of Kurolyessoff’s servants, not a young man, and, fortunately,
+sober. He recognised his mistress and was just calling out,
+"_Matushka_³¹ Praskovya Ivanovna, is it you?"—when she put her hand over
+his mouth and led him to the centre of the courtyard. She said in an
+ominous voice, "Is this the way you go on behind my back? The days of
+your feasting and dancing are done." The man fell at her feet weeping
+and said: "_Matushka_, do you suppose that _we_ find pleasure in his
+goings-on, that _we_ are responsible? God himself has brought you here."
+She told him to be silent and take her to see Ivan Onufrieff; she had
+heard that he was still living. She found him in a dying state, lying in
+a cow-byre in the backyard. He was too weak to tell her anything; but
+his brother, Alexyéi, a mere lad, who had been flogged only the day
+before, crawled somehow from his pallet, fell on his knees, and told her
+what had befallen his brother and himself and others as well. Praskovya
+Ivanovna’s heart swelled with pity and horror. She felt that she also
+was to blame, and she formed a firm resolve to put an end to the crimes
+and atrocities of Kurolyessoff. She thought there would be no
+difficulty. She gave strict orders that her presence should be kept
+secret. Then, as she heard that the smaller house, which had been built
+some years before, but, from some caprice of her husband’s, never
+furnished, contained one habitable room unoccupied by the workmen, she
+went off, intending to pass the remainder of the night there and to
+speak next morning to her husband when he was sober. But the secret of
+her arrival was not strictly kept. The report reached the ear of one of
+the most desperate of Kurolyessoff’s gang, and he, moved by devotion or
+by fear, whispered it to his master. Kurolyessoff was dumbfounded by the
+news; it sobered him in a moment; he felt uneasy and scented danger
+ahead. His wife’s firm and masculine temper had found few opportunities
+to display itself hitherto, but he guessed that it was there. Dismissing
+his band of revellers, he had two buckets of cold water poured over his
+head; and then, braced up and invigorated by this expedient, he changed
+into ordinary clothing and went to see if his wife was asleep. He had
+had time to reflect and fix on a line of action. He guessed the truth,
+that Praskovya Ivanovna had received from some quarter information as to
+his way of life, but that she was incredulous and had come to Parashino
+to ascertain the truth herself. He knew that her eye had rested for a
+moment on his revels, but he did not know that she had seen Onufrieff
+and that Alexyéi had told her the whole story. He intended to play the
+repentant sinner, to excuse himself as best he could for his riotous
+debauch, to pour oil on the troubled waters by his delicate attentions,
+and to take his wife away as soon as possible from Parashino.
+
+  ³⁰ The asterisks apparently imply that the author is unwilling to
+     report some details of this orgy.
+
+  ³¹ _I.e_. mother, a term of affection and respect.
+
+It was morning by now, and the sun had actually risen. Kurolyessoff
+stole on tiptoe to the room occupied by Praskovya Ivanovna and softly
+opened the door. A bed had been made for her on the top of a chest, but
+the sheets were still smooth and no one had lain down on them. He looked
+all round the room and saw Praskovya Ivanovna. She was kneeling in
+prayer; there was no _ikon_ in the room, and her eyes, full of tears,
+were fixed upon the Cross on the church, which was just opposite the
+window and glittered in the rays of the rising sun. He remained standing
+a few moments, and then said in a playful voice: "You have prayed long
+enough, my dear! I am delighted to see you. What made you think of
+coming?" Praskovya Ivanovna rose from her knees with no sign of
+confusion; she refused her husband’s embrace; then, concealing the flame
+of her just anger under a cold determined manner, she told him that she
+knew all and had seen Ivan Onufrieff. She expressed in plain terms her
+aversion to the monster whom she could no longer regard as her husband,
+and she passed sentence upon him: he was to return the document which
+gave him authority over her estates, to leave Parashino at once, never
+to appear before her again, and never to set foot on any of her lands;
+if he refused, she would petition the Governor of the province, and
+reveal all his crimes; and his fate would be Siberia and penal
+servitude. Kurolyessoff was taken by surprise; he foamed at the mouth
+with rage and anger. "So that is the way you talk to me, my beauty! Then
+I shall change my tune too!" roared the infuriated ruffian. "You shall
+not leave Parashino till you sign a document transferring all your
+estates to me; if you refuse, I shall shut you up in a cellar and starve
+you to death." Then he caught up a stick from a corner of the room,
+felled his wife to the floor with his first blows, and went on beating
+her till she lost her senses. Next he ordered some of his trusted
+servants to carry their mistress to a stone cellar, which he locked with
+a huge padlock and put the key in his pocket. He was a formidable figure
+when he appeared before the assembled household; he had summoned them
+all, in order to discover the culprit who had led his mistress to the
+cow-byre; but the man had already sought safety in flight, accompanied
+by the coachman and manservant who had come from Choorassovo. The
+fugitives were pursued at once. Kurolyessoff did no injury to the maid,
+who had refused to desert her mistress: he gave her directions for
+exhorting the prisoner to submission, and then locked her up with his
+own hands in the same cellar. What did Kurolyessoff do next? He began to
+drink and riot more furiously than before. But alas! in vain did he
+swallow brandy like water, in vain did his revel rout dance and sing
+before him—he had turned gloomy and sullen. Yet this did not prevent him
+from working indefatigably for the attainment of his purpose. He
+procured from the local town a legal document by which Praskovya
+Ivanovna professed to sell Parashino and Kurolyessovo to one of his
+disreputable friends—Choorassovo he was kind enough to leave to her—and
+twice a day he went down to the cellar and pressed his wife to sign the
+paper; he begged pardon for his violence in the heat of the moment,
+promised that if she consented she should never see him again, and took
+an oath that he would restore all her property to her by his will. But
+Praskovya Ivanovna, though bruised and half-starved and suffering from
+fever, refused even to listen to any compromise whatever. So things went
+on for five days, and God only knows how it would all have ended.
+
+All this time my grandfather Stepan Mihailovitch was living and
+prospering on his estate of New Bagrovo, which was 120 _versts_ distant
+from Parashino. As I have mentioned already, he had frankly made it up
+with Kurolyessoff and was satisfied with him in general, though he felt
+no fancy for him. Kurolyessoff, on his side, showed great deference to
+Stepan Mihailovitch and all his family, and was ready to perform any
+services for them. When he had planted his colony at Parashino and was
+engaged in organising it, he came every year to Bagrovo and made himself
+very agreeable. He appealed to Stepan Mihailovitch, as a man of
+practical experience in colonising, for his advice; he received it
+gratefully, wrote it all down word for word, and really followed it. He
+even invited Stepan Mihailovitch twice to Parashino, to judge of his
+pupil’s proficiency; and each time my grandfather approved entirely of
+what he saw; and on his last visit, when he had inspected the arable
+land and all the farming arrangements, he said to Kurolyessoff, "You are
+young, friend, but you’ve got on fast; I can teach you nothing." And, as
+a matter of fact, everything at Parashino was in excellent order. Of
+course the host received the old man as if he had been his own father,
+with all possible deference and attention. As years went on, ugly
+rumours about Kurolyessoff found their way to Bagrovo. As my grandfather
+disliked gossip, nothing was said to him at first; but the rumours grew
+steadily. The womankind at Bagrovo knew of them; and Arina Vassilyevna
+ventured at last to tell her husband that Kurolyessoff was leading a
+terribly wicked life. He would not believe it. He said: "Once you
+believe what people say, you will soon accuse your neighbour of robbing
+a church! I know what the Baktéyeff servants were like—thieves and
+shirkers, to a man! And my cousin’s serfs too got spoilt, with no master
+to look after them. It’s not surprising if they’re terrified of honest
+work and decent order. Friend Mihail may have gone to work too fast:
+what of that? they’ll learn to bear it. As to his drinking—if he takes a
+glass after his work, a man’s none the worse for that, provided he
+doesn’t neglect his business. There _are_ beastly things a man shouldn’t
+do; but there, I fancy, they’re lying. You women are too fond of
+listening to gossip." For a long time after this, Stepan Mihailovitch
+heard nothing more of the rumours. At last, some Bagroff serfs, who had
+been transferred from the Government of Simbirsk to Parashino together
+with the serfs of the Baktéyeff family, came to visit their relations at
+New Bagrovo and told terrible stories of their master. Arina Vassilyevna
+again appealed to her husband, and begged that he would himself question
+one of these men who was now at Bagrovo; he was an old man with an
+established character for speaking the truth; and Stepan Mihailovitch
+had known him all his life. My grandfather consented. He sent for the
+man and questioned him, and heard a story which made his hair stand on
+end. He could not think what to do, or how to mend matters. Praskovya
+Ivanovna’s occasional letters showed that she was quite happy and
+undisturbed; and he concluded that she knew nothing of her husband’s
+conduct. In the old days he had warned her himself never to listen to
+tales against her husband; and he felt sure that she was following his
+advice only too well. He reflected, that, if she learnt the truth, it
+was doubtful if she could do anything; she would distress herself
+terribly, all to no purpose. It was therefore desirable that her eyes
+should never be opened. He could not now interfere; and he thought
+interference useless in the case of such a man. "I hope he will break
+his neck or be tried for a murder; he deserves it. No hand but God’s can
+mend a man like that. He is not so hard upon his peasants and labourers,
+and the house-servants are a pack of scoundrels; let them suffer for
+their sins! I have no mind to soil my fingers with this dirty business."
+Thus Stepan Mihailovitch reasoned in his own way. He broke off all
+relations with Kurolyessoff, however, and ceased to answer his letters.
+This hint was understood, and the correspondence came to an end. But to
+Praskovya Ivanovna, Stepan Mihailovitch began to write oftener and more
+intimately than before.
+
+So matters remained till the morning, when the three fugitives from
+Parashino made their appearance before my grandfather as he sat on his
+stoop. They had spent the first day concealed in an inaccessible swamp
+which joined on to the stackyards of Parashino; in the evening they
+learnt from some one in the village exactly what had happened, and made
+their way straight to Bagrovo, considering Stepan Mihailovitch as the
+only possible protector and champion of Praskovya Ivanovna. His feelings
+may be imagined when he heard what had happened at Parashino. He loved
+his one cousin not less, perhaps more, than his own daughters. The image
+of Parasha half-killed by her ruffian of a husband, of Parasha confined
+in a cellar for three days and perhaps dead already, presented itself so
+vividly to his lively imagination that he sprang up like one demented,
+and rushed down the courtyard and through the village, summoning his
+retainers and labourers in accents of frenzy. Those who were not in the
+cottages came running from the fields. When all were assembled, they
+were full of sympathy for their master’s passionate despair, and cried
+with one voice that they would go on foot, if need be, to the rescue of
+Praskovya Ivanovna. In a short time three cars, drawn by teams of
+spirited horses from the stables of Bagrovo, and carrying a dozen men
+chosen for strength and courage, were galloping along the road to
+Parashino. The party included the fugitives from Parashino, and were
+armed with guns and swords, pikes and pitchforks. Later in the day two
+more cars followed to reinforce Stepan Mihailovitch; the men were armed
+in the same way; the horses were the best the peasants could produce. By
+the evening of the second day, the vanguard was within seven _versts_ of
+Parashino. They fed the jaded horses, and in the first light of the
+summer dawn dashed into the wide courtyard and drove straight up to the
+cellar. It was close to the rooms occupied by Kurolyessoff. Stepan
+Mihailovitch jumped out and began to beat his fist against the wooden
+door of the cellar. A voice faintly asked, "Who is there?" My
+grandfather recognised his cousin’s voice; dropping a tear of joy that
+he had found her alive, and crossing himself, he called out in a loud
+voice, "Thank God! It is your cousin, Stepan Mihailovitch; you are safe
+now!" He sent off the servants from Choorassovo to get ready Praskovya
+Ivanovna’s carriage, and posted six armed men to defend the gate, while
+he himself and the rest of his men applied axes and crowbars to the
+cellar-door. It gave way in a moment; and Stepan Mihailovitch himself
+carried out Praskovya Ivanovna, placed her on a car between himself and
+her faithful maid, and drove unmolested out of the courtyard with all
+his retainers. The sun was rising as they drove past the church, and his
+first beams lit up the Cross on the roof. It was just six days since
+Praskovya Ivanovna had prayed with her eyes fixed on that Cross; and now
+she prayed again and thanked God for her deliverance. The carriage
+caught them up, when they were five _versts_ from Parashino; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch moved his cousin into the carriage and drove with her back
+to Bagrovo.
+
+But I shall be asked, "How did all this happen? did no one see it? what
+had become of Kurolyessoff and his trusty retainers? is it possible that
+he was unaware of it or absent at the time?" No: the liberation of
+Praskovya Ivanovna took place before many witnesses; and Kurolyessoff
+was at home and knew what was going on, but did not venture to show his
+face.
+
+The explanation is quite simple. His men had spent the whole evening
+carousing with their master, and some of them were so drunk that they
+could not be roused. There was one sober man, a complete abstainer and a
+favourite. He wakened his master with some difficulty, and, trembling
+with fear, told him of the raid of Stepan Mihailovitch and the guns
+pointing straight at the windows. "But where are all our fellows?" asked
+Kurolyessoff. "Some are asleep, and others are hiding," said the man;
+but this was not true; for the drunken rabble was mustering near the
+outside steps. Kurolyessoff thought a moment; then with a gesture of
+despair he said, "Let her go, and the devil go with her! Lock the door,
+go to the window, and watch what happens." In a few minutes, the man
+cried out, "They are carrying away the mistress!—They’re off!"—"Go to
+your bed," said his master; then he rolled himself up in his blankets
+and either fell asleep or made a pretence of it.
+
+Yes, right has a moral strength before which wrong must bend, for all
+its boldness. Kurolyessoff knew the stout heart and fearless courage of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, and he knew that he himself was in the wrong; and
+therefore, in spite of his furious temper and unscrupulous impudence, he
+let his victim go without a struggle.
+
+Tenderly and carefully Stepan Mihailovitch conveyed the sufferer, whom
+he had always loved and who now roused in him deep sympathy and a still
+greater affection. No question passed his lips on the journey; and, when
+he brought her in safety to Bagrovo, he forbade his womankind to trouble
+her with inquiries. But in a fortnight Praskovya Ivanovna was herself
+again, thanks to her strong constitution and high spirit; and then
+Stepan Mihailovitch determined to cross-examine her. In order to act, he
+must know the real truth, and he never trusted secondhand information.
+She told him the whole truth with perfect frankness, but begged that he
+would keep it from his family and that she should be asked no questions
+by any one else. She put herself altogether in his hands; but she feared
+his hot temper and implored him not to take vengeance on Kurolyessoff.
+She said positively that, on reflection, she had decided not to bring
+shame on her husband, or to stain the name which she must continue to
+bear throughout her life. She added that she now repented of the words
+which had burst from her lips at her first interview with Kurolyessoff
+at Parashino, and that nothing would induce her to make a complaint to
+the Governor against him. Yet she considered it her duty to rescue her
+serfs from his cruelty, and therefore intended to cancel the document
+which gave him authority over her estates. She asked Stepan Mihailovitch
+to take over the management himself, and also to write to Kurolyessoff
+demanding the document and stating that, if he refused to give it up,
+she would take legal steps to cancel it. She asked Stepan Mihailovitch
+to express this in plain terms but without any abusive epithets; and she
+offered to sign the letter herself, to make it more convincing. I should
+mention that she could hardly read and write her native language. Stepan
+Mihailovitch loved his cousin so well that he bridled his rage and
+assented to her wishes. But he would not hear of taking over the
+management. "No, my dear," he said; "I don’t care to meddle in other
+people’s affairs, and I don’t want your relations to be saying that I
+feather my own nest while looking after your multitude of serfs. The
+land will be badly managed in your hands, I don’t doubt; but you are
+rich and will have enough. I don’t mind saying in the letter that I am
+to take over the management; that will give your sweet pet a turn! All
+the rest you ask shall be done."
+
+Strict orders were accordingly issued to the womankind to ask no
+questions of the lady. My grandfather wrote the letter to Kurolyessoff
+with his own hand, Praskovya Ivanovna added her signature, and a special
+messenger was despatched with it to Parashino. But, while they were
+considering and wondering and writing at Bagrovo, all was already over
+at Parashino. The messenger returned on the fourth day and reported
+that, by God’s will, Kurolyessoff had died suddenly and was already
+buried.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch heard the news first. Involuntarily he crossed
+himself and said, "Thank God!" And so said all his family: in spite of
+their former weakness for Kurolyessoff, they had long looked on him with
+horror as a criminal and a ruffian. With Praskovya Ivanovna it was
+different. Judging by their own feelings, they all supposed she would
+welcome the news, and told her at once. But, to the surprise of every
+one, she was utterly prostrated by it and became ill again; and, when
+her strength got the better of the illness, her depression and
+wretchedness were extreme: for some weeks she wept from morning till
+night, and she grew so thin that Stepan Mihailovitch was alarmed. No one
+could understand the cause of such intense sorrow for a husband whom she
+could not love and who had treated her so brutally—"a disgrace to human
+nature," as they called him. But there was an explanation, and this is
+it.
+
+Many years later, my mother, who was a great favourite with Praskovya
+Ivanovna, was talking with her of past days—a thing which Praskovya
+Ivanovna generally avoided—and in the openhearted frankness of their
+conversation she asked: "Please tell me, aunt, why you took on so after
+your husband’s death. In your place, I should have said a prayer for his
+soul, and felt quite cheerful." "You are a little fool, my dear,"
+answered Praskovya Ivanovna: "I had loved him for fourteen years and
+could not unlearn my feeling in one month, even though I had found out
+what he was; and, above all, I grieved for his soul: he had no time to
+repent before he died."
+
+After six weeks, Praskovya Ivanovna’s good sense mastered her grief to
+some extent; and she consented, or, I should rather say, did not refuse,
+to travel with all the Bagroff family to Parashino, in order to attend a
+memorial service at Kurolyessoff’s grave. To the general surprise, she
+dropped no tear at Parashino or during the sad ceremony; but one may
+imagine how much this effort cost her, in her condition of sorrow and
+bodily weakness. By her wish, only a few hours were spent at Parashino,
+and she did not enter that part of the house where her husband had lived
+and died.
+
+It is not difficult to guess the cause of Kurolyessoff’s sudden death.
+When Stepan Mihailovitch had rescued his cousin from the cellar, the
+people at Parashino all plucked up heart, believing that the end of
+Kurolyessoff’s rule had come. They all supposed that the owner of
+Bagrovo, who was in the position of a father to their mistress, would
+turn her husband neck and crop out of a place that did not belong to
+him. No one dreamed that their young mistress, insulted and beaten and
+half-starved in an underground cellar in her own house, would fail to
+appeal to the law for redress. Every day they expected an irruption from
+Stepan Mihailovitch with the sheriff at his back; but week followed
+week, and no one came. Kurolyessoff was as drunken and violent as ever:
+every one of his retainers he flogged till they were half-dead, for
+having betrayed him, not sparing even the sober man who had wakened him
+on the night of the rescue; and he boasted that Praskovya Ivanovna had
+given up to him the title-deeds of her estates. It was past the power of
+human endurance; and the future seemed hopeless.³² Two of the
+scoundrels, who had been favourites, and, strangely enough, two who had
+suffered less than the rest from his cruelty, ventured upon a horrible
+crime. They poisoned him with arsenic, putting it into a decanter of
+_kvass_, which Kurolyessoff generally emptied during the night; and they
+put in so much, that he was dead in two hours. As they had taken no one
+into their confidence, the catastrophe startled and terrified the whole
+household. The servants suspected one another, but the real criminals
+remained unknown for some time. Six months later one of them became
+desperately ill and confessed his crime before he died; and his
+accomplice, though the dying man had not betrayed him, made off and was
+never seen again.
+
+  ³² From here to the end of the paragraph was removed by the censor
+     from the early editions of the work.
+
+The sudden death of Kurolyessoff would certainly have been followed by
+an inquest, but for the presence at Parashino of a young clerk called
+Mihaila Maximitch, who had only lately come to the place. By cleverness
+and good management, he contrived to get the affair hushed up. He became
+later Praskovya Ivanovna’s man of business and the chief agent on all
+her estates, and enjoyed her full confidence. Under the name of
+"Mihailushka" he was known to all and sundry in the Governments of
+Simbirsk and Orenburg. He was a man of remarkable ability; though he
+made a large fortune, he lived discreetly and modestly for many years;
+but, when he received his freedom on the death of his mistress and lost
+his wife to whom he was much attached, he took to drinking and died in
+poverty. One of his sons, if I remember rightly, entered the official
+class and was eventually ennobled.
+
+I should not conceal the fact, that forty years later, when I became the
+owner of Parashino, I found the recollection of Kurolyessoff’s
+management still fresh among the peasants, and they spoke of him with
+gratitude, because they felt every day the advantage of many of his
+arrangements. His cruelty they had forgotten, and they had felt it less
+than his personal attendants; but they remembered his power of
+distinguishing guilt and innocence, the honest workman and the shirker;
+they remembered his perfect knowledge of their needs and his constant
+readiness to give them help. The old men smiled as they told me that
+Kurolyessoff used often to say: "Steal and rob as you please, if you
+keep it dark; but, if I catch you, then look out!"
+
+When she went back to Bagrovo, Praskovya Ivanovna, soothed by the
+sincere and tender love of her cousin and by the assiduous attentions of
+his womankind (whom she did not much like but who expected great favours
+and benefits from her) gradually got over the terrible blow she had
+suffered. Her good health came back, and her peace of mind; and at the
+end of a year she resolved to go back to Choorassovo. It was painful to
+Stepan Mihailovitch to part with his favourite: her whole nature
+appealed to him, and he had become thoroughly accustomed to her society.
+Not once in his whole life was he in a rage with Praskovya Ivanovna. But
+he did not try to keep her: on the contrary, he pressed her to go as
+soon as possible. "It’s no sort of life for you here, my dear," he used
+to say; "it’s a dull place, though we have got accustomed to it. You are
+young still"—she was thirty—"and rich and used to something different.
+You should go back to Choorassovo, and enjoy your fine house and
+splendid garden and the springs. You have plenty of kind neighbours
+there, rich people who live a gay life. It is possible that God will
+send you better fortune in a second venture; you won’t want for offers."
+Praskovya Ivanovna put off her departure from day to day—so hard did she
+find it to part from the cousin who had saved her life and been her
+benefactor from her childhood. At last the day was fixed. Early on the
+previous morning, she came out to join Stepan Mihailovitch, who was
+sitting on his stoop and thinking sad thoughts. She kissed and embraced
+him; the tears came to her eyes as she said: "I feel all your love for
+me, and I love and respect you like a daughter. God sees my gratitude;
+but I wish that men should see it too. Will you let me bequeath to your
+family all my mother’s property? What I have from my father will come to
+your son in any case. My relations on my mother’s side are rich, and you
+know that they have given me no reason to reward them with my wealth. I
+shall never marry. I wish the Bagroff family to be rich. Say yes, my
+dear cousin, and you will comfort me and set my mind at rest." She threw
+herself at his feet and covered with kisses the hands with which he was
+trying to raise her up. "Listen, my dear," said Stepan Mihailovitch in a
+rather stern voice: "You don’t know me aright. That I should covet what
+does not belong to me, and cut out the rightful heirs to your
+estates—no! that shall never be, and never shall any one be able to say
+that of Stepan Bagroff! Mind you don’t ever mention it again. If you do,
+we shall quarrel; and it will be the first time in our lives."
+
+Next day Praskovya Ivanovna left Bagrovo and began her own independent
+life at Choorassovo.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF
+
+
+Many years passed by and much happened during that time—famine and
+plague, and the rebellion of Pugatchoff.³³ The landowners of the
+Orenburg district scattered before the bands of the usurper, and Stepan
+Mihailovitch also made off with his family, first to Samára, and then
+down the Volga to Saratoff and as far off as Astrakhan. But by degrees
+all disturbances passed over and calmed down and were forgotten.
+Children became boys, boys became men, and men came to grey hairs; and
+among these last was Stepan Mihailovitch. He saw this himself, but he
+hardly believed it. He would sometimes allude to the ravages of time,
+but he did so without uneasiness, as if there were no personal reference
+to himself. Yet my grandfather had ceased to be his old self: his
+herculean strength and tireless activity had gone for ever. This
+sometimes surprised him; but he went on living precisely in the old
+way—eating and drinking to his heart’s content, and dressing with no
+regard to the weather, though he sometimes suffered for this neglect.
+Little by little, his keen clear eye became clouded and his great voice
+lost its power; his fits of anger were rarer, but so were his bright and
+happy moods. His elder daughters had all married, and the oldest had
+been dead some time, leaving a daughter of three years old. Aksinya,³⁴
+the second, had lost one husband and married again; Elizabeth, a clever
+but arrogant woman, had somehow married a General Yerlykin, who was old
+and poor and given to drinking; and Alexandra had found herself a
+husband in Ivan Karatayeff, well-born, young, and rich, but a passionate
+lover of the Bashkirs and their wandering life—a true Bashkir himself in
+mind and body. The youngest daughter, Tanyusha, had not married. The
+only son³⁵ was now twenty-six, a handsome youth with a complexion of
+lilies and roses: his own father used to say of him, "Put a petticoat on
+him, and he’d be a prettier girl than any of his sisters!" Though his
+wife, Arina Vassilyevna, shed bitter tears and would not be comforted,
+Stepan Mihailovitch sent his son into the Army as soon as he was
+sixteen. He served for three years, and, owing to the influence of
+Mihail Kurolyessoff, acted as aide-de-camp for part of the time to
+Suvóroff. But Suvóroff left the district of Orenburg and was succeeded
+by a German general (I think his name was Treubluth); and he sentenced
+the young man to a severe flogging, from which his entire innocence, if
+not his noble birth, should have protected him. His mother nearly died
+of grief, when she heard it; and even my grandfather thought this was
+going too far. He withdrew his son from the Army and got him a place in
+the law court at Ufa, where he earned promotion by long and zealous
+service.
+
+  ³³ Pugatchoff was a Cossack, who raised a formidable rebellion in East
+     Russia; taken prisoner by Suvóroff, he was executed at Moscow in
+     1775.
+
+  ³⁴ The popular form of Xenia; the diminutive is Aksyutka.
+
+  ³⁵ The author’s father.
+
+I cannot pass over in silence a strange fact that I have noticed: most
+of the Germans and foreigners in general who held posts in the Russian
+service in those days were notorious for their cruelty and love of
+inflicting corporal punishment. The German who punished young Bagroff so
+cruelly was a Lutheran himself, but at the same time a great stickler
+for all the rites and ceremonies of the Russian Church. This historic
+incident in the annals of the Bagroff family happened in the following
+way. The general ordered a service to be performed in the regimental
+chapel on the eve of some unimportant saint’s-day; he was always present
+himself on these occasions, and all officers were expected to attend. It
+was summer, and the chapel windows were open. Suddenly, a voice in the
+street outside struck up a popular song. The general rushed to the
+window: three subalterns were walking along the street, and one of them
+was singing. He ordered them under arrest and sentenced each of them to
+300 lashes. My unfortunate father, who was not singing but merely
+walking with his friends, pleaded his noble birth; but the general said
+with a sneer, "A noble is bound to show special respect to divine
+service"; and then the brute himself looked on till the last stripe was
+inflicted on the innocent youth. This took place in a room next the
+chapel, where the solemn singing of the choir could be distinctly heard;
+and the tyrant forbade his victim to cry out, "for fear of disturbing
+divine worship." After his punishment, he was carried off unconscious to
+hospital, where it was found necessary to cut off his uniform, owing to
+the swelling of his tender young body. It was two months before his back
+and shoulders healed up. What must it have cost his mother to hear such
+news of her only son whom she simply worshipped! My grandfather lodged a
+complaint in some quarter; and his son, who had sent in his papers at
+once, got his discharge from the Army before he left the hospital, and
+entered the Civil Service as an official of the fourteenth or lowest
+class. Eight years had now gone by, and the incident was by this time
+forgotten.
+
+Alexyéi Stepanitch was now living peacefully at Ufa and performing his
+duties there. Twice a year he paid a visit to his parents at Bagrovo,
+240 _versts_ away. His life was quite uneventful. Quiet, bashful, and
+unassuming, this young heir to a landed estate lived on good terms with
+all the world, till suddenly the modest course of his existence became
+disturbed.
+
+There was a permanent military administration in the town of Ufa, and
+next in authority the Lieutenant-Governor was Nikolai Zubin, who
+resided regularly in the town. M. Zubin was an honest and able man,
+but his character was weak. His wife had died, leaving three
+children—Sonitchka,³⁶ a girl of twelve, and two younger boys. He was
+devoted to his daughter; and it was no wonder he should love a child
+so beautiful and so clever, who, in spite of her tender years, soon
+became her father’s companion and assisted him in the management of
+the household. Eighteen months after the death of his first wife, whom
+he had loved and sincerely mourned, M. Zubin found consolation by
+falling in love with the daughter of M. Rychkoff, a landowner in
+Orenburg, well-known for his descriptions of that country. The
+marriage soon took place; and the young wife, Alexandra, by her
+intelligence and beauty, soon gained entire control over her
+submissive husband. But she was hard and unfeeling, and conceived a
+hatred for her stepdaughter, her father’s darling, who bade fair to
+grow up into a beautiful woman. The thing is common enough. The name
+of stepmother has long been proverbial for cruelty, and it fitted Mme.
+Zubin precisely. But it was by no means easy to tear Sonitchka from
+her place in her father’s heart: she was not a girl who could be put
+down easily, and the contest which followed inflamed the stepmother’s
+anger to an extraordinary pitch. She swore that this hussy of
+thirteen, who was the idol of her father and all the town, should some
+day live in the maids’ room, wear the coarsest clothes, and carry the
+slops out of the children’s nursery. She kept her oath to the letter:
+after two or three years, Sonitchka was living with the servants and
+clothed like a scullion, and she scrubbed and cleaned the nursery
+which was now inhabited by two half-sisters. But what was the father
+doing? He had once loved her dearly; but now for whole months he never
+saw her; and when he did meet her going about in rags, he turned away
+with a sigh, wiped away a furtive tear, and made off as soon as
+possible. It is the way of many elderly men who have married again and
+are dominated by young wives. As I do not know exactly the ways and
+methods by which Mme. Zubin attained her object, I shall not speak of
+them; nor shall I dwell upon the cruelties and sufferings inflicted
+upon the bereaved girl, with her sensitive temper and strong will;
+nothing was spared her, not even the most humiliating punishments and
+beatings for imaginary offences. I shall only say, that the
+stepdaughter was not far from suicide, and was only saved from it by a
+miracle. It happened thus. When she had decided to put an end to an
+intolerable existence, the poor child wished to say her last prayer
+before an image of Our Lady of Smolensk, the image with which her
+mother on her deathbed had blessed her. She fell on her knees in her
+garret before the _ikon_, and, with floods of bitter tears, pressed
+her face on the dirt-stained floor. Suffering deprived her of
+consciousness for some minutes; when she recovered and got up, she saw
+the candle, which she had put out the night before, still burning
+before the image. At first she cried out with surprise and involuntary
+fear; but soon she recognised that she had seen a miracle wrought by
+Divine Power. She took courage; she was conscious of a strength and
+composure she had never felt before; and she firmly resolved to suffer
+and endure and live. From that day the helpless child wore armour of
+proof against the increasing exasperation of her stepmother: whatever
+she was told to do, she did; whatever was inflicted upon her, she
+bore. Degrading punishment no longer forced the tears from her eyes,
+no longer made her turn sick and faint, as it used to do. "Mean slut"
+had long been her title, and "desperate wretch" was now added to it.
+But the measure of God’s patience now brimmed over, and His thunder
+pealed: Mme. Zubin, in the prime of life and in the pride of her
+health and beauty, died ten days after giving birth to a son.
+Twenty-four hours before the end, knowing that she must die, she was
+eager to take the load off her conscience. Sonitchka was suddenly
+wakened in the night and summoned to her stepmother’s bedside. The
+dying woman confessed in the presence of witnesses her guilty conduct
+towards her stepdaughter, begged her forgiveness, and conjured her in
+the name of God to be good to the children. The girl forgave her and
+promised to care for the orphans; and she kept that promise. Mme.
+Zubin confessed also to her husband that the accusations which had
+been brought against his daughter were all calumnies and falsehoods.
+
+  ³⁶ A pet name for Sofya (Sophia). This is the author’s mother, whose
+     real name was Márya.
+
+Her death caused a complete reversal of affairs. M. Zubin also had a
+paralytic stroke, and, though he survived for some years, never left his
+bed again. The oppressed and ragged Cinderella, whom the servants—and
+especially those belonging to Mme. Zubin—had been mean enough to
+humiliate and insult to their heart’s content, suddenly became the
+absolute mistress of the household, her sick father having put
+everything under her control. The reconciliation between the guilty
+father and the injured daughter was touching and even distressing to the
+daughter and all who saw it. For long, M. Zubin was wrung by remorse:
+his tears flowed day and night, and he repeated the same words over and
+over, "No, Sonitchka, it is impossible you should forgive me!" To each
+one of his acquaintance in the town he formally confessed his misconduct
+towards his daughter; and "Sofya Nikolayevna," as she was now called,
+became the object of general respect and admiration. Made wise by years
+of suffering, this girl of seventeen developed into a grown woman, a
+mother to the children, and the manager of the household. She even
+discharged public duties; for, owing to her father’s illness, she
+received all heads of departments, officials, and private citizens; she
+discussed matters with them, wrote letters and official documents, and
+at last became the real manager of the business in her father’s office.
+Sofya Nikolayevna nursed her father with anxious care and tenderness;
+she looked after her three brothers and two sisters, and even took
+trouble about the education of the elder children. Her own brothers,
+Serghéi and Alexander, were now boys of twelve and ten; and she
+contrived to find teachers for them—a kind old Frenchman called
+Villemer, whom fortune had somehow stranded at Ufa, and a half-educated
+Little Russian who had been exiled to the town for an attempted fraud.
+She availed herself of the opportunity to study with her brothers, and
+worked so hard that she could soon understand a French book or
+conversation and even talk French a little herself. Eighteen months
+later she sent her brothers to Moscow for their education. Through a
+certain M. Anitchkoff who lived at Ufa, she had become acquainted with
+his cousin who lived at Moscow, and they often corresponded. The
+well-known writer, Novikoff, shared a house at Moscow with this M.
+Anitchkoff; and both friends were so struck by the letters from this
+young lady on the banks of the river Byélaya, that they sent her
+regularly all new and important books in the way of Russian literature;
+and this did much for her mental development. This M. Anitchkoff had a
+special respect for her, and considered it an honour to carry out her
+request. He undertook to receive both her brothers and place them at a
+boarding-school connected with Moscow University, and performed his
+undertaking punctiliously. The boys got on well at school, but their
+studies were broken off when the summons came for them to enter the
+Guards, in which they had been enrolled while still in the cradle.
+
+All clever and educated people who came to Ufa hastened to make the
+acquaintance of Sofya Nikolayevna, were attracted by her, and never
+forgot her. Many of these acquaintances became in course of time the
+intimate friends of her children, and the relation was severed only by
+death. I shall name only those of them whom I knew myself—V. Romanovsky,
+A. Avenarius, Peter Chichagoff, Dmitri Myortvavo, and V. Itchansky.
+Scholars also and travellers, attracted by the novelty and beauty of the
+district, invariably made the young lady’s acquaintance and left written
+testimony of their admiration for her beauty and wit. It is true that
+her position in society and her home helped her, and served, one might
+say, as a pedestal for the statue; but the statue itself was a noble
+figure. I remember especially the verses of Count Manteuffel, a
+traveller; he sent them to Sofya Nikolayevna with a most respectful
+letter in French; and he also sent a copy of an immense work in five
+quarto volumes, by a Dr. Buchan,³⁷ which had just been translated from
+English into Russian and made a great sensation in the medical world of
+that day. Buchan’s _Domestic Medicine_ was a real treasure to Sofya
+Nikolayevna: she was able to make use of its directions to make up
+medicines for her father’s benefit. In his verses Count Manteuffel
+compared the fair lady of Ufa to both Venus and Minerva.
+
+  ³⁷ Buchan’s _Domestic Medicine_ was published in 1769; the author died
+     in 1805.
+
+In spite of his enfeebled state, M. Zubin did not resign his office for
+several years. Twice a year he gave a ball; he did not appear himself,
+in order to welcome the ladies, but the men went to see him where he lay
+in his study; and the young hostess had to receive the whole town.
+Several times a year, her father insisted on her going out to balls in
+the houses of the leading people, and she yielded to his earnest
+entreaties and put in a short appearance at the ball. She wore fine
+dresses and was an excellent dancer in the fashion of the time. When she
+had gone through a Polish minuet and a single country-dance or
+schottische, she went away at once, after flashing through the room like
+a meteor. All who had the right to be so, were in love with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, but they sighed at a respectful distance; for this young
+lady gave none of them any encouragement whatever.
+
+And with this peerless creature the son of Stepan Mihailovitch fell in
+love! He could not understand and appreciate her fully, but her
+appearance alone and her lively cheerful temper were enough to bewitch a
+man; and bewitched he accordingly was. He saw her first in church, and
+the first sight was enough for his susceptible heart. Alexyéi
+Stepanitch—henceforth we shall give him both his names—soon discovered
+that the fair lady received all officials who visited at her father’s
+house; and, being himself an official in the law-court, he began to
+appear regularly in her drawing-room, to pay his respects on high days
+and holidays. He saw her every time, and his passion grew steadily. His
+calls were so regular and so prolonged—though he hardly opened his
+mouth—that they soon attracted general notice; and it is probable that
+the first person to notice them was the young hostess herself. Rapturous
+looks, flaming cheeks, helpless confusion—these are the symbols by which
+love has always spoken. A frank passion has been an object of ridicule
+from time immemorial, and all Ufa laughed at Alexyéi Stepanitch. He was
+humble and shy and as bashful as a country girl; and his only reply to
+all jests and allusions to the subject was to blush the colour of a
+peony. But Sofya Nikolayevna, so cold and even snubbing in her manner to
+her fashionable admirers, was surprisingly indulgent to this speechless
+worshipper. Perhaps she was sorry for this young man who had no armour
+against all the ridicule he suffered on her behalf; perhaps she
+understood that his was no idle or passing fancy and that his whole life
+was at stake; anyhow, the severe young beauty not only bowed graciously
+and looked kindly at him, but tried also to start conversation; and his
+timid, incoherent replies and agitated voice did not seem to her
+ridiculous or repulsive. I should say, however, that Sofya Nikolayevna,
+though she stood on her dignity with self-assertive people, was always
+kind and condescending to humility and modesty.
+
+Things went on thus for some time. Suddenly, a bold thought flashed on
+the brain of Alexyéi Stepanitch—the thought of getting Sofya Nikolayevna
+for his wife. At first he was frightened by his own ambition, so bold
+and so unlikely to be realised. How could he raise his eyes to Sofya
+Nikolayevna, the chief personage in Ufa, and, in his opinion, the
+cleverest and most beautiful woman in the world? He abandoned his
+intention entirely for a time. But by degrees the lady’s constant
+goodwill and attention, her friendly glances which seemed to him to hold
+out some encouragement, and, above all, the passion which mastered his
+whole being, recalled the abandoned ideal; and it soon grew familiar and
+became part of his life. There was an old lady called Mme. Alakayeff,
+then living at Ufa to look after a lawsuit, who used to visit at the
+Zubins’ house; she was distantly related to Alexyéi Stepanitch and had
+always taken a great interest in him. He now began to visit her oftener,
+and did his best to please her; and at last he confessed his love for a
+certain person, and his intention to seek her hand. His love was the
+talk of the town and therefore no news to Mme. Alakayeff; but his
+intention of marrying her was a surprise. "She won’t have you," said the
+old lady, shaking her head; "she’s too clever, too proud, too highly
+educated. Plenty of people have been in love with her, but not one has
+ever dared to ask the question. You’re a handsome lad, certainly,
+well-born and fairly well-off, and you will be rich in course of
+time—everybody knows that; but then you’re a plain country fellow, no
+scholar or man of the world, and you’re terribly bashful in society."
+Alexyéi Stepanitch was aware of all this himself; but love had entirely
+confused his brain, and a voice whispered in his ear day and night that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept him. Though the young man’s hopes seemed
+to her unfounded, Mme. Alakayeff consented to go to Sofya Nikolayevna’s
+house, where, without making any allusion to his wishes, she would turn
+the conversation on to him and take note of all that was said. She
+started at once, and Alexyéi Stepanitch remained in the house till she
+should come back. She was absent for some time, and the lover became so
+distressed and despondent that he began to cry and then fell asleep,
+tired out, with his head leaning against the window. When the old lady
+came back, she wakened him and said with a cheerful air: "Well, Alexyéi
+Stepanitch, there is really something in it! When I began to speak about
+you, and was rather hard upon you, Sofya Nikolayevna took up the cudgels
+in earnest on your behalf, and ended by saying that she was sure you
+were very kind and modest and gentle, and respectful to your parents;
+and she said that God sent his blessing on such people, and they were
+much better than your pert and forward talkers." Alexyéi Stepanitch was
+so enraptured by this report that he hardly knew where he was. Mme.
+Alakayeff gave him time to recover, and then said with decision: "If
+your mind is quite made up about this, I will tell you what you had
+better do. Go home at once, tell the whole story to your parents, and
+ask for their consent and blessing, before kind people put their oar in.
+If they give you one and the other, I don’t refuse to work in your
+cause. Only don’t be in a hurry: begin by getting on the soft side of
+your sisters; your mother won’t go against your wishes. Of course, your
+father’s consent matters most of all. I know him: he is masterful to a
+degree, but he has good sense; have a talk to him when he is in a good
+humour." Alexyéi Stepanitch did not see the need of all this caution and
+manœuvring: he said that his parents would be delighted, and asked what
+possible flaw could be found in Sofya Nikolayevna. "Two terrible flaws,"
+said the shrewd old lady: "she has only twopence to her fortune, and her
+grandfather was a simple sergeant in a Cossack regiment." The
+significance of her words was entirely lost upon Alexyéi Stepanitch, but
+the old lady was not wrong in her presentiment, and her warning came too
+late.
+
+Within a week Alexyéi Stepanitch got leave of absence. He called on
+Sofya Nikolayevna to say "good-bye," and she treated him kindly, wishing
+him a pleasant journey, and hoping he might find his parents in good
+health and happy to see him. Her kind words encouraged him to hope, and
+off he went home. The old people were glad to see him, but they were
+puzzled by the time of his visit and looked at him inquiringly. His
+sisters—who lived near Bagrovo and came there in hot haste on a summons
+from their mother—kissed their brother and made much of him, but kept on
+smiling for some reason. The youngest sister, Tatyana, was his
+favourite, and he revealed his passion to her ears first. Being a rather
+romantic girl and fonder of her brother than the older sisters were, she
+listened to him with sympathy, and at last went so far as to confide to
+him a great secret: the family knew already of his love-affair and were
+opposed to it. It had happened in this way.
+
+Two months before, Ivan Karatayeff had travelled to Ufa on business and
+brought back this piece of news to his wife. Alexandra Karatayeff—I have
+spoken already of her character—boiled over with rage and indignation.
+She took the lead in the family, and could twist them all, except, of
+course, her father, round her little finger. She set one of her
+brother’s servants to spy on his master, and made him report to her
+every detail concerning his love-affair and his life at Ufa; and she
+found a female friend in the town, who first rummaged and ferreted
+about, and then, with the help of a discarded attorney’s clerk, sent her
+a long letter composed of town talk and servants’ gossip. As her chief
+authorities were the servants of the late Mme. Zubin, it is easy to
+guess the kind of portrait which these enemies drew of Sofya
+Nikolayevna.
+
+It is a well-known fact that in the good old days of the Empress
+Catherine—perhaps it is the case still—there was little love lost
+between a man’s wife and his sisters; and the case was worse when the
+sisters had only one brother, because his wife must become the sole and
+undisputed mistress of the household. A great deal of selfishness
+underlies human nature; it often works without our knowledge, and no one
+is exempt from it; honourable and kind people, not recognising selfish
+motives in themselves, quite honestly attribute their actions to other
+and more presentable causes; but they deceive themselves and others
+unintentionally. Where there is no kindness of heart or refinement of
+manners, selfishness shows itself without any concealment or apology;
+and so it was with the womankind of Stepan Mihailovitch. It was
+inevitable that they should all resent their brother’s marriage,
+irrespective of his choice. "Alosha will change towards us and love us
+less than before; his bride will be a cuckoo in the nest and push out
+the birds born there"—such would certainly have been the language of the
+sisters, even if Alexyéi Stepanitch had chosen a bird of their own
+feather; but Sofya Nikolayevna was worse than anything they could
+imagine. Alexandra summoned her sister Elizabeth and hurried to Bagrovo,
+to communicate to her mother and sisters—of course, with suitable
+embellishments—all the information she had received of her brother’s
+goings on. They believed every word she said, and their opinion of Sofya
+Nikolayevna was to the following effect. In the first place, the Zubin
+girl—this was her regular name in the secret meetings of the family
+council—was of mean birth: her grandfather had been a Ural Cossack, and
+her mother, Vyera Ivanovna Kandalintsoff, had belonged to the merchant
+class; the alliance was therefore a degradation to an ancient and noble
+family. In the second place, the Zubin girl was a mere pauper: if her
+father died or was dismissed from his post, she would depend on charity
+for her bread, and all her brothers and sisters would be a stone round
+her husband’s neck. Thirdly, the Zubin girl was proud and fashionable, a
+crafty adventuress who was accustomed to lord it over the town of Ufa;
+and she would turn up her nose with no ceremony at plain people living
+in the country, however long their pedigree. Fourthly and lastly, the
+Zubin girl was a witch who used magic herbs to keep all the men running
+after her with their tongues hanging out; and their poor brother was one
+of her victims; she had scented out his future wealth and his easy
+temper, and had determined to marry into a noble family by hook or by
+crook. Alexandra managed the whole affair; her glib and wicked tongue
+frightened them all and soon proved to them, beyond all possibility of
+doubt, that such a marriage was a terrible misfortune for them. "Likely
+enough, she will get round Stepan Mihailovitch himself, and then we’re
+all done for; we must leave no stone unturned to prevent the marriage."
+It was clearly of the first importance to impress upon Stepan
+Mihailovitch the worst possible opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna; but who
+was to bell the cat? Their conscience was not clear, and they dared not
+go to work openly. If their father suspected that they had any concealed
+purpose, he would not believe even the truth in that case; once before,
+when there had been some talk of choosing a daughter-in-law, he had seen
+through their repugnance to the scheme and had told them so plainly.
+
+They had recourse therefore to the following stratagem. Arina
+Vassilyevna had a married niece living near; her name was Flona
+Lupenevsky; she was short and stout, a notorious fool and gossip, and
+not averse to strong liquors. She was instructed to come to Bagrovo as
+if on an ordinary visit, and to bring in, among other topics, the
+love-affairs of Alexyéi Stepanitch; she was, of course, to represent
+Sofya Nikolayevna in the most unfavourable light. Alexandra spent a long
+time coaching this lady in what she was to say and how she was to say
+it. When she had learnt it as well as she could, Mme. Lupenevsky turned
+up at Bagrovo and had dinner there; after dinner, hosts and guests slept
+for three hours and then assembled for tea. The master of the house was
+in good humour and himself gave his guest an opening to begin her
+performance. "Come now, Flona," he said, "tell us the news you got from
+the travellers to Ufa"—her sister, Mme. Kalpinsky, had just been there
+with her husband—"I warrant they brought home a good budget, and you
+will add as much more out of your own head."
+
+"You will always have your joke, dear uncle," said the lady; "but they
+brought plenty of news, and I have no need to invent." Then off she
+started on a string of silly gossip, true and untrue, which I shall
+spare my readers. My grandfather pretended to disbelieve her throughout,
+even when she was telling the truth; he made fun of her stories, threw
+her out on purpose, and teased her till all the hearers laughed
+heartily. The stupid woman, who had taken a stiff glass on waking to
+give her courage, got vexed at last and said with some heat: "Uncle, why
+do you keep on laughing and believe nothing I say? Wait a moment; I have
+kept one special bit of news for the end, and that won’t make you laugh,
+though you can’t help believing it." The family exchanged glances, and
+my grandfather laughed. "Come, out with it!" he said coolly; "I shan’t
+believe it; and, if I don’t laugh at it, it’s because I’m bored by your
+stories." "O uncle, uncle," she began, "you’re quite in the dark about
+my dear cousin, Alexyéi Stepanitch. He’s a perfect wreck: the witch of
+Ufa, the daughter of a great man there, Governor or Commander-in-Chief,
+I don’t know which, has used devilish arts to fascinate him. She’s a
+perfect beauty, they say, and has captivated all the men, young and old;
+she has bewitched them with magic herbs, and they all run after her. And
+my poor cousin, Alexyéi Stepanitch, is so bad that he can neither eat
+nor drink nor sleep. He’s constantly sitting beside her, he can’t take
+his eyes off her, he just looks and sighs; and at night he’s always
+walking past her house, carrying a gun and a sword and keeping guard
+over her. They say that the Zubin girl is very sweet upon him; of course
+he’s handsome and well-born; she knows what she’s about and means to
+marry him. It’s natural enough: she has no money, and her father is a
+Cossack’s son who rose from the ranks; though he has worked his way up
+and held great posts, he has put nothing by; he has spent every penny on
+dinners and fine parties and dresses for his daughter. The old man is at
+death’s door, and there is a swarm of children—half a dozen of them by
+his two wives. They will all settle on your shoulders, uncle, if my
+cousin marries her; she has no portion but the clothes she wears; they
+have silk to their backs but nothing to put in their bellies. And
+Alexyéi Stepanitch, they say, is changed out of all knowledge: he looks
+terrible; the very servants weep to see him and dare not inform you.
+Believe me, uncle, every single word is gospel truth. Question his
+servants, and they won’t deny it."
+
+At this, Arina Vassilyevna began to cry and her daughters to rub their
+eyes. My grandfather was rather taken aback, but soon recovered himself.
+Then he smiled and said coolly: "Plenty of lies there, and perhaps a
+grain of truth. I have heard myself that the young lady is pretty and
+clever; and that’s all the magic there is about it.³⁸ It’s little wonder
+if Alexyéi’s eyes were dazzled. All the rest is rubbish. Mlle. Zubin has
+no idea of marrying Alexyéi; he is no match for her; she will find a
+better man and a more pushing man to marry her. And now, that’s enough:
+not a word more on the subject! Let us go and drink tea out of doors."
+As a matter of course, neither Mme. Lupenevsky nor any one else dared to
+refer again to the news from Ufa. The visitor departed in the evening.
+After supper, when Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were about to
+take a silent farewell of Stepan Mihailovitch, he stopped them and said:
+"Well, Arisha, what do you think about it? Though that stupid Flona
+added plenty of lies, yet it seems to me there is truth in the story
+too. The boy’s letters have been quite different of late. The thing
+needs some looking into. The best plan would be to summon Alosha here;
+we shall learn all the truth from him." At this point Alexandra offered
+to send a special messenger to Ufa to find out the truth through a
+relation of her husband’s: "She is a very honest woman," she said, "and
+nothing would make her tell a lie." Her father agreed not to send for
+his son till the fresh report arrived. Alexandra started at once for her
+own house, which was not more than 30 _versts_ from Bagrovo, and
+returned in a week, bringing with her the letter I have mentioned
+already, which she had received long before from her gossiping female
+friend at Ufa. This letter was shown and read aloud to Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and, though he put little faith in the women as detectives
+and informers, some statements in the letter seemed to him probable, and
+he was displeased. He said positively, that, if Mlle. Zubin did wish to
+marry Alosha, he would forbid it, on the ground of her birth. "Write by
+the next post to Alosha," he said, "and tell him to come home." A few
+days passed, and were used by the women to prejudice Stepan Mihailovitch
+as strongly as possible against the marriage; and then, as we know
+already, the young man turned up at Bagrovo without having received the
+letter.
+
+  ³⁸ In general, my grandfather had little belief in witchcraft. A
+     wizard once told him that a gun was charmed and would not go off.
+     He took out the shot secretly and fired at the wizard, who got a
+     great fright. But he recovered and said that my grandfather himself
+     was "a man of power"; and this was generally believed, except by
+     Stepan Mihailovitch. (_Author’s note._)
+
+Alexyéi Stepanitch heard the whole of this story from Tatyana, and it
+made him very serious and uneasy. He was not by nature strong-willed,
+and had been brought up in blind obedience to his family and his father.
+In his alarm, he did not know what to do. At last he decided to speak to
+his mother. Arina Vassilyevna was devoted to her only son; but, as she
+was accustomed to look on him as still a child and convinced that this
+child had taken a fancy to a dangerous toy, she met his avowal of strong
+feeling with the words one would use to a child who begged to hold the
+hot poker; and, when this treatment brought the tears to his eyes, she
+tried to comfort him in the way that a child is comforted for the loss
+of a favourite toy. He might say what he pleased, he might try as he
+pleased to refute the slander brought against Sofya Nikolayevna—his
+mother either did not listen at all or listened without attending. Two
+more days passed by; the young man’s heart was breaking; though his love
+and longing for Sofya Nikolayevna increased every hour, it is probable
+that he would not easily have plucked up courage to broach the subject
+to his father; but Stepan Mihailovitch took the first step. Early one
+fine morning, he was sitting as usual on his stoop, when Alexyéi
+Stepanitch, looking rather pale and worn after an almost sleepless
+night, came out to join his father. The old man was in a cheerful mood;
+he greeted his son affectionately, and then, looking attentively at his
+face, he read what was going on within. He gave him his hand to kiss,
+and then said, not in anger but with energy: "Listen to me, Alexyéi! I
+know the burden on your mind, and I see that this fancy has taken a
+strong hold of you. Just tell me the story now, the whole truth and
+nothing but the truth." Alexyéi Stepanitch felt more fear than love for
+his father, and was not in the way of speaking to him frankly; but his
+love for Sofya Nikolayevna lent him courage. He threw himself at his
+father’s feet and repeated the whole story, omitting no details and
+keeping nothing back. Stepan Mihailovitch listened with patience and
+attention. When one of the family appeared in the distance and evidently
+meant to come and say "good morning," he waved his blackthorn staff with
+a significant gesture, and then nobody, not even Aksyutka with the tea,
+dared approach before he summoned them. Though his son’s story was
+ill-arranged, confused, long, and unconvincing, yet Stepan Mihailovitch
+with his clear head made out the gist of the matter. But unfortunately
+he did not and could not approve of it. Of the romantic side of love he
+had small appreciation, and his masculine pride was offended by his
+son’s susceptibility, which seemed to him degrading weakness in a man
+and a sign of worthlessness; and yet at the same time he saw that Sofya
+Nikolayevna was not in the least to blame, and that all the evil he had
+heard about her was merely malicious falsehood, due to the ill will of
+his own womankind. After a little reflection, he said, with no sign of
+anger, even affectionately, but firmly: "Listen to me, Alexyéi! You are
+just at the time of life when a pretty girl may easily take a man’s
+fancy. In that there is no harm whatever; but I see that you have gone
+too far, and that does not do. I don’t blame Sofya Nikolayevna in the
+least; she seems to me a very worthy girl; but she’s not a good match
+for you, and she won’t suit us. In the first place, her nobility dates
+from yesterday, while you are the descendant of an ancient and noble
+line. Then she is accustomed to town life, highly educated, and
+independent; since her stepmother died she has ruled a household; and,
+though poor herself, she is used to luxury; but we are plain country
+people, and you know yourself how we live. And you ought to know your
+own character; you’re too compliant. But her cleverness is the chief
+objection to her; to marry a wife cleverer than one’s self is a mistake;
+she is sure to rule her husband; and you are so much in love that you
+are certain to spoil her at first. Well, as your father, I now bid you
+clear your head of this notion. I confess I don’t believe myself that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept you. Choose your shoe of the right size,
+and it won’t pinch your foot. We will find out a wife for you here—some
+gentle, quiet girl, well-born and with some money. Then you can give up
+your office and live here in comfort. You know, my boy, we’re not
+rolling in wealth. We get enough to eat, but very little money comes in.
+As to the Kurolyessoff legacy, about which people made such a noise, I
+never give it a thought; we can’t count on it: Praskovya Ivanovna is
+young enough to marry and have children of her own. Now, mind what I
+say, Alosha: throw all this off like water off a duck’s back, and don’t
+let me hear again of Sofya Nikolayevna." Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave
+his hand graciously to his son, who kissed it as respectfully as usual.
+The old man ordered tea to be served and the family to be summoned; he
+was more than usually cheerful and friendly to them all, but Alexyéi
+Stepanitch was terribly depressed. No anger on his father’s part would
+have produced such an effect; that was soon over and was always followed
+by indulgence and kindness, but the old man’s quiet determination
+deprived him of all hope. There was a change in his expression, so
+sudden and complete, that his mother was frightened to see it and plied
+him with questions—"Was he unwell? What had happened to him?" His
+sisters noticed the change also, but they were more cunning and held
+their tongues. None of this was lost on Stepan Mihailovitch. He looked
+askance at Arina Vassilyevna and muttered through his teeth, "Don’t
+worry the boy!" So they took no more notice of him but left him in
+peace, and the day went on with its usual routine.
+
+The conversation with his father made a deep impression on Alexyéi
+Stepanitch; one may say that it crushed him. His appetite and sleep
+failed, he lost interest in everything, even his bodily strength was
+affected. His mother shed tears, and even his sisters were uneasy. Next
+day his mother found it difficult to get from him any account of the
+interview with his father. To all inquiries he returned the same answer:
+"My father won’t hear of it; I am a lost man, and life will soon be over
+for me." And within a week he did really take to his bed; he was very
+weak and often half-conscious; and, though his skin was not hot, he was
+constantly delirious. No one could understand what was the matter with
+him; but it was simply a nervous fever. The family were terribly
+alarmed. As there were no doctors in the neighbourhood, they treated him
+with domestic remedies; but he grew steadily worse till he was so weak
+that his death was expected hourly. His mother and sisters screamed and
+tore their hair. Stepan Mihailovitch, though he shed no tears and was
+not always sitting by the bedside, probably suffered more than any one;
+he understood perfectly what had caused this illness. But youth at last
+asserted itself, and the turn came after exactly six weeks. Alexyéi
+Stepanitch woke up to life an absolute child, and life was slow in
+resuming its normal course with him; his convalescence lasted two
+months, and all the past seemed to have been blotted out from his
+memory. Everything that he saw, both indoors and out, pleased him as
+much as if it were new and strange. At last he got perfectly well; his
+face filled out and got back the healthy colour which it had lost for
+more than a year; he went out fishing and shooting quails, ate and drank
+heartily, and was in good spirits. His parents felt more joy than they
+could express, and were convinced that the illness had expelled all
+former thoughts and feelings from his head and heart. And perhaps this
+would really have been the case if they had taken him away from Ufa,
+kept him a whole year at home, and found a pretty girl for him to marry.
+But their fears were lulled to rest by his present condition, and they
+sent him back to the same place and the same duties after six months.
+This settled his fate once for all. The old passion revived and blazed
+up with far greater power. I do not know whether love came back to his
+heart all at once or by degrees; I only know that he went seldom at
+first to the Zubins’ house, and then oftener, and at last as often as he
+could. I know also that his old friend, Mme. Alakayeff, continued her
+visits to Sofya Nikolayevna, sounding her cautiously as to her
+sentiments and bringing back favourable reports, which confirmed her own
+hope that the proud beauty was not indifferent to her humble worshipper.
+A few months after Alexyéi Stepanitch had returned to Ufa, a letter from
+him suddenly arrived at Bagrovo, in which he declared to his parents,
+with his usual affection and respect, but also with a firmness not
+characteristic of him, that he loved Sofya Nikolayevna more than his own
+life and could not live without her; he had hopes of her accepting him,
+and asked his parents to give him their blessing and their consent to
+the match. This letter was a great surprise and shock to the old people.
+Stepan Mihailovitch knitted his brows but did not express his feelings
+by a single word. The family all sat round in perfect silence till he
+dismissed them by a gesture. When he was alone, my grandfather sat there
+a long time, tracing patterns on the floor of his room with his
+blackthorn staff. He soon realised that it was a bad business, that they
+had been mistaken, and that no fever would cure the lad of his passion.
+His impulsive and kindly nature shook his resolve and made him inclined
+to give his consent, as may be inferred from what he said to his wife.
+When they were alone together next morning, he said: "Well, Arisha, what
+do you think of it? If we refuse, we shall see no more of Alosha than of
+our own ears. He will die of grief, or go off to the wars, or become a
+monk—and that’s the end of the Bagroff family!" But Arina Vassilyevna
+had been primed already by her daughters, and she answered, as if her
+son ran no risk: "As you please, Stepan Mihailovitch; your will is mine
+too. But how can you hope they will respect you in future, if they
+resist your positive commands now?" This mean and cunning trick was
+successful: the old man’s pride was touched, and he resolved to stand
+firm. He dictated a letter, in which he expressed surprise that his son
+should begin the old business over again, and repeated what he had
+already said by word of mouth. In short, the letter contained a positive
+refusal.
+
+Two or three weeks passed, and brought no reply from Alexyéi Stepanitch.
+Then there came one stormy autumn morning, when my grandfather was
+sitting across his bed in his own room; he was wearing his favourite
+dressing-gown of fine camel’s hair over a shirt buttoning up at the
+side, and had slippers on his bare feet. Arina Vassilyevna was sitting
+near him with her spinning-wheel, spinning goat’s down and carefully
+drawing out the fine long threads with which she intended to make
+cloth—cloth to provide her son with light, warm, comfortable garments.
+Tanyusha was sitting by the window, reading a book. Elizabeth, who was
+on a visit to Bagrovo, was sitting on the bed near her father, telling
+him of her troubles—her husband’s poor prospects, and the shifts they
+had to practise at home to make ends meet. The old man listened sadly,
+with his hands on his knees, and his head, now turning white, bent down
+over his breast. Suddenly the door opened; and Ivan, a tall, handsome
+lad, wearing a travelling jacket, entered the room with a quick step and
+delivered a letter which he had brought from the post-town 25 _versts_
+away. The stir among the party showed that the letter was eagerly
+expected. "From Alosha?" asked the old man quickly and uneasily. "From
+my brother," answered Tanyusha, who had gone to meet Ivan, taken the
+letter quickly from him, and looked at the address. "You have lost no
+time, and I thank you. A dram for Ivan! Then go and have your dinner and
+rest." The spirit-case was opened at once; Tanyusha took out a long,
+cut-glass decanter, filled a silver cup with brandy, and handed it to
+Ivan. Ivan crossed himself and drank it, then coughed, bowed, and left
+the room. "Read it aloud, Tanyusha," said her father; she did his
+reading and writing for him. She placed herself by the window; her
+father left his bed and her mother her spinning-wheel, and all crowded
+round the reader, who had unsealed the letter by this time but dared not
+take a preliminary peep. After a moment’s silence, the letter was read
+slowly and audibly. It began with the form of address usual in those
+days—"Dear and honoured Father, and dear and honoured Mother," and then
+went on in this fashion—
+
+"In answer to my last letter, I had the misfortune to receive a refusal
+of my request, my dearest parents. I cannot go against your will; I
+submit to it, but I cannot long drag the burden of my life without my
+adored Sofya Nikolayevna; and therefore a fatal bullet shall ere long
+pierce the head of your unhappy son."³⁹
+
+  ³⁹ I know the letter nearly by heart. It probably still exists among
+     the old papers of one of my brothers. Some expressions in it are
+     clearly borrowed from the novels which Alexyéi Stepanitch was fond
+     of reading. (_Author’s note._)
+
+The letter produced a powerful effect. My aunts began to whimper; my
+grandmother, who was taken utterly by surprise, turned pale, threw out
+her hands, and flopped down on the ground like a corn-sheaf. Even in
+those days fainting-fits were not unknown. Stepan Mihailovitch never
+stirred; but his head bent a little to one side, as it used to do when a
+fit of anger was coming on, and began to tremble slightly; and that
+tremulous motion went on from that hour till his death. The daughters
+rushed to their mother’s aid and soon brought her back to her senses. At
+once, Arina Vassilyevna threw herself at her husband’s feet, raising the
+cry of mourning for the dead; and her daughters followed her example.
+Taking no notice of the storm-signals on his brow, and quite forgetting
+that she herself had egged him on to disappoint his son, she cried at
+the top of her voice: "_Batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch! have pity and do
+not be the death of your own child, our only son! Give Alosha leave to
+marry! If anything happens to him, I will not live one hour longer!" The
+old man never stirred. At last he said in an unsteady voice: "Enough of
+that howling! Alosha deserves a good whipping. But we’ll leave it till
+to-morrow; morning brings good counsel. Now go and order dinner to be
+served." Dinner my grandfather regarded as a sedative at every domestic
+crisis. Arina Vassilyevna tried to begin again—"Mercy! Mercy!"—but
+Stepan Mihailovitch called out loudly, "Leave the room, all of you!"—and
+in his voice was audible the roar that goes before a storm. The room was
+cleared instantly, and no one ventured near him before the dinner-hour.
+
+It is hard to imagine the thoughts that passed through his mind in the
+interval, the struggle that took place in that iron heart between love
+and prudence, and the final defeat of the stubborn spirit; but, when
+Mazan’s voice was heard outside the door, announcing dinner, my
+grandfather came out of his room quite composed. His face was rather
+pale, but his wife and daughters, who were standing, each by her own
+chair, till he appeared, could not see the faintest sign of anger; on
+the contrary, he was quieter and more cheerful than he had been in the
+morning, and made a hearty meal. Arina Vassilyevna had to harden her
+heart and suit her conversation to his mood; she dared not even sigh,
+far less ask questions; in vain she tried to guess what was passing
+through her husband’s mind; the little chestnut-brown eyes in her fat
+face might ask what questions they pleased, but the dark-blue eyes of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, for all their frank good-humoured expression, gave
+no answer. After dinner he lay down as usual, and woke in a still more
+cheerful mood, but not a syllable did he utter about his son or the
+letter. Yet it was clear that no wrath was brooding in the old man’s
+heart. When he said "good night"; to his wife after supper, she ventured
+to say, "Please say something about Alosha." He smiled and answered:
+"Did I not say that morning thoughts are best? Go to sleep, and God
+bless you!"
+
+Morning did indeed bring good counsel and kindly action. My grandfather
+got up at four o’clock when Mazan was kindling his fire, and his first
+words were: "Tanaichonok, you are to take a letter at once to Ufa for
+Alexyéi Stepanitch. Get ready immediately, and no one is to know your
+errand or where you are going. Put the young brown horse in the shafts,
+and the roarer abreast of him. Take six bushels of oats with you and a
+loaf of bread. Ask the housekeeper for two _roubles_ in copper for your
+expenses. See that all is ready when my letter is written, and don’t
+lose a moment!" When my grandfather demanded haste, he always got it.
+Then he opened the oak desk which served him as a writing-table, got
+writing materials, and with some effort—for ten years past he had
+written nothing but his signature—he wrote as follows in a stiff,
+old-fashioned hand:—
+
+    "_Dear Son Alexyéi_,
+
+    "Your mother, Arina Vassilyevna, and I, give you our permission
+    to marry Sofya Nikolayevna Zubin, if that be God’s will, and we
+    send you our blessing.
+
+        "Your father,
+
+          "_Stepan Bagroff_."
+
+Half an hour later, long before it was light, Tanaichonok had reached
+the top of the long hill and passed the stackyard, and was trotting
+briskly along the road to Ufa. At six o’clock Stepan Mihailovitch
+ordered Aksyutka to bring the _samovar_ but to wake no one in the house.
+In spite of this, the mistress was called and told in confidence that
+Tanaichonok had started very early with a pair of horses from the
+stable; he was carrying a letter from the master, but his destination
+was unknown. She did not venture to join her husband at once: she waited
+an hour or so, and appeared when he had finished his tea and was
+chatting with Aksyutka, the maid, who had been plain as a child and was
+now still plainer in middle life. "Well, what did they wake you for?"
+said Stepan Mihailovitch, holding out his hand to his wife. "I dare say
+you had a bad night." Arina Vassilyevna kissed his hand respectfully:
+"No," she said, "no one called me, I woke of myself; and I had a good
+night, for I hoped you would be kind to our poor boy." He looked
+attentively at her; but her face was accustomed to wear a mask, and he
+could not read her thoughts. "In that case," he said, "I have good news
+for you. I have sent a special messenger to Ufa and written to Alexyéi
+that he has permission from us both to marry Sofya Nikolayevna."
+
+Arina Vassilyevna had been horrified by her son’s tragic intentions, and
+had sincerely begged and prayed her stern husband to consent to the
+marriage. Yet, when she heard how Stepan Mihailovitch had decided, she
+felt more fear than joy; or rather, she did not dare to feel joy,
+because she feared her daughters. She knew already what Elizabeth
+thought of the letter, and guessed what Alexandra would say. For these
+reasons she received the decision, which her husband hoped would delight
+her, rather coldly and strangely; and this did not escape him. Elizabeth
+expressed no satisfaction whatever, but merely respectful submission to
+her father’s will; but Tanyusha, who took her brother’s letter quite
+seriously, rejoiced with all her heart. Elizabeth was not alarmed even
+at first by her brother’s threat; she shed tears and interceded for him,
+merely because it would not look well to act differently from her mother
+and youngest sister. She wrote at once to Alexandra, who was furious
+when she heard of the decision and came with all speed to Bagrovo. She
+too treated her brother’s letter as an empty threat, a trick suggested
+by Sofya Nikolayevna; and the two together soon converted their mother
+and even Tanyusha to this belief. But the matter was settled, and open
+rebellion was now out of the question. Stepan Mihailovitch had thought
+that Sofya Nikolayevna would refuse his son; but no one else at Bagrovo
+believed this. But it is time now to leave Bagrovo and see what was
+going on at Ufa.
+
+I will not take upon myself to decide positively whether Alexyéi
+Stepanitch really intended to shoot himself, if his parents were
+obdurate, or took a hint from some incident in a novel and tried to
+excite their fears by suggesting the awful result of their refusal.
+Judging by the later development of his character—and I knew it well—I
+cannot think him capable of either course of action. Therefore, as I
+suppose, the young man was not playing a trick in order to frighten his
+parents; on the contrary, he sincerely intended to blow out his brains,
+if he was forbidden to marry Sofya Nikolayevna. But at the same time I
+do not think he could ever have brought himself to carry out his fatal
+purpose, although your mild quiet people, who are often called
+faint-hearted, are sometimes more capable of desperate actions than men
+of bold and energetic temperament. The idea of suicide was certainly
+borrowed from some novel: it was quite out of keeping with the character
+of Alexyéi Stepanitch, his view of life, and the circle of ideas in
+which he had been born and brought up. However that may be, when he had
+launched the fatal letter, he became greatly agitated and was soon laid
+up with fever. His friend and confidante, Mme. Alakayeff, knew nothing
+of the letter; she came to see him daily and soon perceived that his
+illness and his love-affair were not enough to account for his excessive
+agitation. She was sitting beside him one day, knitting a stocking and
+talking about trifles, in order to amuse the invalid and distract his
+mind from his hopeless passion; he was lying on the sofa, with his hands
+behind his head, looking out of the window. Suddenly he turned as white
+as a sheet. A cart with a pair of horses had turned off the street into
+the courtyard, and he recognised the horses and Tanaichonok. He sprang
+to his feet, cried out, "A message from my father, from Bagrovo!" and
+made for the door. Mme. Alakayeff seized his arm, and, with the help of
+a servant, prevented him from hurrying to the steps; it was wet and cold
+autumn weather. Meanwhile Tanaichonok came quickly into the room and
+delivered the letter. Alexyéi Stepanitch broke the seal with trembling
+fingers, read the few lines, burst into tears, and fell on his knees
+before the _ikon_. Mme. Alakayeff was puzzled until he handed her the
+letter; but, when she had read it, she too shed tears of joy. The young
+man was beside himself with happiness. He now confessed the nature of
+the letter he had written to his parents, and she shook her head when
+she heard it. Tanaichonok was called in and closely questioned; when he
+told how he had been sent off, they saw that Stepan Mihailovitch had
+settled the matter by himself, without the knowledge of his womankind
+and probably against their wishes.
+
+Mme. Alakayeff was entirely taken by surprise: even when she had read
+the letter over again she could not believe her own eyes, because she
+knew Stepan Mihailovitch of old and quite realised the opposition of the
+family. But, when the first excitement of surprise and joy was over, the
+two began to discuss how they should set to work. So long as opposition
+from their own side made the marriage seem remote and impossible, they
+had been sanguine as to the feelings of the lady; but now a doubt seized
+on Mme. Alakayeff. When she recalled and examined all the favourable
+signs, she felt that perhaps she had attached more importance to them
+than they deserved; and, like a sensible woman, she made haste to
+moderate the young man’s confident hopes, prudently calculating that, if
+he were seduced by them, he would find it harder to bear the sudden
+collapse of those radiant dreams. A refusal now seemed to her quite
+possible, and her fears had effect upon her companion. Still, she did
+not back out of her promise to help him: on the contrary, she went next
+day and laid his proposal before Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+Simply, clearly, and with no exaggeration, she described the constant
+and ardent attachment of Alexyéi Stepanitch—all the town had long known
+it, and certainly Sofya Nikolayevna did; she spoke warmly of the fine
+character of her young relative, his kind heart, his rare modesty; she
+gave true and exact details of his financial position and prospects; she
+told the facts about his family, not forgetting to state that he had
+received by letter yesterday his parents’ blessing and their full
+consent to seek the hand of a lady so worthy and highly respected as
+Sofya Nikolayevna; she added, that the young man had caught a fever in
+the excitement of waiting for his parents’ reply, but found it
+impossible to postpone the decision of his fate, and therefore had asked
+her, as his kinswoman and a friend of Sofya Nikolayevna’s, to find out
+whether a formal proposal for her hand, laid before her father, would be
+distasteful to her or not.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had long been accustomed to act for herself: without
+confusion and without any of the affectation and prudery expected of
+women in those days, she replied as follows:—
+
+"I thank Alexyéi Stepanitch for the honour he has done me, and you, dear
+lady, for your interest in the matter. I say frankly that I noticed long
+ago his partiality for me and have long expected that he would make me a
+proposal; but I have never decided whether I would accept or reject it.
+His last visit to his parents, the suddenness—you told me this
+yourself—of his long and dangerous illness at home, and the change in
+him when he came back to Ufa—these were signs that his parents
+disapproved of me as a daughter-in-law. This, I confess, I did not
+expect; it seemed more natural to fear opposition on the part of my
+father. Later I saw that Alexyéi Stepanitch had revived his former
+feeling for me; and now I suppose that he has been able to induce his
+father and mother to consent. But you must admit yourself, my dear lady,
+that the matter now assumes quite a new aspect. To enter a family where
+one is not welcome, is too great a risk. Certainly, my father would not
+oppose my choice; but can I venture to conceal the truth from him? If he
+were to learn that an obscure country squire thought twice before
+admitting me to the honour of alliance with his family, he would
+consider it a degradation, and nothing would induce him to consent. I am
+not in love with Alexyéi Stepanitch: I only respect his good qualities
+and his constant affection, and I believe he might make the woman he
+loved happy. Allow me, therefore, to think it over; and also, before I
+speak of this to my father and trouble him in his feeble state with such
+news, I wish to speak myself to Alexyéi Stepanitch. Let him come and see
+us, when he is well enough."
+
+Mme. Alakayeff reported this answer exactly to the young man. He did not
+think it promising, but she disagreed with him and tried to sooth his
+anxiety.
+
+After parting on very friendly terms with her visitor, Sofya Nikolayevna
+sat for a long time alone in her drawing-room, and thought hard. Her
+bright lively eyes were clouded; sombre thoughts raced through her brain
+and were reflected on the mirror of her beautiful face. All that she had
+said to Mme. Alakayeff was perfectly true: the question, whether she
+should marry Alexyéi Stepanitch or not, was really not settled. But the
+proposal had now been made, and it was necessary to make the great
+decision, so critical in every woman’s life. Sofya Nikolayevna had an
+unusually clear head; in later years, the trials of life and her own
+passionate temperament may have warped her judgment, but she was able
+then to see everything exactly in its true light. Her prospects were not
+bright. Her father was a hopeless invalid, and Zanden, their best
+doctor, declared he could not live more than a year. His property
+consisted of two villages near Ufa, Zubkova and Kasimofka—forty serfs in
+all and a small amount of land; he had also scraped together a sum of
+10,000 _roubles_ which he intended as a portion for his daughter. To see
+her married was his constant and eager desire; but strange things do
+happen, and Sofya Nikolayevna had never before received a formal offer.
+He would leave behind him six orphans, the children of his two
+marriages, and separate guardians would have to be appointed. The three
+youngest would go to their grandmother, Mme. Rychkoff; their mother’s
+fortune consisted of a small estate of fifty serfs. Sofya Nikolayevna’s
+own brothers were at a boarding-school in Moscow; she would be left
+absolutely alone, without even distant relations to take her under their
+roof. In short, she had no where to lay her head. To face poverty and
+want, to live on the charity of strangers and in complete dependence
+upon strangers—such a fate might distress any one; but to a girl who had
+lived in comfort and held a high position in society, a girl proud by
+nature and flattered by general attention and popularity, a girl who had
+experienced all the burden of dependence and then all the charm of
+authority—such a change might well seem intolerable. And here was a
+young man, good-looking, honest, modest, the heir of an ancient line and
+an only son, whose father possessed 180 serfs and who was himself to
+inherit wealth from an aunt; and this young man worshipped her and
+offered her his hand and heart. At first sight, hesitation seemed out of
+the question. But, on the other hand, they were ill-matched in mind and
+temperament. No one in the town could believe that Sofya Nikolayevna
+would accept Alexyéi Stepanitch, and she realised the justice of public
+opinion and could not but attach importance to it. She was considered a
+marvel of beauty and intelligence: her suitor was certainly pretty in a
+boyish way—which was no recommendation to Sofya Nikolayevna—but rather
+simple and stupid, and passed with every one for a plain country lad.
+She was quick and enterprising: he was timid and slow. She was educated
+and might almost be called learned, had read much, and had a wide range
+of intellectual interests: he was quite ignorant, had read nothing but a
+few silly novels and a song-book, and cared for little beyond snaring
+quails and flying his hawks. She was witty and tactful and shone in
+society: he could not string three words together; clumsy, shy, abject,
+and ridiculous, he could only blush and bow and squeeze into a corner or
+against a door, to escape from the talkative and sociable young men whom
+he positively feared, though he was in truth far cleverer than many of
+them. She had a firm, positive, unbending temper: he was humble and
+wanting in energy, easily silenced and easily discomfited. Was he the
+man to support and defend his wife in society and in domestic life?
+
+Such were the contradictory thoughts and ideas and fancies which swarmed
+in the young girl’s mind, mingling and jostling one another. Long after
+darkness had come down, she was still sitting there alone. At last a
+feeling of extreme misery, a terrible certainty that her reason was
+utterly baffled and growing less and less able to solve her problem,
+turned her thoughts to prayer. She hurried to her room to beg for the
+light of reason from on high, and fell on her knees before the image of
+Our Lady of Smolensk, who had once before by a miracle lightened her
+darkness and pointed out to her the path of life. For a long time she
+prayed, and her hot tears fell. But by degrees she felt a kind of
+relief, a measure of strength, a power of resolve, though she did not
+know yet what her resolve would be; and even this feeling helped her.
+She went downstairs to look at her father in his sleep; then she came
+back to her own room, lay down, and went peacefully to sleep. When she
+woke next morning, she was perfectly composed; she reflected for a few
+minutes, gave a thought to her hesitation and perplexity of the night
+before, and then kept quietly to her purpose, which was, first to have a
+conversation with her suitor, and then to settle the matter definitely,
+in accordance with the impression left on her mind by their interview.
+
+Alexyéi Stepanitch, wishing to know his fate as soon as possible, sent
+for the doctor and begged to be put on his legs without delay. The
+doctor promised to let him out soon and kept his promise for once.
+Within a week Alexyéi Stepanitch, though still pale, thin, and feeble,
+was sitting in Sofya Nikolayevna’s drawing-room. Touched by the loss of
+colour and change in his young face, she was not quite as outspoken and
+rigorous as she meant to be. In substance she repeated to him what she
+had said to Mme. Alakayeff, but she added two points—that she would not
+part from her father while he lived, and that she would not live in the
+country. She wished to live in a town, in Ufa, for choice, where she was
+acquainted with many worthy and cultivated people, and hoped to enjoy
+their society after her marriage. She ended by saying that she would
+like to see her husband in the public service and holding a position in
+the town, which, if not brilliant, should at least secure deference and
+respect. To all these conditions and anticipations of a wife’s rights,
+Alexyéi Stepanitch replied, with abject humility, that her will was law
+to him, and that his happiness would consist in the fulfilment of all
+her wishes. Such an answer no man should have given: it proved that his
+love was not to be depended on, and that he could not assure a woman’s
+happiness; yet it pleased Sofya Nikolayevna, clever as she was.
+Reluctantly I must confess that love of power was one of her ruling
+passions; and the germs of this passion, now that she had been released
+from the cruel oppression of her stepmother, were sprouting actively at
+this time. Love of power did really, though she herself did not know it,
+help her to her decision.
+
+She expressed a wish to see the letter of consent which he had received
+from his parents; and he produced it from his pocket. She read it and
+was convinced that she was right in guessing that his wishes had at
+first been opposed. The young man was incapable of dissimulation, and
+also so much in love that he could not resist a kind look or word from
+his idol. So, when Sofya Nikolayevna demanded perfect frankness, he made
+a clean breast of everything; and I believe that this frankness finally
+settled the question in his favour. Sofya Nikolayevna was clever, but
+still she was a woman; and she was filled with the idea of reshaping and
+remoulding in her own way this good-tempered young man, so modest and
+sincere and uncorrupted by society. How delightful to think of the
+gradual awakening and enlightenment of this Orson! Orson had no lack of
+sense; and feeling, though wrapt in unbroken slumber, was there too.
+Orson would love her still better, if that were possible, in gratitude
+for his transformation. This vision took hold of her eager imagination;
+and she parted very graciously from her adorer, promising to talk the
+matter over with her father and communicate the result through Mme.
+Alakayeff. Alexyéi Stepanitch was "swimming in bliss"—to use an
+expression of that day. That evening Sofya Nikolayevna again had
+recourse to prayer, and prayed for a long time with great mental strain
+and fervour. She was exhausted when she went to sleep; and she had a
+dream which she interpreted, as people often do, as a confirmation of
+her purpose. Men are clever enough to interpret anything according to
+their desires. This dream I forget; but I remember that it was capable,
+with much more probability and much less forcing, of the opposite
+interpretation. Next morning Sofya Nikolayevna lost no time in telling
+her father, who was now in a very feeble state, of the proposal she had
+received. M. Zubin did not know Alexyéi Stepanitch, but had somehow come
+to think of him as a person of no importance; and he was not pleased, in
+spite of his eager desire to see his daughter settled before he died.
+But she proved to him, with her usual eagerness and convincing
+eloquence, that it was unwise to show the door to such a suitor. She
+urged all the advantages of the match which we know already, and, above
+all, that, far from parting with him, she would continue to live in the
+same house. She painted her helpless condition when it should please God
+to remove her father, till the sick man shed a tear and said: "Do as you
+please, my dear clever child. I consent to everything. Bring your future
+husband to see me soon: I wish to become better acquainted with him. And
+I insist on receiving a proposal in writing from his parents."
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna then sent a note to Mme. Alakayeff, asking Alexyéi
+Stepanitch to call on her father at a fixed hour. He was still "swimming
+in bliss," which he shared only with his old friend and supporter; but
+he was much disconcerted by this invitation which he had never expected
+from such a confirmed invalid. M. Zubin, in the absence of the
+Lieutenant-Governor the most important and powerful personage in the
+whole district of Ufa! M. Zubin, whom he had always approached with
+reverence and awe! His name seemed now more formidable than ever. What
+if he frowned on this proposal for his daughter’s hand from one of the
+humblest of his subordinates? Might he not treat it as insolence, and
+thunder out: "How dared you think of my daughter? Are you a fit match
+for her? Off with him to prison and to judgment!" However wild these
+notions may appear, they did really pass through the young man’s head;
+and he often told the story afterwards himself. Plucking up his spirits
+and encouraged by Mme. Alakayeff, he put on his uniform which hung
+loosely on his limbs from loss of flesh, and set off to wait on the
+great man. With his three-cornered hat under his arm, and clutching his
+troublesome sword in a trembling hand, he entered M. Zubin’s study, so
+nervous that he could hardly breathe. M. Zubin, who had once been
+clever, lively, and energetic, now lay on his couch hardly able to move
+and shrunk to a mere skeleton. The visitor bowed low and remained
+standing by the door. This in itself was enough to annoy the invalid.
+"Step this way, M. Bagroff, and take a chair near my bed; I am too weak
+to talk loud." Alexyéi Stepanitch, with a profusion of bows, sat down on
+the edge of a chair close to the bed. "I understand that you seek my
+daughter’s hand," the old man went on. The suitor jumped up, bowed, and
+said that he did in fact venture to seek this happiness.
+
+I could report the whole of this interview in detail, as I have often
+heard it fully described by Alexyéi Stepanitch himself; but part of it
+would be a repetition of what we know already, and I am afraid of
+wearying my readers. The important points are these. M. Zubin questioned
+the young man about his family, his means, and his intentions with
+regard to his profession and place of residence; he said that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would have nothing but her portion of 10,000 _roubles_, two
+families of serfs as servants, and 3000 _roubles_ in cash for initial
+expenses; and he added: "Though I am quite sure that you, as a dutiful
+son, would not have made such a proposal without the consent of your
+parents, yet they may change their minds; and social usage requires that
+they should write to me personally on the subject; and I cannot give you
+a positive answer till I receive a letter to that effect." Alexyéi
+Stepanitch got up repeatedly, bowed, and sat down again. He agreed to
+everything and promised to write that very day to his parents. In half
+an hour the invalid said that he was tired—which was perfectly true—and
+dismissed the young man rather drily. The moment he left, Sofya
+Nikolayevna entered her father’s study; he was lying with closed eyes,
+and his face expressed weariness and also anxiety. Hearing his
+daughter’s approach, he threw an imploring glance at her, pressed his
+hands to his breast, and ejaculated: "Is it possible, Sonitchka, that
+you intend to marry him!" But Sofya Nikolayevna had anticipated the
+result of the interview and was prepared for an even worse impression.
+"I warned you, father," she said in a gentle but firm voice, "that
+Alexyéi Stepanitch, owing to utter ignorance of society, awkwardness,
+and timidity, was bound to appear to you at first somewhat of a
+simpleton; but I, who have seen him often and had long conversations
+with him, will vouch for it that he is no fool and has more sense than
+most people. I beg you to have two more interviews with him; and I am
+sure you will agree with me." M. Zubin looked long at his daughter with
+a keen and penetrating gaze, as if he wished to read some secret hidden
+in her heart; then he sighed heavily and consented to do what she asked.
+
+By the next post Alexyéi Stepanitch sent a very affectionate and
+respectful letter to his parents. He thanked them for having given him
+life a second time, and humbly begged them to write at once to M. Zubin
+and request the hand of his daughter for their son; he added that this
+was the regular custom, and without such a letter the father would not
+give a positive answer. The fulfilment of this simple request gave some
+trouble to the old people at Bagrovo. They were no hands at composition,
+and, for want of previous experience, had no idea how to set about it,
+while they were exceedingly loath to commit themselves before the
+Governor’s Deputy and their future relation, who was sure to be a
+skilful man of business and a practised writer. It took them a whole
+week to compose their letter; at last it got written somehow and was
+dispatched to Alexyéi Stepanitch. It was not a skilful production,
+having none of those polite phrases and expressions of affection which
+are indispensable in such cases.
+
+While waiting for the answer from home, Alexyéi Stepanitch received two
+more invitations from M. Zubin. The second visit did not remove the
+unfavourable impression produced by the first. On the next occasion,
+however, Sofya Nikolayevna was present. Returning from a call earlier
+than usual, she walked into her father’s room, as if she did not know
+that her suitor was sitting there. Her presence made all the difference.
+She could make him talk and knew what he could talk about, so as to
+display to advantage his natural good sense, high principle, and
+goodness of heart. M. Zubin was obviously pleased: he spoke kindly to
+the young man and invited him to come to the house as often as he could.
+When they were alone, the old man embraced his daughter with tears,
+called her by many fond names, and said she was a witch whose spells
+could draw out a man’s good qualities, even when they were so deeply
+hidden that no one suspected their existence. She too was much pleased;
+for she had not dared to hope that Alexyéi Stepanitch would do so much
+to support her favourable opinion and justify the character she had
+given him.
+
+The letter containing the formal proposal arrived at last, and Alexyéi
+Stepanitch delivered it in person to M. Zubin. Alas! without the magic
+presence and aid of Sofya Nikolayevna the suitor failed again to please
+his future father-in-law, who was also far from satisfied with the
+letter. Next day he had a long conversation with his daughter, in which
+he set before her all the disadvantages of marrying a man inferior to
+herself in intelligence, education, and force of character; he said that
+the Bagroff family would not take her to their hearts—they would be much
+more likely to hate her, because coarse and cruel ignorance always hates
+refinement; he warned her not to rely on the promises of a lover; for
+these as a rule are not kept after marriage, and Alexyéi Stepanitch,
+even if he wished, would not have the power to keep them. To all this
+sage advice, drawn directly from the experience of life, she had an
+answer of surprising adroitness; and at the same time she depicted in
+such lively colours the advantages of marrying a man who, if he lacked
+energy and refinement, was at least kind-hearted, honourable, loving,
+and no fool, that her father was carried away by her confidence and gave
+his full consent. She clasped her father in her arms and kissed his
+wasted hands; then she gave him the _ikon_ and received his blessing,⁴⁰
+kneeling by his bed and weeping. "Father," she cried in her excitement,
+"with God’s help, I hope that in a year’s time Alexyéi Stepanitch will
+be a different creature: the reading of good books, the society of
+clever people, and constant conversation with his wife—these will make
+up for defects of education; his bashfulness will pass away, and the
+power to take a place in society will come of itself." "May it be so!"
+he answered. "Now send for the priest. I wish that we should pray
+together for your happiness."
+
+  ⁴⁰ The sacred image is often held by the person giving the blessing.
+
+That same evening Alexyéi Stepanitch was invited to the house, with Mme.
+Alakayeff and some old friends of the Zubins’—M. Anitchkoff and the
+Misailoffs; and the favourable answer was given. The young man’s bliss
+no words can describe: Sofya Nikolayevna, even in extreme old age, used
+to speak of his joy at that moment. He threw himself at M. Zubin’s feet
+and kissed his hands, cried and sobbed like a child, and nearly fainted
+from the effect of this immense good-fortune which down to the last
+moment had seemed beyond his reach. She too was deeply moved by such a
+frank expression of ardent and entire devotion.
+
+The official betrothal came two days later, and all the town was invited
+to the ceremony. There was general surprise, because many had
+disbelieved the reports of the engagement. But all sceptics were
+convinced at last, and came to express their congratulations and good
+wishes. Alexyéi Stepanitch was radiant with happiness; he was quite
+unaware of any hidden meaning in congratulations, of any mockery in
+looks and smiles. But Sofya Nikolayevna let nothing pass unnoticed: she
+saw everything and heard everything, though, in speaking to her, every
+one was cautious and polite. Though she knew beforehand the view society
+would take of her action, she could not help being vexed by this
+expression of their opinion. But no one detected her vexation; for she
+was cheerful and affectionate with every one and especially with her
+suitor, and seemed perfectly happy and content with her choice. The pair
+were soon summoned into M. Zubin’s study, and the betrothal took place
+there before a few witnesses. While the priest read the prayers, the old
+man shed tears; when the rite was over, he told the bridegroom to kiss
+the bride and embraced them both himself with a great effort; then he
+gazed earnestly at Alexyéi Stepanitch and said, "Love her always as you
+do now; God is giving you such a treasure ..." and then he broke down.
+The engaged couple and the witnesses returned to the drawing-room, where
+all the men embraced the bridegroom and kissed the bride’s hand, while
+all the ladies embraced the bride and had their hands kissed by the
+bridegroom. When this fuss was over, the pair were made to sit on a sofa
+side by side, and exchange kisses again; and then the company, holding
+glasses in their hands, repeated their congratulations and good wishes.
+Anitchkoff acted as host, and Mme. Alakayeff as hostess. Alexyéi
+Stepanitch, who had never in his life drunk anything but water, was
+forced to take a glass of wine, and the unfamiliar stimulant had a
+strong effect upon him, weakened as he was by recent illness and
+constant agitation. He became uncommonly lively, laughed and cried, and
+talked a great deal, to the amusement of the company and the
+mortification of the bride. The guests soon grew merry: glass followed
+glass, and a fine supper was served. All ate and drank heartily, and at
+last the party broke up amid noise and merriment. The bridegroom’s head
+was beginning to ache; and Mme. Alakayeff took him home in her carriage.
+
+M. Zubin felt that he was in great danger and therefore wished to have
+the wedding as soon as possible; but, as he also wished his daughter’s
+outfit to be rich and splendid, it was necessary to postpone the
+ceremony for some months. Her mother’s diamonds and emeralds had to be
+sent to Moscow, to be reset and restrung in the newest fashion; silver
+had to be ordered from Moscow, and some dresses and presents; the other
+dresses, curtains for the state bed, and a sumptuous black-brown fur
+cloak which cost 500 _roubles_ then and could not be bought now for
+5000—all these were made in Kazan; a quantity of table-linen and Holland
+sheets were also provided. Ten thousand roubles, the amount fixed for
+the dowry, was a great sum in those days; and, as many valuable things
+were provided as well, the inventory of the bride’s outfit assumed such
+splendid proportions, that when I read it now I can hardly believe in
+the simple life of our ancestors at the end of last century.
+
+The first business after the formal betrothal was to send complimentary
+letters to all relations on both sides. One of Sofya Nikolayevna’s gifts
+was her remarkable skill in letter-writing; and her letter to her future
+husband’s parents was such that Stepan Mihailovitch, though no
+letter-writer himself, set a high value on it. First he listened to it
+with great attention; then he took it out of Tanyusha’s hand, praised
+the distinct handwriting, and read it through twice himself. "Well,
+she’s a clever girl," he said, "and I make sure she has a warm heart."
+This enraged the family, but they had the sense to keep silent.
+Alexandra alone could not restrain herself: her gooseberry eyes flashed
+with rage as she said: "She can write a fine letter, father, I admit;
+but all is not gold that glitters." The old man scowled at her and said
+in his dangerous voice: "How do you know? You’re snarling at her
+already, and you’ve never even seen her! Take care! Keep your tongue
+from wagging, and don’t stir up the rest!" All sat as silent as mice,
+and, of course, hated Sofya Nikolayevna worse than ever. Meanwhile
+Stepan Mihailovitch, under the influence of that warm and affectionate
+letter, took the pen himself and wrote as follows, in defiance of all
+established etiquette:—
+
+        "_My dear, precious, sensible Daughter-in-Law to be_,
+
+    "If you, without seeing us, have learnt to love and respect us
+    old people, we feel the same for you. And when, by God’s
+    blessing, we meet, we shall love you still better; and you will
+    be to us as our own daughter, and we shall rejoice in the
+    happiness of our son Alexyéi."
+
+On her side, Sofya Nikolayevna valued the old man’s simple words as they
+deserved; from what she had heard, she had already taken a fancy to him.
+As she had no relations living, the bridegroom had no letters to write;
+but she asked Alexyéi Stepanitch to write a letter of intimation to M.
+Anitchkoff, the friend at Moscow whom she had never seen and who had
+taken her brothers under his care. The bridegroom of course gladly
+consented. Not having much confidence in his power to express himself on
+paper, she asked to see the letter before it was sent. When she read it,
+she was horrified! Alexyéi Stepanitch, who had heard a great deal of M.
+Anitchkoff as a wit, took it into his head to adopt an elaborate style.
+Therefore he had recourse to some novel of the day, and filled two sides
+with phrases which, under other circumstances, would have made Sofya
+Nikolayevna laugh outright; as it was, the blood rushed to her face, and
+then the tears poured from her eyes. When she grew calmer, she wondered
+how she was to get out of such an awkward situation. She did not wonder
+long, however. She wrote a rough draft of a letter herself, and then
+said to her betrothed, that, not being in the habit of writing to
+strangers, he had written in a way that might not please Anitchkoff; and
+therefore she had written a rough draft, which she asked him to copy out
+and send off. She felt shame and pain, and was hurt on his account; her
+voice shook, and she nearly broke down. But he welcomed her suggestion
+with enthusiasm; when she read him the letter, he was charmed with it,
+praised her wonderful skill, and covered her hands with kisses. This was
+the first step in disrespect for her future husband, the first step
+towards realising her dream of complete domination over him; and she did
+not find it easy to take.
+
+Knowing that his parents had little money and were forced to be chary in
+spending any, Alexyéi Stepanitch wrote to ask for a very moderate sum;
+and, to strengthen his request, he asked Mme. Alakayeff to write to his
+father, to assure him that the request was reasonable and that some
+expense was inevitable in view of the marriage. He asked only 800
+_roubles_, but Mme. Alakayeff stated the necessary sum at 1500. The old
+people replied that they had not got such a sum; they sent him all they
+had—300 _roubles_, and suggested that, if the other 500 were necessary,
+he should borrow them; but they promised to send him a team of four
+horses with a coachman and postilion, and provisions of all kinds. They
+did not even answer Mme. Alakayeff: so indignant were they with her for
+demanding such a huge sum. It could not be helped: Alexyéi Stepanitch
+thanked them for their kindness and borrowed 500 _roubles_; when even
+this proved insufficient, Mme. Alakayeff gave him 500 more, without the
+knowledge of his parents.
+
+Meantime, as the engaged couple met more often and were together longer,
+they became more intimate. Sofya Nikolayevna for the first time saw her
+husband as he really was, and realised for the first time what a heavy
+task lay before her! She had made no mistake in thinking that he
+possessed natural intelligence, a very kind heart, strict principles of
+honour, and perfect integrity in official life; but otherwise she found
+such a limitation of ideas, such a pettiness of interests, such an
+absence of self-esteem and independence, that her courage and firmness
+in the execution of her purpose were more than once severely shaken.
+More than once, in despair, she took the engagement-ring off her finger,
+laid it before the image of Our Lady of Smolensk, and prayed with tears
+that her feeble intelligence might be enlightened by divine wisdom. As
+we know already, she was accustomed to act thus at each crisis in her
+life. When she had prayed, she felt braver and calmer. Interpreting this
+feeling as heavenly guidance, she would put her ring on again and go
+back, composed and cheerful, to join her lover in the drawing-room. Her
+father felt that he was losing strength daily; and she was able to
+assure him that she was constantly discovering fresh merits in her
+lover, that she was quite content and looked forward to happiness in her
+marriage. By this time disease had dulled M. Zubin’s perspicacity: he
+not only believed that she was sincere, but was convinced himself that
+his daughter would be happy. "Thank God!" he used to say; "now I can die
+happy."
+
+And now the wedding-day drew near. The bride’s outfit was all ready. The
+bridegroom too made his preparations, being guided by the advice of Mme.
+Alakayeff, who assumed the entire management of him. The old lady, in
+spite of her shrewdness, was surprised by his profound ignorance of the
+customs of polite society. But for her, he would have been guilty of
+many blunders which would have made his bride blush for shame. Thus he
+intended to give her as a birthday-present a kind of cloth for a dress
+which would only have been suitable as a present to her maid; and he
+thought of driving to the church in an old shandrydan without springs,
+which would have made all the town laugh; and so on. The things were not
+of importance in themselves; but it would have tried Sofya Nikolayevna
+too hard to see her bridegroom the laughing-stock of Ufa society. All
+such things were put right by Mme. Alakayeff, or rather by the bride
+herself, for the two women discussed every point together. Sofya
+Nikolayevna told her lover in time, that he must not think of giving her
+a present for her birthday, because she loathed birthday-presents in
+general. For the wedding, she made him buy a new English carriage which
+had lately been ordered from Petersburg by a local landowner; his name
+was Murzahanoff,⁴¹ and he had managed to run through his fortune in a
+few months. The price paid for the carriage was 350 _roubles_; Sofya
+Nikolayevna bought it herself as a present from her father to the
+bridegroom, and begged him not to trouble the dying man by thanking him.
+And the other difficulties were got over in the same fashion.
+
+  ⁴¹ The Russianised form of an oriental name, Mirza Khan.
+
+Then the bride and bridegroom wrote, for themselves and M. Zubin, to
+Stepan Mihailovitch and Arina Vassilyevna, pressing them to honour the
+wedding by their presence; but the old people, as a matter of course,
+declined the invitation. They had lived so long in their country
+solitude that town and town society seemed to them something strange and
+formidable. None of the daughters wished to go either; but Stepan
+Mihailovitch thought this awkward, and desired Elizabeth and Alexandra
+to attend the wedding. The latter was accompanied by her husband,
+Karatayeff; but Yerlykin was detained by his duties at Orenburg.
+
+The presence of these uninvited and unexpected guests was the cause of
+much annoyance to Sofya Nikolayevna. Her future sisters-in-law were
+clever and cunning women; they were determined to dislike her, and their
+behaviour to her was cold, unfriendly, and even rude. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna knew very well the sort of attitude they were likely to
+adopt, yet she thought it her duty to be friendly and even cordial to
+them at first; but when she saw that all her efforts were vain, and that
+the better she treated them the worse they treated her, she retired
+behind a wall of cold civility. But this did not protect her from those
+mean hints and innuendoes which it is impossible not to understand and
+not to resent, though it is awkward to do either, because you lay
+yourself open to the retort—"If the cap fits, wear it!" This odious form
+of attack, now banished to the servants’ hall by the advance of
+refinement, was formidable in those days, and much used in the houses of
+rural landowners, many of whom differed little from their own servants
+in their manners and customs. But is it true that it has really been
+banished? Does it not still live on among us, concealed under more
+decent and artistic forms?
+
+The good people of Ufa made fun, as might be expected, of the country
+clothes and manners of the two ladies. As to Karatayeff, who had now
+adopted all the Bashkir habits and began drinking Bashkir decoctions at
+eight in the morning, when he was first introduced to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+he kissed her hand with a sounding smack three times over, and cried out
+with real Bashkir enthusiasm, "My word! what a dazzler brother Alexyéi
+has hooked!" The coarse jests and compliments of the man were as
+distressing as the malicious sallies of the women; and both forced Sofya
+Nikolayevna to swallow many tears. But worse than all was the blindness
+of Alexyéi Stepanitch: he seemed perfectly satisfied with the relations
+between his sisters and his bride, and this was not only a mortification
+for the present but also a peril for the future. These venomous
+creatures, who were staying with their brother, began at once to drop
+their poison into his simple soul, and did it so artfully that he did
+not suspect their manœuvres. Allusions to the young lady’s pride, to the
+poverty which she hid under jewels and fine clothes, to her caprices and
+his meek submission to them, were dinned into his ears all day long.
+Much passed unnoticed, but much also went straight to the mark and made
+him thoughtful and vaguely uneasy. All their attacks, whether secret or
+open, were accompanied by a pretence of sympathy and sisterly affection.
+"What makes you look so worn, my dear boy?" Elizabeth would ask; "Sofya
+Nikolayevna wears you out with all her commissions. You’ve just got back
+from the other end of the town, tired and hungry, and off you run again,
+without eating a morsel, to dance attendance on her. As your sisters, we
+can’t help being sorry for you"; and then sham tears, or at least some
+play with the pocket-handkerchief, completed the crafty sentence. Then
+Alexandra would make a furious entry into the conversation. "No, my
+dear, I really cannot stand it! I know you will be angry, and perhaps
+you will cease to love us; but I can’t help it, I must tell you the
+truth. You are quite changed: you’re ashamed of us and have forgotten us
+altogether; your one wish is to mumble that girl’s hand; your one fear,
+to get into her black books. You have become her lackey, her slave! Then
+it cuts us to the heart to see that old witch, Mme. Alakayeff, ordering
+you about like a servant and making you fetch and carry for her; and
+she’s not content with that, but finds fault with you and urges you to
+greater activity." Alexyéi Stepanitch could think of no answer to all
+this, except that he loved his sisters and would continue to do so,
+and—it was time to go and see Sofya Nikolayevna; whereupon he took his
+hat and hurried off. "Oh, go by all means!" Alexandra called after him,
+"and go quick; or else she will be angry and perhaps withhold her hand
+from your lips!" Scenes like this took place again and again and
+undoubtedly left their impression.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna could not help noticing that his sisters’ visit had
+brought about a certain change in her lover. He seemed depressed, was
+less exact in keeping his engagements, and spent less time with her. The
+reason for this she herself understood very well; and Mme. Alakayeff,
+who had become a very intimate friend and also knew all that went on in
+the Bagroffs’ lodgings, did not fail to provide her with detailed
+information. Her impulsive nature made her unwilling to let things drag
+on. She reasoned justly, that she ought not to give time for the
+sisters’ influence to take root at leisure, that she must open her
+lover’s eyes and put the strength of his character and affection to a
+decisive test. If they proved too weak, it was better to part before
+marriage than to unite her fate to such a feeble creature, who was, to
+use her own expression, "neither a shield from the sun nor a cloak to
+keep out the rain." She summoned him early one morning and ordered that
+no visitors should be admitted to the drawing-room where they were
+sitting. Then she turned to Alexyéi Stepanitch, who was looking pale and
+frightened, and addressed him as follows:—
+
+"I wish to have a frank explanation with you and to make a clean breast
+of what I am feeling; and I ask you to do the same. Your sisters detest
+me and did their best to rouse your parents against me. That I know from
+yourself. But your love overcame all obstacles: your parents gave you
+their approval, and I resolved to accept you and brave the hatred of all
+your family. I hoped to find protection in your love for me and in my
+endeavour to prove to your parents that I don’t deserve their
+displeasure. But now I see that I was mistaken. You saw yourself how I
+received your sisters, how friendly I was and how hard I tried to please
+them; and, though their rudeness made me draw back, yet I never once
+failed in politeness to them. And what has been the result? It is only a
+week since they came, and you treat me differently already: you make me
+promises and then forget to keep them; you spend less time with me; you
+are depressed and anxious, and even less affectionate to me than you
+used to be. Don’t defend yourself, or deny it; that would not be
+honourable on your part. I know that you love me still, but you are
+afraid to show it; you fear your sisters, and that is why you are
+depressed and even avoid opportunities of being alone with me. You know
+yourself that all this is quite true. Well, then, tell me, how can I
+hope that your love will stand firm? It is a strange kind of love that
+turns coward and hides, because your sisters disapprove of your bride,
+as you knew they did long ago. Suppose your parents disapprove of me and
+turn up their noses at me? What then? Then you will really cease to love
+me. No, Alexyéi Stepanitch, honourable men do not behave so to the woman
+they love. The knowledge that your sisters disliked me should have made
+you twice as attentive and twice as devoted in their presence; and then
+they would not have dared to utter a syllable; but you have suffered
+them to use insulting language in your presence. I know just how they
+speak to you. From all this I conclude that your love is not love at
+all, but love-making, that I cannot rely on you, and that we had better
+part now than be unhappy for life. Consider carefully what I have said;
+I shall give you two days to think it over. Come to the house as usual,
+but I shall not see you alone and shall not refer to this interview.
+After two days, I shall ask for an honest answer to these questions:
+’Have you sufficient firmness to be my defender against your relations
+and any one else who chooses to insult me? Can you shut your sisters’
+mouths and prevent them from uttering in your presence a single
+insulting word or allusion against me?’ To break her engagement a week
+before her marriage is a great misfortune for any girl; but it is better
+to bear it once for all than to suffer all one’s life. You know that I
+am not in love with you, but I was beginning to love you; and I believe
+my love would have been stronger and more constant than yours. Now,
+good-bye! For to-day and to-morrow we are strangers."
+
+Long before she ended, Alexyéi Stepanitch had been in tears, and he
+tried several times to interrupt; but, before he could open his mouth,
+she had left the room and shut the door behind her. It was some time
+before he recovered from this tremendous blow. But at last the terrible
+thought of losing his adored mistress presented itself to him with
+appalling reality, and summoned up that energy and vigour of which the
+mildest and gentlest of men are capable, though they cannot keep it up
+for long. He hurried home; and, when his sisters, with no pity for his
+evident disturbance and distress, greeted him with the usual malicious
+jests, he flew into such a rage and attacked them with such fury that
+they were frightened. The wrath of a gentle patient man is a formidable
+thing. Among other things he told his sisters that, if they ventured to
+say another insulting word about his bride or about himself, he would
+instantly move to other lodgings, from which, as well as from M. Zubin’s
+house, they would be excluded; and he would write to his father and tell
+him the whole story. That was enough. Alexandra had a clear recollection
+of her father’s warning-"Keep your tongue quiet, and don’t stir up the
+rest of the family!" She knew very well what a thunder-cloud her
+brother’s complaint would call up, and what alarming consequences she
+might expect. Both the sisters fell on their brother’s neck and begged
+forgiveness with tears; they solemnly declared that it should never
+happen again; they were really very fond of Sofya Nikolayevna, and it
+was only out of pity for his health and fear that he was doing too much
+that they had ventured on these foolish jests. They called on Sofya
+Nikolayevna that same day and paid court to her with the utmost
+servility. The meaning of all this was not lost upon her, and she felt
+she had prevailed.
+
+The position of her lover really deserved pity. His feelings, which had
+been calmed and composed to some extent by frequent interviews with
+Sofya Nikolayevna, her simple friendly behaviour to him, and the near
+prospect of the marriage, had then been rather alarmed and abashed by
+the sneers of his sisters; and now they flamed up so fiercely, that at
+the present moment he was capable of any self-sacrifice, of any
+desperate action, a true knight-errant! His state of mind was clearly
+reflected on his handsome young face during those two endless days. The
+lovers met several times, and Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at his
+face without pain; but she had the firmness to support the test she had
+imposed. The agitation and pity which she felt were a surprise to
+herself. She felt that she did really love this simple, modest young
+man, who was absolutely devoted to her and would not have hesitated to
+put an end to his existence if she made up her mind to refuse him. At
+last the two long days were over. Early on the third day Alexyéi
+Stepanitch sat in the drawing-room, waiting for his mistress to appear.
+The door opened softly, and in she came, more beautiful, more charming
+than ever. She was smiling, and her eyes expressed such tenderness that,
+when he looked at her and saw her kind hand stretched out towards him,
+the excess of his emotion deprived him for an instant of the power of
+speech. He soon recovered, and then, instead of taking her hand, fell at
+her feet and poured forth a torrent of burning heartfelt eloquence. She
+interrupted him and raised him to his feet. Then she said: "I see and
+feel your love, and I share it; I believe all your promises; I put my
+fate in your hands without fear." She had never been so affectionate to
+him before, and she used words of tenderness which he had never before
+heard from her lips.
+
+Only five days remained before the marriage. All their preparations were
+complete, and the lovers were free to spend most of their time together.
+For five whole months Sofya Nikolayevna had been true to her intention
+of educating her future husband over again. She never lost a suitable
+moment, but did her best to impart those ideals which he did not
+possess, to clear up and develop feelings of which he was dimly
+conscious, and to root out the notions which he had derived from his
+early surroundings. She even made him read, and discussed with him the
+books he had read, explaining what puzzled him, filling up gaps in his
+memory, and illustrating fiction from real life. But it is probable that
+she got on faster with her task during these five days than in the
+course of five long months; for the recent incident which I have
+described had raised her lover’s mind to a higher level of refinement,
+and he was in an unusually receptive and impressionable mood. How far
+the teacher succeeded on the whole in impressing her ideas upon the
+pupil, I cannot venture to decide. It is hard to know how much weight to
+attach to the opinions of the two persons concerned; but it is certain
+that in later years they both maintained—and they appealed to the
+evidence of disinterested persons in confirmation of the statement—that
+a great change took place in Alexyéi Stepanitch, and even a complete
+transformation. I am very willing to believe it; but I have a proof that
+his proficiency in social etiquette left something to be desired. I know
+that he made his bride very angry the day before the marriage, and that
+her vehemence left a strong and painful impression on his mind. It
+happened in the following way. Two ladies were calling on Sofya
+Nikolayevna when a servant brought in a paper parcel and handed it to
+his mistress, with the explanation that Alexyéi Stepanitch had sent it
+by his coachman and wished her at once to make a cap for his sister
+Alexandra. Her lover had left her half an hour before without saying one
+word about this commission, and Sofya Nikolayevna was exceedingly
+annoyed. The ladies, who were of some importance, had supposed at first
+that the parcel contained a present from the bridegroom; and now they
+did not try to conceal their amusement. Sofya Nikolayevna lost patience:
+she ordered the parcel to be returned, with a message that Alexyéi
+Stepanitch had better apply to a milliner; it was no doubt a mistake to
+have brought the thing to her. The explanation was quite simple. On
+going home, he had found his sister in a great difficulty, because the
+milliner, who had engaged to make her a cap for the wedding, had fallen
+ill and returned the materials. As he had seen with his own eyes the
+skill with which Sofya Nikolayevna could trim hats and caps, he offered
+to help his sister out of her trouble, and told his servant to carry the
+parcel to his bride, with a humble request that she would trim a cap for
+Alexandra. But the servant was busy, and, instead of going himself, sent
+the coachman; and the humble request became, in the coachman’s mouth, an
+imperious demand. Alexyéi Stepanitch hastened back to explain matters,
+and carried with him the same unlucky parcel. Sofya Nikolayevna had not
+yet cooled down, when she saw him coming into the room with the odious
+parcel under his arm; and she flared up worse than ever, and said many
+violent and unkind things which she had better have left unspoken. The
+culprit, utterly dumbfounded, tried to defend himself, but did it very
+badly; he was seriously hurt by this onslaught. She sent the materials
+for the cap to some milliner she knew of; and then, repenting of her
+violence, she tried to put matters right. But, to her surprise, Alexyéi
+Stepanitch could not get over it: he felt that he had been unjustly
+treated, and she had frightened him. He became very depressed, and her
+efforts to calm and cheer him were unsuccessful.
+
+The wedding-day, the 10th of May, 1788, arrived, and the bridegroom paid
+an early visit to his bride. After her excitement of the previous day,
+she was distressed to see that Alexyéi Stepanitch still wore the same
+pained expression. She felt hurt; for she had always supposed that he
+would be in an ecstasy of joy on the day when he led her to the altar;
+and here he was, looking demure and even depressed! She expressed her
+feelings, and that made matters worse. Of course, he assured her that he
+considered himself the happiest man in the world, and so on; but the
+pompous and trivial phrases, which he had repeated many a time before
+and she had heard with satisfaction, were now distasteful to her ear,
+because they lacked the fire of inward conviction. They soon parted, to
+meet next in church, where the bridegroom was to be in waiting for her
+at six in the evening.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was assailed by a terrible misgiving—would she be
+happy in her marriage? A host of dark forebodings passed before her
+heated imagination. She blamed herself for her hot temper and violent
+language; she recognised that the offence was trifling, and that she
+must expect many slips of the kind on her lover’s part, and must take
+them calmly. They had happened often enough before; but, on this
+occasion, the unlucky combination of circumstances and the presence of
+the two unfriendly visitors had pricked her vanity and irritated her
+natural impetuosity. Conscious that she had frightened her lover, she
+repented of her fault; but at the same time she was aware in the depth
+of her heart that she was quite capable of committing the same fault
+again. And now she realised afresh all the difficulty of the tremendous
+task she had undertaken—the reformation and regeneration of a man of
+twenty-seven. Her whole life—and it might be long—must be spent with a
+husband whom she loved indeed but could not entirely respect; there
+would be constant collision between utterly different ideas and opposite
+qualities, and they would often misunderstand one another. Doubts of
+success, doubts of her own strength, doubts of her power to command the
+qualities of firmness and calmness so foreign to her nature—these rose
+before her for the first time in their appalling truth, and she shrank
+back in terror. But what could she do? If she broke off the marriage at
+the eleventh hour, what would be the consequences? It would be a
+terrible blow to her dying father, who took comfort in the conviction
+that his daughter would be happy in the care of a kind husband; her
+rivals in society and enemies would mock at her; she would be the talk
+of the town and the laughing-stock of the district, perhaps even a mark
+for calumny; and, above all, she would kill, literally kill, her devoted
+lover. And all for what? Merely because she was afraid she might lack
+firmness to carry out a purpose which she had deliberately formed and
+which was beginning to take shape with triumphant success. "No! that
+shall never be! God will help me; Our Lady of Smolensk will be my
+intercessor and will give me strength to conquer my impetuous nature."
+Thus Sofya Nikolayevna thought, and thus she decided. She wept and
+prayed and regained her stability.
+
+The Church of the Assumption was quite close to the Zubins’ house, and
+there was then an empty space round it. Long before six o’clock, it was
+surrounded by a crowd of curious spectators. The high steps projecting
+from the house into the street were blocked by the carriages of the
+privileged persons who had been invited to escort the bride. The bride
+was dressed, and her little brother, Nikolinka, whose birth had cost his
+mother her life three years before, put on the stockings and shoes,
+according to established custom, though of course the maids lent their
+assistance. By six the bride was ready; she received her father’s
+blessing and came into the drawing-room. The rich bridal-dress lent an
+added lustre to her beauty. The bridegroom, on his way to church, had to
+pass right under the drawing-room windows, and Sofya Nikolayevna saw him
+drive past in the English carriage drawn by the four fine horses bred at
+Bagrovo; he had his head out and was looking up at the open windows; she
+smiled and nodded. Next came the bridegroom’s sisters with Mme.
+Alakayeff, and all the men who were escorting him to church. She did not
+wish to keep him waiting, and insisted, in spite of various hindrances,
+that they should start at once. Sofya Nikolayevna was calm and composed
+when she entered the church; she gave her arm cheerfully and smilingly
+to the bridegroom; but she was vexed to see that his face still wore the
+same sad expression; and it was generally remarked that they both looked
+depressed during the ceremony. The church was brilliantly lighted and
+full of people; the cathedral choir did not spare their voices.
+Altogether, it was a dignified and splendid ceremony. When the rite was
+over, the young couple were escorted to the Zubins’ house by the
+bridegroom’s sisters, the whole train of friends and relations on both
+sides, and all the important people of Ufa. Dancing began at once and
+went on till an early but sumptuous supper was served. Privileged guests
+paid a visit to M. Zubin in his study and congratulated him on his
+daughter’s marriage. The usual festivities took place on the next and
+following days—balls, dinners, and calls, in fact, the regular routine
+which we see nowadays even in Moscow and Petersburg.
+
+The shade of sadness soon vanished from the faces of the young couple.
+They were perfectly happy. Kind people could not look at them without
+pleasure; and every one said, "What a handsome couple!" A week later,
+they prepared for a visit to Bagrovo; the bridegroom’s sisters had gone
+back there three days after the wedding, and Sofya Nikolayevna had sent
+by them an affectionate letter to the old people.
+
+Startled by their brother’s explosion, Elizabeth and Alexandra had been
+cautious of late. They refrained from all hints and sneers and grimaces
+in his presence, and were even polite to Sofya Nikolayevna. She, of
+course, was not taken in by this; but their brother entirely believed in
+the sincerity of their devotion to his bride. At the wedding and the
+festivities which followed, they were, naturally, somewhat out of place,
+and therefore hastened their departure. On arriving at Bagrovo, they
+determined to do nothing rash and to hide their hostility towards Sofya
+Nikolayevna from their father; but to their mother and two sisters they
+described the marriage and events at Ufa in such a way as to fill their
+minds with a strong prejudice against the bride; and they did not forget
+to mention their brother’s threats and his fury excited by their attacks
+upon Sofya Nikolayevna. It was agreed to treat her kindly in the
+presence of Stepan Mihailovitch, and to say nothing bad about her to him
+directly; at the same time they were to use every opportunity to excite
+by indirect means his displeasure against their enemy. It was a highly
+delicate operation; and Elizabeth and Alexandra could not trust it to
+any hands but their own.
+
+My grandfather questioned them minutely about the wedding, the people
+they had seen there, the health of M. Zubin, and so on. They praised
+everything, but the poison under their praises could be smelt and
+tasted, and they failed to deceive their father. By way of a joke, and
+perhaps also for the sake of comparison, he turned to Karatayeff and
+said: "Well, now, friend Ivan, what say you of the daughter-in-law? As a
+man, you are a better judge of the point than the women are."
+Karatayeff, disregarding a signal from his wife, burst out with
+enthusiasm: "I do assure you, _batyushka_, that such another dazzler"—he
+always used this phrase of a beautiful woman—"as brother Alexyéi has
+bagged is not to be found in the whole world. A look from her is as good
+as a shilling. And her cleverness! it’s past all telling. But there’s
+one thing, _batyushka_: she’s proud; she can’t stand a joke. When you
+try to have a little fun with her, she gives you a look that makes you
+bite off the end of your tongue." "I see, my friend, that she made short
+work with your nonsense," said the old man with an amused look; then he
+laughed and added, "Not much amiss there, so far." In fact, Stepan
+Mihailovitch, from what he had heard and the bride’s letters and
+Karatayeff’s description, had formed in his own mind a highly favourable
+opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+The expected visit of the young couple produced bustle and confusion in
+the quiet or, one might say, stagnant waters of life at Bagrovo. They
+had to bestir themselves, to clean things up, and bring out their best
+clothes. The bride was a fine town lady, poor, perhaps, but accustomed
+to live in luxury; she would be critical and contemptuous—so they all
+thought, and so they all said, except the master of the house. As there
+were no separate rooms in the house unoccupied, Tanyusha had to turn out
+of her bedroom, one corner of which overlooked the garden and the clear
+waters of the Boogoorooslan with its green bushes and loud nightingales.
+Tanyusha was very unwilling to move to the bath-house, but there was no
+other place: all her sisters were put up in the house, and Karatayeff
+and Yerlykin slept in the hayloft. The day before the visitors’ arrival
+brought their state-bed and bed-hangings and curtains for the windows,
+and with them a man who knew how to put everything up properly.
+Tanyusha’s room was completely furnished in a few hours. Stepan
+Mihailovitch came to see it and expressed his admiration, but the women
+bit their lips with envy. At last a messenger galloped up and announced
+that the couple had stopped at the village of Noikino, eight _versts_
+from Bagrovo; they were to change their dress there and would arrive in
+two hours. This caused a general stir. The priest had been summoned
+hours before; but, as he had not yet arrived, Stepan Mihailovitch sent a
+mounted messenger to hasten his steps.
+
+Meantime the following scene was taking place in the Mordvinian village
+of Noikino. The travellers were making their way along side roads and
+had always to send a man ahead to arrange about fresh horses. The people
+of Noikino had all known Alexyéi Stepanitch from childhood, and had a
+great regard and respect for his father. Every one of the six hundred
+inhabitants of the village, men and women, old and young, gathered
+before the cottage where the young people were to make their halt. Sofya
+Nikolayevna had probably never seen people of this tribe close at hand;
+and therefore the dress of the women and the uncommonly tall stout
+girls—their white shifts embroidered with red wool, their black woollen
+girdles, and the silver coins and little bells which hung from their
+heads over their breasts and backs—was very interesting to her. But,
+when she heard them all break out into joyful greetings and compliments
+and good wishes, childish enough and expressed in bad Russian, but
+coming from the heart, then she both laughed and cried. "What a fine
+wife God has given you, Alosha! How glad our father Stepan Mihailovitch
+will be! Good luck! Good luck!" But, when the bride, arrayed in her fine
+city clothes, came out to take her seat in the carriage, there was such
+a roar of enthusiastic applause that the horses actually shied. The
+travellers made a present of ten _roubles_, to be spent on whisky, to
+the whole village, and went on their way.
+
+The stackyard at Bagrovo was at the top of a hill, and now the high
+carriage was seen emerging from behind it. The cry, "They’re coming!
+they’re coming!" flew from room to room, and house-servants and
+labourers soon gathered in the large courtyard, while the young people
+and children ran to meet the carriage. The master and mistress, attended
+by all their family, came out upon the steps. Arina Vassilyevna wore a
+silk jacket and skirt and a silk handkerchief adorned with gold sprigs
+upon her head; Stepan Mihailovitch was clean-shaved and wore an
+old-fashioned frock-coat and a stock round his neck. Husband and wife
+stood on the top step; and he held in his hands an ikon representing the
+Presentation of the Virgin, while she carried a loaf of bread and a
+silver salt-cellar. Their daughters and two sons-in-law were grouped
+round them. The carriage drove up to the steps. The young couple got
+out, knelt down before the old people, and received their blessing; then
+they exchanged embraces with each member of the family. Hardly had the
+bride completed this ceremony and turned again towards her
+father-in-law, when he caught her by the hand and looked keenly at her
+eyes from which the tears were falling. His own eyes grew wet; he
+clasped her in a tight embrace, kissed her, and said, "I thank God. Let
+us go and thank Him together!" He took her by the hand and led her
+through the crowd of people into the parlour. There he made her sit near
+him; and the priest, who was waiting for them with his robes on,
+pronounced the solemn words—
+
+"We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord."
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO
+
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch joined fervently in the prayers, and so did his
+daughter-in-law. When the service was over, all kissed the Cross, and
+the priest sprinkled the young pair and the rest of the company with
+holy water. Then the kissing and embracing began over again, with the
+phrases customary on such occasions—"We beg that you will regard us as
+relations and love us," and so on—said of course by those to whom the
+bride was still a stranger. Stepan Mihailovitch said nothing: he only
+looked affectionately at the tearful eyes and flaming cheeks of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, listened attentively to every word she spoke, and noted her
+every movement. Then he took her by the hand and led her to the
+drawing-room, where he sat down on the sofa and made the pair sit near
+him. Arina Vassilyevna seated herself next to her son at the other end
+of the sofa, while her daughters with their husbands sat round the
+central group. It should be said that Stepan Mihailovitch never sat in
+the drawing-room: he entered it very seldom and never stayed long. There
+were only two parts of the house which he used—his own room, and the
+outside stoop, a very simple contrivance of beams and boards; there he
+was thoroughly at home, but in the drawing-room he was never quite at
+his ease. For once he put constraint upon himself and carried on a
+friendly conversation with his daughter-in-law. He began by asking about
+her father’s health, and expressed sincere regret on hearing that he
+grew weaker daily: "In that case, my dear," he said, "I must not keep
+you too long at Bagrovo." It need not be said that the bride was at no
+loss for words: she was not merely polite, but cordial and eager to make
+a good impression. Arina Vassilyevna, naturally a very simple woman,
+took her tone from her husband, as far as her intelligence and her dread
+of disobeying her daughters would let her. She was friendly to her son’s
+wife and had taken a real liking to her at first sight; but the others
+were silent, and it was not hard to guess their feelings from their
+faces. After half an hour the bride whispered to her husband, who rose
+at once and went to the bedroom which had been specially prepared for
+them, near the drawing-room. Stepan Mihailovitch looked on with
+surprise; but the bride’s lively talk engaged his attention, and he was
+so much interested by it that he was startled when presently the folding
+doors of the bedroom opened and his son came in, holding a large silver
+salver so loaded with presents for the family that it actually bent
+under their weight. Sofya Nikolayevna sprang to her feet; she took from
+the salver and presented to her father-in-law a piece of fine English
+broadcloth, and a waistcoat of watered silk, richly laced with gold
+thread and embroidered all over with spangles; and she told him quite
+truly that she had worked it all with her own hands. Stepan Mihailovitch
+looked uneasily at his son standing with the salver in his arms, but he
+accepted the presents graciously and kissed his daughter-in-law. Next,
+Arina Vassilyevna was presented with a silk handkerchief covered with
+gold embroidery, to wear over her head, and a complete length of
+excellent China silk, which even then was considered a rarity; each
+sister-in-law received a piece of costly silk, and each of their
+husbands a piece of English broadcloth; but these presents were
+naturally rather less valuable. All got up, kissed the hands of the
+donor, and bowed their thanks. Meanwhile the door leading to the parlour
+was cracking with the pressure of curious spectators of both sexes, and
+the well-oiled heads of the maids kept peeping timidly out of the
+bedroom door, which they had to themselves, because none of the outdoor
+servants dared to enter the elegant apartment of the young couple. In
+the parlour there was a great noise; for the menservants were prevented
+by the intruders from laying the table, and were unable to turn them
+out. Stepan Mihailovitch guessed what was going on; he got up and
+glanced through the door; one look and one quiet word was enough: "Off,"
+he said, and the parlour was empty in a moment.
+
+The dinner passed off in the usual fashion. The young pair sat side by
+side between the old couple; there were a great many courses, one richer
+and more indigestible than another; the cook Stepan had been lavish with
+his spice, cloves, and pepper, and especially with his butter. The bride
+ate the dainties pressed upon her by Stepan Mihailovitch, and prayed
+that she might not die in the night. There was little talking, partly
+because every mouth was otherwise occupied, and also because the party
+were not good at conversation. Indeed they were all uncomfortable in
+their own ways. Yerlykin in his sober intervals drank nothing but water,
+and hardly spoke at all at such times, which gained him a reputation for
+exceptional intelligence; and Karatayeff dared not open his mouth in the
+presence of Stepan Mihailovitch except to answer a question, and went no
+further than repeating the last words of other people’s remarks. If they
+said: "The hay crop will be good, if we get no rain," or "The rye made a
+good start till that sudden frost came"—Karatayeff came in like an echo,
+"if we get no rain," "till the frost came"; and his repetitions were
+sometimes ill-timed. As the hosts had not thought of procuring sparkling
+wine from Ufa, the health of the bride and bridegroom was drunk in
+strawberry wine, three years old and as thick as oil, which diffused
+about the room the delicious perfume of the wild strawberry. Mazan, with
+long boots smelling of tar on his feet, and wearing a long coat which
+made him look like a bear dressed up in sacking, handed round the
+loving-cup; it was ornamented with a white pattern and had a dark-blue
+spiral inside its glass stalk. When the young pair had to return thanks,
+Sofya Nikolayevna was not much pleased to drink from the cup which had
+just left Karatayeff’s greasy lips; but she made no wry faces. Indeed
+she was intending to drain the cup, when her father-in-law stopped her:
+"Don’t drink it all, my dear," he said; "the liquor is good and sweet
+but strong; you are not accustomed to it, and your little head would
+ache." She declared that such a noble drink could not hurt her, and
+begged to be allowed a little more, till Stepan Mihailovitch allowed her
+one sip from the cup which he held in his hands.
+
+It was clear to all the family that the old man was pleased with his
+daughter-in-law and liked all that she said. And she could see this
+herself, though she had been surprised twice over by a shadow of
+displeasure passing over his face. But more than once during the meal
+she had encountered his expressive look, as his eyes rested with
+satisfaction on her. At last the long and solemn dinner came to an end.
+Sofya Nikolayevna, unlike the rest, had found this rustic feast very
+wearisome, but she had done her best to enliven it by cheerful
+conversation. When they rose from table, his son and daughters kissed
+their father’s hand, and Sofya Nikolayevna tried to do so too, but the
+old man embraced and kissed her instead. It was the second time this had
+happened, and Sofya Nikolayevna, with her natural impulsiveness, asked
+him in a lively affectionate tone: "Why do you not give me your hand,
+_batyushka_? I am your daughter too, and I wish to kiss your hand out of
+love and respect, like the rest." The old man looked at her keenly and
+attentively; then he said in a kind voice: "I love you, my dear, but I
+am not a priest,⁴² and no one kisses my hand except my own children."
+
+  ⁴² Devout Russians kiss a priest’s hand.
+
+The party went back to the drawing-room and sat down where they were
+before. The maid Aksyutka brought in coffee, which was only served on
+very solemn occasions; the old man did not drink it, but all his family
+were very fond of it; they always called it "coff," never "coffee." When
+it was swallowed, Stepan Mihailovitch rose and said: "Now it is time to
+have a good sleep, and the young people too would be none the worse of a
+rest after their journey"; then he went off to his own room, escorted by
+his son and daughter-in-law. "This is my den, my dear," said the old man
+cheerfully; "sit down and be my guest. As your husband knows, it was an
+exception for me to sit in the drawing-room with you all, with this
+bearing-rein on, as well," and he pointed to his stock: "and in future,
+if any one wants my society, I shall welcome them here." Then he kissed
+her, gave his hand to his son to kiss, and let them go. When alone, he
+undressed and lay down, to rest from the unusual bodily exertions and
+mental excitement of the day. He was soon sound asleep; and his powerful
+snoring echoed through the house and swayed to and fro the curtains
+which Mazan had drawn round his old master.
+
+His example was followed by the rest. Yerlykin and Karatayeff went off
+to the stable to lie down on the haymow; both their faces showed that
+they had done well at dinner, and Karatayeff had also drunk too much.
+The daughters assembled in their mother’s room which was separate from
+their father’s; and now began such a debate and discussion, carried on
+in whispers, that not one of the party even lay down to sleep that
+afternoon. Poor Sofya Nikolayevna was their theme, and her
+sisters-in-law simply tore her to pieces; they were enraged beyond all
+bounds by their father’s evident partiality for her. But there was one
+kind heart there—Aksinya, the eldest sister, who was now a widow for the
+second time; she stood up for Sofya Nikolayevna and brought down their
+wrath on her own head: they turned her out of the room and banished her
+for the future from their family councils; and to her old nickname of
+"Miss Simplicity," they now added another offensive title which she
+still bore in advanced old age. Yet, for all the persecution of her
+sisters, her kind heart never swerved from its devotion to her
+sister-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile the young pair went off to their own fine bedroom. With the
+help of her own maid Parasha, a brisk, black-eyed girl, Sofya
+Nikolayevna unpacked the large number of boxes and trunks which the
+English coach had brought from Ufa. Parasha was able already to run
+through a list of outdoor servants and old people among the peasants who
+deserved special notice; and her mistress, who had brought with her a
+goodly store of trifles, fixed the present to be given to each, taking
+account of their age and services, and the respect which their owners
+had for them. The husband and wife were not tired and did not think it
+necessary to rest. Sofya Nikolayevna changed into a simpler dress, and
+left Parasha to finish the unpacking and arrangement of the bedroom,
+while she went out with her young husband, who was very anxious, in
+spite of the heat, to show her all his favourite haunts—the beech-wood,
+the island with its lime-trees just coming into leaf, and the
+transparent waters of the river where it made a bend round the island.
+And how delightful it was there at that season, when the freshness of
+spring combines with the warmth of summer! Alexyéi Stepanitch was
+passionately in love with his adored wife, and time had not yet blunted
+the edge of his happiness; but he was disconcerted to find that she was
+not charmed either by wood or island, and indeed took little notice of
+either. She sat down in the shade on the bank of the rapid river, and
+began at once to speak to her husband of his relations. She discussed
+their reception. "I like your father so much," she went on, "and I could
+see at the first glance that he liked me; perhaps your mother liked me,
+but she seemed afraid to show it. Aksinya seems the kindest of them, but
+she is afraid of something too. Oh, I understand it all perfectly; I
+know in what quarter the damp wood is smouldering. I did not miss a
+single word or a single glance; I know what I am bound to expect. God
+will judge your sisters, Elizabeth and Alexandra!" But Alexyéi
+Stepanitch was hardly listening to her words. The fresh shade, the green
+of the boughs bending over the stream, the low ripple of the running
+water, the fish jumping, his adored wife sitting beside him with one arm
+round his waist—in such surroundings how was it possible to find fault
+or make objections or express discontent? How was it possible even to
+take in what was said? And in fact Alexyéi Stepanitch did not take in
+what his young wife was saying to him: he was so happy that nothing but
+silence and oblivion of the world around him could serve as a full
+expression of his intoxicating bliss. But Sofya Nikolayevna went on: she
+said a great deal, with warmth and feeling; and then she noticed that
+her husband was not listening and was nearly asleep. She sprang up at
+once, and then followed a scene of conflict and mutual misunderstanding,
+more pronounced than any they had ever had before, though there had been
+premonitory symptoms once or twice already. Sofya Nikolayevna kept
+nothing back this time: the tears rushed from her eyes as she poured
+forth a torrent of reproaches for his indifference and inattention.
+Alexyéi Stepanitch was puzzled and distressed: he felt as if he had
+fallen from the skies or awakened from a delightful dream. Thinking to
+calm his wife, he assured her with perfect sincerity, that there was
+nothing wrong at all, that it was all her imagination, and that all the
+family loved her; how could any one help loving her, he asked. That he
+was honestly convinced of this was clear as day; and his eyes and face
+and voice all expressed his devoted love to his wife; yet Sofya
+Nikolayevna, for all her cleverness and lively sensibility, did not
+understand her husband, and found in his words only a fresh proof of the
+same indifference and inattention. Statements and explanations went on
+with increasing heat, and I do not know how far they would have gone;
+but suddenly Alexyéi Stepanitch caught sight of his sister Tatyana’s
+maid crossing the high gangway and hastening towards them. He guessed
+that they were being searched for because his father had got up, and
+told his wife at once what he feared. She regained her self-control in a
+moment, caught his arm, and hastened home with him; but he was not in
+good spirits as he walked behind her.
+
+Preparations had been made beforehand at Bagrovo to celebrate the day of
+the young people’s arrival by an entertainment given to the outdoor
+servants and all the serfs on the estate; and, if serfs from
+neighbouring estates chose to come on foot or on wheels, they were
+welcome too. A quantity of beer had been brewed, and some twenty buckets
+of strong home-made spirits distilled; and drinking vessels of all kinds
+were ready. Before he lay down after dinner, Stepan Mihailovitch had
+asked whether many had come from the neighbouring villages. When he was
+told that the whole population, from the old men and women to the
+babies, had assembled, he smiled and said, "Well, we shall not stint
+them; tell the housekeeper and steward to have everything ready." He did
+not sleep long, but he woke in even better spirits than when he lay
+down. "Is all ready?" he asked at once, and was told that all was ready
+long ago. The old man dressed quickly; instead of his ceremonial
+frock-coat, he put on his familiar dressing-gown of fine camel’s hair,
+and went out to the stoop to superintend the entertainment in person. On
+the broad lawn which was not fenced off from the road, tables had been
+put up on trestles, and the tables were laden with barrels of beer,
+casks of whisky, and piles of buns to eat with the liquor; these buns,
+made of wheat-flour, were cut in halves. The outdoor servants stood in a
+group apart near the house; a great crowd of serfs and their wives stood
+further off, and beyond them a still greater crowd of Mordvinians of
+both sexes. Stepan Mihailovitch threw a hasty glance over the scene, saw
+that all was in order, and went back to his stoop. The family had
+collected round him, and he was just going to ask where the young couple
+were, when they appeared together. He greeted his daughter-in-law even
+more affectionately than before, and treated her with no more formality
+than if she had been his own daughter. "Now then, Alosha," he said,
+"take your wife’s arm and lead her round to greet the people; they are
+all anxious to see her and kiss the hand of their young mistress. Let us
+start!" He went in front himself; then came Alexyéi Stepanitch, leading
+his wife, and last, at a little distance, Arina Vassilyevna with her
+daughters and their husbands. The sisters-in-law, except Aksinya, found
+it hard to restrain their wrath. The signs of growing affection on their
+father’s part, his mention of Sofya Nikolayevna as "the young mistress,"
+the triumph of this hated intruder, her beauty and pretty clothes, her
+ready easy tongue, her charming respect and affection for her
+father-in-law—all these things rankled in their jealous bosoms. They
+felt at once that they had sunk in importance. "It matters less to us,"
+whispered Alexandra; "we are severed branches; but I can’t look at
+Tanyusha without crying. She is nothing now in the household but Sofya
+Nikolayevna’s maid. And you, mother—no one will respect you any more:
+the servants will all look to her for orders." Her voice shook, and the
+tears gathered in her round rolling eyes. Meanwhile Stepan Mihailovitch
+had got to the outdoor servants and was calling the peasants to come
+nearer: "Why don’t you all stand together? You all belong to the same
+family. Well," he went on, "here you see your young mistress; the young
+master you know already. When the time comes, serve them as faithfully
+and zealously as you have served me and Arina Vassilyevna, and you will
+earn their love and favour." All the people bowed to the ground. The
+bride, unaccustomed to such demonstrations, felt disconcerted, not
+knowing where to go or what to do. Noticing this, her father-in-law
+said: "Don’t be frightened! Their heads may bend, but they won’t come
+off. Well, my friends, first kiss your young mistress’s hand, and then
+drink to her health." The people all got up and came near Sofya
+Nikolayevna. She looked round and signed to her man Theodore and handy
+Parasha, who were standing at one side, holding the presents. In a
+moment they handed her a large parcel and a well-filled box. It felt
+strange to her to stretch out her hand to be kissed while standing
+motionless as a statue; and she began to kiss them all herself. This
+ceremony was repeated, as each received a gift from her hands. But
+Stepan Mihailovitch interfered at this point: he saw that at that rate
+he would not get his tea till supper-time. "My dear," he said, "you
+can’t possibly kiss them all once, let alone twice! There are too many.
+The old people are a different matter; but it will be enough if they
+kiss your hand." This simplified and shortened the rather tiresome
+ceremony, but even so it lasted a long time. Stepan Mihailovitch
+sometimes spun it out himself, because he could not refrain from naming
+some of the people and praising them to her. Many of the old people
+spoke some simple words of love and devotion, some shed tears, and all
+looked at the bride with pleasure and cordiality. Sofya Nikolayevna was
+much moved. "These good people are ready to love me, and some love me
+already," she thought; "how have I deserved it?" At last, when young and
+old had kissed her hand and she had kissed some of them, and when all
+had received handsome presents, Stepan Mihailovitch took her hand and
+led her to the crowd of Mordvinians. "I am glad to see you, neighbours,"
+he cried in a hearty cheerful voice; "and thank you for coming. I ask
+your goodwill for this young lady who is coming to live near you. You
+are welcome to eat and drink what God has given us." The Mordvinians
+showed their pleasure by shouting, "Many thanks, Stepan Mihailovitch!
+Thank God, for giving such a wife to your son! You deserve such luck for
+your goodness, Stepan Mihailovitch."
+
+When the drinking began, Stepan Mihailovitch surrounded by his family
+hastened back to his beloved stoop. He was conscious that his tea-time
+was long past: it was now past seven, and tea was invariably served at
+six. The long shadow of the house was sloping towards the south, and its
+edges touched the storehouse and stable; the _samovar_ had long been
+hissing on a large table close to the stoop, and Aksyutka was in
+attendance. While the rest sat down round the table, Stepan Mihailovitch
+stuck to his favourite place: he first spread out his invariable woollen
+mat to sit on, and then sat down on the stoop. Tatyana, assisted by
+Aksyutka, poured out tea. Then Sofya Nikolayevna asked leave of her
+father-in-law to sit beside him, and he consented with obvious
+satisfaction. She sprang up from the table, carried her half-finished
+cup of tea to the stoop, and sat down beside the old man. He caressed
+her and ordered a mat to be put down for her, that she might not spoil
+her dress. Then they began a lively, cheerful talk; but at the tea-table
+angry looks and even whispers were exchanged, in spite of the presence
+of the young husband. He could not help noticing this, and his spirits,
+which had not been high before, fell yet lower. Suddenly the old man’s
+loud voice rang out: "Come and join us, Alosha; it’s livelier over
+here." Alosha started; but the change of place seemed to improve his
+spirits. When tea was over, they remained where they were and went on
+talking till supper, which was served at nine—an hour later than usual.
+All the time the loud singing and hearty laughter of the revellers rang
+out far and wide as the darkness slowly gathered round; but they all
+departed to their own homes as soon as the family had finished supper.
+On saying "good night" Sofya Nikolayevna asked her father-in-law to give
+her his blessing, and the old man at once signed her with the Cross and
+kissed her with a father’s tenderness.
+
+The young couple were escorted to their room by the lady of the house
+and her eldest daughter, who sat there a few minutes; and then it was
+the turn of Alexyéi Stepanitch to escort his mother and sister to rest.
+Sofya Nikolayevna hastily dismissed her maid and sat down by one of the
+open windows fronting the river, which was fringed at that point by a
+thick border of osier and alder. It was a lovely night: the freshness
+from the river and the scent of the young leaves came through the open
+windows, together with the trills and calls of the nightingales. But
+Sofya Nikolayevna had something else to think of. As a clever woman who
+knew in advance what awaited her in her husband’s family, she had
+naturally formed a plan of action beforehand. She had always lived in a
+town and had no conception of the sort of life led by landowners of
+moderate means on their scattered estates in that vast country. She had
+not expected much, but the reality was far worse than she had imagined.
+Nothing was to her taste, neither house, nor garden, nor wood, nor
+island. In the neighbourhood of Ufa she had been accustomed to admire
+noble views from the mountainous bank of the river Byélaya; and this
+little village in a hollow, the time-stained and weather-beaten wooden
+house, the pond surrounded by swamps, and the unending clack of the
+mill—all this seemed to her actually repulsive. And the people were no
+better: from her husband’s family to the peasants’ children, she could
+love none of them. But there was one exception, and that was Stepan
+Mihailovitch. But for him, she would have been in despair. She had
+formed a favourable opinion of him from the beginning; then, when she
+first saw him, she was frightened by his rough exterior; but she soon
+read in his intelligent eyes and kindly smile, and heard in his voice,
+that this old man had a tender heart which beat kindly to her, that he
+was ready to love her and would love her. Knowing from the first that
+all her hopes depended upon him, she had firmly resolved to gain his
+love by all means; but now she had learnt to love him herself, and her
+deliberate plan coincided with the impulse of her heart. In this respect
+Sofya Nikolayevna was satisfied with herself: she saw that she had
+reached her goal at once. But she was distressed by the thought that by
+her impetuosity she had hurt her kind husband. She waited impatiently
+for him, but, as if to spite her, he did not return. Had she known where
+he was, she would have hurried off in search of him long ago. She longed
+to throw herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness with tears, and
+to remove the last trace of dissatisfaction from his mind by a torrent
+of loving words and caresses. But Alexyéi Stepanitch still did not
+return; and the happy moment, when she was penitent and loving and
+filled with a passionate desire to atone for her fault, went by to no
+purpose. An impulse soon passes, and Sofya Nikolayevna first grew
+alarmed and then angry at her husband’s long absence. When he came in at
+last, looking rather upset and distressed, instead of rushing into his
+arms and begging to be forgiven, his wife called out to him in an
+excited and somewhat irritated voice, as soon as he crossed the
+threshold: "Where on earth have you been? Why did you leave me alone? I
+am quite worn out with waiting for you two whole hours!" "I sat a
+quarter of an hour or so with my mother and sisters," he answered. "And
+that was time enough for them to complain of me and invent calumnies
+against me, and you believed them! Why are you so depressed and sad?"
+Sofya Nikolayevna’s face expressed strong emotion, and her beautiful
+eyes filled with tears. The young husband was startled and even alarmed;
+he was beginning to dread her tears. "Sonitchka," he said, "calm
+yourself; no one complained of you; why should they, when you have
+injured no one?" This was not quite a true statement. If nobody had
+complained openly or attacked her in plain terms, they had implied by
+hints and allusions that his wife was singling out her father-in-law to
+pay court to, with the object of trampling on the rest of the family;
+but they saw through her tricks, and so would her husband some day when
+he found himself under her feet! Alexyéi Stepanitch did not believe
+these innuendoes; but the feeling of sadness, which had never left him
+since the scene on the island, became heavier and lay like lead on his
+kind heart. He only said, "It is no use talking like that," and left the
+room. But, instead of returning at once to his bedroom, he spent some
+time in walking alone up and down the parlour which was now dark and
+empty. Through the seven open windows he looked at the Jackdaw Wood
+sleeping in darkness, and at the dark line of trees by the river, the
+scene of his childhood’s amusements and occupations; and he listened to
+the sound of the mill, the whistles of the nightingales, and the
+screeching of the owls. Feeling somewhat relieved, he went off to the
+bedroom, entirely unconscious of the reception he was to meet there.
+
+But Sofya Nikolayevna soon grew calmer: the voice of penitence began to
+speak again in her heart, though not with the same force as before; she
+changed her tone and turned to her husband with a genuine feeling of
+love and pity; she caressed him and begged his forgiveness. She spoke
+with unfeigned warmth of her happiness in finding that she loved his
+father, and begged him to be perfectly frank with her: frankness, she
+said, was essential between them. Her husband was soothed and comforted;
+and in the fullness of his heart he told her all he had determined to
+keep secret at all costs, lest he should make a quarrel between his wife
+and his sisters. He lay down and went to sleep at once, but Sofya
+Nikolayevna lay awake for long, and her brain worked busily. At last she
+remembered that she had to get up early, because she intended to join
+her father-in-law on the stoop at sunrise, long before the family
+assembled; she wished to cheer the old man by her presence and to speak
+her mind to him at leisure. At last, with a strong effort, she fell
+asleep.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna woke with the first rays of the sun. Though she had
+not slept long, she rose fresh and vigorous. She dressed quickly, kissed
+her husband and told him she was going to his father and he might sleep
+on another hour or so, and then hurried off. Stepan Mihailovitch, after
+sleeping longer than usual, had just washed himself and gone out to the
+stoop. It was a lovely May morning, with all the charm of late spring,
+fresh and yet deliciously warm; all living things sang together for joy,
+and the long morning shadows still hid the coolness and moisture from
+the conquering rays of the sun. The feeling of the morning took hold of
+Sofya Nikolayevna and breathed life into her, though she was not
+accustomed to be moved by natural beauty or the charms of the country.
+Her father-in-law was surprised and pleased to see her. Her fresh face
+and shining eyes, her neat hair and pretty dress, made it impossible to
+guess that she had sprung out of bed after little sleep and had spent
+but little time over her toilet before she hurried out. Stepan
+Mihailovitch liked people to be lively and quick and clever; and all
+these requirements he was pleased to find in Sofya Nikolayevna. He
+kissed her and said good-humouredly: "What made you get up so early? You
+can’t have had your sleep out. I’m sure you’re not accustomed to rise so
+early; you will have a headache." "No, _batyushka_," she replied,
+embracing the old man with genuine tenderness; "I am used to early
+rising. From childhood I have had much to do and many cares, with a sick
+father and a whole family to look after. Of late I have been spoilt and
+have lain in bed longer. But I woke early this morning, and Alexyéi told
+me"—here the old man frowned—"that you were up already; so I came out
+here, hoping that you would not drive me away but allow me to give you
+your tea." The words were ordinary enough, but they came from the heart
+and were spoken so earnestly that the old man was touched. He kissed her
+forehead and said: "Well, in that case, thank you, my dear child. You
+shall give me my tea, and we shall have a leisurely talk together."
+Aksyutka had already set the _samovar_ on the table. Stepan Mihailovitch
+gave orders that no one else should be called, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+began to arrange about the tea. All her actions were as quick and neat
+as if she had done nothing else all her life. The old man was pleased,
+as he watched that young and pretty figure so unlike what he was
+accustomed to, and those busy active fingers. The tea was made strong,
+and served exactly as he liked it: that is, the teapot, covered with a
+napkin, was placed on the top of the _samovar_; his cup was filled close
+up to the brim; Sofya Nikolayevna handed it without spilling a single
+drop in the saucer; and the fragrant beverage was so hot that it burnt
+his lips. The old man took his cup and tasted the tea. With surprise and
+pleasure he said: "I declare you are a witch: you know all my tastes and
+fancies. Well, if you make yourself as pleasant to your husband, he will
+be a happy man." He generally drank his tea alone, and the family did
+not begin theirs till he had finished; but this morning, when he had got
+his second cup, he told his daughter-in-law to pour one out for herself
+and drink it sitting beside him. "I never drink more than two, but I
+will take a third cup to-day; the tea tastes better somehow," he said in
+the kindest of tones. And indeed, the pleasure which Sofya Nikolayevna
+felt in her occupation was so visible on her expressive face that it
+could not but communicate itself to the susceptible nature of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and his spirits rose unusually high. He made her take a
+second cup and eat a scone, of the kind for which the ovens at Bagrovo
+were long famous. The tea was cleared away, and a conversation began,
+most lively and animated, most frank and affectionate. Sofya Nikolayevna
+gave free course to her eager feelings; she talked easily and
+charmingly; her conquest of the old man was complete. In the middle of
+their talk he suddenly asked, "What of your husband? Is he asleep?"
+"Alexyéi was waking when I left him," she said quickly; "but I told him
+to sleep on." The old man frowned severely and was silent. After a
+moment’s reflexion, he spoke, not angrily but seriously. "Listen to me,
+my dear little daughter-in-law; you are so clever that I can tell you
+the truth without beating about the bush. I don’t like to keep a thing
+on my mind. If you take my advice—well and good; if you don’t—well, you
+are not my daughter and can please yourself. I don’t like your calling
+your husband ’Alexyéi,’ as his parents might; he has got another name;⁴³
+’Alexyéi’ is a name you might address to a servant. A wife must treat
+her husband with respect if she wishes other people to respect him.
+There was another thing yesterday I did not like: you sent him to fetch
+the presents, and he stood there holding the tray like a footman. Then
+again just now, you said you had ’told’ him to go to sleep. A wife ought
+not to give orders to her husband; if she does, mischief comes of it.
+That may be the fashion with you in the town, but, according to our
+old-fashioned country notions, all that is a great mistake." Sofya
+Nikolayevna listened respectfully, and then she spoke, so frankly and
+feelingly, that every word made its way to the old man’s heart: "I thank
+you, _batyushka_, for not keeping back from me what displeased you. I
+shall gladly do what you wish, and I begin to see myself that I was
+wrong. I am still young, _batyushka_, and I have had no one to guide me:
+my own father has not left his bed for six years. I caught up that way
+of addressing my husband from others; but it shall never happen again,
+either in your presence or behind your back. _Batyushka_," she went on,
+and the large tears welled from her eyes, "I have come to love you like
+a father; treat me always as a daughter: stop me, scold me, whenever I
+do wrong, but forgive me and do not keep displeasure in your heart
+against me. I am young and hasty, and I may go wrong at every step.
+Remember that I am a stranger in this house, where nobody knows me and I
+know nobody. Do not you fail me." Then she fell on his neck and embraced
+him like a daughter, kissing his breast and even his hands; and the old
+man’s own eyes filled with tears. He let her keep hold of his hands and
+said, "Well, that is all right." As we know already, Stepan Mihailovitch
+had a natural sagacity which divined the presence of evil and was
+attracted by goodness; and he never made a mistake in either case. He
+had taken a fancy to his daughter-in-law at first sight; and now that he
+understood her and appreciated her, he loved her for better and for
+worse. That love was exposed to many trials in later years, and any
+other man might have wavered, but he never wavered in his love for her
+to his last breath.
+
+  ⁴³ _I.e._ Stepanitch, son of Stephen, which should be used in public
+     by the wife.
+
+Alexyéi Stepanitch soon appeared, and was followed by all the family.
+Her daughters had urged Arina Vassilyevna to go out long before, but she
+did not dare to appear, because, when Stepan Mihailovitch gave orders
+"that no one should be called," it was taken to mean that he did not
+wish to see any one. She only came out now because her husband had told
+Mazan to summon all the family. There was no trace of tears on Sofya
+Nikolayevna’s face; and she greeted the newcomers with more than usual
+cordiality. Nor could one tell from Stepan Mihailovitch that anything
+unusual had happened; but the bride could not conceal her high spirits,
+and the two sisters-in-law noticed this at once and guessed the alarming
+truth pretty accurately.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had settled that the young couple were to visit
+their relations in order of seniority; and it was therefore arranged
+that they should go to Aksinya’s house next day. Aksinya herself went
+home that afternoon, accompanied by her sister Elizabeth, who was to
+help her in entertaining the guests. The distance was only 50 _versts_,
+and the strong Bagrovo horses could go all the way without baiting. The
+start was fixed for six o’clock next morning.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch did not in the least conceal his feelings towards
+his daughter-in-law. He kept her beside him and talked with her
+repeatedly, asking questions about her family affairs, or making her
+speak of her life at Ufa; and he listened to her with attentive
+interest, now and then giving his opinion in some pithy phrase. She
+eagerly caught up his pertinent remarks; but it was clear that she was
+moved, not by obsequious concurrence with the old man’s ways of
+thinking, but by a full comprehension of his words and a conviction of
+their truth. Then in his turn he initiated her into the past and present
+history of her new relations; and his whole description was so simple
+and true, so frank and lifelike, that she realised it as few could have
+done, and was charmed by it. Never in her life had she met his equal.
+Her own father was intelligent and kind, emotional and unselfish; but at
+the same time he was weak, falling in with the prevailing tone of his
+surroundings, and bearing the stamp of the evasive time-serving official
+who had worked his way up from a clerk’s stool to the position of
+Governor’s Deputy. Here she saw before her an old man of little
+education and uncouth exterior, and report said of him that he was
+ruthless when angry; and yet he was sensible, kind, and honest, and
+inflexible in his clear judgment of right and wrong—a man who was
+upright in all his actions and truthful in every word he spoke. Her
+quick intellect conceived a noble type of manly worth, which set aside
+her old ideas and opened up new possibilities. And what happiness that
+this man was her husband’s father! On him depended her peace of mind in
+her husband’s family, and perhaps even the happiness of her marriage!
+
+Dinner was a much more lively and cheerful affair than on the previous
+day. The bride sat as before between her husband and her father-in-law;
+but Arina Vassilyevna now took her usual place opposite Stepan
+Mihailovitch. Immediately after dinner, Aksinya left, accompanied by her
+sister Elizabeth. As the old man was lying down to rest as usual, he
+said, "Well, Arisha, I think God has given us a splendid
+daughter-in-law; it would be a sin not to take her to our hearts." "True
+indeed, Stepan Mihailovitch," she answered; "if you approve of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, of course I do." The old man made a wry face but said
+nothing; and she hurried away, fearing to make a slip of the tongue, and
+anxious to report to her daughters the remarkable words of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, which must be accepted as law and obeyed, in appearance at
+least, to the letter.
+
+Though she had slept little at night, Sofya Nikolayevna could not sleep
+after dinner. She went out with her husband, and they walked, by his
+wish, to the old beech-wood, where the jackdaws built, and down the
+course of the river. There was no repetition of the old disagreements.
+She had been charmed and captivated by her father-in-law, and she now
+tried to convey to her husband the feelings of her own eager
+impressionable mind. As all people of her temperament are apt to do, she
+transferred to her handsome young husband some part of the merits she
+had found in his father, and loved him more than ever. He listened with
+surprise and pleasure to the enthusiasm of his beautiful wife, and said
+to himself, "Thank God that my father and she have become such friends!
+There will be no further trouble." He kissed her hands, and said that he
+was the happiest man on all the earth, and she a peerless goddess before
+whom all should bow down. He did not quite understand his wife nor
+appreciate her estimate of his father, so acute and profound; he only
+felt, as he had always felt, perfectly convinced that Stepan
+Mihailovitch was the kind of man whom all must respect and even fear.
+This time Sofya Nikolayevna found no faults: his feelings were her
+feelings and his language hers: she praised the deep river and the
+beech-wood with all its uneven stumps; even of her sisters-in-law she
+spoke kindly.
+
+When he woke up in the afternoon, Stepan Mihailovitch at once summoned
+all the family. It was a long time since he had been seen in such a
+bright and gentle mood: whether it was due to a good sleep or to happy
+feelings, it was clear to every one that the old master was satisfied
+and cheerful beyond his wont. After their father’s pronouncement,
+Alexandra and Elizabeth were on their guard, while Tanyusha (as she was
+always called) and her mother were very willing to be more friendly and
+conversational. At a sign from his wife Karatayeff began with more
+boldness to echo what was said, even when he was not addressed; but his
+brother-in-law, the General, persisted in his gloomy silence and frowned
+significantly. The conversation became unusually brisk and animated. The
+old man expressed a wish to have his tea early, in the shade near the
+stoop, of course; and the privilege of pouring it out was conferred on
+Sofya Nikolayevna exclusively. Tanyusha was quite willing to hand over
+the office. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch ordered two cars to be brought
+round, took his daughter-in-law in one, and drove off with all his
+family to the mill. It should be said that a mill was a special hobby of
+my grandfather’s, and that he understood the working of it thoroughly.
+The mill itself was not much to look at, and the weed grew round it in
+an untidy way; but the stones did their work thoroughly well. He liked
+to show off his mill, and now displayed it in detail to his
+daughter-in-law, taking pleasure in her utter ignorance and
+astonishment, which sometimes turned to fear, when he suddenly turned on
+a strong current of water upon all the four wheels, till the machinery
+began to move and swing and rattle, the stones to whirl round, creaking
+and whizzing, and the building, filled with flour-dust, to quiver and
+shake under foot. All this was an entire novelty to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+and she did not like it at all, though out of politeness she asked many
+questions and expressed surprise and admiration at everything. He was
+much pleased, and kept her there a long time. When the pair went out
+upon the dam, where Alexyéi Stepanitch and his sisters were fishing,
+they were hailed with laughter by the anglers: they were both covered
+with flour. Stepan Mihailovitch was accustomed to this; besides he had
+given a shake and a brush to his clothes on leaving the mill; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna had no suspicion that she was so completely and artistically
+powdered. When he looked at her, her father-in-law himself laughed
+heartily; and she laughed more than any one, and was very merry,
+regretting only that she had no looking-glass to consult, to find out if
+her ball-dress became her. Seeing the anglers intent upon their sport,
+Stepan Mihailovitch next drove his companion round the pond and over the
+bridge; and, after visiting the stream higher up, he came back along the
+dam to the place where the anglers were engaged, while Arina
+Vassilyevna, who was very stout, sat on the ground and watched them. The
+whole course of their drive was over bog and swamp; it was hardly safe
+to cross the crazy little bridge, and difficult to make way over the dam
+which was made of manure and sank under the wheels. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna found all this distasteful, it was impossible for Stepan
+Mihailovitch to detect her. He saw neither mire nor swamp, and he was
+impervious to the unpleasant smell from the stagnant water and the
+material of the dam. He had planned and constructed it all himself, and
+he enjoyed it all. It grew damp at sunset, and all set off for home in
+good spirits. The anglers carried their spoil with them, perch and other
+kinds. The bailiff was waiting for his master by the stoop; and orders
+were given about work on the land, while the bride put her dress in
+order. Meanwhile the fish was boiled or fried in sour cream, while the
+largest perch were baked in their skins and scales; and all these were
+pronounced very good at supper.
+
+So the second day passed, and the party broke up early, because the
+young couple had to make an early start next morning for their visit.
+When alone with her mother and youngest sister, Alexandra threw off the
+mask with relief and gave full play to her infernal temper and cruel
+tongue. She saw perfectly that all was lost and all her forebodings
+realised: that her father was taken in the toils and infatuated with the
+adventuress, and there was nothing to be done now except to dismiss the
+pair to Ufa as soon as possible and devise some scheme in their absence.
+She abused her mother and sister for being too affectionate: "But for
+me," she said, "you would have been taken in too by that dressed-up
+doll, that pauper with a Cossack for her grandfather."
+
+At six exactly next morning the young couple started in their English
+coach drawn by six of the fine horses bred at Bagrovo. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was up in time to give his tea to her father-in-law; and he embraced her
+at starting, and even signed her with the Cross, because she was to be
+absent for the night. They drove down the river and across it, and then
+uphill to the little town of Boogoorooslan. Without a halt our
+travellers crossed the river Great Kinel, and the horses trotted at the
+rate of ten _versts_ an hour along the rutty road on the flat side of
+the river, where the grass grew tall and thick and there was no sign of
+habitation. It was long since Alexyéi Stepanitch had been across the
+Kinel; and he was delighted by the greenness and fragrance of the
+steppe. Bustards constantly rose off the road, and solitary snipe kept
+up with the carriage, wheeling over it and flying on ahead, or perching
+on the guide-posts and filling the air with their notes. Alexyéi
+Stepanitch was very sorry that he had not taken his gun. In those days
+the steppe was alive with birds of every kind, and the sound of their
+myriad voices was so attractive to him, and indeed absorbed his
+attention so completely, that his ears were generally deaf to the lively
+and clever conversation of his wife. She soon noticed this and became
+thoughtful; her high spirits gave place to displeasure, and she began to
+talk to her maid, Parasha, who was with them in the coach. After
+crossing a district of high level land, they arrived at their
+destination exactly at noon. The little wooden house, an even greater
+contrast than Bagrovo to the houses of Ufa, stood on the flat bank of
+the Little Kinel, divided from it only by a kitchen-garden containing a
+few sunflowers and young vegetables and rows of peeled pea-stakes. I
+still recall with pleasure this unpretending spot, which I first saw ten
+years after this time; and I understand why my father liked it and my
+mother was bound to dislike it. It was a bare empty spot, quite flat and
+fully exposed to the sun, without a bush or a tree; the level steppe
+with its marmot-burrows lay all round; and the quiet river flowed by,
+deep in places and overgrown with reeds. It had nothing striking or
+picturesque to attract any one; yet Alexyéi Stepanitch preferred it even
+to Bagrovo. I don’t agree with him, but I had a strong liking for that
+quiet little house on the river-bank, the clear stream, the weed swaying
+in the current, the wide stretch of grassy steppe, and the ferry which
+started from close to the door and took you across to a yet wilder
+steppe, where the prairie-grass stretched straight southwards to what
+seemed an illimitable distance.
+
+The hostess, with her two little boys and a daughter of two years old,
+met her guests at the door; her sister Elizabeth and her husband were
+there also. In spite of the unpromising aspect of the simple rooms,
+everything was very clean and nice, much more so indeed than at Bagrovo.
+Though "Miss Simplicity," as her sisters called her, was a widow with
+small children, there was a neatness and order in the place which showed
+that it was managed entirely by a female hand. I have said already that
+Aksinya was a kind woman and had taken a fancy to her sister-in-law; it
+was therefore very natural that she did honour to her guests and
+received them with cordiality in her own house. This had been foreseen
+at Bagrovo, and Elizabeth had been sent on purpose to restrain the
+excessive friendliness of her sister by means of her superior
+intelligence and higher position in society, due to her husband’s rank.
+But that simple soul held out against her clever, cunning sister: to all
+her urgent admonitions her answer was short and plain: "Do as you please
+at Bagrovo; you may hate and abuse Sofya Nikolayevna, but I like her;
+she has always been polite and kind to me, and therefore I intend to
+make her and my brother happy in my house." And she carried out her
+purpose with sincere affection and satisfaction, showing every attention
+to her sister-in-law and pressing her good things on both guests. But
+the proud Elizabeth and even her husband—though he drank so much towards
+evening that he had to be shut up in an empty bath-house—were much
+colder and more distant in their behaviour than at Bagrovo. Sofya
+Nikolayevna took no notice of them, and was charming to her hostess and
+the children. After dinner the party rested for a little and then went
+out for a walk by the river; they crossed by a ferry to the far bank and
+drank tea there. Sofya Nikolayevna was asked to fish, but she declined,
+saying that she hated fishing and was quite happy sitting with her
+sisters-in-law. But Alexyéi Stepanitch, much pleased to see how well his
+wife got on with his eldest sister, eagerly accepted the proposal and
+sat till supper-time on the bank, hidden in the thick reeds; he landed
+several of the large bream which abounded in the quiet waters of the
+Kinel. The servants used constantly to fish for their own amusement and
+for that of their young masters. The guests determined to start next
+morning at six, and were half inclined to depart even earlier, so as not
+to keep Stepan Mihailovitch waiting for his dinner. Their hostess and
+her sister were to wait till the evening, spending a night at
+Boogoorooslan to rest the horses, and reaching Bagrovo the following
+day.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was still a little vexed with her husband. For all her
+intelligence she could not understand how a man who loved her dearly
+could also love his damp Bagrovo, with its stump-strewn woods, unsavoury
+dam, and stagnant pools; how he could gaze with delight at the tiresome
+steppe with its stupid snipe; and, above all, how he could desert his
+wife for hours for the sake of a fishing-rod and those bream which smelt
+so damp and disgusting! So she felt almost offended when Alexyéi
+Stepanitch tried to communicate to her his delight in nature and in
+sport. She was wise enough, however, not to start upon explanations or
+reproofs this time; the scene on the island was still fresh in her
+memory.
+
+The young couple passed a peaceful night in Aksinya’s own bedroom which
+she had given up to them; and she had done it up for them to the best of
+her ability, undeterred by the caustic remarks of her sister. They left
+the house half an hour earlier than the time originally fixed; and
+nothing particular happened on their way back, except that Alexyéi
+Stepanitch was not quite so much absorbed by the steppe and the snipe,
+and did not call out quite so loud when bustards rose off the road, so
+that he could listen with more attention to his wife and look at her
+more tenderly. They reached Bagrovo before they were expected. But
+preparations were making for dinner, and Alexandra had had time to say:
+"Poor papa will have to wait for dinner to-day; but how can you expect
+town-people to get up so early several days running?" The old man saw
+through this perfectly. He astonished them all by saying very
+good-humouredly, "Well, never mind; we can wait for our guests." This
+caused a sensation, because Stepan Mihailovitch had never in his life
+sat down to dinner later than twelve o’clock, though sometimes, when he
+felt hungry, he had it earlier, and the slightest delay or unpunctuality
+made him exceedingly angry. "You see what Sofya Nikolayevna can do,"
+whispered Alexandra to her mother and youngest sister; "if _she_ keeps
+him waiting, there is no complaint; but if you had come back from
+Nyeklyoodovo late for dinner, you would never have heard the end of it,
+nor should we." The malicious whisper was hardly ended when the carriage
+dashed up to the steps; while the tired horses snorted, the old man
+kissed his daughter-in-law and praised her for being in time; then his
+voice rang through the house, "Mazan, Tanaichonok, dinner at once!"
+
+The day passed off as before. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch, whose
+affection for his daughter-in-law seemed to grow with every hour,
+ordered the drove of horses to be driven in from the steppe. He wished
+to show it to Sofya Nikolayevna, who happened to say that she had never
+seen such a thing and would like to see it. When the animals were driven
+into the yard, the old man took his daughter-in-law round himself,
+pointing out the best brood-mares, the yearlings and two-year-olds and
+young geldings, all fat and healthy from the steppe where they grazed
+together all summer. He gave her two fine mares with foals at foot, and
+hoped she would have good fortune with their stock. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was much pleased by the foals, and liked to watch them as they started
+and bounded and then nuzzled against their mothers; and she expressed
+much gratitude for the gift. Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave strict orders
+to his head groom, Spirka: "See," he said, "that special care is taken
+of Sofya Nikolayevna’s mares; and we shall put a special mark on the
+foals by splitting one ear rather lower; and later we must make a brand
+with the young mistress’s name on it." Then he turned to her: "I wish
+you were a lover of horses, my dear," he went on; "Alexyéi does not care
+for them in the least." The old man was very fond of them himself, and,
+though he was not rich, by endless trouble he had got together a large
+stud and owned a breed which was the admiration of fanciers and good
+judges. He was pleased by her interest in his stud; though her only
+motive was to please him, he believed that she meant what she said, and
+carried her off to see how the carriage-horses, his own and those of his
+guests, were fed; of the latter there were often a large number in the
+stables at Bagrovo.
+
+I am afraid of wearying the reader by such a minute description of the
+young couple’s visit, and shall only say that the next day, which was
+the fifth, was spent just like the preceding day. According to the order
+of seniority the next formal visit should have been to the Yerlykins;
+but, as their estate was 170 _versts_ from Bagrovo and much nearer Ufa,
+it was settled to take them on the return journey to the town. There was
+this other reason, that General Yerlykin, Elizabeth’s silent, gloomy
+husband, having broken out at Aksinya’s house, had started on one of his
+regular drinking bouts which generally lasted at least a week, so that
+his wife had been forced to leave him with some friends at
+Boogoorooslan, and give out that he was ill. So Alexandra was to receive
+the next visit, and started off home with her husband on the previous
+day; with her father’s consent, she invited the oldest and youngest of
+the sisters for the occasion, while Elizabeth remained behind,
+ostensibly to be near her sick husband, though her real object was to
+bring her influence to bear on her parents. The Karatayeffs lived about
+50 _versts_ from Bagrovo; the distance was the same as to Aksinya’s
+house, but the road ran in the opposite direction, due north, and passed
+through woods and hills in the second half of the journey. The visitors
+started after an early lunch. As the road was little used and heavy for
+the horses, they halted half-way for two hours in the open field, and
+reached Karatayevka about tea-time. The house was infinitely worse than
+Aksinya’s: the small dark windows caught the eye at once; the floors
+were uneven, riddled with rat-holes, and so dirty as to defy soap and
+water. Sofya Nikolayevna felt fear and disgust as she entered this
+inhospitable and repulsive dwelling. Alexandra was haughty in her
+reception of them; she was profuse in sarcastic apologies of this kind:
+"We are glad to see our guests and bid them welcome; my brother, I know,
+will not be critical, but I doubt if Sofya Nikolayevna will deign to
+enter our poor house after her father’s grand mansion at Ufa. Of course
+we are poor people, with no official rank; living on our own property,
+_we_ have no lucrative salaries to maintain us." But Sofya Nikolayevna
+gave as good as she got: she replied that the way people lived depended
+as much on their tastes as on their money, and that it was all one to
+her where her husband’s relations lived and how they lived. When supper
+was over, the young couple were shown to their bedroom, which was the
+so-called drawing-room. As soon as the candle was out, a great
+disturbance began in the room; the pattering and noise increased, and
+swarms of rats soon assailed them with such boldness that the poor bride
+lay awake all night, shaking with fear and disgust. Alexyéi Stepanitch
+was forced to light a candle and arm himself with a window-prop for the
+defence of the bed, on which the rats kept jumping up as long as it was
+dark. He felt neither fear nor disgust; it was no novelty to him; at
+first he was rather amused by the ceaseless activity and bold springs of
+the repulsive creatures, and then he fell asleep, lying across the bed
+and still holding the window-prop. But his wife woke him again and again
+and only fell asleep herself at sunrise, when the enemy sought the
+concealment of his trenches. She got up with a headache, but her hostess
+only laughed at the fright the rats had given her, and added that they
+only attacked strangers, and the people of the house were used to them.
+Tanyusha was afraid of rats herself; and she and Aksinya could not look
+unmoved at the signs of suffering on their sister-in-law’s face. They
+expressed sympathy with her, and Aksinya even scolded Alexandra for not
+taking the ordinary precautions by placing the bed in the centre of the
+room, attaching curtains to it, and tucking the ends under the mattress;
+but the hostess said with an angry laugh, "It is a pity they did not
+bite off her nose." "You had better look out!" said her sister; "if this
+gets to our father’s ears, you will catch it."
+
+Karatayevka was situated on the slope of a hill, above a little
+spring-fed stream which was dammed up at the end of the village and
+turned a small mill. The position was not bad, but the owners and all
+their ways were so objectionable that the place had no attraction for
+any one. M. Karatayeff, who was afraid of Stepan Mihailovitch at Bagrovo
+and of his wife at home, would have liked to pay some attentions to
+Sofya Nikolayevna when his wife was out of the room; but he only found
+courage to ask leave from time to time to kiss her hand, and generally
+added that she was the most beautiful creature in the world. When he
+repeated his request, it was refused. His was a strange existence. Most
+of his summer was spent in visiting wandering Bashkir tribes, and
+drinking _koumiss_ every day till he was intoxicated; he spoke the
+Bashkir language like a native; he rode on horseback whole days without
+dismounting, and had become as bow-legged as a Bashkir; he had their
+skill with the bow and could smash an egg at long range with the best of
+them. All the rest of the year he spent in a kind of lumber-room warmed
+by a stove, near the house-door; he wore a skin coat, and kept the
+little window always open even in the hardest frosts; and there he
+remained all day with his head stuck out of the window, humming Bashkir
+songs and taking a sip now and then of Bashkir mead or some decoction of
+herbs. Why Karatayeff looked out of his window over the empty yard with
+a rough path running across it, what he saw and noted there, what
+thoughts passed through the brain at the top of that big body—these are
+problems which no ingenuity can solve. Sometimes, it is true, his
+philosophic meditations were disturbed: when some plump woman or girl
+appeared from the servants’ quarters and walked mincingly along the path
+towards the cattle-shed, then a pantomime of nods and signals took place
+between the window and the yard; but soon the fair vision turned out of
+sight and vanished like a ghost, and Karatayeff was left staring into
+empty void.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was eager to escape from this horrible place: after an
+early dinner, during which the horses were already standing at the door,
+they said "good-bye" at once and started. The hostess kissed her
+sister-in-law on both cheeks and on the shoulders, and thanked her
+significantly for her kind visit; and Sofya Nikolayevna, just as
+significantly, thanked the lady for her kind hospitality.
+
+When alone with her husband in the carriage, Sofya Nikolayevna gave vent
+to her anger. Aksinya in her simplicity had let out accidentally that
+the hostess had purposely taken no precautions against the rats; and the
+bride, though she had refrained from an outburst in her enemy’s house,
+was unable any longer to control her excitable nature. Forgetting that
+Alexandra was her husband’s sister, and that Parasha was in the carriage
+with them, she was lavish in her terms of abuse. Alexyéi Stepanitch, a
+straightforward and kindly man himself, could not believe that there was
+any intention on the part of his sister: attributing what had happened
+to mere carelessness, he was hurt by his wife’s violent language which
+was really inexcusable under any provocation. The young husband was
+angry for the first time with his young wife: saying that she should be
+ashamed to speak so, he turned from her and was silent. Such was their
+state of mind when they arrived at Mertovshchina, where Mme. Myortvavo,
+a remarkably intelligent old lady, was then living with her daughter
+Katherine who had lately been married to Peter Chichagoff. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was warmly attached to both the Chichagoffs. She did not in
+the least expect to find them there, and soon forgot all her displeasure
+in this agreeable surprise; she became very lively and cheerful, but no
+one could fail to notice that Alexyéi Stepanitch remained silent and
+sad.
+
+Chichagoff’s history, and especially his second marriage, is quite a
+romance; and I shall tell it as briefly as I can, because we shall often
+come across this family in future, and especially because the life of
+the young Bagroffs was a good deal influenced by this pair. Peter
+Chichagoff was a man of exceptional ability or, I should rather say,
+exceptional acuteness, and had received what was for those days an
+advanced education in many subjects: he knew several languages, could
+draw and understood architecture, and wrote both in prose and verse. In
+his hot youth he fell in love at Moscow with a young lady of the
+Rimsko-Korsakoff family, and went so far as to misrepresent his
+position, in order to win her hand. This was discovered after the
+marriage, and he was banished to Ufa. His wife soon died. Within a year
+he consoled himself and fell in love with Katherine Myortvavo, who was
+attracted by his gay and amiable temper, his intelligence and
+acquirements; his face was so very plain that it could exercise no
+attraction. She was no longer a girl and had too strong a character to
+be controlled by her mother and brothers: they let her marry Chichagoff,
+and he was pardoned soon afterwards but not allowed to leave the
+Government of Ufa. Sofya Nikolayevna liked him for two reasons: because
+he was the husband of her dearest friend, and perhaps still more for his
+own cleverness and wide information. Mme. Myortvavo had just settled to
+leave Ufa and live in the country, and the Chichagoffs had come on
+purpose to help her in building a house and a church. After a week’s
+experience of her husband’s relations, this meeting was a spring in the
+desert to Sofya Nikolayevna; it was like a breath of fresh air in which
+her heart and quick intelligence expanded; she talked on with her
+friends till near midnight. But Alexyéi Stepanitch would have sat there
+in silence and solitude, had not the old lady grasped the situation and
+entertained him by her pleasant talk. After supper, however, he said
+"good-night," and went off to the bedroom allotted to the visitors; when
+Sofya Nikolayevna came she found him fast asleep. They started for
+Bagrovo early next day without disturbing their hosts.
+
+During their drive Alexyéi Stepanitch was still sullen and silent. In
+reply to direct questions from his wife, his answers were so cold and
+short that she gave up speaking to him. Her lively and impatient temper
+resented this treatment, but she did not care to clear up matters in
+Parasha’s presence, preferring to wait till the after-dinner rest when
+she would be alone with her husband. For the present she started a
+conversation with her maid about their life at Ufa, while Alexyéi
+Stepanitch squeezed into a corner of the carriage and either fell asleep
+or pretended to. They reached Bagrovo two hours before dinner. Stepan
+Mihailovitch was obviously pleased to see his daughter-in-law again, and
+even said that he had missed her. "My dear," he added; "you really must
+not stay here too long, or I shan’t be able to let you go; as it is, I
+shall miss you, likely enough." He made her give him a minute account of
+their expedition. He praised Mme. Myortvavo whom he knew well, and said
+that he would send her an invitation next day to come with her daughter
+and son-in-law and dine at Bagrovo; he fixed on the following Sunday,
+which was four days ahead, for the entertainment. "You must visit the
+Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys the day after to-morrow," he said; "and then
+you can invite them too for Sunday; and then, three days later, you had
+better be off home to Ufa. Your father has never been parted from you
+before, and must miss you terribly; and I am sure, my dear, that you are
+even more anxious to see him, poor suffering old man!"
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was not long in finding out that something
+disagreeable had happened on this expedition. In the course of
+conversation, he said, "Well, were the Karatayeffs glad to see you?" The
+answer was of course in the affirmative; but Sofya Nikolayevna happened
+to mention that she had been kept awake all night by rats. This
+surprised the old man: he had only been there once, long ago, and had
+heard nothing of the kind. But here Arina Vassilyevna unsuspiciously
+joined in, in spite of the warning signs of her daughter Elizabeth; she
+suffered for it afterwards, poor lady, at the hands of her daughters. "O
+yes, yes, _batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch!" she cried; "the rats there
+are perfectly awful! Without bed-curtains, it’s impossible to get a wink
+of sleep." "Had you no curtains to your bed, then?" asked the old man,
+and there was an ominous change in his voice as he spoke. "No," was the
+only possible answer. "An excellent hostess!" he said, and looked at his
+wife and daughter in such a way that a cold shiver ran down their backs.
+
+The Karatayeff party had not yet returned, but were expected by
+tea-time. Dinner was not a cheerful meal: all were out of spirits, and
+each had his or her own reasons. Arina Vassilyevna and Elizabeth were
+conscious of the approaching storm, and feared that the thunderbolt
+might smite them also. It was long since Stepan Mihailovitch had been in
+a rage, and the prospect was more alarming to them because they had
+become unused to such outbreaks. Sofya Nikolayevna noted the frown on
+her father-in-law’s face; she did not object to his giving a good fright
+to his daughter, whom she detested as her avowed enemy; but she feared
+she might somehow get involved herself. She had no unkind intention in
+speaking about the rats: she never supposed that her father-in-law would
+take any special notice of this circumstance or attach serious
+importance to it. Nevertheless, a stone lay on her heart also: she could
+not determine how to act towards her husband. He had been angry with her
+for the first time, when she used insulting language about his sister:
+was it best to wait till he appealed to her voluntarily, or to put an
+end to the uncomfortable situation by begging him to forgive her? Her
+love and her tender caresses might then cause him to forget her
+regrettable impulsiveness. And she certainly would have chosen this
+course; for she was passionately in love with her kind young husband.
+She blamed herself severely: she ought to have foreseen everything and
+been prepared for everything. She knew that Alexyéi Stepanitch would not
+hesitate to die for her, but she knew also that she ought not to demand
+of him what he could not give—a tender and constant observation, and a
+full comprehension of all the trifling occurrences that might give her
+pain. And this was hard for her, with her hot blood and sensitive
+nerves, her eager, excitable brain and impressionable nature. Such were
+the poor woman’s thoughts and feelings as she walked up and down her
+room waiting for her husband; his mother had stopped him on his way
+there after dinner and asked him to come to her bedroom. The minutes
+seemed to her like hours. The thought that he was loitering on purpose,
+fearing a scene and unwilling to be alone with her; the thought, that
+without relieving her heart of its many troubles and without a
+reconciliation with her husband, she would see him again in the presence
+of her enemies and must play a part the whole evening—this thought
+oppressed her heart and threw her into a fever. Suddenly the door
+opened, and Alexyéi Stepanitch walked in. There was no hesitation in his
+movements; he was no longer timid and sad, but fearless and even
+displeased. He began at once to reproach her for complaining to his
+father and getting Alexandra into trouble. "They are all trembling and
+crying now, and God only knows what will come of it," he said, primed
+with all that his mother and sister had been impressing upon him. "It is
+wrong and a sin on your part to cause trouble and quarrels in your
+husband’s family. I told you what my father is like when he is angry;
+and you, knowing this and seeing his love for you, took advantage of
+it!" Sofya Nikolayevna’s patience snapped instantly, and she fired up at
+once; love was silent, and of pity and contrition not a trace was left;
+and her poor husband discovered that Stepan Mihailovitch was not the
+only person who could fly into a passion. An irresistible flood of
+complaints, accusations, and reproaches poured down upon him. He was
+utterly crushed and confounded; he could make no defence, and was all
+but a monster in his own eyes. Soon he was kneeling at her feet and
+begging forgiveness with tears. It was not surprising that Alexyéi
+Stepanitch was powerless before that volcanic eruption of feeling and
+intelligence, that heartfelt conviction and wonderful power of
+eloquence. A man entirely in the right, a man much more resolute than
+Alexyéi Stepanitch, would have pleaded guilty before the youth and
+beauty of a woman whom he loved. And Alexyéi Stepanitch was certainly
+not in the right.
+
+When the storm had calmed down in the bedroom of the young couple, it
+was still brewing at the other end of the house, in the smallish room
+which belonged to Stepan Mihailovitch. Sleep had not brought peace to
+him or smoothed the frown from his high forehead. He sat for some time
+across his bed in gloomy silence, and then called out, "Mazan!" Mazan
+had long been lying outside the door, breathing heavily according to his
+wont, and looking in through a chink; he had been placed there as a
+sentry, while the family were sitting in the parlour, full of gloomy
+apprehensions. He called out at the top of his voice, "What is your
+pleasure, sir?"—and hurried into the room. "Has my daughter Alexandra
+arrived? Yes? Then bring her here." Alexandra entered on his heels, for
+on such occasions delay was more dangerous than anything. "How dared
+you, Madam," began the old man in the voice she knew and dreaded—"how
+dared you set rats on your brother and his wife?" "I am sorry, father,"
+humbly answered Alexandra, while her knees trembled beneath her, and
+fear kept down her own infernal temper. "I put my guests on purpose in
+the drawing-room, and I never thought of putting curtains to their bed.
+I was so busy and so glad to see them that it slipped my memory." "You
+were so glad to see them! Do you expect me to believe _that_? How did
+you dare to act so to your brother and to me? How did you dare to bring
+shame on your father in his old age?" The affair would perhaps have gone
+no further than angry words and loud threats and possibly a rap from his
+fist; but Alexandra, stung by the thought that she was suffering on
+account of Sofya Nikolayevna, and hoping that the storm would still blow
+over, forgot that any sort of answer was a new offence. She could not
+resist saying, "I am punished for nothing on her account." A fresh and
+terrible fit of rage seized Stepan Mihailovitch, that rage which
+invariably ended in painful and shocking violence. Words of fury were on
+the point of rushing from his lips, when Arina Vassilyevna, with her
+daughters Aksinya and Tanyusha, ran into the room and fell at the old
+man’s feet, with tears and cries; they had been standing outside the
+door and had seen what was coming. Karatayeff had been standing there
+with them; but he ran out of the house and into the wood, where he
+slashed furiously at the innocent birch-branches with his stick,
+punishing them for the wrong done to his wife. Elizabeth did not venture
+to enter the room, knowing that her own conscience was not clear, and
+that her father was quite aware of the part she had played. "_Batyushka_
+Stepan Mihailovitch!" cried Arina Vassilyevna, "your will is law, you
+are our master, do what pleases you! Only do not shame us and disgrace
+your family in the sight of your daughter-in-law! You will frighten her
+out of her life; all this is new to her." The words seemed to have some
+effect on the old man. He was silent for a moment; then he pushed
+Alexandra from him with his foot, crying, "Begone, and don’t venture to
+show yourself till I send for you!" No one waited for any further
+orders: in a moment the room was cleared, and all was silence round
+Stepan Mihailovitch; but his blue eyes long remained dark and clouded,
+and his chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing, as he restrained
+his passionate anger which had been aroused and not satisfied.
+
+The _samovar_ had long been hissing on the drawing-room table, not in
+the shade of the stoop, because heavy rain had just ceased falling and
+it was damp out of doors. Nature seemed to sympathise with what was
+passing in the house of Bagrovo. Soon after dinner two clouds of intense
+blackness had met in the zenith and long remained there motionless,
+emitting from time to time flashes of lightning and shaking the air with
+peals of thunder. At last the rain came down in torrents, the clouds
+shifted to the east, and the setting sun shone out. Fields and woods
+smelt sweeter, refreshed by the rain, and the birds began to sing
+louder; but alas! the storms of human passion are not followed by such a
+calm.
+
+Alexandra pretended illness, but the other daughters came with their
+mother to the drawing-room; Karatayeff also was there, but Yerlykin was
+still absent from the house, on the pretext of ill-health. Stepan
+Mihailovitch had tea in his room and gave orders that he was not to be
+disturbed. The door of the young couple’s room was locked; after a short
+delay, tapping was tried and brought them out at once. Sofya Nikolayevna
+looked cheerful, and her husband really was more cheerful than before;
+but it was easy to guess from their faces that something unusual had
+been happening in their room. Of what had passed in the bedroom of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, they knew nothing. As for Arina Vassilyevna and her
+daughters, they looked like people who had just been pulled out of the
+water or snatched from the fire. It is a pity that there was no one to
+observe the scene; for it is certain that the different expressions on
+the faces of the company would have afforded an entertaining spectacle.
+All attempts to keep up a conversation were unsuccessful. The absence of
+the father and of one daughter puzzled Sofya Nikolayevna beyond
+endurance: she invented some pretext for going to her own room, where
+she summoned Parasha and got to the bottom of the mystery. They knew all
+about it in the maids’ room: not only had Mazan and Tanaichonok been
+listening all the time, but the old lady and her daughter were in the
+habit of keeping nothing back from their waiting-women. Thus Parasha was
+able to give her mistress an exact and detailed report. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was much disturbed. She had never expected such alarming
+consequences; she heartily regretted having told her father-in-law about
+the wretched rats; and she was sincerely sorry for Alexandra. She went
+back to the drawing-room and asked leave to visit the invalid, but was
+told she was asleep. During her absence, Alexyéi Stepanitch had heard
+the whole story. After a hasty supper they separated to their rooms at
+ten o’clock. When alone with her husband, Sofya Nikolayevna, with much
+agitation and many tears, fell on his neck, and again asked his
+forgiveness with heartfelt penitence, blaming herself much more than she
+really deserved. But he did not understand the delicacy of feeling which
+prompted her genuine grief and drew from her tears. He was only sorry to
+see her distress herself about trifles; and he tried to console her by
+saying that all was well that ends well, that the family were accustomed
+to such scenes, that his father would wake in a good temper to-morrow
+and forgive Alexandra, and all would go on as well as at first. Only he
+begged her not to have any explanations with any of the family, and not
+to beg pardon, as she wished to do, for her unintentional slip; and he
+advised her not to visit his father in the morning but to wait till he
+sent for her. Sofya Nikolayevna understood her husband’s character
+better than she had ever done before; and the knowledge hurt her deeply.
+While he slept peacefully all night, she never closed an eye.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was the worse for his fit of anger and also disliked
+the thought that his daughter-in-law might have heard of it. His honest
+nature resented every underhand action and deliberate unkindness; and
+also he saw, in what his daughter had done, disregard to his own
+authority and position. He was on the brink of an illness; he ate no
+supper, stayed indoors instead of going to sit on the stoop, and, when
+he should have seen his bailiff, sent his orders by a servant. But the
+benign darkness of night which gives light to the eye of our mind, the
+stillness, and then sleep, which calms the passions of men and rains
+down blessings upon them—all these did their kindly office. Early next
+day he summoned Arina Vassilyevna and gave her his instructions to
+convey to his daughters—they were intended mainly for Alexandra, but in
+part also for Elizabeth—that Sofya Nikolayevna was not to know of any
+unpleasantness, and they were to behave accordingly. In a short time the
+_samovar_ was placed on the table, and all the family summoned. Arina
+Vassilyevna fortunately had time to send a message by her son to Sofya
+Nikolayevna, begging her to do her best to cheer up the master of the
+house: "He is not quite well," she said, "and in low spirits for some
+reason." In spite of her sleepless night and the aching of her own
+heart, Sofya Nikolayevna carried out this request to admiration; all the
+party, and she herself more than any, were anxious that it should be
+done.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was an astonishing woman! Lively, impressionable, and
+excitable, she could be carried away in a moment by impulses of the head
+or heart, and was capable of very sudden and complete transformations of
+behaviour. In later years stupid people accused her of insincerity on
+this ground, but no one else did. It was really a kind of artistic
+power, which enabled her to adapt herself instantly to a new atmosphere
+and a new position, and to act absolutely in accordance with her
+immediate purpose; and this purpose, being entirely sincere, acted like
+a spell on others. In this case, she laid herself out to calm the
+agitation of her father-in-law, for whom she had conceived a warm
+affection, and who had championed her cause at the cost of his peace of
+mind and at the risk of his health; and she wished to relieve her
+husband and his family, who had been terrified and assailed owing to her
+slip of the tongue. Her imagination and feelings were so completely
+mastered by this purpose that she exercised a kind of magical power over
+the party and soon subdued them all by the irresistible spell of her
+personality. She poured out tea herself and handed the cups herself,
+first to her father-in-law and then to the rest; she talked to every one
+so easily and pleasantly and brightly that the old man, quite convinced
+that she had caught no glimpse of the skeleton in the cupboard, soon
+relaxed his features. Of him also it was true that his cheerfulness was
+infectious; and, before an hour had passed, all traces of the storm of
+yesterday had disappeared.
+
+Immediately after dinner the young couple started off to pay two
+ceremonial visits—to Ilarion Kalpinsky and his wife Catherine at
+Nyeklyoodovo, and to our old acquaintance Mme. Lupenevsky, who lived
+within two _versts_ of the Kalpinskys. Kalpinsky was in his own way a
+remarkable man: though he had received no regular education, he was very
+intelligent and well-read; his origin was obscure—it was said that he
+was of Mordvinian descent—but he had risen to a considerable rank in the
+public service, and had made a marriage of interest with the daughter of
+a country gentleman of good family. His present pursuit was farming, and
+his object to save money. He set up for a freethinker; and his few
+neighbours who had heard of Voltaire called him a Voltairian. He lived
+at home without taking any part in the life of the family, and reserved
+to himself complete freedom in the gratification of his somewhat
+Epicurean tastes and habits. Though she had heard of him, Sofya
+Nikolayevna had never seen him, because he had only recently removed to
+Orenburg from his public office at Petersburg. She was surprised to find
+in him a man possessed of intelligence and culture according to the
+standards of the time, and dressed like a gentleman living in the
+capital. She was pleased with him at first; but he soon began to show
+off before such an attractive visitor, and then his profanity and the
+shameless immorality of his family life made her feel a disgust for him
+which she never afterwards got over. His wife was far more intelligent
+than her sister, Mme. Lupenevsky, but not her superior in any other
+respect. The visit lasted for an hour, and was followed by a visit to
+Mme. Lupenevsky. In both houses tea was given to the guests and
+home-made jam, and the meal was seasoned with a kind of conversation
+which horrified Sofya Nikolayevna. Both families were invited to dine at
+Bagrovo on the following Sunday. By one of those striking
+inconsistencies in human nature which it is impossible to explain, Mme.
+Lupenevsky fell in love at first sight with Sofya Nikolayevna, and used
+such language to her at parting that her guest must needs either blush
+or laugh aloud; nevertheless her words were the expression of sincere
+and even enthusiastic attachment.
+
+The pair reached home an hour before supper-time, and were welcomed with
+unusual cordiality and pleasure by Stepan Mihailovitch, whom they found
+sitting on the familiar stoop. He was much amused when he was told that
+Mme. Lupenevsky had conceived such a passion for his daughter-in-law,
+kissing her repeatedly, claiming that they were kindred spirits, and
+lavishing terms of affection upon her. Contrary to custom, the whole
+family went out again to the stoop after supper, and spent a long time
+there in cheerful conversation with the master of the household, in the
+cool of the night and under the starry sky. Stepan Mihailovitch, though
+he could not have explained why, was fond of the faint colourless light
+that follows the glow of sunset.
+
+The solemn feast on the Sunday was to be something beyond what had ever
+been seen at Bagrovo, but nothing special happened on either of the
+intervening days. Yerlykin came back from Boogoorooslan looking yellow
+and ill, as he always did after a drinking-bout. Stepan Mihailovitch
+knew of his son-in-law’s unfortunate weakness or disease, and tried to
+cure him by dosing him with unpalatable drinks, but without success.
+When sober, Yerlykin had a loathing for alcohol and could not raise a
+glass of wine to his lips without a shudder; but he was seized four
+times a year with a sudden and irresistible craving for spirits. If the
+attempt was made to keep drink from him, he became a most pitiable and
+wretched object, talking constantly and weeping, and begging abjectly
+for the poison; and if it was still refused, he became frantic and even
+capable of attempts at suicide. Sofya Nikolayevna, who had heard the
+whole story, was exceedingly sorry for him. She spoke kindly to him and
+tried to make him talk to her. But it was no good: the General persisted
+in his sullen silence and gloomy pride. Instead of being grateful to her
+sister-in-law, Elizabeth resented these advances to her husband, and
+expressed her resentment in bitter terms. But Stepan Mihailovitch
+noticed this and addressed a stern reproof to his clever daughter, who
+did not love her sister-in-law any the better in consequence.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch twice took his daughter-in-law out to see his crops
+of rye and spring-sown wheat, and drove with her to all his favourite
+water-springs in the hills, and the "Sacred Wood" where the trees had
+been protected from the axe by a religious service. The old man believed
+that all these sights were interesting and agreeable to her; but in fact
+she positively disliked them all. Her sole support was in the thought
+that she would soon leave Bagrovo and would do her best never to set
+eyes on it again. If any one had told her that she would spend most of
+her life there, grow old there, and even die there, she would not have
+believed it: she would have said that death was preferable, and would
+have meant what she said. But whatever God decrees, to that man can
+become accustomed, and that he can endure.
+
+Sunday came and the guests began to assemble. Mme. Myortvavo came, and
+the Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys, and two old bachelors, the judge and the
+mayor of Boogoorooslan. Another guest was Afrosinya Andréyevna (her
+surname, which was never used, I forget), a spare little old lady and a
+great talker; she had a small estate near Bagrovo. She was famous for
+her powers of invention, and Stepan Mihailovitch liked at times to
+listen to her, as a grown man sometimes listens with pleasure to a fairy
+tale intended for children.
+
+But Afrosinya Andréyevna deserves that the reader should have at least a
+bowing acquaintance with her. At one time in her life she had spent ten
+years in Petersburg to watch a lawsuit; when she won it, she came back
+to her little estate in the country. She brought back with her from
+Petersburg a store of anecdotes whose extravagance made Stepan
+Mihailovitch laugh till he cried. For instance, she used to represent
+herself as a bosom friend of the Empress Catherine, adding by way of
+explanation that two people could not live ten years in the same town
+without being thrown together. "I was in church one day"—she talked this
+way when she was in the vein—"the people were going out, and the Empress
+walked past me, and I made a low curtsey and ventured to congratulate
+her on the festival; and then Her Majesty was so very kind and
+condescending as to say: ’How are you, Afrosinya Andréyevna? How is your
+suit going? Why don’t you come to see me of an evening and bring your
+knitting with you? We could chat together and pass the time pleasantly.’
+Of course I never missed an evening after that. I got to know the people
+about the court, and every one in the palace without a single exception
+knew me and liked me. Suppose a royal footman was sent anywhere, to buy
+something it might be, he never failed to look in at my house and tell
+me all about it. As a matter of course, I always offered him a glass of
+something good; I kept a bottle of whisky in the cupboard on purpose. I
+was sitting by my window one evening when I saw a royal footman in red
+uniform, with the coat of arms on it, ride past at a gallop; he was soon
+followed by a second and a third. That was too much for me: I threw up
+the window and called out, ’Philip Petrovitch! Philip Petrovitch! what
+are you all galloping for, and why don’t you pay me a visit?’ ’No time!
+Afrosinya Andréyevna!’ was his answer; ’a terrible thing has happened:
+candles will soon be wanted at the palace, and we’ve run out of them!’
+’Stop!’ I cried out; ’I have 5 lbs. of candles laid in; you can come in
+and take them.’ Philip Petrovitch was delighted; I carried out the
+candles with my own hands and relieved the people from their difficulty.
+So you see, _batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch, they simply couldn’t help
+being fond of me."
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had many traits of character peculiar to himself;
+and this was one—though he was a sworn foe to deliberate lying of every
+kind, and detested the most trifling deception and even the kind of
+evasion which is sometimes quite excusable, yet he liked listening to
+the harmless fabrications and fictions of simple people, who were
+innocently carried away by the vividness of their imagination till they
+actually came to believe in their own incredible romancing. He liked
+talking to Afrosinya Andréyevna, not only at a merry party, but also
+when they were alone together, if he was in the right mood for it; and
+she spent whole hours in pouring out for his benefit the story of her
+life in Petersburg, which consisted entirely of such incidents as that
+which I have already quoted.
+
+But it is time to go back to the guests arriving at Bagrovo. The mayor’s
+_kaftan_⁴⁴ and the judge’s uniform were equally remarkable; but the best
+sight of all was Kalpinsky: on each side of him stood a female scarecrow
+in the person of his wife and of her sister, while he himself wore an
+embroidered coat of French cut, a pair of watch-chains, a number of
+rings, silk stockings and shoes with gold buckles. All the family wore
+their best bib and tucker, and even Stepan Mihailovitch was forced to
+smarten himself up. M. Chichagoff, who had a critical, satirical turn of
+mind, made fun with much effect of the motley assembly and especially of
+his friend Kalpinsky; he was talking all the time to his wife and to her
+inseparable companion, Sofya Nikolayevna, who sat together and apart
+from the rest. Sofya Nikolayevna had hard work to keep from laughing:
+she tried not to listen, and begged Chichagoff either to hold his tongue
+or to start a conversation with Stepan Mihailovitch, whom he would find
+worthy of respect. He did so, and soon took a great fancy to the old
+man; and his feeling was reciprocated. But Stepan Mihailovitch disliked
+Kalpinsky, both as an upstart and also as an unbeliever and loose-liver.
+
+  ⁴⁴ The kaftan is a long cloth coat belted in at the waist.
+
+The splendour of the banquet may be imagined. Stepan Mihailovitch for
+once resigned all his favourite dishes—haggis, roast ribs of pork, and
+porridge made of green rye. A _chef_ had been procured, of special skill
+in the culinary art. Materials of all sorts were provided in abundance—a
+six-weeks-old calf, a pig fed to monstrous proportions, fat sheep, and
+poultry of all kinds. It was the custom then to place all the courses at
+once on the cloth; and the table at Bagrovo could hardly hold them all
+or support their weight. Cold dishes came first—smoked hams seasoned
+with garlic; next came green cabbage soup and crayfish soup, with
+forcemeat balls and rolls of different kinds; then fish-salad on ice,
+sturgeon kippered and sturgeon dried, and a dish heaped mountain-high
+with crayfish tails. Of entrées there were only two: salted quails _aux
+choux_, and stuffed ducks with a red sauce containing raisins, plums,
+peaches, and apricots. These entrées were a concession to modern
+fashion; Stepan Mihailovitch did not like them and called them
+"kickshaws." They were followed by a turkey of enormous size and
+fatness, and a hindquarter of veal; the accessories were preserved
+melons and gourds, apple chips, and pickled mushrooms. The dinner ended
+up with round jam-tarts and raised apple pies served with thick cream.
+All this was washed down with home-made liquors, home-brewed March beer,
+iced _kvass_, and foaming mead.
+
+Such were the meals which our heroic grandfathers and grandmothers
+consumed without leaving out a single course, and even managed to digest
+satisfactorily! But they took their time over it, and the meal went on
+for hours. The dishes were solid, substantial affairs, as we have seen,
+and there were plenty of them; and the servants also, both those of the
+house and those whom the guests brought with them, had no idea of
+waiting: they bustled about and collided with one another and seemed
+likely at every moment to spill the sauce or the gravy over some lady’s
+dress.
+
+The dinner was a cheerful meal. The master of the house had Mme.
+Myortvavo on his right, and on his left Chichagoff, who steadily rose in
+his host’s good graces and was quite capable, unaided, of enlivening the
+dullest of parties. The young couple were near the head of the table,
+with Mme. Chichagoff and Kalpinsky; the latter, while paying constant
+attentions to the two young women and exchanging an occasional jest with
+Alexyéi Stepanitch, ate for two all the time, to make up for the
+voluntary abstinence which he practised at home, in his eagerness to
+save money. Yerlykin sat next to Chichagoff; unlike the rest of the
+party, he ate little and drank nothing but cold water; he never spoke,
+but looked gloomy and profound. The lady of the house had her daughters
+and nieces with other guests near her at table. The party next adjourned
+to the drawing-room, where there were two tables set out with
+sweetmeats. On one stood a round cabinet of Chinese porcelain resting on
+a round metal stand which was gilt and painted in bright colours. The
+cabinet contained a number of closely-fitting trays, each of which held
+a different sort of preserved fruit—raspberries, strawberries, cherries,
+gooseberries, and blackberries; and there were crystallised rose-petals
+in a small round receptacle at the top. This cabinet, which would be
+considered very rare and precious nowadays, was a present sent by the
+bride’s father to Stepan Mihailovitch. Small plates were set out on the
+other table, filled with black and white currants, apricots, peaches,
+dates, raisins, nuts of many kinds, and almonds in the shell.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch rose from table in such good spirits that he did not
+even wish to lie down and rest. All could see—and indeed he wished it to
+be seen—his pride in his daughter-in-law and his affection for her; and
+her love and respect for him were as plain to see. During dinner he
+often turned towards her and asked her to do him some trifling
+service—to hand something, or pour out something. "Please help me
+yourself," he would say, "for you and I agree in our tastes"—or, "Just
+remind me of what I said to you the other day"—or, "Do repeat what you
+told me yesterday; I seem to have forgotten it." After dinner it was the
+same: he often asked her to give some order, or to hand him something,
+and so on. The form of his address was always plain and unpretentious,
+sometimes even unceremonious; but the tone of affection in which these
+appeals were expressed left no doubt in the mind of any spectator that
+he was entirely captivated by his daughter-in-law. And she, I need
+hardly say, replied with love and gratitude to every token of the stern
+old man’s love for her—tokens often so slight that many would have
+missed them. Stepan Mihailovitch, who was thoroughly enjoying himself,
+tried to make Mme. Lupenevsky talk: pretending ignorance, he asked in a
+loud voice, "Well, Flona, what say you of my daughter-in-law?" The
+lady’s enthusiasm had been raised to a higher pitch by the ale and
+strong waters she had been drinking. She declared most positively and
+solemnly that she had fallen in love at first sight with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, and rather preferred her to her own daughter, Lizanka; and
+that Alexyéi Stepanitch was the most fortunate of men. "It used to be
+quite another story," said the old man significantly; "don’t change back
+again, my dear!" But now Sofya Nikolayevna, perhaps from a dislike for
+this topic, strongly urged her father-in-law to go and lie down, if only
+for a short time. He consented, and she went with him and drew his
+curtains with her own hand; he asked her to see to the entertainment of
+the party, and she hurried back, pleased and flattered by this
+commission. While some lay down to rest, the others crossed to the
+island and sat on the river-bank in the shade of the trees. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was reminded of the scene that had taken place there so
+recently—her unreasonable excitement and the unjust reproaches which had
+rankled in the mind of her husband. Her heart was full; and, though she
+saw him now, in perfect content and happiness, laughing loudly at a
+story which Kalpinsky was telling, she drew him aside, threw her arms
+round him, and said with tears in her eyes, "Forgive me, my dear, and
+bury in oblivion all that happened here on the day we came!" Alexyéi
+Stepanitch had a strong objection to tears; but he kissed both her hands
+and said good-humouredly, "How can you recall such a trifle, my darling?
+You are quite wrong to trouble yourself." Then he hurried back to hear
+the end of the story, which was very amusing as Kalpinsky told it.
+Though there was really no cause for distress, Sofya Nikolayevna felt a
+momentary heartache.
+
+The master of the house soon woke and summoned all the party to join him
+by the stoop. Tables and chairs were placed in the broad thick shadow
+cast by the house; and the _samovar_ was soon hissing. Tea was poured
+out by Sofya Nikolayevna; there were rolls and scones and cream so thick
+that it had a golden tinge on it; and for all this some at least of the
+guests still found room. The Kalpinskys and Mme. Lupenevsky went off
+after tea: there was positively no room for them to sleep at Bagrovo,
+and they had not far to go, only fifteen _versts_. The guests from
+Boogoorooslan also took their leave.
+
+Mme. Myortvavo and her party left early next morning, and the Yerlykins
+after dinner, to prepare for a visit from the young couple on their way
+back to Ufa. The same evening Stepan Mihailovitch announced quite
+frankly that the time had come for the rest of the party to disperse: he
+wished to spend the last days alone with his son and daughter-in-law,
+and to enjoy their society without interruption. As a matter of course,
+his wishes were carried out. Alexandra said "good-bye" to her
+sister-in-law as graciously as she could, and the sister-in-law said
+"good-bye" to her with unfeigned satisfaction. Her secret wish to spend
+some days without the hateful presence of Elizabeth and Alexandra had
+been divined by Stepan Mihailovitch; and she blessed him in her thoughts
+for his power of intuition. Aksinya was quite different; and Sofya
+Nikolayevna parted from her with feelings of gratitude and real
+affection. None of this escaped the old man’s keen eyes. Tanyusha and
+her mother caused no constraint, partly because they were more
+good-tempered and friendly to their guest, and also because they often
+withdrew and left the others to their own devices.
+
+The three remaining days were spent at Bagrovo in perfect peace of mind,
+untroubled by malevolent observation or pretences of affection or
+venomous innuendoes. The strain on Sofya Nikolayevna’s nerves was
+relaxed, and she was able to take her bearings with less prejudice and
+study the peculiarities of the little world in which she found herself.
+In spite of their complete unlikeness to herself, she could now
+understand her mother-in-law and Tanyusha better, and make allowances
+for them; she could form a cooler judgment of Stepan Mihailovitch, and
+could understand how her husband came to be what he was. To some extent
+she realised that Alexyéi could not be entirely changed, and that the
+time was distant—perhaps it would never come—when misunderstandings
+between them would cease. But this last thought passed too lightly
+through her mind; and the old dream, that she could educate her husband
+over again and make a new man of him, took fresh hold of her eager
+imagination. What happens to most young wives in the course of life was
+happening now to Sofya Nikolayevna: she found in her husband a certain
+inferiority, certain limitations of feeling and perception; and though
+her love for him was none the less passionate on that account, she was
+beginning to feel vaguely dissatisfied with his love for her, because he
+found room in his heart for other things—the pond and the island, the
+steppe and its population of snipe, the river and those horrid fish! A
+feeling of jealousy, though directed to no definite object as yet, was
+lurking at her heart; and she felt a dim presentiment of coming
+disaster.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch also had been somewhat taken up hitherto by constant
+observation of the feelings and actions of his daughters; but now he was
+more at leisure to attend to his daughter-in-law and his son also. For
+all his want of education and rough-and-ready way of expressing himself,
+his natural sagacity and power of intuition revealed to him the whole
+difference of character between the two; and he found here matter for
+serious reflexion. Their present love for one another was a pleasant
+sight to him, and he felt happy when he saw Sofya Nikolayevna’s eyes
+constantly fixed on her husband and her eager desire to please him; but
+his happiness had a shade of fear and of disbelief in the solidity and
+permanence of a state of things in itself so charming. He would have
+liked to speak his mind on the subject, to give them some hints or some
+useful advice; but, whenever he began, he could not find the right words
+for thoughts and feelings which he could not make clear even to himself;
+and he went no further than those trivial commonplaces which, for all
+their triviality, have been bequeathed to us by the practical wisdom of
+past generations and are verified by our own experience. His failure
+troubled him, and he said so frankly to his daughter-in-law. She was a
+clever woman, yet she failed to understand the thoughts which the old
+man was turning over in his brain, and the feeling hidden in his heart.
+To his son he said: "Your wife is very clever and very excitable. Her
+tongue will probably run away with her at times; if so, don’t be weak
+with her: stop her at once, and make her see her mistake. Scold her, but
+forgive her at once; if she displeases you, don’t be sullen or keep up
+resentment; have it all out with her at once. But trust her absolutely;
+she is as true as steel." Again, when he was alone with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, he said to her: "My dear daughter-in-law, God has given you
+many good gifts. I have only one thing to say to you: don’t give the
+reins to your impetuous temper. Your husband is honest and kind; his
+temper is mild, and he will never willingly hurt your feelings; don’t
+you hurt his. Honour him and treat him with respect. If you cease to
+respect your husband, things will go wrong. Suppose he says or does
+something you don’t like, then say nothing; don’t be too exacting, and
+don’t expect perfection. I can see you through and through, and I love
+you dearly. For God’s sake, don’t fill the cup till it runs over:
+anything can be overdone, even a wife’s devotion to her husband."
+
+The advice was received as always by his son with profound respect, and
+by Sofya Nikolayevna with the ardent gratitude of a daughter. There was
+much talk on other subjects—their future life at Ufa, the husband’s
+prospects in his profession, and the means of defraying their
+expenditure. Definite arrangements were made on all points, and all
+parties were satisfied.
+
+And now the day came for their departure. The silk curtains in the
+bedroom were taken down; the muslin and satin pillow-cases with broad
+lace edging were taken off the pillows; and all this finery was packed
+up and dispatched to Ufa. Pies of different kinds were baked for the
+travellers. Father Vassili was summoned once more, and the prayers for
+those "travelling by land or by water" were said. Fresh horses were to
+be in readiness at Korovino, forty _versts_ away; to that point they
+were to be taken by the Bagrovo horses, the same fine team of six which
+had conveyed the pair on their ceremonial visits. They dined together
+for the last time; and for the last time Stepan Mihailovitch pressed his
+favourite dishes on his daughter-in-law. The carriage was already
+standing at the steps. When the party rose from table, they went to the
+drawing-room and sat there in silence for some minutes. Then Stepan
+Mihailovitch crossed himself and rose to his feet; the rest followed his
+example, said a prayer,⁴⁵ and began their good-byes. All shed tears
+except Stepan Mihailovitch, and even he had hard work to refrain. He
+embraced his daughter-in-law and gave her his blessing; then he
+whispered in her ear, "Mind, I look forward to a little grandson." She
+blushed up to the ears and kissed his hands without speaking; and now he
+did not resist her doing so. All the outdoor servants and most of the
+peasants were standing by the steps. Some of them had half a mind to
+come forward and say farewell to their young master and mistress; but
+Stepan Mihailovitch, who hated good-byes and parting scenes, called out,
+"What are you up to there? Make your bow, and that will be enough!"
+Sofya Nikolayevna had only time to exchange greetings with one or two of
+the people. They took their seats quickly, and the strong horses started
+off with the carriage as if it had been a mere feather. Stepan
+Mihailovitch shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand; for some
+minutes he tried to make out the moving carriage in the cloud of dust
+which followed it; and, when it had reached the stackyard at the top of
+the hill, he went back to his own room and lay down to sleep.
+
+  ⁴⁵ In prayers of this kind, nothing is said aloud: the worshipper
+     turns towards the _ikons_ on the wall and crosses himself.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA
+
+
+During the first few minutes Sofya Nikolayevna felt sorry for her
+father-in-law and sad to part with him. The image of the old man who had
+learnt to love her and was suffering now from the separation, came
+vividly before her. But before long the easy motion of the carriage,
+with the fleeting glimpses of fields and coppices and the outline of the
+hills along which they were driving, had a soothing effect upon her
+mind; and she began to feel heartily glad that she had left Bagrovo. Her
+joy was too great to be concealed, though she realised that her husband
+would not like it. He, she thought, was sadder than he had any business
+to be. Some explanations might possibly have followed, but were
+fortunately prevented by the presence of Parasha. The carriage rolled
+quickly through the village of Noikino, where it was saluted by hearty
+shouts from the Mordvinians, and then crossed the river Nasyagai by a
+crazy bridge. They crossed the same river again and passed through the
+village of Polibino, and came at last to Korovino, where a fresh team
+was waiting for their arrival; their own horses were to rest there for
+some hours and return to Bagrovo in the evening.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had provided herself with writing materials, and now
+she wrote a warm letter of thanks to her husband’s parents. It was
+intended especially for Stepan Mihailovitch; and he understood this
+perfectly and hid the letter in the secret drawer of the modest
+writing-desk which satisfied his needs; and there Sofya Nikolayevna came
+upon her own letter unexpectedly eight years afterwards, when the old
+man was in his grave. The horses were put to, good-byes were said to the
+coachman and postilion—long-legged Tanaichonok was acting as postilion
+on this occasion—and the pair resumed their journey. Fortune was kind at
+this point to Sofya Nikolayevna: it proved impossible to get to the
+Yerlykins’ house, and thus she was saved from a most tiresome and
+oppressive visit. A deep river on the way had to be crossed, and the
+bridge had rotted and collapsed. As it would take a long time to mend
+it, the young couple could keep straight on towards Ufa. As they got
+near the town, Sofya Nikolayevna could think of nothing but her sick
+father, who had not seen her for more than a fortnight; he had been left
+in the care of servants and must be feeling lonely and eager for his
+daughter’s return. The travellers took a full hour to cross the river
+Byélaya in a crazy ferry-boat; and the ascent of the steep hill on the
+other side took time. Before it was over, Sofya Nikolayevna was very
+impatient and in great agitation. At last she got to the house. In a
+fever of excitement she hurried to her father’s room and softly opened
+the door. He was lying in his usual position; and near him, on the very
+armchair which was usually occupied by Sofya Nikolayevna herself, his
+servant Nikolai was sitting.
+
+This man was a Kalmuck, and I must tell something of his history. In
+those distant times it was a common practice in the district of Ufa to
+buy native boys and girls, either Kalmucks or Kirghizes, from their
+parents or relations, and to make use of them later as serfs. Forty
+years before the date of my story, M. Zubin had bought two Kalmuck boys.
+He had them baptized, became fond of them, and made pets of them. He had
+them taught to read and write; and, when they grew up, they became his
+personal servants. Both of them were intelligent and neat-handed and
+appeared to be very devoted; but, when Pugatchoff⁴⁶ raised the standard
+of revolt, they both ran off and joined the rebels. One of them soon
+lost his life; but the other, who had been his master’s favourite and
+was called Nikolai, now became the favourite of one Chika, who was
+prominent among the rebels and stood high in the favour of Pugatchoff
+himself. It is well known that one band of the revolters was encamped
+for a long time near Ufa, on the opposite bank of the river Byélaya.
+Nikolai was in this camp and had by this time been promoted to a
+position of some authority. It was said that he was fiercer than any of
+them and breathed fire and slaughter against no one so much as his old
+master who had brought him up. Tradition tells that, whenever the rebels
+were preparing to cross the river and fall upon the defenceless town,
+they saw a great army march out to defend the heights on the opposite
+bank, and an ancient warrior at their head, riding on a snow-white
+horse, and holding a spear in one hand and a Cross in the other. The
+cowardly band of outlaws were terrified by this vision and desisted from
+all their attempts; and they had done nothing when the news came that
+Pugatchoff was defeated. Of course they scattered at once. The revolt
+came to an end, and the scattered rabble were seized and brought to
+trial. Nikolai, who was one of these, was condemned to the gallows. I
+cannot vouch for the truth of this; but I have been assured that, after
+his trial at Ufa, the noose was actually round his neck, when M. Zubin
+claimed the privilege which he possessed as a landholder, pardoned his
+old favourite, and took him home, undertaking to be responsible himself
+for the criminal’s behaviour. Nikolai seemed penitent and tried by zeal
+and devotion to atone for his crime. By degrees he contrived to get back
+into his master’s confidence; and, when Sofya Nikolayevna, after her
+stepmother’s death, took over the management of the household, she found
+Nikolai established as butler; he had been a favourite with her
+stepmother, and this now became a passport to her father’s goodwill.
+Nikolai had been guilty of much insolence to his young mistress during
+her time of humiliation; but he was a very cunning fellow and quite
+realised his present position. He played the part of the repentant
+sinner, throwing all the guilt on the stepmother, and blaming himself
+for the slavish spirit in which he had carried out her orders. It would
+have been quite easy for Sofya Nikolayevna to get rid of him for good
+and all; but her youth and generous nature made her believe that his
+repentance was genuine. She pardoned him, and actually begged her father
+to leave him in his old position. As time went on, she was sometimes
+vexed by the way in which he settled things without consulting her, and
+she felt doubts about his honesty. She noticed also that his intimacy
+with her father, though concealed from her, was closer than she liked.
+But he was very zealous in his attendance upon his sick master, sleeping
+always in the same room, and also found time to do his work as butler
+exceedingly well. She was therefore content with mild reproofs, and the
+man was left free to take root at leisure in his double office. When she
+became engaged, she had to see herself to the buying of her
+wedding-clothes and to spend much time with her future husband; and so
+she was less with her father and gave less attention to household
+affairs. Nikolai took full advantage of this opportunity, and his power
+over the old invalid increased daily. Hoping soon to get rid of his
+mistress and to become master of the house himself, he grew more
+insolent and less careful to conceal his power. Sofya Nikolayevna
+sometimes snubbed him sharply; she was grieved to see her father’s
+increasing dependence on this man and abdication of his own authority.
+
+  ⁴⁶ See note to p. 67 (Transcriber: note 33).
+
+Nikolai had made full use of the few days that preceded and followed the
+marriage, and of her absence for a fortnight at Bagrovo: his master, now
+at death’s door, was completely under his control. Sofya Nikolayevna
+guessed the true state of affairs as soon as she saw the man lying
+asleep in the armchair; never before had he ventured on such a liberty.
+She gave him a look which sent him in some haste and confusion out of
+the room. Her father was by no means as pleased to see her as she
+expected; he made haste to tell her that Nikolai was not to blame: "It
+is at my urgent wish," he said, "that he sometimes takes a seat at my
+bedside." "It is a pity you do that, father," she said; "you will spoil
+him altogether and be forced to turn him off; I know him better than you
+do." Then, without entering upon further explanations, she expressed her
+joy at having found him no worse. Alexyéi Stepanitch soon came in, and
+then the old man, touched by his daughter’s unfeigned tenderness, his
+son-in-law’s attentive behaviour, and the love between husband and wife,
+listened with pleasure to their narrative and thanked God with tears for
+their happiness.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna began at once the business of instalment. She chose
+three rooms, quite separate from the rest, for their own occupation; and
+in a few days her arrangements were so complete that she could receive
+her own guests without any disturbance to her father. It was her
+intention to arrange as before about the management of the house and the
+attendance on her father, and to assign to Nikolai the subordinate part
+of carrying out her instructions; but the man had always hated her, and
+now felt himself strong enough to declare open war against his young
+mistress. While attending to the father more zealously than ever, he
+contrived with extraordinary cunning to insult the daughter at every
+turn; and to Alexyéi Stepanitch he was so insolent that the young man
+lost patience, in spite of his easy and unexacting temper, and told his
+wife that he could not possibly put up with the position. For some time
+Sofya Nikolayevna did not trouble her father, hoping by her own
+influence to keep Nikolai within the bounds of reasonable politeness;
+she relied upon his intelligence, and also believed that he knew her
+determined character and would not venture to drive her to extremities.
+But the malicious Asiatic—this was the servants’ name for him—was
+convinced beforehand that he would conquer, and tried to provoke Sofya
+Nikolayevna into some passionate outburst. Long ago he had been able to
+instill into his master the belief that the young lady could not endure
+her father’s faithful servant and would certainly try to turn him out of
+the house. The invalid was horrified by this prospect, and solemnly
+declared that he would prefer death to such a deprivation. Sofya
+Nikolayevna tried to hint to her father in very gentle and affectionate
+terms that Nikolai forgot himself in his behaviour to her husband and
+neglected to carry out her orders; it seemed to be his intention to
+provoke her to anger. But her father became agitated and refused to
+listen: he said that he was perfectly satisfied with Nikolai, and begged
+her not to trouble the butler but to give her orders to some other
+servant. Young and impulsive, and accustomed to undisputed authority in
+her father’s house, Sofya Nikolayevna found it hard to endure the
+insulting behaviour of an unworthy menial; yet her love for her father,
+and her desire to nurse and comfort him and alleviate his sufferings as
+far as possible, kept her for long from the idea of leaving him in that
+dying state to depend entirely upon such a wretch as Nikolai and other
+servants. She controlled her impulsiveness and injured pride; she gave
+her household orders through one of the other servants, knowing all the
+time that all her instructions were altered by her enemy at his will and
+pleasure. She induced her father to order that Nikolai should not enter
+the sick-room while she was sitting there. But this arrangement soon
+broke down: under various pretexts, the man constantly came into the
+room; and indeed the invalid himself constantly asked for him. This
+painful situation continued for several months.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna arranged her engagements in the town in accordance
+with her own wishes. The people whom she liked she often met, either in
+their houses or her own; the rest she seldom saw, and was content to
+exchange formal calls with them. Her husband was acquainted already with
+everybody in the town; but his wife’s intimate friends now became
+intimate with him. He became popular with them and got on very well in
+his new position—I mean, in the select society that gathered round his
+wife.
+
+Meanwhile, soon after her return to Ufa, Sofya Nikolayevna began to feel
+unpleasant symptoms of a peculiar kind, which gave great satisfaction to
+Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard of them. The continuation of his
+ancient line, the descendants of the great Shimon, was a constant theme
+of the old man’s thoughts and wishes; it troubled his peace of mind and
+stuck in his head like a nail. On receiving the good news from his son,
+Stepan Mihailovitch was full of happy hopes and convinced that the child
+would infallibly be a boy. His family always said that his spirits were
+unusually high at this time. He had prayers said in church for his
+daughter-in-law’s health, forgave certain sums owed him by neighbours or
+dependants, asked every one to congratulate him, and made them drink
+till they were dizzy.
+
+In his excitement and joy, it occurred to him suddenly to bestow a mark
+of his favour upon Aksyutka, the maid who poured out tea and coffee, to
+whom he always showed an unaccountable partiality. Aksyutka was a
+peasant’s daughter who had lost both parents and was brought to the
+house at Bagrovo when she was seven years old, merely to save her from
+starvation. She was exceedingly ugly—red-haired and freckled, with eyes
+of no colour in particular; she was also bad-tempered and a horrible
+sloven. This does not sound attractive; but Stepan Mihailovitch took a
+great fancy to her, and never did dinner pass without his giving or
+sending to the child something taken from the dishes at table. When she
+grew up, he made her pour out his tea in the morning and talked to her
+for hours at a time. She was now a good deal over thirty. One morning,
+soon after the good news came from Ufa, Stepan Mihailovitch said to her:
+"What makes you go about looking like a scarecrow? Be off, you stupid
+creature, and put on your best clothes that you wear on holidays. I mean
+to find you a husband." Aksyutka grinned: she thought her master was not
+serious, and answered: "Why, who would marry an orphan like me, except
+perhaps Kirsanka, the shepherd?" (Kirsanka, as every one knew, was
+deformed and idiotic.) Stepan Mihailovitch seemed vexed; he went on, "If
+I arrange the marriage, you can have your pick of the young men. Go and
+dress yourself, and come back at once." Aksyutka went out surprised and
+delighted; and Stepan Mihailovitch summoned Little Ivan to his presence.
+We have heard something of this man already; he was now twenty-four
+years old, with a complexion of lilies and roses, a very fine young
+fellow, both tall and stout. At the time of Pugatchoff’s revolt, when
+the master himself took refuge with his family at Astrakhan, Ivan’s
+father had been left in charge of the serfs at Bagrovo; and it was
+generally supposed that his death was due to overwork and anxiety at
+that time. He left two sons, both called Ivan, and this one was known as
+Little Ivan, to distinguish him from his elder brother, who inherited
+his father’s nickname of Weasel. Little Ivan appeared before his master,
+"like a leaf before the grass."⁴⁷ Stepan Mihailovitch looked at him with
+admiration, and then said in a voice so kind that the lad’s heart leaped
+for joy, "Ivan, I mean to give you a wife." "Your will is law,
+_batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch," answered the man, devoted body and
+soul to his master. "Well, go and dress yourself in your best, and come
+back to me in less than no time." Ivan flew off to do his master’s
+bidding. Aksyutka was the first to reappear; she had smoothed her red
+hair and greased it with oil, and put on her smartest jacket and skirt,
+and her bare feet were hidden in shoes; but alas! she was no more
+beautiful than before. She was much excited, and her mouth was
+constantly expanding into a broad grin, which she tried to hide with her
+hand, because she felt ashamed of it. Stepan Mihailovitch laughed: "Oh,
+she’s willing enough to take a husband," he said. Back flew Ivan; but
+the sight of Aksyutka’s ugly face and fine dress sent a cold shiver down
+his back. "There is your bride," said Stepan Mihailovitch; "she is a
+good servant to me as your father was once. You may both count on my
+protection." His wife now came in, and he turned to her and said:
+"Arisha, the bride’s clothes are all to be made out of our stuff; I
+shall give her a cow and provide everything to eat and drink at the
+wedding." No one raised any objections, and the marriage took place.
+Aksyutka was charmed with her handsome husband, but he detested his
+repulsive wife, who was ten years older than him to boot. She was
+jealous of him all day long, and not without reason; and he beat her all
+day long, with some excuse on his side also; for nothing but the
+stick—and not even that for long—could shut her mouth and keep her
+wicked tongue from wagging. It was a pity, a great pity: Stepan
+Mihailovitch did a wrong thing when he made others sad because he was
+happy.
+
+  ⁴⁷ _I.e._ "instantly," though why the phrase means this I cannot
+     discover. In Russian fairy-tales, a witch regularly summons any one
+     she wants with the words, "Stand thou before me, like a leaf before
+     the grass!"
+
+Of his happiness I judge partly by tradition but more from a letter
+which he wrote to Sofya Nikolayevna and which I have seen myself. We
+have seen that he was capable of strong and deep affection; yet it is
+hard to believe that a man with so little refinement of manner could
+give verbal expression to such tender and delicate solicitude as
+breathed through the whole of this letter. He begged her and commanded
+her to be careful of her health, and sent her much advice on the
+subject. Unfortunately, I can only remember a few words of it: "If you
+were living in my house"—this was one thing the old man said—"I would
+not suffer the wind to blow on you or a grain of dust to settle on your
+skin."
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was able to appreciate this affection, though she
+understood that half of it was intended for the expected heir; and she
+promised to carry out scrupulously his wishes and instructions. But it
+was hard for her to keep this promise. She was one of those women who
+pay for the joy of motherhood by a constant discomfort which is more
+painful and distressing than any real illness; and she suffered in mind
+also, because her relations with her father became daily more
+humiliating and the insolence of Nikolai more unbearable. Alexyéi
+Stepanitch, who saw no danger in his wife’s constant sufferings, and was
+told that the symptoms were quite natural and would soon pass away,
+though he was sorry for his wife, was not excessively put out; and this
+was another cause of distress to Sofya Nikolayevna. He worked hard at
+his duties in the law-court, hoping soon to be promoted. He had become
+accustomed to living with his father-in-law; he avoided for the present
+all contact with Nikolai, and looked forward without impatience to a
+change in their position. His wife did not like this either. Things
+dragged on like this, as I have said already, for several months, and it
+was not a happy time for any of them.
+
+But Nikolai was not satisfied with this state of things: he desired a
+final solution. Seeing that Sofya Nikolayevna was controlling her quick
+temper and righteous indignation, he determined to force her hand. It
+was necessary for his purpose that she should lose patience and complain
+to her father; and he warned the invalid more than once that he was
+constantly expecting Sofya Nikolayevna to complain of him and demand his
+instant dismissal. He did not wait for any pretext or opportunity. One
+day, in the presence of other servants, when his young mistress was
+standing close to him at the open door of the next room, he began,
+speaking loud and looking straight at her, to use such offensive
+language of herself and her husband that Sofya Nikolayevna was struck
+dumb for a moment by his insolence. But she recovered immediately, and
+without a word to him rushed to her father’s room, where, choking with
+wrath and excitement, she repeated the insulting words which had been
+said almost to her face by his favourite. Nikolai came in at her heels
+and would not let her finish her story. Feigning tears and crossing
+himself, he solemnly swore, that it was mere slander, that he had never
+said anything of the sort, and that it was wicked of Sofya Nikolayevna
+to ruin an innocent man! "You hear what he says, Sonitchka," said the
+invalid in a peevish voice. This was too much for Sofya Nikolayevna:
+stung to the quick, she forgot her magnanimous self-restraint and forgot
+also that she might kill her father with fright. She raised her voice
+with such effect that the favourite was forced to leave the room. Then
+she said to her father: "After this insult I cannot live under the same
+roof with Nikolai: you must choose which of us is to go, he or I!"—and
+then she rushed wildly from the room. The old man had a seizure, and
+Nikolai hastened to his aid. The usual remedies were applied with
+success, and then master and man had a long conversation, after which
+Sofya Nikolayevna was summoned to the room. "Sonitchka," he said, with
+all the firmness and calmness he could muster, "my weak and suffering
+state makes it impossible for me to part with Nikolai; my life depends
+on him. You must buy another house; here is money for the purpose."
+Sofya Nikolayevna fell fainting to the ground and was carried back to
+her own room.
+
+To this had come the tender tie of affection between parent and child, a
+tie which should surely have been made doubly strong by the temporary
+coolness due to the stepmother, and then by the father’s penitence and
+the daughter’s devotion and forgetfulness of all her wrongs. And then,
+when she married, she had chosen her husband with this in view, and had
+stipulated that she should not be parted from her father! And now they
+were to part at a time when the doctors declared he would not live
+another month! But in this forecast the doctors were mistaken, just as
+they often are nowadays: he lived on for more than a year.
+
+When Sofya Nikolayevna recovered from her swoon and her eyes fell on the
+pale anxious face of Alexyéi Stepanitch, she realised that there was one
+creature on earth who loved her: she threw her arms round her husband,
+and floods of tears gave relief to her heart. She told him all that had
+passed between her and her father. The narrative revived the smart of
+her wounded feelings, and brought out more clearly the difficulty of her
+position; and she would have despaired, but for the support of her kind
+husband. Though weaker in character and less far-sighted than she was,
+he never ran into extremes and never lost presence of mind and power of
+judgment in the trying hours of life. It may seem strange that Alexyéi
+Stepanitch could give moral support to Sofya Nikolayevna; but, for all
+her exceptional intelligence and apparent strength of will, the effect
+of a sudden shock to her feelings was to make her lose courage and
+become utterly bewildered. As an honest chronicler of oral tradition, I
+am bound to add that she was too sensitive to the opinion of society and
+paid it too much deference, in spite of her own superiority to the
+people among whom she lived. What would be said by people at Ufa, and
+especially by the ladies who took the lead in society there? What would
+be thought by her husband’s family? What, above all, would be said by
+Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard that she had left her father? As she
+asked herself these questions, the injury to her pride gave her as much
+pain as the wound to her feelings as a daughter. To her it seemed
+equally terrible that her father should be blamed for ingratitude to his
+daughter, or that she should be blamed for failing in affection to a
+dying father. One or other alternative was bound to be chosen; and
+either he or she was bound to be condemned.
+
+Alexyéi Stepanitch felt deep pity for her as he watched these
+sufferings, and he felt puzzled also. It was no easy task to administer
+consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna: her eager fancy painted appalling
+pictures of disaster, and her ready tongue gave them lively expression.
+She was prepared to brush aside every attempt to find an issue from the
+situation, and to trample on every suggestion of a settlement. But
+Alexyéi Stepanitch had love to teach him, and also that sanity and
+simplicity of mind which was wanting in his wife. He waited till the
+first irrepressible outburst was over, the first outcry of the wounded
+heart; and then he began to speak. The words were very ordinary, but
+they came from a kind, simple heart; and if they did not calm Sofya
+Nikolayevna, they did at least by degrees make it possible for her to
+understand what was said. He told her that she had always done her duty
+as a loving daughter, and that she must continue to do it by falling in
+with her father’s wishes. It was probably no sudden decision: her father
+might have wished for a long time that they should live apart. For a
+sick and dying man it was difficult or even impossible to part from the
+regular attendant who nursed him so faithfully. Stepan Mihailovitch must
+be told the whole truth; but to acquaintances it would be enough to say
+that her father had always intended to set up the young couple in a
+house of their own during his lifetime. She would be able to visit her
+father twice a day and attend to him almost as much as before. Of course
+people in the town would find out in time the real reason of the
+separation—they had probably some idea already of the facts—but they
+would only pity her and abuse Nikolai. "Besides," he added, "though your
+father talked like that, when it comes to acting, he may shrink from the
+separation. Talk it over with him, and lay all your case before him."
+Sofya Nikolayevna made no reply: during a long silence her eyes rested
+with a curious, puzzled gaze on her husband. The truth of his simple
+words and his plain way of looking at things—these breathed peace and
+comfort into her heart. His plan seemed to her new and ingenious, and
+she wondered she had never thought of it herself. With a heart full of
+love and gratitude she embraced her husband.
+
+So it was settled that Sofya Nikolayevna should appeal to her father to
+alter his decision and let them stay on in the house, at all events
+until she had entirely recovered from her confinement; their household
+arrangements would be quite separate, and all collisions with Nikolai
+would be avoided. In favour of this suggestion, there was one very
+pressing argument—that, while it was bad for Sofya Nikolayevna in her
+present condition to be jolted over the ill-paved streets of the town,
+no risk to herself would prevent her from paying a daily visit to her
+father. But the explanation with her father was unsuccessful. The old
+man told her calmly but firmly that his decision had been carefully
+considered and was no impulse of the moment. "My dear Sonitchka," he
+said, "I knew beforehand that after your marriage you could not live
+under the same roof as Nikolai. You are not able to judge him coolly,
+and I don’t blame you for it: he sinned deeply against you in old days,
+and, though you forgave him, you were unable to forget his conduct. I
+know that he does not behave properly to you even now; but you take an
+exaggerated view of it all." At this point Sofya Nikolayevna tried to
+break in, but he stopped her and said: "Wait and hear to the end what I
+have to say. Let us suppose that he is as guilty as you take him to be:
+that makes it all the more impossible for you to live in the same house
+with him; but I cannot face parting from him. Have pity on my helpless
+and suffering condition. I am no longer a man, but a lifeless corpse;
+you know that Nikolai has to move me in bed ten times a day; no one can
+take his place. All I ask is peace of mind. Death is hovering over me,
+and every moment I must prepare for the change to eternity. I was
+constantly made wretched by the thought that Nikolai was giving offence
+to you. Our parting is inevitable; go, my dear, and live in a house of
+your own. When you come to visit me you shall not see the object of your
+dislike: he will be only too glad to keep out of the way. He has gained
+his object and got you out of the house, and now he will be able to rob
+me at his leisure. I know and see it all, but I forgive him everything
+for his unwearied nursing of me day and night. What he undergoes in his
+attendance on me is beyond the power of human endurance. Do not distress
+me, but take the money and buy a house for yourselves."
+
+I shall not describe all the phases through which Sofya Nikolayevna
+passed—her doubts and hesitations, her mental conflicts, her tears and
+sufferings, her ups and downs of feeling from day to day. It is enough
+to say that the money was accepted and the house bought, and husband and
+wife were settled there before a fortnight had passed. The little house
+was new and clean, and had never been occupied before. Sofya Nikolayevna
+began with her usual ardour to put her house in order and to settle the
+course of their daily life; but her health, much affected by her
+condition, and still more by all the agitation she had gone through,
+soon broke down altogether. She was confined to bed for a fortnight, and
+did not see her father for a whole month. Their first interview was a
+touching and pitiful sight. He had grown much weaker; missing his
+daughter and blaming himself for her illness, he had suffered much by
+her absence. Their meeting gave happiness to both, but it cost them
+tears. He was especially grieved to see her so terribly thin and so
+altered in looks; but this was due, not so much to grief and illness as
+to her condition. The features of some women look different and even
+ugly during pregnancy; and Sofya Nikolayevna was a case in point. In
+course of time things settled down and her relations with her father
+became easy; Nikolai never ventured to appear when she was present.
+There was just one person who could not reconcile himself to the thought
+that she had left a dying father to settle in a house of her own; and
+that was Stepan Mihailovitch. She quite anticipated this, and wrote him
+a very frank letter just before she was taken ill, in which she tried to
+explain her father’s action and defend it as far as possible. She might
+have saved herself the trouble, for Stepan Mihailovitch blamed her and
+not her father, and said that it was her duty to bear without a sign of
+displeasure all the misconduct of "that scoundrel" Nikolai. He wrote to
+his son to reprove him for allowing his wife to abandon her father to
+the hands of servants. But Stepan Mihailovitch did not realise, either
+that the separation was necessary to preserve the peace of a dying man,
+or that a wife could act without the permission of her husband. In the
+present case, however, husband and wife were entirely of one mind.
+
+To put the finishing touches to the new house and modest household
+arrangements, Sofya Nikolayevna called in the assistance of a widow whom
+she knew, who lived in a humble position at Ufa. This was Mme.
+Cheprunoff, a very simple and kind-hearted creature. She owned a little
+house in the suburbs, and a small but productive garden, which brought
+her in a trifle. She had other means of maintaining herself and her
+adored only child, a little one-eyed boy called Andrusha: she hawked
+about small wares of different kinds, and even sold cakes in the market.
+But her chief source of income was the sale of Bokhara muslin, which she
+went to Orenburg every year to buy. Sofya Nikolayevna was related
+through her mother to this woman; but she had the weakness to conceal
+the relationship, though every one in the town knew it. Mme. Cheprunoff
+was devoted to her brilliant and distinguished kinswoman. She used to
+pay secret visits to Sofya Nikolayevna during the time when she was
+persecuted and humiliated by her stepmother; and Sofya Nikolayevna, when
+her time of triumph and influence came, became the avowed benefactress
+of Mme. Cheprunoff. When they were alone together, Sofya Nikolayevna
+lavished caresses upon her unselfish and devoted kinswoman; but, when
+other people were present, the one was the great lady and the other the
+poor _protégée_ who sold cakes in the streets. This treatment did not
+offend Mme. Cheprunoff: on the contrary, she insisted on it. She loved
+and admired her beautiful cousin with all her heart, and looked on her
+as a superior being, and would never have forgiven herself if she had
+thrown a shadow on the brilliant position of Sofya Nikolayevna. The
+secret was revealed, as it had to be, to Alexyéi Stepanitch; and he, in
+spite of the ancient lineage which his sisters were always dinning into
+his ears, received this humble friend as his wife’s worthy kinswoman,
+and treated her with affection and respect all his life; he even tried
+to kiss the work-worn hand of the cake-seller, but she would never allow
+it. He was only prevented by his wife’s earnest entreaties from speaking
+of this relationship in his own family and in the circle of their
+acquaintance. This conduct earned him the love of the simple-minded
+woman; and whenever there were differences in the household in later
+years, she was his ardent champion and defender. She knew all the shops
+and was a great hand at a bargain; and so, with her help, Sofya
+Nikolayevna did her furnishing quickly and well.
+
+When the young Bagroffs bought a house and started housekeeping by
+themselves, there was much talk and gossip in the town; and at first
+many exaggerations and inventions were current. But Alexyéi Stepanitch
+had spoken the truth: the real reason came out before long. This was due
+chiefly to Nikolai, who boasted among his friends that he had ousted the
+pettish young lady, and took the opportunity to give a lively
+description of her character. So the talk and gossip soon quieted down.
+
+Husband and wife had at last a house entirely to themselves. In the
+morning, Alexyéi Stepanitch drove down to his work at the law-courts,
+dropping his wife at her father’s house; and on his return he spent some
+time every day with his father-in-law, before taking his wife home. A
+modest dinner awaited them there. To sit alone together, at a meal of
+their own ordering, in their own house, was a charming sensation for a
+time; but nothing is a novelty for long, and this charm could not last
+for ever. In spite of her bad health and small means, Sofya
+Nikolayevna’s clever hands made her little house as dainty as a toy.
+Taste and care are a substitute for money; and many of their visitors
+thought the furnishing splendid. The hardest problem was to arrange
+about their servants. Sofya Nikolayevna had brought two servants as part
+of her portion—a man named Theodore and a black-eyed maid called
+Parasha; these two were now married to one another; and at the same time
+Annushka, a young laundress belonging to Sofya Nikolayevna, was married
+to Yephrem Yevséitch, a young servant who had been brought from Bagrovo.
+This man was honest and good-natured and much attached to his young
+mistress, which cannot be said of the other servants. She returned his
+affection, and he well deserved it: he was one in a thousand, and his
+devotion to her was proved by his whole life.
+
+Yevséitch (as he was always called in the family) became later the
+attendant of her eldest son,⁴⁸ and watched over him like a father. I
+knew this worthy man well. Fifteen years ago I saw him for the last
+time; he was then blind and spending his last days in the Government of
+Penza on an estate belonging to one of the grandsons of Stepan
+Mihailovitch. I spent a whole month there in the summer; and every
+morning I went to fish in a pool where the stream of Kakarma falls into
+the river Niza. The cottage where Yevséitch was living stood right on
+the bank of this pool; and every day as I came up I saw him leaning
+against the angle of the cottage and facing the rising sun. He was bent
+and decrepit, and his hair had turned perfectly white; pressing a long
+staff to his breast, he leaned upon it with the knotted fingers of both
+hands, and turned his sightless eyes towards the sun’s rays. Though he
+could not see the light, he could feel its warmth, so pleasant in the
+fresh morning air, and his face expressed both pleasure and sadness. His
+ear was so quick that he heard my step at some distance, and he always
+hailed me as an old fisherman might hail a schoolboy, though I was then
+myself over fifty years old. "Ah, it’s you, my little falcon!"—he used
+to call me this when I was a child—"you’re late this morning! God send
+you a full basket!" He died two years later in the arms of his son and
+daughter and his wife, who survived him several years.
+
+  ⁴⁸ _I.e._ the Author.
+
+Meantime life at Ufa took a very regular and unvarying course. Owing to
+her state of health and spirits, Sofya Nikolayevna paid few visits and
+only to intimate friends, whose small number was made smaller by the
+absence of the Chichagoffs. Autumn was nearly over before those dearest
+of friends returned from the country with Mme. Myortvavo. The disordered
+nerves and consequent low spirits of his wife were at first a source of
+great uneasiness to Alexyéi Stepanitch. He was completely puzzled: he
+had never in his life met people who were ill without anything definite
+the matter, or sad with no cause for sadness; he could make nothing of
+illness due to some inexplicable grief, or grief due to some imaginary
+or imperceptible illness. But he saw that there was no serious danger,
+and his anxiety calmed down by degrees. He was convinced that it was all
+the effect of imagination, which had always been his way of accounting
+for his wife’s moods of excitement and distress, whenever he found it
+impossible to arrive at any reason within his comprehension. If he
+ceased to be uneasy, he began to be rather bored at times; and this was
+very natural, in spite of his love for his wife and pity for her
+constant suffering. To listen for whole hours every day to constant
+complaints about her condition, which was not after all so very
+exceptional; to hear gloomy presentiments, or even prophecies, of the
+fatal results which were sure to follow (and Sofya Nikolayevna, thanks
+to her reading of medical works, was extraordinarily ingenious in
+discovering ominous symptoms); to endure her reproaches and constant
+demands for those trifling services which a man can seldom render—all
+this was wearisome enough. Sofya Nikolayevna saw what he felt, and was
+deeply hurt. If she had found him in general incapable of deep feeling
+and strong passion, she would have reconciled herself sooner to her
+situation. She used often to say herself, "A man cannot give you what he
+has not got"; and she would have recognised the truth of the saying and
+submitted to her fate. But the misfortune was that she remembered the
+depth and ardour of her husband’s passion in the days of his courtship,
+and believed that he might have continued to love her in the same
+fashion, had not something occurred to cool his feelings. This unlucky
+notion by degrees took hold of her imagination, and her ingenuity soon
+discovered many reasons to account for this coolness and much evidence
+of its truth. As to reasons—there was the hostile influence of his
+family, her own ill-health, and, worst of all, her loss of beauty; for
+her looking-glass forced upon her the sad change in her appearance. Her
+proofs were these—that her husband was not disquieted by her danger,
+took insufficient notice of her condition, did not try to cheer and
+interest her, and, above all, found more pleasure in talking to other
+women. And then a passion, which hitherto had lurked unrecognised, the
+torturing passion of jealousy, as keen-sighted as it is blind, flashed
+up like gunpowder in her heart. Every day there were scenes—tears and
+reproaches, quarrels and reconciliations. And all the time Alexyéi
+Stepanitch was entirely innocent. To the insinuations of his sisters he
+paid no attention at all; to his father’s opinion he attached great
+importance, and that was so favourable to Sofya Nikolayevna that she had
+even risen in her husband’s eyes in consequence. He was sincerely, if
+not deeply, distressed about her sufferings; and her loss of beauty he
+regarded as temporary, and looked forward with pleasure to the time when
+his young wife would get back her good looks. Though the sight of her
+suffering distressed him, he could not sympathise with all her
+presentiments and prognostications which he believed to be quite
+imaginary. He was incapable, as most men would be, of paying her the
+sort of attention she expected. It was really a ticklish business to
+administer consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna in her present condition:
+you were quite likely to put your foot in it and make matters worse; it
+required much tact and dexterity, and these were qualities which her
+husband did not possess. If he found more pleasure in talking to other
+women, it was probably because he was not afraid that some casual remark
+might cause annoyance and irritation.
+
+But Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at the matter in this light. Her
+view of it was dictated by her nature, whose fine qualities were apt to
+run to extremes. But what was to be done, if the nerves of one were
+tough and strong and those of the other sensitive and morbid, if hers
+were jarred by what had no effect upon his? The Chichagoffs alone
+understood the causes of this uncomfortable situation; and, though they
+received no confidences from either husband or wife, they took a warm
+interest in both and did much to calm Sofya Nikolayevna’s excitement by
+their friendship, their frequent visits, and their rational and sensible
+conversation. Both husband and wife owed much to them at this period.
+
+So things went on till the time that Sofya Nikolayevna became a mother.
+Though she was often troubled in mind, her health improved during the
+last two months, and she was safely delivered of a daughter. She
+herself, and her husband still more, would have preferred a son; but,
+when the mother pressed the child to her heart, she thought no more of
+any distinction between boy and girl. A passion of maternal love filled
+her heart and mind and whole being. Alexyéi Stepanitch thanked God for
+his wife’s safety, rejoiced at her relief, and soon reconciled himself
+to the fact that his child was a girl.
+
+But at Bagrovo it was quite another story! Stepan Mihailovitch was so
+confident that he was to have a grandson to carry on the line of the
+Bagroffs, that he would not believe at first in the birth of a
+grand-daughter. When at last he read through his son’s letter with his
+own eyes and was convinced that there was no doubt about it, he was
+seriously annoyed. He put off the entertainment planned for his
+labourers, and refused to write himself to the parents; he would only
+send a message of congratulation to the young mother, with instructions
+that the infant was to be christened Praskovya, in compliment to his
+cousin and favourite, Praskovya Ivanovna Kurolyessova. His vexation over
+this disappointment was a touching and amusing sight. Even his womankind
+derived a little secret amusement from it. His good sense told him that
+he had no business to be angry with any one, but for a few days he could
+not control his feelings—so hard was it for him to give up the hope, or
+rather the certainty, that a grandson would be born, to continue the
+famous line of Shimon. In the expectation of the happy news, he had kept
+his family tree on his bed, ready any day to enter his grandson’s name;
+but now he ordered this document to be hidden out of sight. He would not
+allow his daughter Aksinya to travel to Ufa in order to stand godmother
+to the babe; he said impatiently, "Take that journey for a girl’s
+christening? Nonsense! If she brings a girl every year, you would have
+travelling enough!" Time did its work, however, and the frown, never a
+formidable frown this time, vanished from the brow of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, as he consoled himself with the thought that he might have
+a grandson before a year was out. Then he wrote a kind and playful
+letter to his daughter-in-law, pretending to scold her for her mistake
+and bidding her present him with a grandson within a twelvemonth.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was so entirely absorbed by the revelation of
+maternity and by devotion to her child, that she did not even notice the
+signs of the old man’s displeasure, and was quite unaffected by
+Aksinya’s absence from the christening. It proved difficult to keep her
+in bed for nine days after her confinement. She felt so well and strong
+that she could have danced on the fourth day. But she had no wish to
+dance; she wanted to be on her feet day and night, attending to her
+little Parasha. The infant was feeble and sickly; the mother’s constant
+distress of body and mind had probably affected the child. The doctor
+would not allow her to nurse the child herself. Andréi Avenarius was the
+name of this doctor; he was a very clever, cultivated, and amiable man,
+an intimate friend of the young people and a daily visitor at their
+house. As soon as possible Sofya Nikolayevna took her baby to her
+father’s house, hoping that it would please the invalid to see this
+mite, and that he would find in it a resemblance to his first wife. This
+resemblance was probably imaginary; for, in my opinion, it is impossible
+for an infant to be like a grown-up person; but Sofya Nikolayevna never
+failed to assert that her first child was the very image of its
+grandmother. Old M. Zubin was approaching the end of his earthly career;
+both body and mind were breaking fast. He looked at the baby with little
+interest, and had hardly strength to sign it with the Cross. All he said
+was, "I congratulate you, Sonitchka." Sofya Nikolayevna was distressed
+by her father’s critical condition—it was more than a month since she
+had seen him—and also by his indifference to her little angel, Parasha.
+
+But soon the young mother forgot all the world around her, as she hung
+over her daughter’s cradle. All other interests and attachments grew
+pale in comparison, and she surrendered herself with a kind of frenzy to
+this new sensation. No hands but hers might touch the child. She handed
+it herself to the foster-mother and held it at the breast, and it was
+pain to her to watch it drawing life, not from its mother, but from a
+stranger. It is hard to believe, but it is true, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+admitted it herself later, that, if the child sucked too long, she used
+to take it away before it was satisfied, and rock it herself in her arms
+or in the cradle, and sing it to sleep. She saw nothing of her friends,
+not even of her dear Mme. Chichagoff. Naturally they all thought her
+eccentric or absurd and her chief intimates were vexed by her conduct.
+She paid a hasty visit every day to her father, and returned every day
+with fear in her heart that she would find the child ill. She left her
+husband perfectly free to spend his time as he liked. For some days he
+stopped at home; but his wife never stirred from the cradle and took no
+notice of him, except to turn him out of the little nursery, because she
+feared that twice-breathed air might hurt the baby. After this, he began
+to go out alone, till at last he went to some party every day; and he
+began to play cards to relieve his boredom. The Ufa ladies were amused
+at the sight of the deserted husband, and some of them flirted with him,
+saying that it was a charity to console the widower, and that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would thank them for it when she recovered from her maternal
+passion and reappeared in society. Sofya Nikolayevna did not hear of
+these good Samaritans till later; when she did, she was vexed. Mme.
+Cheprunoff, who came often to the house, watched Sofya Nikolayevna with
+astonishment, pity, and displeasure. She was a tender mother herself to
+her little boy with the one eye, but this devotion to one object and
+disregard of everything else seemed to her to border on insanity. With
+groans and sighs she struck her fists against her own body—this was a
+regular trick of hers—and said that such love was a mortal sin which God
+would punish. Sofya Nikolayevna resented this so much that she kept Mme.
+Cheprunoff out of the nursery in future. No one but Dr. Avenarius was
+admitted there, and he came pretty often. The mother was constantly
+discovering symptoms of different diseases in the child; for these she
+began by consulting Buchan’s _Domestic Medicine_, and then, when that
+did not answer, she called in Avenarius. He found it impossible to argue
+her out of her beliefs: all he could do was to prescribe harmless
+medicines. Yet the child was really feeble, and at times he was obliged
+to prescribe for it in real earnest.
+
+It is difficult to say what would have been the upshot of all this; but,
+by the inscrutable designs of Providence, a thunderbolt burst over the
+head of Sofya Nikolayevna: her adored child died suddenly. The cause of
+death was uncertain: it may have been too much care, or too much
+medicine, or too feeble a constitution; at any rate, the child
+succumbed, when four months old, to a very slight attack of a common
+childish ailment. Sofya Nikolayevna was sitting by the cradle when she
+saw the infant start and a spasm pass over the little face; she caught
+it up and found that it was dead.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna must have had a marvellous constitution to support
+this blow. For some days she knew no one and the doctors feared for her
+reason; there were three of them, Avenarius, Zanden, and Klauss; all
+three were much attached to their patient, and one of them was always
+with her. But, by God’s blessing and thanks to her youth and strength,
+that terrible time passed by. The unhappy mother recovered her senses,
+and her love for her husband, whose own distress was great, asserted
+itself for the time and saved her. On the fourth day she became
+conscious of her surroundings; she recognised Alexyéi Stepanitch, so
+changed by grief that he was hard to recognise, and her bosom friend,
+Mme. Chichagoff; a terrible cry burst from her lips and a healing flood
+of tears gushed from the eyes which had been dry till then. She silently
+embraced her husband and sobbed for long on his breast, while he sobbed
+himself like a child. The danger of insanity was past, but the
+exhaustion of her bodily strength was still alarming. For four days and
+nights she had neither eaten nor drunk, and now she could swallow no
+food nor medicine nor even water. Her condition was so critical that the
+doctors did not oppose her wish to make her confession and receive the
+sacraments. The performance of this Christian duty was beneficial to the
+patient: she slept for the first time, and, when she woke after two
+hours looking bright and happy, she told her husband that she had seen
+in her sleep a vision of Our Lady of Iberia, exactly as she was
+represented on the _ikon_ of their parish church; and she believed that,
+if she could put her lips to this _ikon_, the Mother of God would surely
+have mercy on her. The image was brought from the church, and the priest
+read the service for the Visitation of the Sick. When the choir sang, "O
+mighty Mother of God, look down in mercy on my sore bodily
+suffering!"—all present fell on their knees and repeated the words of
+the prayer. Alexyéi Stepanitch sobbed aloud; and the sufferer too shed
+tears throughout the service and pressed her lips to the image. When it
+was over, she felt so much relief that she was able to drink some water;
+and from that time she began to take food and medicine. Her two dear
+friends, Mme. Chichagoff and Mme. Cheprunoff, were with her constantly;
+she was soon pronounced out of danger, and her husband’s troubled heart
+had rest. The doctors set to work with fresh zeal to restore her
+strength, and their great anxiety was in a way dangerous to their
+patient; for one of them found traces of consumption, another of
+_marasmus_, and the third was apprehensive of an aneurysm. But
+fortunately they were unanimous on one point: the patient should go at
+once to the country, to enjoy pure air and, preferably, forest air, and
+take a course of _koumiss_. At the beginning of June it was not too late
+to drink mare’s milk, as the grass on the steppes was still fresh and in
+full growth.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch took the news of his grand-daughter’s death very
+coolly: he even said, "No reason to tear one’s hair over _that_! There
+will be plenty more girls." But when he heard later of the dangerous
+illness of Sofya Nikolayevna, the old man was much disturbed. When a
+third message came, that she was out of immediate danger but very ill,
+and that the doctors were baffled and prescribed a course of _koumiss_,
+he was exceedingly angry with the doctors: "Those bunglers murder our
+bodies," he said, "and defile our souls by making us swallow the drink
+of heathens. If a Russian is forbidden by his Church to eat horseflesh,
+then he has no business to drink the milk of the unclean animal." Then
+he added with a heavy sigh and a gesture of disgust: "I don’t like it at
+all: her life may perhaps be saved, but she will never be right again,
+and there will be no children." Stepan Mihailovitch was deeply grieved
+and remained for a long time in a state of depression.
+
+Twenty-nine _versts_ to the south-west of Ufa, on the road to Kazan,
+where the Uza falls into that noble river, the Dyoma, there lay in a
+rich valley a little Tatar village called by the Russians Alkino,
+surrounded by forests. The houses nestled in picturesque disorder at the
+foot of a hill called Bairam-Tau⁴⁹ which gave them shelter from the
+north; and another hill, Zein-Tau,⁵⁰ rose on the west. The Uza, fringed
+with bushes, flowed to the south-west; the forest-glades were fragrant
+with grasses and flowers; and, all round, oaks and limes and maples
+cleft the air and imparted to it an invigorating virtue. To this
+charming spot Alexyéi Stepanitch brought his wife, weak and pale and
+thin, a mere shadow of her old self; Avenarius, their friend and doctor,
+came with them, and they had some difficulty in getting the patient to
+the end of the journey. The owner of the village received them with
+cordial hospitality; he had a comfortable house, but Sofya Nikolayevna
+was unwilling to install herself there, and one of the outbuildings was
+cleared out for her occupation. The family were only too kind in their
+attentions to her, so that the doctor was obliged to forbid their visits
+for a time. They spoke Russian fairly well, though they professed the
+Mohammedan creed; and, though their dress and habits were then partly
+Russian and partly Tatar, _koumiss_ was their invariable drink from
+morning till night. For Sofya Nikolayevna, the health-giving beverage
+was prepared in a cleanly, civilised manner: the mare’s milk was
+fermented in a clean, new wooden bucket and not in the usual bag of raw
+horse-hide. The natives declared that _koumiss_ made in their fashion
+tasted better, and was more effective; but Sofya Nikolayevna felt an
+unconquerable aversion to the horse-hide bag. When the doctor had laid
+down rules for the cure, he went back to Ufa, leaving Alexyéi
+Stepanitch, with Parasha and Annushka, in charge of the invalid. The air
+and the _koumiss_, of which small doses were taken at first; the daily
+drives with Alexyéi Stepanitch through the forest which surrounded the
+village—Yevséitch, who was now a favourite with Sofya Nikolayevna, acted
+as coachman; the woods, where the patient lay for whole hours in the
+cool shade on a leather mattress with pillows, breathing the fragrant
+air into her lungs, listening sometimes to an entertaining book, and
+often sinking into refreshing sleep—the whole life was so beneficial to
+Sofya Nikolayevna that in a fortnight she was able to get up and could
+walk about. When Avenarius came again he was delighted by the effect of
+the _koumiss_, and increased the doses; but, as the patient could not
+endure it in large quantities, he thought it necessary to prescribe
+vigorous exercise in the form of riding on horseback. For a Russian lady
+to ride was in those days a startling novelty: Alexyéi Stepanitch did
+not like it, and Sofya Nikolayevna herself was shocked by the notion.
+Their host’s daughters presented an instructive example, for they
+constantly rode far and wide over the country on their Bashkir ponies;
+but Sofya Nikolayevna turned a deaf ear for long to all persuasions, and
+even to the entreaties of her husband, whom the doctor had speedily and
+completely convinced of the necessity of the exercise. At last the
+Chichagoffs came on a visit to Alkino, and Sofya Nikolayevna’s
+resistance was overcome by a joint effort. What appealed to her most
+strongly was the example of Mme. Chichagoff, who, in the spirit of true
+friendship, sacrificed her own prejudices and began to ride, at first
+alone, and then with the patient. This hard exercise required a change
+of diet; and fat mutton, which Sofya Nikolayevna did not like either,
+was prescribed. Avenarius probably took a hint from the habits of the
+Bashkirs and Tatars, who, while moving from place to place throughout
+the summer, drink _koumiss_ and eat hardly anything but fat mutton, not
+even bread; and they ride all day long over the broad steppes, until the
+prairie grass turns from green to grey and veils itself with a soft,
+silvery down. The treatment answered admirably. They sometimes rode out
+in a large party with the sons and daughters of their host. There was a
+potash factory which they sometimes visited, about two _versts_ from
+Alkino, situated in the depth of the forest and on the bank of a stream;
+and Sofya Nikolayevna looked with interest at the iron cauldrons full of
+burning wood-ash, the wooden troughs in which the dross was deposited,
+and the furnaces in which the product was refined and converted into
+porous white lumps of the vegetable salt called "potash." She admired
+the rapidity with which the work was carried on, and the activity of the
+Tatars, whose skull-caps were a novelty to her, and also the long shirts
+which came down to their feet and yet left them free command of their
+limbs. In general her hosts were very kind, and tried to amuse their
+guest by making the natives sing and dance before her, or wrestle, or
+run races on horseback.
+
+  ⁴⁹ Hill of Feasting.
+
+  ⁵⁰ Hill of Meeting.
+
+At first Alexyéi Stepanitch was always present at these expeditions and
+entertainments; but, when he ceased to feel anxious about his wife’s
+health, and saw her surrounded by troops of attentive friends, he began
+by degrees to find some time on his hands. Country life and country air,
+with the beauty of that landscape, roused in him a desire for his old
+amusements. He made fishing-lines and began to angle for the wily trout
+in the clear mountain streams round Alkino; and he went out sometimes to
+catch quails with a net. Theodore, Parasha’s young husband, was a
+capital hand at this sport and could make pipes to decoy the birds. With
+sportsmen in general, netting for quails does not rank high; but really
+I do not know why they despise it. To lie on the fragrant meadow grass
+with your net hanging in front of you on the tall stalks; to hear the
+quails calling beside you and at a distance; to imitate their low, sweet
+note on the pipe; to hear the excited birds reply and watch them run, or
+even fly, from all sides towards you; to watch their curious antics, and
+to get excited yourself over the success or failure of your strategy—all
+this gave me much pleasure at one time, and even now I cannot recall it
+with indifference. But it was impossible to make this pleasure
+intelligible to Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+In two months she was well on the way to recovery: her face filled out,
+and a bright colour began to play again upon her cheeks. When Avenarius
+paid a third visit, he was entirely satisfied; and he had a perfect
+right to triumph; for he was the first to prescribe _koumiss_ and
+directed the treatment himself. He had always been attached to his
+patient; and now that he had succeeded in saving her life, he loved her
+like a daughter.
+
+Alexyéi Stepanitch sent a weekly bulletin to his father at Bagrovo.
+Stepan Mihailovitch was glad to hear that his daughter-in-law was
+getting better; but of course he disbelieved in the healing power of the
+_koumiss_, and was very angry about the riding, which they were rash
+enough to mention in writing to him. His wife and daughters made use of
+this opportunity, and the sneering remarks, which they let fall on
+purpose in the course of conversation, worked him up to such a pitch
+that he wrote his son a rather offensive letter which gave pain to Sofya
+Nikolayevna. But, when he was convinced that his daughter-in-law had
+quite recovered and had even grown stout, pleasing hopes began to stir
+again in his breast, and he grew reconciled in some degree to the
+_koumiss_ and the riding.
+
+The young Bagroffs returned to Ufa at the beginning of autumn. Old M.
+Zubin was very far gone by that time, and his daughter’s wonderful
+recovery produced no sort of impression on him. All his earthly business
+was done, and all ties broken; every thread that held him to life was
+severed, and the soul could hardly find shelter in the disruption of the
+body.
+
+The normal course of relations between the young couple had been, so to
+speak, arrested in its development by a number of events: first, by the
+birth of the child and the mother’s extravagant devotion to it; then, by
+the child’s death which nearly deprived the mother of her reason and her
+life; and, finally, by the long course of treatment and residence in the
+Tatar village. In the stormy season of her distress and sickness, Sofya
+Nikolayevna had ever before her eyes the genuine love and self-sacrifice
+of her husband. At that time there were none of those collisions, which
+constantly occur at ordinary times between ill-matched characters; and,
+even if there were occasions for such misunderstandings, they passed
+unnoticed. When gold is in circulation, small change is of little
+importance. In exceptional circumstances and critical moments, nothing
+but gold passes; but the daily expenditure of uneventful life is mainly
+carried on with small change. Now Alexyéi Stepanitch, though he was not
+poor in gold, was often hard up for small change. When a man, if he sees
+distress and danger threatening the health and life of one whom he
+loves, himself suffers in every fibre of his being; when he forgets
+sleep and food and himself altogether; when the nerves are strung up and
+the moral nature uplifted—at such times there is no room for small
+exactions, no room for small services and attentions. But when the time
+of tragic events has gone by, everything quiets down again; the nerves
+are relaxed and the spirit contracts; the material life of flesh and
+blood asserts itself, in all its triviality; habits resume their lost
+power; and then comes the turn of those exactions and demands we spoke
+of, the turn of small services and polite attentions and all the other
+trifles which make up the web of actual ordinary life. Time will again
+apply the test and bring back the necessity of self-sacrifice; but
+meanwhile life runs on without a stop in the ordinary groove, and its
+peace and adornment and pleasure—what we call happiness, in fact—is made
+up entirely of trivial things, of small change.
+
+For these reasons, when Sofya Nikolayevna began to recover and Alexyéi
+Stepanitch ceased to fear for her life and health, there began by
+degrees to reappear, on one side, the old exacting temper, and, on the
+other side, the old incapacity to satisfy its demands. Gentle reproaches
+and expostulations had become tiresome to the husband, and fierce
+explosions frightened him. Fear at once banished perfect frankness, and
+loss of frankness between husband and wife, especially in the less
+assertive and independent of the two, leads straight to the destruction
+of domestic happiness. After the return to Ufa, this evil would probably
+have grown worse in the trivial, idle atmosphere of town life; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna’s father was now actually dying, and his sad, suffering
+condition banished all other anxieties and monopolised his daughter’s;
+thoughts and feelings. Obedient to the law of her moral nature, she gave
+herself up without reserves to her duty as a daughter. Thus the process
+which was unveiling every corner of their domestic life, was again
+brought to a standstill. Sofya Nikolayevna spent her days and nights
+with her father. Nikolai, as before, waited on his sick master, nursing
+him with wonderful devotion and indefatigable care; and, as before, he
+kept out of sight of Sofya; Nikolayevna, though he had now the right and
+the power to appear before her with impunity. Touched by his behaviour,
+she had sent for him; a reconciliation took place, and she gave him
+leave to be present with her in the sick-room. The dying man, in spite
+of his apparent insensibility to all around him, noticed this change: he
+pressed his daughter’s hand in his feeble grasp, and said in a hardly
+audible whisper, "I thank you." Sofya Nikolayevna never left her father
+after this time.
+
+I said that when Stepan Mihailovitch received the good news of his
+daughter-in-law’s recovery, fond hopes awoke once more in his breast.
+They were not disappointed: before long Sofya Nikolayevna wrote to him
+herself, that she hoped, if God was good to her, to give birth to a son,
+to be the comfort of his old age. At the instant Stepan Mihailovitch was
+overjoyed, but he soon controlled his feelings and hid his happiness
+from his womankind. Perhaps it occurred to him that this second child
+might be a daughter, that Sofya Nikolayevna and the doctors between them
+might kill it too with too much love and too much medicine, and that the
+mother might lose her health over again; or perhaps Stepan Mihailovitch
+was like many other people, who deliberately prophesy calamities with a
+secret hope that fortune will reverse their prognostications. He
+pretended that he was not in the least glad, and said coolly: "No, no!
+I’m too old a bird to look at _that_ chaff. When the thing happens, it
+will be time enough to believe it and rejoice over it." His family were
+surprised to hear him speak so, and said nothing in reply. But, as a
+matter of fact, the old man for some unknown reason became convinced
+once more in his heart that he would have a grandson: he gave
+instructions again to Father Vassili to repeat in church the prayer for
+"women labouring of child"; and he fished out once more the family tree
+from its hiding-place, and kept it always beside him.
+
+Meanwhile M. Zubin’s last hour on earth came quietly on. He had suffered
+much for many years; it seemed hardly natural that life should linger on
+in a body which had lost all force and motion; and the ending of such a
+bare and pitiful existence could distress no one. Even Sofya Nikolayevna
+had only one prayer—that her father’s soul might depart in peace. And
+there _was_ peace, and even happiness, at the moment of death. The face
+of the dying man lit up suddenly, and this expression remained long upon
+the features, though the eyes were shut and the body had grown cold. The
+funeral was a solemn and splendid ceremony. M. Zubin had once been very
+popular; but he had become forgotten by degrees, and sympathy for his
+suffering had become gradually weaker. But now, when the news of his
+death flew round the town, old memories revived and evoked a fresh
+feeling of love and pity for him. On the day of his funeral every house
+was empty, and all the population of Ufa lined the streets between the
+Church of the Assumption and the cemetery. May he rest in peace! If he
+had the weakness of human nature, he had also its goodness.
+
+After M. Zubin’s death, guardians were appointed for the children of his
+two marriages; and Alexyéi Stepanitch became guardian of his wife’s two
+brothers, who, before finishing their education at the Moscow
+boarding-school, were summoned to Petersburg to enter the Guards. I
+forgot to mention that M. Zubin, shortly before his death, was
+successful in obtaining for Alexyéi Stepanitch his promotion to a higher
+office at the law-courts.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna wept and prayed for a long time, and Alexyéi
+Stepanitch wept and prayed at her side; but those tears and prayers were
+not painful or violent and had no ill effect on the recently restored
+health of Sofya Nikolayevna. Her husband’s entreaties and the advice of
+her friends and doctors prevailed with her, and she began to take care
+of herself and to pay due attention to her condition. They convinced her
+that the health and even the life of the unborn child depended on the
+state of her own health and spirits. Their arguments were confirmed by
+bitter experience, and she resolutely submitted to all that was required
+of her. When her father-in-law wrote to her and expressed in simple
+words his sympathy with her loss and his fear that she might again
+injure her own health by excess of grief, she sent a very reassuring
+letter in reply; and she did in fact attend carefully to her bodily
+health and composure of mind. A regular but not monotonous plan of life
+was laid down. The two doctors, Klauss—who was becoming very intimate
+with the Bagroffs—and Avenarius, made her go out every day before
+dinner, and sometimes on foot; and each evening they had an
+unceremonious party of pleasant people at home, or went out themselves,
+generally to the Chichagoffs’ house. Mme. Chichagoff’s brothers became
+great friends of the Bagroffs, especially the younger, Dmitri, who asked
+that, when the time came, he might stand godfather. Both brothers were
+well-bred men and well-educated, according to the standards of the time;
+and they came often to the house and passed the time there with
+pleasure. In the Bagroffs’ house, reading aloud was a favourite
+occupation. But, as no one can read or listen to reading without
+intervals, Sofya Nikolayevna was taught to play cards. Klauss took the
+chief part in initiating her into this science; and, whenever the
+Bagroffs were alone of an evening, he never failed to make up their
+table. Avenarius could not take part in this pastime, because he never
+in his life knew the difference between the five and the ace.
+
+Spring set in early that year, but in all its beauty. The ice on the
+Byélaya broke up, and the blocks were carried down by the stream; the
+river broke its banks and spread till it was six _versts_ across. The
+whole of this expanse could be clearly seen from the windows of the
+Bagroffs’ little house; their orchard burst into leaf and flower, and
+the fragrance of bird-cherries and apple-blossom filled the air. They
+used this orchard as a drawing-room, and the warm weather did good to
+Sofya Nikolayevna and made her stronger.
+
+At this time an event happened at Ufa which caused a great sensation
+there and was especially interesting to the young Bagroffs, because the
+hero of the story was an intimate friend of theirs, and, if I am not
+mistaken, distantly related to Alexyéi Stepanitch. Sofya Nikolayevna, as
+one would expect from her character, took a lively interest in such a
+romantic affair. A young man, named Timásheff, one of the most prominent
+and richest nobles of the district, fell in love with a Tatar girl, the
+daughter of a rich Tatar landowner. Her family, just like the Alkins,
+had altered their way of living to a certain extent in conformity with
+European customs, and they spoke Russian well; but they strictly
+observed the Moslem faith in all its purity. The beautiful Salmé
+returned the love of the handsome Russian officer, who was a captain in
+the regiment stationed near Ufa. As she could not be married to a
+Russian without changing her religion, it was perfectly certain that her
+parents and grown-up brothers would never give their consent to such a
+union. Salmé struggled long against her love, and love burns more
+fiercely in the hearts of women of Asia. At last, as is the rule in such
+cases, Mahomet was defeated, and Salmé made up her mind to elope with
+her lover, meaning to be baptised first and then married. The commander
+of Timásheff’s regiment was General Mansúroff, a universal favourite and
+the kindest of men, who gained distinction afterwards when he crossed
+"The Devil’s Bridge" in the Alps with Suvóroff. He had lately married
+for love himself, and he knew and sympathised with Timásheff’s
+enterprise, and promised to take the lovers under his protection. One
+dark, rainy night Salmé sallied forth from her father’s house, and found
+Timásheff waiting for her in a wood close by with a pair of
+saddle-horses; they had to gallop about 100 _versts_ to reach Ufa. Salmé
+was a skilful rider; every ten or fifteen _versts_ they found fresh
+horses, guarded by soldiers of Timásheff’s regiment; he was very popular
+with his men. Thus the fugitives flew along "on the wings of love," as a
+poet of that day would infallibly have said. Meanwhile Salmé’s absence
+was quickly noticed: her passion for Timásheff had long been suspected,
+and a strict watch was kept over her movements. A band of armed Tatars
+assembled instantly, and followed the enraged father⁵¹ and brothers in
+furious pursuit of the lovers, uttering fierce shouts and threats of
+vengeance. They took the right track and would probably have captured
+the fugitives—at any rate blood would have been spilt, because a number
+of soldiers, eagerly interested in the affair, were posted at different
+points along the road—had not the pursuit been delayed by a stratagem.
+The bridge over a deep and dangerous river was broken down behind the
+lovers; and the Tatars were forced to swim across, and thus lost some
+two hours. Even so, the boat which carried Timásheff and Salmé across
+the Byélaya under the walls of Ufa, had hardly reached mid-stream, when
+the old Tatar galloped up to the bank, attended by his sons and half of
+his faithful company; the other half had stopped when their horses fell
+dead under them. A whole regiment of Russian soldiers were in possession
+of all the punts and ferry-boats, on the pretence of crossing to the
+town. The unhappy father gnashed his teeth in fury, cursed his daughter,
+and rode off home. Half dead with weariness and fear, Salmé was placed
+in a carriage and taken to the house of Timásheff’s mother. The affair
+now assumed a legal and official character: here was a Mahometan woman
+asking of her own free will to be received into the Christian Church,
+and the authorities of the town took her under their protection,
+informed the _mufti_, who lived at Ufa and was always called "the Tatar
+bishop," of all that had passed, and called upon him to stop the injured
+family or any other Mahometans from all attempts to recover by violence
+a person who had deliberately preferred the Christian faith. In a few
+days the clergy prepared the convert to receive the sacraments of
+baptism and unction. The rite was celebrated with great pomp in the
+Cathedral: Salmé was christened Seraphima, and immediately afterwards,
+without leaving the church, the young lovers were married. All Ufa was
+interested in the affair. The young people and all the men naturally
+stood up for the beautiful Salmé; but the women, some of whom, perhaps,
+had personal reasons for disappointment, judged her conduct severely.
+Very few stretched out the hand of sincere friendship to the convert,
+whom her husband’s station admitted to the inner circle of Ufa society.
+The young couple had no warmer sympathisers than Sofya Nikolayevna and
+Alexyéi Stepanitch; and they were actively assisted by the wife of
+General Mansúroff, an amiable young woman whose maiden name was
+Bulgákoff. Before long the Timásheffs had a firm footing in their new
+sphere. The bride’s education was taken in hand; she had much natural
+ability, and soon became a success in society, where she aroused both
+sympathy and envy, due in some degree to her beauty and the peculiarity
+of her position. Sofya Nikolayevna kept up a steady friendship with
+Seraphima Timásheff till death divided them. To the general regret, Mme.
+Timásheff died of consumption three years after her marriage. She left
+two sons; her husband nearly went out of his mind with grief; he left
+the Army, gave up his life to the care of his children, and never
+married again. It was currently reported, though I cannot vouch for the
+truth of the reports, that her illness and death were due to secret
+pining after the kinsfolk she had abandoned and remorse for her change
+of religion.
+
+  ⁵¹ Another version of the story tells that the mother led the pursuit.
+     (_Author’s note_.)
+
+These events did nothing to arrest the quick flight of time. The day
+came when Sofya Nikolayevna was forbidden to go out to parties, or even
+to take drives in the country. In fine weather she walked up and down
+the garden for half an hour twice a day; if it was wet, she opened all
+the doors in the house and followed the same routine under cover. It is
+probable that all this seclusion and strict regimen did more harm than
+good; yet my opinion is contradicted by the facts, for Sofya Nikolayevna
+was in perfect health. Alexyéi Stepanitch found it necessary to let the
+doctors have their way; for he was constantly receiving instructions
+from his father to watch over his wife like the apple of his eye. Her
+friends also, and especially the doctors who felt a strong personal
+attachment for her, kept such a close watch on Sofya Nikolayevna that
+she could neither take a step nor swallow a morsel or drink a drop
+without their permission. As Avenarius had to leave the town on some
+official business, it fell on Klauss, who was the other leading lady’s
+doctor at Ufa, to undertake the personal supervision of her health.
+Klauss was a German, a very kind man, clever and well-educated, but
+singularly grotesque in his appearance. Though he was still of middle
+age, he wore a bright yellow wig; and people asked where he could have
+got human hair of a colour never beheld on any human head; his eyebrows
+also were yellowish, and so were the whites of his small brown eyes; but
+his face, which was round and rather small, was as red as burning coal.
+His habits in society were very odd: though he liked kissing the hands
+of ladies, he would never allow himself to be kissed on the cheek,
+maintaining that it was a gross breach of manners on the part of a man
+to permit such a greeting. He had a great fondness for small children
+which he showed in this way: he took the child on his knees, placed its
+hand on the palm of his own left hand and stroked it for hours at a time
+with his right hand. His special favourites he constantly addressed as
+"Monster!" or "Turk!"—and Sofya Nikolayevna naturally came in for her
+share of these endearments.⁵²
+
+  ⁵² Klauss became lecturer on midwifery in the Foundling Hospital at
+     Moscow in 1791, and died in 1821 after the conscientious discharge
+     of his duties for thirty years. He never left off the yellow wig.
+     He was an enthusiastic and well-known numismatist. (_Author’s
+     note._)
+
+Owing to his intimacy with the young Bagroffs, Klauss knew all about
+Stepan Mihailovitch—his eager desire for a grandson, and the impatience
+with which he was awaiting the event. As Klauss wrote Russian well, he
+wrote out a forecast, for whose accuracy he vouched, in a distinct
+handwriting for the old man’s benefit: he foretold that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would give birth to a son between the 15th and 22nd of
+September. When the forecast was sent to Stepan Mihailovitch, "German
+liar!" was his only comment; but in his heart he believed it; for his
+excitement and joy could be seen in his face and heard in every word he
+spoke. About this time, our old acquaintance, Afrosinya Andréyevna, paid
+him a visit at Bagrovo. He let her see more than others of his main
+anxiety, that he might have another grand-daughter; and she told him
+that, when passing through Moscow, she had gone to Trinity Church there,
+to say her prayers to St. Sergius; and there she heard that some
+well-known lady, the mother of several daughters, had taken a vow that
+if her next child was a boy, it should be christened Serghéi; and she
+did give birth to a son before the year was out. Stepan Mihailovitch
+said nothing at the time; but he wrote a letter himself to his son and
+daughter-in-law by the next post, expressing his desire that they should
+say prayers in church to St. Sergius the Wonder-worker, and take a vow
+to call their child Serghéi if it were a boy. In explanation of his wish
+he added: "There has never yet been a Serghéi in the Bagroff family."
+These instructions were carried out to the letter. Sofya Nikolayevna
+spared no pains to provide everything that a careful mother could think
+of for her expected child; above all, an admirable foster-mother was
+found at Kasimofka, one of the villages that had belonged to her father.
+Márya Vassilyevna, a peasant woman, had every qualification for her
+office that one could wish for; and she was perfectly willing to
+undertake the duty, and moved to Ufa in good time, bringing her own
+infant with her.
+
+The crisis was now approaching. By this time Sofya Nikolayevna was
+forbidden to walk. Catherine Chichagoff was kept to her own house by
+ill-health, and no other visitors were admitted. But Mme. Cheprunoff was
+constantly with her cousin, never leaving her except to see her own
+beloved little boy, Andrusha. Klauss came to breakfast every morning,
+and again for tea, which he drank with rum in it, in the evening; then
+he played cards with husband and wife; and, as the stakes were too small
+to buy cards with, the prudent German procured some used packs which he
+brought with him. Reading sometimes took the place of cards, and Klauss
+was present on these occasions. Alexyéi Stepanitch, who had gained some
+experience and skill in the art, was the regular reader; and sometimes
+Klauss brought a German book and translated it aloud, which gave
+pleasure to his hearers, especially to Sofya Nikolayevna, who wished to
+get some knowledge, if only a smattering, of German literature.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had experienced already the absorbing and unlimited
+power of maternal affection, the strongest of all our feelings, and she
+was filled with awe by her present condition. She accepted it as a
+sacred duty to maintain mental composure, and so to preserve the health
+of her unborn infant and secure its existence, on which depended all her
+hopes, all her future, and all her life. We know Sofya Nikolayevna
+pretty well already; we know how apt she was to be carried away; and
+therefore we shall not be surprised to hear that she gave herself up
+wholly to her feeling for the child she bore. Every hour of the day and
+night was devoted to the task of taking care of herself in all possible
+ways. Her mind and her thoughts were so entirely concentrated upon this
+one object that she noticed nothing else and was, apparently, quite
+satisfied with her husband, though it is probable that things happened
+which might have made her dissatisfied. The more Alexyéi Stepanitch got
+to know his wife, the more she surprised him. He was a man singularly
+unable to appreciate excessive display of feeling, or to sympathise with
+it, from whatever object it arose. Thus his wife’s power of passionate
+devotion frightened him; he dreaded it, just as he used to dread his
+father’s furious fits of anger. Excessive feeling always produces an
+unpleasant impression upon quiet unemotional people; they cannot
+recognise such a state of mind to be natural, and regard it as a kind of
+morbid condition which some persons are liable to at times. They
+disbelieve in the permanence of a mental composure which may break down
+at any moment; and they are afraid of people with such a temperament.
+And fear is fatal to love, even to a child’s love for his parents. In
+general I must say that, in point of mutual understanding and sympathy,
+the relations between Alexyéi Stepanitch and his wife, instead of
+becoming closer, as might have been expected, grew less intimate. This
+may seem strange, but it often happens thus in life.
+
+Just at this time Klauss was transferred to an official post at Moscow.
+He had already taken leave of his colleagues and all his acquaintance;
+and he waited on solely with a view to Sofya Nikolayevna’s confinement,
+hoping to be of service to her in case of necessity. He calculated that
+he might be able to get away on the 17th or 18th of September, and hired
+horses for that date. Hiring was necessary, because he intended to break
+his journey to visit a German friend, who lived at some distance from
+the post-road, so that the coach would not serve his purpose. The 15th
+of September passed, but the expected event did not take place. Sofya
+Nikolayevna felt better and more enterprising than usual; and it was
+only the pedantry of the doctor, she said, that kept her to the sofa.
+When the 16th, 17th, and 18th had all gone by, the German, in spite of
+his love for Sofya Nikolayevna, got very angry, because he had to pay a
+_rouble_ a day to the driver he had hired—a terribly high price,
+according to the ideas of those days; and the Bagroffs bantered him
+about this in a friendly way. The reading and card-playing went on every
+evening; and if the doctor won 60 _kopecks_⁵³ from his hosts, he was
+much pleased, and said that his driver would not cost him much _that_
+day. The 19th passed off with no change. On the 20th, when Klauss came
+in the morning, Sofya Nikolayevna stood at her bedroom door and greeted
+him with a curtsey. He got very angry: "Monster!" he said, "you are
+treating me abominably"; but he kissed as usual the hand she held out to
+him. "It is too bad, Alexyéi Stepanitch," he went on; "your wife is
+ruining me. Her baby ought to have been born on the 15th, and here she
+is, dropping curtseys on the 20th!" "Never mind, my dear fellow," said
+Alexyéi Stepanitch, patting him on the shoulder; "you must rob us at
+cards to-night. But the packs are nearly worn out." Klauss promised to
+bring a new pack; he lunched there, and, after sitting on till two
+o’clock, took his leave. He called again at six in the evening, punctual
+to the minute. Finding no one in the hall, or parlour, or drawing-room,
+he tried to get into the bedroom, but the door was locked; he knocked,
+and it was opened by Mme. Cheprunoff. The doctor went in and stood dumb
+with astonishment. The floor of the room was covered with rugs; green
+silk curtains hung by the windows, and a fine silk canopy over the
+double bed; a candle, shaded by a book, was burning in a corner; and in
+the bed, resting on embroidered pillows and wearing a dainty, easy
+morning wrapper, lay Sofya Nikolayevna. Her face looked fresh, and her
+eyes were radiant with happiness. "Congratulate me, my dear friend!" she
+said in a strong, audible voice; "I am the happy mother of a son!" The
+doctor, when he looked at her face and heard her voice, took the whole
+thing to be a mystification and a hoax. "Monster! don’t try to play
+tricks on so old a bird as I am!" he said. "Better get up; I have
+brought a new pack of cards. It will be a present for the baby," he
+added, coming up to the bed and shoving the cards under a pillow. "My
+dear friend," said Sofya Nikolayevna, "I swear to you I have got a son!
+Look at him; there he is!" And there, resting on a large down-pillow
+trimmed with lace, and wrapped in a pink velvet coverlet, he really saw
+a newborn infant, a strong boy; and Alyona Maksimovna, the midwife, was
+standing near the bed.
+
+  ⁵³ 1 _rouble_ = 100 _kopecks_.
+
+The doctor flew into a furious rage. He sprang back from the bed as if
+he had burnt himself, and roared out, "What! in my absence! after my
+staying on here for a week and losing money every day, you did not send
+for me!" His face turned from red to purple, his wig came half off, and
+his whole stumpy figure looked so ridiculous that the lady in the bed
+burst out laughing. Then the midwife tried to soothe him: "_Batyushka_,"
+she said, "we had no time to think of anything at the moment; then, when
+we had got things straight, we meant to send for your Honour, but Sofya
+Nikolayevna said you would be here at once." The worthy man soon
+recovered from his vexation; tears of joy started to his eyes; he caught
+hold of the infant in his practised hands and began to examine it by the
+candle-light, turning it round and feeling it till it squalled loudly.
+Then he thrust a finger into its mouth, and, when the infant began to
+suck lustily, the doctor was pleased and called out, "How fine and
+healthy he is, the little Turk!" Sofya Nikolayevna was frightened when
+she saw her priceless treasure so freely handed; and the midwife tried
+to take it from him, fearing it would be "overlooked." But Klauss was
+inexorable: he ran about the room, holding the child, and called for a
+tub of warm water with a sponge and some soap, and a binder. Then he
+turned back his sleeves, tied on an apron, threw down his wig, and began
+to wash the babe, talking to it like this: "Ah, my little Turk, that
+stops your crying; you like the feel of the warm water!"
+
+Then Alexyéi Stepanitch hurried into the room, almost beside himself
+with joy. He had been dispatching a special messenger to carry the good
+news to Stepan Mihailovitch, and writing letters to his parents; and
+there was a separate letter for his sister Aksinya, begging her to come
+as soon as possible and stand godmother to his son. Before the doctor
+had time to dry himself, the happy father embraced him till he nearly
+choked him; he had already exchanged greetings with every one in the
+house, and many tears of joy had been shed. And Sofya Nikolayevna—but,
+what _she_ felt, I dare not try to express in words: her bliss was such
+as few on earth ever feel and no one can feel for long.
+
+The event produced extraordinary rejoicing within the house, and even
+the neighbours shared in it. The intoxication of joy was prolonged by
+liquor; and soon all the servants were singing and dancing in the court.
+Some who never drank at other times now took a drop too much; and one of
+these was Yevséitch. They found it impossible to control him: he was
+always begging to go to his mistress’s bedroom to see the little son. At
+last his wife, with Parasha’s help, tied him tightly to a heavy bench;
+and even then he went on kicking out his legs, cracking his fingers, and
+attempting to articulate the chorus of a song.
+
+Tired out by his exertions and by joyful excitement, Klauss at last sat
+down in an armchair and much enjoyed a cup of tea. He was somewhat too
+liberal with the rum that evening, and felt a buzzing in his head after
+the third cup. So he gave instructions that the baby was to have no milk
+but only syrup of rhubarb till the morning, and took leave of his happy
+host and hostess. He kissed the baby’s hand, promised to call early the
+next morning, and went off to spend the night at his own house. As he
+passed through the court, he saw the dancing, and the sound of singing
+came from every window of the kitchen and servants’ quarter. He stood
+still; and, though he was sorry to interfere with the good people’s
+merriment, yet he advised them to stop their singing and dancing,
+because their mistress needed rest. To his surprise, they all took his
+hint and lay down at once, intending to sleep. As he passed out of the
+gate he muttered to himself: "Well, he’s a lucky child! How glad they
+all are to have him!"
+
+And it is really true that this child was born under a happy star. His
+mother, who had suffered constantly before her former confinement, had
+perfect health before his birth; his parents lived in peace together
+during those halcyon days; a foster-mother was found for him who proved
+to be more devoted than most real mothers; he was the answer to prayers
+and the object of fond desires, and the joy over his coming into the
+world spread far beyond his parents. The very day of his birth, though
+the season was autumn, was warm as summer.
+
+But what happened at Bagrovo, when the good news came that God had given
+a son and heir to Alexyéi Stepanitch? This is what happened at Bagrovo.
+From the 15th of September, Stepan Mihailovitch counted the days and
+hours, and waited for the special messenger from Ufa. The man had been
+told to gallop day and night with relays of horses. This method of
+travelling was new, and Stepan Mihailovitch disapproved of it as a
+foolish waste of money and an unnecessary tax on the country people. He
+preferred to use his own horses; but the importance and solemnity of
+this occasion made him depart from his regular practice. Fortune did not
+keep him in suspense too long: on the 22nd of September, when he was
+sleeping after dinner, the messenger arrived, bearing letters and the
+good news. The old man woke from a sound sleep, and had hardly had time
+to stretch himself and clear his throat when Mazan rushed into the room
+and, stammering with joyful excitement, got out the words, "A grandson,
+_batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch! Hearty congratulations!"
+
+The first movement of Stepan Mihailovitch was to cross himself. Then he
+sprang out of bed, went barefoot to his desk, snatched from it the
+family tree, took the pen from the ink-bottle, drew a line from the
+circle containing the name Alexyéi, traced a fresh circle at the end of
+the line, and wrote in the centre of the circle, "_Serghéi_."
+
+                                  ————
+
+Farewell! my figures, bright or dark, my people, good or bad—I should
+rather say, figures that have their bright and dark sides, and people
+who have both virtues and vices. You are not great heroes, not imposing
+personalities; you trod your path on earth in silence and obscurity, and
+it is long, very long, since you left it. But you were men and women,
+and your inward and outward life was not mere dull prose, but as
+interesting and instructive to us as we and our life in turn will be
+interesting and instructive to our descendants. You were actors in that
+mighty drama which mankind has played on this earth since time
+immemorial; you played your parts as conscientiously as others, and you
+deserve as well to be remembered. By the mighty power of the pen and of
+print, your descendants have now been made acquainted with you.⁵⁴ They
+have greeted you with sympathy and recognised you as brothers, whenever
+and however you lived, and whatever clothes you wore. May no harsh
+judgment and no flippant tongue ever wrong your memory!
+
+  ⁵⁴ This work first appeared in parts in a Moscow magazine. When they
+     were collected in a book, this epilogue was added.
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                  ————
+
+                               PRINTED BY
+
+                   WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
+
+                           LONDON AND BECCLES
+
+                                  ————
+
+                          _By SERGE AKSAKOFF_.
+
+                           YEARS OF CHILDHOOD
+
+                           By SERGE AKSAKOFF.
+
+    Translated, for the first time, from the Russian by J. D. DUFF,
+                 Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
+
+                       _Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net._
+
+                                  ————
+
+"We are grateful to Mr. Duff for translating for the first time into
+English this remarkable book. ’Years of Childhood’ becomes the more
+fascinating the more one reads and thinks about it. Aksakoff read a new
+and ecstatic meaning into things which are banal and tame to most men
+and women, and the eager eye of his mind scanned deep into the lives and
+loves of the people round about him."—_Morning Post._
+
+"Serge Aksakoff holds a distinct and, one might say, delightful position
+in Russian literature. He placed himself, almost without an effort, in
+the ranks of the great masters of his nation by instinctively obeying
+the precept that men of letters should look in their own hearts and
+write. One can hardly thank the translator sufficiently for this first
+rendering of the book in any other language than Russian."—_The Times._
+
+"English readers may well be grateful to Mr. J. D. Duff for his
+translation of a very unusual book. He promises us a translation of ’A
+Family History,’ which carries on the narrative of Aksakoff’s life and
+gives some account of his family. In the original the two make one book,
+and all who read this first instalment will welcome the completion of
+it."—_Spectator._
+
+"A book of rare charm."—_Observer._
+
+"Mr. Duff, with this admirable rendering, has unearthed a treasure for
+the English reader. Let us hope that the other portion of these memoirs
+will appear without delay. For this is Russia herself—convincingly real
+and intimate." —_English Review._
+
+"Apart from its great artistic value, Aksakoff’s work has the
+attractiveness that belongs to all origins. What Mr. Maurice Baring once
+said, that the story of Aksakoff’s memoirs is as vivid and interesting
+as any novel, is quite true. And it is not only true but remarkable; for
+reminiscences, especially of childhood, do not usually have the sort of
+interest that a novel has, however vivid they may be.... The fact is,
+Aksakoff succeeded in solving perhaps the hardest problem in
+literature,—the problem of working a child’s consciousness as a medium
+for all it is worth. The book has, for us, this advantage over the other
+major works of Russian literature, that it has found in Mr. Duff a
+translator who is not only a scholar, but an artist skilful enough never
+to force the note for a moment." —_New Statesman._
+
+"A charming Russian book. At this time when so many translations from
+the Russian are appearing, well advised and ill advised, it is good to
+be able to put the hand on one superlatively good book. Here is a
+refreshment for tired eyes and tired souls. It is put into beautiful
+English, and the book can be read aloud with much profit and
+pleasure."—_Country Life._
+
+"Of an extraordinary richness and novelty."—_Westminster Gazette._
+
+                         LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Russian Gentleman, by S. T. (Sergei
+Timofeevich) Aksakov, Translated by J. D. Duff
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: A Russian Gentleman
+
+
+Author: S. T. (Sergei Timofeevich) Aksakov
+
+
+
+Release Date: February 6, 2012  [eBook #38781]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Hunter Monroe and the Online Distributed Proofreading
+Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by
+Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)
+
+
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      http://www.archive.org/details/russiangentleman00aksauoft
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      In Footnote 1, [=a] and [)a] are used to denote that the
+      letters have, respectively, a macron and a breve over them
+      in the original book.
+
+
+
+
+
+A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+----
+
+_UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME_
+
+1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._ net
+A RUSSIAN SCHOOLBOY
+
+1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._ net
+YEARS OF CHILDHOOD
+
+BY
+SERGE AKSAKOFF
+
+Translated from the Russian by
+J. D. DUFF
+FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
+
+LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD
+
+----
+
+
+A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+by
+
+SERGE AKSAKOFF
+
+Translated from the Russian by J. D. Duff
+
+Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
+
+SECOND IMPRESSION
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+London
+Edward Arnold
+1917
+
+All rights reserved
+
+
+
+----
+
+TO J. F. D.
+
+----
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
+
+
+Serge Aksakoff,[1] the author of this Russian classic, was born at Ufa,
+in the district of Orenburg, on September 20, 1791. His father held some
+office in the law-court of the town, and his grandfather lived in the
+country as the owner of large estates, to which Aksakoff ultimately
+succeeded. His grandfather had migrated about 1760 from Simbirsk to Ufa,
+where the population consisted mainly of Tatars and a number of Finnish
+tribes--Mordvinians, Choovashes, and others.
+
+ [1] The name is pronounced Aks[=a]koff, not Aks[)a]koff, and his
+     birthplace is called by Russians _Oo-f�_, not _Y�w-fa_.
+
+Aksakoff was educated at Kazan, and entered the Civil Service in 1808.
+After serving in many different capacities--he was censor of the Press
+at Moscow for some years--he retired in 1839 and devoted himself
+exclusively to literature. He married in 1816; and his two sons,
+Constantine and Ivan, both played a conspicuous part in the public life
+of Russia. He died at Moscow, after a long and painful illness, on April
+30, 1859.
+
+His high and secure place among Russian writers Aksakoff owes to three
+works--his _Years of Childhood_ and _Recollections_, which are
+autobiography, and his _Family History_, which is here translated under
+the title of _A Russian Gentleman_. This is his most famous work: his
+portrait of his grandfather is his masterpiece, and his descriptions of
+his parents' courtship and marriage are as vivid and minute as his
+pictures of his own early childhood.
+
+He began to write this book soon after his retirement from the public
+service. Portions of it were published in a Moscow magazine in 1846; and
+the whole work appeared, with the addition of a short Epilogue, in 1856.
+He published _Recollections_ in the same volume; and _Years of
+Childhood_--which should have preceded _Recollections_--followed in
+1858, the last year of his life.
+
+_A Russian Gentleman_ seems a suitable title for this book, because the
+whole scene, in which a multitude of characters appear, is entirely
+dominated and permeated by the tremendous personality of Aksakoff's
+grandfather, Stepan Mihailovitch. Plain and rough in his appearance and
+habits, but proud of his long descent; hardly able to read or write, but
+full of natural intelligence; capable of furious anger and extreme
+violence in his anger, but equally capable of steadfast and even
+chivalrous affection; a born leader of men and the very incarnation of
+truth, honour, and honesty--Stepan Mihailovitch is more like a Homeric
+hero than a man of modern times.
+
+The reader, when he reflects that Aksakoff's present narrative ends with
+the day of his own birth, will be inclined to think that the author must
+have had a lively imagination. I therefore translate the sentence with
+which Skabichevsky, a critic of reputation, begins his review of
+Aksakoff's work:--
+
+"Aksakoff's books are remarkable, first of all, on this ground: you will
+find in them no trace of creative or inventive power."
+
+I suppose myself that he derived his information chiefly from his
+mother; but there are certainly scenes in the book which he cannot have
+owed to this source.
+
+This translation has been made from the Moscow edition of 1900. I should
+say here: (1) that I have abridged some of the topographical detail at
+the beginning of the book; (2) that I have dealt freely with the Notes
+which Aksakoff added, sometimes promoting them to the text, and
+sometimes omitting them wholly or in part. I know of two previous
+translations. A German translation, _Russische Familienchronik_, by
+Sergius Raczynski, was published at Leipzig in 1858. This seems to me a
+good translation, and I have found it useful in some difficulties. An
+English translation "by a Russian Lady" was published at Calcutta in
+1871; and there is a copy in the British Museum. I have not seen this;
+but I have heard that it is inadequate, and the first few sentences,
+which were copied out for me, seem to bear this out.
+
+I have completed a translation of Aksakoff's remaining book of
+Memoirs--his _Recollections_ of school and college; and I hope that it
+may be published after a short interval.
+
+    J. D. DUFF.
+
+    _Cambridge._
+    _Jan. 11, 1917._
+
+                                  ----
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
+    FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF
+      1. _The Migration_
+      2. _The Government of Orenburg_
+      3. _Fresh Scenes._
+      4. _My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days_
+    FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF
+    FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF
+    FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO
+    FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA
+
+                                  ----
+
+                          A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF
+
+1. _The Migration_
+
+
+When my grandfather lived in the Government of Simbirsk, on the
+ancestral estate granted to his forefathers by the Tsars of Muscovy, he
+felt cramped and confined. Not that there was really want of room; for
+he had arable land and pasture, timber and other necessaries in
+abundance; but the trouble was, that the estate which his
+great-grandfather had held in absolute possession, had ceased to belong
+to one owner. This happened quite simply: for three successive
+generations the family consisted of one son and several daughters; and,
+when some of these daughters were married, their portions took the shape
+of a certain number of serfs and a certain amount of land. Though their
+shares were not large, yet, as the land had never been properly
+surveyed, at this time four intruders asserted their right to share in
+the management of it. To my grandfather, life under these conditions was
+intolerable: there was no patience in his passionate temperament; he
+loved plain dealing and hated complications and wrangles with his kith
+and kin.
+
+For some time past, he had heard frequent reports about the district of
+Ufa--how there was land there without limit for the plough and for
+stock, with an indescribable abundance of game and fish and all the
+fruit of the earth; and how easy it was to acquire whole tracts of land
+for a very trifling sum of money. If tales were true, you had only to
+invite a dozen of the native Bashkir chiefs in certain districts to
+partake of your hospitality; you provided two or three fat sheep, for
+them to kill and dress in their own fashion; you produced a bucket of
+whisky, with several buckets of strong fermented Bashkir mead and a
+barrel of home-made country beer--which proves, by the way, that even in
+old days the Bashkirs were not strict Mahometans--and the rest was as
+simple as A B C. It was said, indeed, that an entertainment of this kind
+might last a week or even a fortnight: it was impossible for Bashkirs to
+do business in a hurry, and every day it was necessary to ask the
+question, "Well, good friend, is it time now to discuss my business?"
+The guests had been eating and drinking, without exaggeration, all day
+and all night; but, if they were not completely satisfied with the
+entertainment, if they had not had enough of their monotonous singing
+and playing on the pipe, and their singular dances in which they stood
+up or crouched down on the same spot of ground, then the greatest of the
+chiefs, clicking his tongue and wagging his head, would answer with much
+dignity and without looking his questioner in the face: "The time has
+not come; bring us another sheep!" The sheep was forthcoming, as a
+matter of course, with fresh supplies of beer and spirits; and the tipsy
+Bashkirs began again to sing and dance, dropping off to sleep wherever
+they felt inclined. But everything in the world has an end; and a day
+came at last when the chief would look his host straight in the face and
+say: "We are obliged to you, _batyushka_,[2] ever so much obliged! And
+now, what is it that you want?" The rest of the transaction followed a
+regular fashion. The customer began with the shrewdness native to your
+true Russian: he assured the Bashkir that he did not want anything at
+all; but, having heard that the Bashkirs were exceedingly kind people,
+he had come to Ufa on purpose to form a friendship with them, and so on.
+Then the conversation would somehow come round to the vast extent of the
+Bashkir territory and the unsatisfactory ways of the present tenants,
+who might pay their rent for a year or two and then pay no more and yet
+continue to live on the land, as if they were its rightful owners; it
+was rash to evict them, and a lawsuit became unavoidable. These remarks,
+which were true enough to the facts, were followed up by an obliging
+offer to relieve the kind Bashkirs of some part of the land which was
+such a burden to them; and in the end whole districts were bought and
+sold for a mere song. The bargain was clinched by a legal document, but
+the amount of land was never stated in it, and could not be, as it had
+never been surveyed. As a rule, the boundaries were settled by landmarks
+of this kind: "from the mouth of such and such a stream as far as the
+dead beech-tree on the wolf-track, and from the dead beech-tree in a
+bee-line to the watershed, and from the watershed to the fox-earths, and
+from the fox-earths to the hollow tree at Soltamratka," and so on. So
+precise and permanent were the boundaries enclosing ten or twenty or
+thirty thousand _dessyatines_[3] of land! And the price of all this
+might be about one hundred _roubles_[4] and presents worth another
+hundred, not including the cost of the entertainments.
+
+ [2] "Father," a title of respect or affection.
+
+ [3] 100 _dessyatines_ = 270 acres.
+
+ [4] A _rouble_ is worth about 2_s._
+
+Stories of this kind had a great attraction for my grandfather. As a man
+of strict integrity, he disapproved of the deception practised on the
+simple Bashkirs; but he considered that the harm lay, not in the
+business itself, but in the method of transacting it, and believed that
+it was possible to deal fairly and yet to buy a great stretch of land at
+a low price. In that case he could migrate with his family and transfer
+half of his serfs to the new estate; and thus he would secure the main
+object of this design. For the fact was, that for some time past he had
+been so much worried by unending disputes over the management of the
+land--disputes between himself and the relations who owned a small part
+of it--that his desire to leave the place where his ancestors had lived
+and he himself was born, had become a fixed idea. There was no other
+means of securing a quiet life; and to him, now that his youth was past,
+a quiet life seemed more desirable than anything else.
+
+So he scraped together several thousand _roubles_, and said good-bye to
+his wife, whom he called Arisha when he was in a good humour and Arina
+when he was not; he kissed his children and gave them his blessing--his
+four young daughters and the infant son who was the single scion and
+sole hope of an ancient and noble family. The daughters he thought of no
+importance: "What's the good of them? They look out of the house, not
+in; if their name is Bagroff[5] to-day, it may be anything on earth
+to-morrow; my hopes rest entirely on my boy, Alexy�i"--such were my
+grandfather's parting words, when he started to cross the Volga on his
+way to the district of Ufa.
+
+ [5] Bagroff is a pseudonym for Aksakoff.
+
+But perhaps I had better begin by telling you what sort of a man my
+grandfather was.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch Bagroff--this was his name--was under the middle
+height; but his prominent chest, uncommonly broad shoulders, sinewy
+arms, and wiry muscular frame, gave proof of his extraordinary
+strength. When it happened, in the rough-and-tumble amusements of
+young men, that a number of his brother-officers fastened on him at
+once, he would hurl them from him, as a sturdy oak hurls off the
+rain-drops, when its branches rock in the breeze after a shower. He
+had fair hair and regular features; his eyes were large and dark-blue,
+quick to light up with anger but friendly and kind in his hours of
+composure; his eyebrows were thick and the lines of his mouth pleasant
+to look at. The general expression of his features was singularly
+frank and open: no one could help trusting him; his word or his
+promise was better than any bond, and more sacred than any document
+guaranteed by Church or State. His natural intelligence was clear and
+strong. All landowners of that time were ignorant men, and he had
+received no sort of education; indeed he could hardly read and write
+his native language. But, while serving in the Army, and before he was
+promoted from the ranks, he had mastered the elementary rules of
+arithmetic and the use of the reckoning-board--acquirements of which
+he liked to speak even when he was an old man. It is probable that his
+period of service was not long; for he was only quarter-master of the
+regiment when he retired. But in those days even nobles served for
+long in the ranks or as non-commissioned officers, unless indeed they
+passed through this stage in their cradles, first enrolled as
+sergeants in the Guards and then making a sudden appearance as
+captains in line regiments. Of the career of Stepan Mihailovitch in
+the Army I know little; but I have been told that he was often
+employed in the capture of the highwaymen who infested the Volga, and
+always showed good sense in the formation of his plans and reckless
+courage in their execution; that the outlaws knew him well by sight
+and feared him like fire. On retiring from the Army, he lived for some
+years on his hereditary estate of Bagrovo[6] and became very skilful
+in the management of land. It was not his way to be present from
+morning to night where his labourers were at work, nor did he stand
+like a sentry over the grain, when it was coming in and going out;
+but, when he was on the spot, he looked to some purpose, and, if he
+noticed anything amiss, especially any attempt to deceive him, he
+never failed to visit the offender with a summary form of punishment
+which may rouse the displeasure of my readers. But my grandfather,
+while acting in accordance with the spirit of his age, reasoned in a
+fashion of his own. In his view, to punish a peasant by fines or by
+forced labour on the estate made the man less substantial and
+therefore less useful to his owner; and to separate him from his
+family and banish him to a distant estate was even worse, for a man
+deprived of family ties was sure to go downhill. But to have recourse
+to the police was simply out of the question; that would have been
+considered the depth of disgrace and shame; every voice in the village
+would have been raised to mourn for the offender as if he were dead,
+and he would have considered himself as disgraced and ruined beyond
+redemption. And it must be said for my grandfather, that he was never
+severe except when his anger was hot; when the fit had passed away,
+the offence was forgotten. Advantage was often taken of this:
+sometimes the offender had time to hide, and the storm passed by
+without hurting any one. Before long, his people became so
+satisfactory that none of them gave him any cause to lose his temper.
+
+ [6] Bagrovo is a pseudonym for Aksakovo.
+
+After getting his estate into good order, my grandfather married; his
+bride was Arina Vassilyevna Nyeklyoodoff, a young lady of little fortune
+but, like himself, of ancient descent. This gives me an opportunity to
+explain that his pedigree was my grandfather's foible: he was moderately
+well-to-do, owning only 180 serfs, but his descent, which he traced
+back, by means of Heaven knows what documents, for six hundred years all
+the way to a Varyag[7] prince called Shimon, he valued far more than any
+riches or office in the State. At one time he was much attracted by a
+rich and beautiful girl, but he would not marry her, merely because her
+great-grandfather was not a noble.
+
+ [7] The earliest Russian chronicles report that the Russian empire was
+     founded in the 8th century by certain foreign princes called
+     _Varyags_. The nationality of these princes has been a subject of
+     endless controversy, some historians maintaining that they were
+     Norsemen, others denying it.
+
+After this account of Stepan Mihailovitch, let us go back to the course
+of the narrative.
+
+My grandfather first crossed the Volga by the ferry near Simbirsk, and
+then struck across the steppe on the further side, and travelled on till
+he came to Sergievsk, which stands on a hill at the meeting of two
+rivers and gives a name to the sulphur springs twelve _versts_[8] from
+the town. The deeper he plunged into the district of Ufa, the more he
+was impressed by the spaciousness and fertility of that country. The
+first place where he found trees growing was the district of
+Boogoorooslan; and in the town of that name, perched on a high hill
+above the river, he made a halt, wishing to make inquiries and learn
+more particulars of the lands that were for sale. Of land belonging to
+the Bashkirs there was little left in this district: some of the
+occupiers were tenants of the Crown, whom the Government had settled on
+lands confiscated for rebellion, though later they granted a general
+pardon and restored their territory to the Bashkir owners; part of the
+land had been let to tenants by the Bashkirs themselves; and part had
+been bought up by migrating landowners. Using Boogoorooslan as a centre,
+my grandfather made expeditions to the surrounding districts and spent
+some time in the beautiful country watered by the Ik and the Dyoma.[9]
+It is an enchanting region; and even in his old age Stepan Mihailovitch
+often spoke with enthusiasm of the first impression produced on him by
+the astonishing richness of that soil. But he did not allow himself to
+be carried away. Ascertaining on the spot that any purchaser of Bashkir
+land was quite sure to be involved in endless disputes and lawsuits--for
+it was impossible for the acquirer to make sure either of his own title
+or of the number of the former owners--my grandfather, who feared and
+hated like poison the very name of a lawsuit, resolved to buy no land
+direct from the Bashkirs or without formal legal documents to confirm
+his ownership. Thus he hoped to exclude the possibility of disputes, and
+surely he had reason for such a hope; but things turned out very
+differently, and the last claim was only settled by his youngest
+grandson when he was forty years old.
+
+ [8] A _verst_ is two-thirds of a mile.
+
+ [9] Pronounce Dy�w-ma.
+
+My grandfather returned reluctantly from the banks of the Ik and the
+Dyoma to Boogoorooslan, where he bought land from a Russian lady near
+the river of that name and distant twenty-five _versts_ from the town.
+The river is rapid and deep and never runs dry. For forty _versts_, from
+the town of Boogoorooslan to the Crown settlement of Fair Bank, the
+country on both sides of the river was uninhabited, so that there was
+ample room; and the amenities of the spot were wonderful. The river was
+so transparent that, if you threw in a copper coin, you could see it
+resting on the bottom even in pools fifteen feet deep. In some places
+there was a thick border of trees and bushes--birches, poplars,
+service-trees, guelder-roses, and bird-cherries, where the hop-bines
+trailed their green festoons and hung their straw-coloured clusters from
+tree to tree; in other places, the grass grew tall and strong, with an
+infinite profusion of flowers, including tall Meadow Sweet, Lords' Pride
+(the scarlet Lychnis), Kings' Curls (the Martagon lily), and Cat-grass
+or Valerian. The river flows along a valley varying in breadth and
+bordered on both sides by sloping hills with a steep cliff here and
+there; the slopes were thickly covered with hard-wood trees of all
+sorts. As you got out of the valley, the level steppe spread out before
+you, a black virgin soil over two feet in depth. Along the river and in
+the neighbouring marshes, wild ducks of all kinds, and geese, woodcocks,
+and snipe made their nests and filled the air with their different notes
+and calls; while on the table-land above, where the grass grew thick and
+strong, the music in the air was as rich and quite distinct. Every kind
+of bird that lives in the steppe bred there in multitudes--bustards,
+cranes, and hawks; and on the wooded slopes there were quantities of
+black-game. The river swarmed with every variety of fish that could
+endure its ice-cold water--pike, perch, chub, dace, and even salmon.
+Both steppe and forest were filled beyond belief with wild creatures. In
+a word, the place was, and still is, a paradise for the sportsman.
+
+My grandfather bought about 12,000 acres for 2500 _roubles_. That was a
+large sum in those days, and the price was much higher than was
+generally paid. When he had assured his title by legal documents, he
+went back with a light heart to his expectant family in the Government
+of Simbirsk. There he set to work with fierce energy and made all
+preparations for transferring at once a portion of his serfs to the new
+estate. It was an anxious and troublesome job, because the distance was
+considerable--about 400 _versts_. That same autumn twenty families of
+serfs started for the district of Boogoorooslan, taking with them
+ploughs and harrows with rye for sowing. They chose their ground and set
+to work on the virgin soil. Two thousand acres were lightly ploughed,
+then harrowed, and sown with winter rye; two thousand more were ploughed
+in preparation for the spring sowing; and some cottages were built. When
+this was done, the men travelled back to spend the winter at home. When
+winter was over, twenty more labourers again went forth; and, as the
+spring advanced, they sowed the two thousand acres with spring wheat,
+erected fences round the cottages and byres, and made stoves for the
+cottages out of clay. The second party then returned home. These were
+distinct from the actual settlers, who remained at home, preparing for
+their move and selling off what they did not need--their houses and
+kailyards, stock and corn, and all sorts of odds and ends.
+
+The date fixed was the middle of June, that the colonists might reach
+their destination before St. Peter's Day,[10] when hay-cutting begins.
+The carts were packed with the women and children and old people, and
+awnings of bast bent over them to protect them from the sun and rain;
+the indispensable pots and pans were piled up inside, the cocks and hens
+perched on the top, and the cows tied on behind; and off they started.
+The poor settlers shed bitter tears as they parted for ever with their
+past life, with the church in which they had been christened and
+married, and with the graves of their fathers and grandfathers. Nobody
+likes moving, and a Russian peasant least of all; but to move in those
+days to an unknown land inhabited by unbelievers, where the churches
+were so distant that a man might die without confession and infants
+remain long unchristened, a land of which rumour reported evil as well
+as good--this seemed a terrible ordeal. When the peasants had gone, my
+grandfather started after them. He had taken a vow that, when
+circumstances allowed, he would build a church dedicated to the
+Presentation of Our Lady--it was actually built by his son--and he named
+the new settlement after the festival. But the peasants, whose example
+was followed by their neighbours, called it New Bagrovo, after their
+master and in memory of Old Bagrovo, from which they had come; and to
+this day the formal name is only used in legal documents. No one knows
+the village, with its fine stone church and high manor-house, by any
+other name than Bagrovo. With unremitting care and attention my
+grandfather watched the labour of the people on their own land and on
+his; the hay was mown, the winter rye and spring corn were cut down and
+carried, and the right moment was chosen for each operation. The yield
+of the crops was fabulous. The peasants thought things were not so bad
+after all. By November, cottages were built for them all, and the
+beginning of a house for the owner was run up. All this was not done
+without help from neighbours. In spite of the long distances, they came
+willingly to lend a hand to the new landowner, who proved to be sensible
+and friendly; they ate and drank and turned to with a will, and sang as
+they worked. In that winter my grandfather went to Simbirsk and brought
+back his wife and children with him.
+
+ [10] June 29.
+
+Next year forty more serfs were transferred and set up in their new
+abodes; and this proved an easier job. My grandfather's first operation
+in this year was to build a mill; without it, it had been necessary to
+drive forty _versts_ to get his corn ground. A spot was chosen where the
+river was not deep, the bottom sound, and the banks high and solid. Then
+a dam of earth and brushwood was started from each bank, like a pair of
+hands ready to clasp; next, the dam was wattled with osiers, to make it
+more substantial; and all that remained was to stop the swift strong
+current and force it to fill the basin intended for it. The mill itself,
+with two pairs of millstones, was built beforehand on the lower bank.
+All the machinery was ready and even greased. It was the business of the
+river, when checked in its natural course, to fill the broad dam and
+pour through wooden pipes down upon the great wheel. When all was ready
+and four long oaken piles had been firmly driven into the clay bottom of
+the river, my grandfather invited his neighbours to lend him their
+assistance for two days; and they came, bringing horses and carts,
+spades, forks, and axes. On the first day, great piles of brushwood,
+straw, manure, and fresh-cut sods were heaped up on both banks of the
+Boogoorooslan, while the river continued to pour down its waters at its
+own sweet will. Hardly any one slept that night, and next morning at
+sunrise about a hundred men set to work to dam the stream; they all
+looked solemn and serious, as if they had important business before
+them. They began on both sides at the same moment. With loud cries they
+hurled with sturdy arms faggots of brushwood into the water; part was
+carried down by the stream, but part stuck against the piles and sank
+across the channel. Next came bundles of straw weighted with stones,
+then soil and manure, then more brushwood, followed by more straw and
+manure, and, on the top of all, a thick layer of sods. All this
+accumulation was swallowed up till it rose at last above the surface of
+the water. At once, a dozen strong and active men sprang on to the
+barrier and began to tread it and stamp it down. The operation was
+performed with the utmost speed; and the general excitement was so great
+and the noise so vociferous, that a passer-by, if he had not known the
+reason of it, might have been frightened. But there was no one there to
+be frightened by it: only the uninhabited steppes and dark forests and
+all the region round re-echoed the shouts of the labourers. The voices
+of women and children swelled the chorus; for such an important affair
+aroused interest in every breast, and the noise and excitement were
+universal. The resistance of the river was not overcome at once. For
+long it tore away and carried down brushwood and straw, manure and turf;
+but man at last conquered. The baffled water stopped, as if reflecting;
+then it turned back, and rose till it poured over its banks and
+inundated the fields. By evening the mill-pond had taken shape; or one
+might call it a floating lake, where the banks and all the green grass
+and bushes had disappeared; only the tops of submerged trees, doomed to
+die, stuck up here and there. Next day the mill began to work, and goes
+on working and grinding to this day.
+
+
+2. _The Government of Orenburg_
+
+How wonderful in those days was that region, in its wild and virginal
+richness! It is different now; it is not even what it was when I first
+knew it, when it was still fresh and blooming and undeflowered by hordes
+of settlers from every quarter. It is changed; but it is still beautiful
+and spacious, fertile and infinitely various, the Government of
+Orenburg. The name sounds strange, and the termination "burg" is
+inappropriate enough. But when I first knew that earthly paradise, it
+was still called the "Province of Ufa."
+
+Thirty years ago, one who was born within it[11] expressed in verse his
+fears for the future of the land; and these have been realised in part,
+and the process still goes on. But still hast thou power to charm,
+wondrous land! Bright and clear, like great deep cups, are thy
+lakes--Kandry and Karatabyn. Full of water and full of all manner of
+fish are thy rivers, whether they race down the valleys and rocky gorges
+of the Ural Mountains, or steal softly, glittering like a string of
+jewels, through the prairie-grass of the steppes. Wondrous are these
+rivers of the steppe, formed by the union of countless little streams
+flowing from deep water-holes--streams so tiny that you can hardly see
+the trickle of water in them. And thy rivers that flow swift from
+fountain-heads and run under the shade of trees and bushes are
+transparent and cold as ice even in the heat of summer; and all kinds of
+trout, good to eat and beautiful to see, live there; but they soon die
+out, when man begins to defile with unclean hands the virgin streams of
+their clear cool retreats. Fertile is the black soil of thy corn-land,
+and rich thy pastures; and thy fields are covered in spring with the
+milk-white blossom of the cherry-tree and wild peach, while in summer
+the fragrant strawberries spread over them like a scarlet cloth, and the
+small cherries that turn purple later when they ripen in autumn. Rich is
+the harvest that rewards the peasant, however idle and ignorant, when he
+scratches with his rude ploughshare the surface of thy soil. Fresh and
+green and mighty stand thy forests of all manner of trees; and buzzing
+swarms of wild bees fill their self-chosen nests among the leaves with
+the fragrant honey of the lime blossom. The Ufa marten, with its
+priceless fur, is still to be found in the wooded head-waters of the
+great rivers.
+
+ [11] Aksakoff himself.
+
+The original inhabitants of the land are men of peace, the wandering
+tribes of Bashkirs. Their herds of horses and cattle and flocks of
+sheep, though far smaller than they were once, are still numerous. When
+the fierce storms of winter are over, the Bashkirs crawl forth, thin and
+wasted like flies in winter. With the first warmth and the first
+sprouting of the grass they drive out into the open their half-starved
+herds and flocks, and drag themselves after them, with their wives and
+children. A few weeks change them beyond recognition, both men and
+animals. What were mere skeletons have become spirited and tireless
+horses; and the stallion proudly guards his mares as they graze, and
+keeps both man and beast at a distance. The meagre cattle have grown
+fat, and their udders swell with milk. But for cow's milk the Bashkir
+cares nothing. For the _koumiss_[12] is now in season and already
+fermenting in the bags of horse-hide; and every creature that can drink,
+from the infant in arms to the tottering old man, swallows the
+health-giving beverage, a drink for heroes. And the result is
+marvellous: all the traces of winter and starvation soon disappear, and
+even the troubles of old age; their faces fill out, and pale sunken
+cheeks take on the hue of health. But their deserted villages are a sad
+and even alarming sight. A traveller unfamiliar with the country might
+well start, appalled by the emptiness and deadness of the place. There
+stand the deserted huts with their white chimneys, and the empty
+window-frames look mournfully at him like human faces with no eyes in
+the sockets. He may hear the bark of a half-starved watch-dog, whom his
+master visits and feeds at long intervals, or the mewing of a cat that
+has run wild and finds food for herself; but that is all: not one human
+being remains.
+
+ [12] Mare's milk, fermented.
+
+How varied and picturesque, each in its own way, are the different
+regions of the land--the forests, the steppes, and, more than all, the
+hills, where all metals, even gold, are found along the slopes of the
+Ural ridge! How vast the expanse, from the borders of Vyatka and Perm,
+where the mercury often freezes in winter, to the little town of Guryeff
+on the edge of Astrakhan, where small grapes ripen in the open
+air--grapes whose wine the Cossack trades in and drinks himself for
+coolness in summer and warmth in winter. How noble is the fishing in the
+Urals, unlike any other both in the fish that are caught and in the
+manner of catching them! It only needs a faithful and lively description
+to attract general attention.
+
+But I must ask pardon. I have gone too far in the description of the
+beautiful country where I was born. Now let us go back and observe the
+life and unwearied activity of my grandfather.
+
+
+3. _Fresh Scenes._
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had peace at last. Many a time he thanked God from
+the bottom of his heart, when the move was completed and he found
+elbow-room on the banks of the Boogoorooslan. His spirits rose, and even
+his health was better. No petitions, no complaints, no disputes, no
+disturbance! No tiresome relations, no divided ownership! No thieves to
+fell his trees, no trespassers to trample down his corn and meadows! He
+was undisputed master at last in his own house, and beyond it: he might
+feed sheep, or mow grass, or cut firewood where he pleased without a
+word from any one.
+
+The peasants too soon became accustomed to the new habitation and soon
+grew to love it. And that was but natural. Old Bagrovo had wood, but
+little water; meadow-land was so scarce that it was hard for them to
+find grazing for one horse and one cow apiece; and, though the natural
+soil was good, it had been cropped over and over from time immemorial
+till its fertility was exhausted. The new site gave them wide and
+fertile fields and meadows, never touched till now by ploughshare or
+scythe; it gave them a rapid river with good fresh water, and springs in
+abundance; it gave them a broad pond with fish in it and the river
+running through it; and it gave them a mill at their very doors, whereas
+before they had to travel twenty-five _versts_ to have a load of corn
+ground, and perhaps to wait after all a couple of days till their turn
+came.
+
+It surprises you perhaps that I called Old Bagrovo waterless; and you
+may blame my ancestors for choosing such a spot to settle in. But they
+were not to blame, and things were different in old days. Once on a time
+Old Bagrovo stood on a pretty stream, the Maina, which took its rise
+from the Mossy Lakes three _versts_ distant; and also along the whole
+settlement there stretched a lake, not broad but long and clear, and
+deep in the middle, with a bottom of white sand; and another streamlet,
+called The White Spring, issued from this lake. So it was in former
+times, but it is quite another story now. Tradition tells that the Mossy
+Lakes were once deep round pools surrounded by trees, with ice-cold
+water and treacherous banks, and no one ventured near them except in
+winter, because the banks were said to give way under foot and engulf
+the bold disturber of the water-spirit's solitary reign. But man is the
+sworn foe of Nature, and she can never withstand his treacherous warfare
+against her beauty. Ancient tradition, unsupported by modern instances,
+ceased to be believed. The people steeped their flax on the banks and
+drove their herds there to water; and the Mossy Lakes were polluted by
+degrees, and grew shallow at the edges, and even dried up in places
+where the wood all round was cut. Then a thick scurf formed on the top;
+moss grew over it, and the vein-like roots of water-plants bound it
+together, till it was covered with tussocks and bushes and even
+fir-trees of some size. One of the pools is now entirely covered; of the
+other are left two deep water-holes, which even now are formidable for a
+stranger to approach, because the soil, with all its covering of plants
+and bushes and trees, rises and falls beneath the foot like a wave at
+sea. Owing to the dwindling of these lakes, the Maina now issues from
+the ground some distance below the settlement, and its upper waters have
+dried up. The lake by the village has become a filthy stinking canal;
+the sandy bottom is covered to a depth of over seven feet by mud and
+refuse of all kinds from the peasants' houses; of the White Spring not a
+trace is left, and the memory of it will soon be forgotten.
+
+When my grandfather had settled down at New Bagrovo, he set to work,
+with all his natural activity and energy, to grow corn and breed stock.
+The peasants caught the contagion of his enthusiasm and worked so hard
+and steadily that they were soon as well set up and provided for as if
+they had been old inhabitants. After a few years, their stackyards took
+up thrice as much room as the village-street; and their drove of stout
+horses, their herds and flocks and pigs, would have done honour to a
+large and prosperous settlement.
+
+After the success of Stepan Mihailovitch, migration to Ufa or Orenburg
+became more fashionable every year. Native tribes came streaming from
+every quarter--Mordvinians, Choovashes, Tatars, and Meshchers, and
+plenty of Russian settlers too--Crown-tenants from different districts,
+and landowners, large and small. My grandfather began to have
+neighbours. His brother-in-law, Ivan Nyeklyoodoff, bought land within
+twelve _versts_ of Bagrovo, transferred his serfs there, built a wooden
+church, named his estate Nyeklyoodovo, and came to live there with his
+family. This afforded no gratification to my grandfather, who had a
+strong dislike to all his wife's relations--all "Nyeklyoodovdom," as he
+used to call them. Then a landowner called Bakm�tyeff bought land still
+closer, about ten _versts_ from Bagrovo, on the upper waters of the
+Sovrusha, which runs to the south-west like the Boogoorooslan. On the
+other side, twelve _versts_ along the river Nasyagai, another settlement
+was planted, Polibino, which now belongs to the Karamzin family. The
+Nasyagai is a larger and finer river than the Boogoorooslan, with more
+water and more fish in it, and birds still breed there much more freely.
+On the road to Polibino, and eight _versts_ from Bagrovo, a number of
+Mordvinians settled in a large village called Noikino, and built a mill
+on the streamlet of Bokla. Close to the mill, the Bokla runs into the
+Nasyagai, which rolls its swift strong current straight to the
+south-west, and is reinforced by the Boogoorooslan not far from the town
+of that name. Then the Nasyagai unites with the Great Kinel, and loses
+thenceforth its sounding and significant[13] name.
+
+ [13] Na-sya-gai = "Pursuer."
+
+The latest arrivals were some Mordvinian colonists, a detachment from
+the larger settlement at Mordovsky Boogoorooslan, nine _versts_ from
+Bagrovo. This smaller settlement, called Kivatsky, was within two
+_versts_ of my grandfather, down the river; and he made a wry face at
+first; for it reminded him of old times in Simbirsk. But the result was
+quite different. They were good-tempered, quiet people, who respected my
+grandfather as much as the official in charge of them.
+
+Before many years had passed, Stepan Mihailovitch had gained the deep
+respect and love too of the whole district. He was a real benefactor to
+his neighbours, near or far, old or new, and especially to the latter,
+owing to their ignorance of the place and lack of supplies, and the
+various difficulties which always befall settlers. Too often people
+start off on this difficult job without due preparation, without even
+providing themselves with bread and corn or the means to buy them. My
+grandfather's full granaries were always open to such people. "Take what
+you want, and pay me back next harvest, if you can; and if you
+can't--well, never mind!"--with such words as these he used to
+distribute with a generous hand corn seed and flour. And more than this:
+he was so sensible, so considerate towards petitioners, and so
+inflexibly strict in the keeping of his word, that he soon became quite
+an oracle in that newly settled corner of the spacious district of
+Orenburg. Not only did he help his neighbours by his generosity, but he
+taught them how to behave. To speak the truth was the only key to his
+favour: a man who had once lied to him and deceived him was ill advised
+if he came again to Bagrovo: he would be certain to depart with empty
+hands, and might think himself lucky if he came off with a whole skin.
+My grandfather settled many family disputes and smothered many lawsuits
+at their first birth. People travelled from every quarter to seek his
+advice and hear his decision; and both were punctiliously followed. I
+have known grandsons and great-grandsons of that generation and heard
+them speak of Stepan Mihailovitch; and the figure of the strict master
+but kind benefactor is still unforgotten. I have often heard striking
+facts told about him by simple people, who shed tears and crossed
+themselves as they ejaculated a prayer for his soul's rest. It is not
+surprising that his peasants loved so excellent a master; but he was
+loved also by his personal servants who had often to endure the terrible
+storms of his furious rage. Many of his younger servants spent their
+last days under my roof; and in their old age they liked to talk of
+their late master--of his strict discipline and passionate temper, and
+also of his goodness and justice; and they never spoke of him with dry
+eyes.
+
+Yet this kind, helpful, and even considerate man was subject at times to
+fearful explosions of anger which utterly defaced the image of humanity
+in him and made him capable, for the time, of repulsive and ferocious
+actions. I once saw him in this state when I was a child--it was many
+years after the time I am writing about--and the fear that I felt has
+left a lively impression on my mind to this day. I seem to see him
+before me now. He was angry with one of his daughters; I believe she had
+told him a lie and persisted in it. It was impossible to recognise his
+former self. He was trembling all over and supported on each side by a
+servant; his face was convulsed, and a fierce fire shot from his eyes
+which were clouded and darkened with fury. "Let me get at her!"--he
+called out in a strangled voice. (So far, my recollection is clear; and
+the rest I have often heard others tell.) My grandmother tried to throw
+herself at his feet, to intercede for the culprit; but in an instant her
+kerchief and cap flew to a distance, and Stepan Mihailovitch was
+dragging his wife though she was now old and stout, over the floor by
+her hair. Meantime, not only the offender, but all her sisters, and even
+their brother with his young wife and little son,[14] had fled out of
+doors and sought concealment in the wood that grew round the house. The
+rest of them spent the whole night there; but the daughter-in-law,
+fearing that her child would catch cold, went back and passed the night
+in a servant's cottage. For a long time my grandfather raged at large
+through the deserted house. At last, when he was weary of dragging his
+wife about by the hair, and weary of striking his servants, Mazan and
+Tanaichonok, he dropped upon his bed utterly exhausted and soon fell
+into a deep sleep which lasted till the following morning.
+
+ [14] _I.e._ the author, who in childhood was called Seryozha (short for
+      Sergh�i).
+
+At dawn Stepan Mihailovitch woke up. His face was bright and clear, and
+his voice cheerful as he hailed his wife. She hurried in at once from
+the next room, looking as if nothing had happened the day before. "I
+want my tea! Where are the children, and Alexy�i and his wife? I want to
+see Seryozha"--thus spoke the madman on his waking, and all the family
+appeared, composed and cheerful, in his presence. But there was one
+exception. His daughter-in-law was a woman of strong character herself,
+and no entreaties could induce her to smile so soon upon the wild beast
+of the day before; and her little son kept constantly saying, "I won't
+go to grandfather! I'm frightened!" She really did not feel well and
+excused herself on that ground; and she kept her child in her room. The
+family were horrified and expected a renewal of the storm. But the wild
+beast of yesterday had wakened up as a human being. He talked playfully
+over his tea and then went himself to visit the invalid. She was really
+unwell and was lying in bed, looking thin and altered. The old man sat
+down beside her, kissed her, said kind things to her, and caressed his
+grandson; then he left the room, saying that he would find the day long
+"without his dear daughter-in-law." Half an hour later she entered his
+room, wearing a pretty dress which he used to say especially became her,
+and holding her son by the hand. My grandfather welcomed her almost in
+tears: "Just see!" he said fondly; "though she was not well, she got up
+and dressed, regardless of herself, and came to cheer up an old man."
+His wife and daughters bit their lips and looked down; for they all
+disliked his favourite; but she answered his affectionate greeting with
+cheerful respect, and looked proudly and triumphantly at her
+ill-wishers.
+
+But I will say no more of the dark side of my grandfather's character. I
+would rather dwell on his bright side and describe one of his good days,
+which I have often and often heard spoken of.
+
+
+4. _My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days_
+
+It was the end of June, and the weather was very hot. After a stifling
+night, a fresh breeze set in from the East at dawn, the breeze which
+always flags when the sun grows hot. At sunrise my grandfather awoke. It
+was hot in his bedroom; for the room was not large, and, though the
+window with its narrow old-fashioned sash was raised as high as it would
+go, he had curtains of home-made muslin round his bed. This precaution
+was indispensable: without it, the wicked mosquitos would have kept him
+awake and devoured him. The winged musicians swarmed round the bed,
+drove their long probosces into the fine fabric which protected him, and
+kept up their monotonous serenade all through the night. It sounds
+absurd, but I cannot conceal the fact that I like the shrill high note
+and even the bite of the mosquito; for it reminds me of sleepless nights
+in high summer on the banks of the Boogoorooslan, where the bushes grew
+thick and green and all round the nightingales called; and I remember
+the beating heart of youth and that vague feeling, half pleasure and
+half pain, for which I would now give up all that remains of the sinking
+fire of life.
+
+My grandfather woke up, rubbed the sweat off his high forehead with a
+hot hand, put his head out between the curtains, and burst out laughing.
+His two servants, Mazan and Tanaichonok, lay stretched on the floor;
+their attitudes might have made any one laugh, and they snored lustily.
+"Confound the rascals! How they snore!" said my grandfather, and smiled
+again. You could never be sure about Stepan Mihailovitch. It might have
+been expected that such forcible language would have been followed up by
+a blow in the ribs from the blackthorn staff which always stood by his
+bed, or a kick, or even a salutation in the form of a stool. But no: my
+grandfather had laughed on opening his eyes, and he kept up that mood
+throughout the day. He rose quickly, crossed himself once or twice, and
+thrust his bare feet into a pair of old rusty leather slippers; then,
+wearing only his shirt of coarse home-made linen--my grandmother would
+not give him any better--he went out upon the stoop,[15] to enjoy the
+freshness and moisture of the morning all round him.
+
+ [15] This word from S. Africa seems best for an unroofed veranda, such
+      as this was.
+
+I said just now that Arina Vassilyevna would not give her husband finer
+linen; and the reader will remark with justice that this is inconsistent
+with the relations between the two. I am sorry, but I cannot help it. It
+is really true that female persistence triumphed, as it always does,
+over male violence. My grandmother got more than one beating over the
+coarse linen, but she continued to supply him with it till at last her
+husband got used to it. He resorted once to extreme measures: he took an
+axe and chopped up all his objectionable shirts on the threshold of his
+room, while my grandmother howled at the sight and implored him to beat
+_her_ rather than spoil his good clothes. But even this device failed:
+the coarse shirts appeared once more, and the victim submitted. I must
+apologise for interrupting my narrative, in order to meet an imaginary
+objection on the part of the reader.
+
+Without troubling any one, he went himself to the store-room, fetched a
+woollen mat, and spread it out on the top step of the stoop; then he sat
+down upon it, meaning to follow his regular custom of watching the sun
+rise. To see sunrise gives every man a kind of half-conscious pleasure;
+and my grandfather felt an added satisfaction when he looked down over
+his courtyard, by this time sufficiently equipped with all the buildings
+necessary for his farming operations. The court was not, indeed, fenced;
+and the animals, when turned out of the peasants' yards, used to pay it
+passing visits, before they were all gathered together and driven to the
+common pasture. So it was on this morning; and the same thing was
+repeated every evening. Some pigs, fresh from the mire, rubbed and
+scratched themselves against the very stoop on which my grandfather was
+sitting, while they feasted with grunts of satisfaction on crab-shells
+and other refuse from the table which that unsophisticated household
+deposited close to the steps. Cows and sheep also looked in, and it was
+inevitable that these visitors should leave uncleanly tokens behind
+them. But to this my grandfather did not object in the least. On the
+contrary, he looked with pleasure at the fine beasts, taking them as a
+certain indication that his peasants were doing well. The loud cracking
+of the herdsman's long whip soon evicted the trespassers. Now the
+servants began to stir. The stout groom, Spiridon--known even in
+advanced old age as "little Spirka"--led out, one after another, three
+colts, two bays and one brown. He tied them to a post, rubbed them down,
+and exercised them at the end of a long halter, while my grandfather
+admired their paces and also admired in fancy the stock he hoped to
+raise from them--a dream which he realised with entire success. Then the
+old housekeeper came forth from the cellar in which she slept, and went
+down to the river to wash. First she sighed and groaned, according to
+her invariable custom; then she turned towards the sunrise and said a
+prayer, before she set to work at washing and scrubbing plates and
+dishes. Swallows and martins twittered cheerfully as they cut circles in
+the air, quails called loudly in the fields, the song of the larks
+rained down from the sky, the hoarse note of the sitting landrails came
+from the bushes, and the bleat of the snipe from the neighbouring marsh,
+the mocking-birds imitated the nightingales with all their might; and
+forth from behind the hill issued the bright sun! Blue smoke rose in
+columns from the peasants' houses and then swayed in the breeze like the
+fluttering flags of a line of ships; and soon the labourers were
+plodding towards the fields.
+
+My grandfather began to feel a desire for cold water to wash in and then
+for his tea. He roused his two servants from their ungainly attitudes;
+and they jumped up in a great fright at first, but were soon reassured
+by his good-humoured voice: "Mazan, my washing things! Tanaichonok, wake
+Aksyutka and your mistress, and then tea!" There was no need to repeat
+these orders: clumsy Mazan was already flying at top speed to the spring
+for water, carrying a glittering copper basin, while handy Tanaichonok
+woke up Aksyutka, a young but ugly maid; and she, while she put straight
+the kerchief on her head, called her mistress, Arina Vassilyevna, now
+grown old and stout. In a few minutes all the household were on their
+legs, and all knew by this time that the old master had got out of bed
+on the right side! A quarter of an hour later, a table was standing by
+the stoop--the white tablecloth was home-made and adorned with a
+pattern--a _samovar_,[16] in the shape of a large copper teapot, was
+hissing on the table, and Aksyutka was busy about the tea. Meanwhile
+Arina Vassilyevna was greeting her husband. On some mornings it was the
+etiquette to sigh and look sorrowful; but to-day she asked after his
+health in a loud cheerful voice: "How had he slept? What dreams had he
+had?" Stepan Mihailovitch greeted his wife affectionately and called her
+"Arisha"; he never kissed her hand, but sometimes gave her his to kiss
+as a sign of favour. Arina Vassilyevna, in her pleasure, looked quite
+young and pretty; one forgot her stout awkward figure. She brought a
+stool at once and sat down on the stoop beside my grandfather, which she
+never ventured to do unless he was in a very good humour. "Come, Arisha,
+let us have a cup of tea together before it gets hot," said Stepan
+Mihailovitch; "it was a stifling night, but I slept so sound that I have
+forgotten all my dreams. How did you sleep?" This question was a signal
+mark of favour, and my grandmother replied at once that, when Stepan
+Mihailovitch had a good night, she of course had one too, but that
+Tanyusha[17] was restless all night. Tanyusha was the youngest daughter
+and, as often happens, her father's favourite. He was vexed to hear this
+account of her, and ordered that she was not to be called but to sleep
+on till she woke. She had been called at the same time as her sisters
+Alexandra and Elizabeth, and was dressed already; but no one ventured to
+mention this fact. She made haste to undress, got back into bed, and had
+the shutters drawn. She could not get to sleep, but she lay in the dark
+for two hours; and her father was pleased that Tanyusha had had her
+sleep out. The only son,[18] who was now nine, was never wakened early.
+But the two elder daughters appeared immediately; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch gave them his hand to kiss and called them by their pet
+names, Lexanya and Lizanka. They were both clever girls, and Alexandra
+had also inherited her father's active mind and violent temper but none
+of his good qualities. My grandmother, a very simple woman, was entirely
+under the thumb of her daughters; and, whenever she ventured to play
+tricks upon Stepan Mihailovitch, it was because they had put her up to
+it; but she was so clumsy that she seldom succeeded, and her husband
+knew very well who was at the bottom of it. He knew also that his
+daughters were prepared to deceive him whenever they got the
+chance--though, for the sake of a quiet life, he let them suppose that
+he was blind to their goings-on. But this only lasted while he was in a
+good temper: as soon as he got angry, he stated his view of their
+conduct in the most unsparing and uncomplimentary terms, and sometimes
+even chastised them. But, like true daughters of Eve, they were not
+discouraged. When the fit of anger passed and the cloud lifted from
+their father's brow, they started again upon their underhand schemes,
+and pretty often they were successful in carrying them out.
+
+ [16] An urn, with a central receptacle for hot charcoal. In this case,
+      the receptacle is inserted where the teapot lid should be.
+
+ [17] A diminutive form of Tatyana.
+
+ [18] The author's father, called throughout Alexy�i; his real name was
+      Timof�i (Timothy). So his mother, whose name was M�rya (Mary) is
+      called Sofya (Sophia).
+
+When he had drunk his tea and talked about things in general with his
+womankind, my grandfather got ready to drive out. Some time before, he
+had said to Mazan, "My horse!"--and an old brown gelding was already
+standing by the steps, harnessed to a long car, a very comfortable
+conveyance, with an outer frame-work of netting and a plank, covered
+with felt, to sit on. Spiridon, the driver, wore a simple livery: he had
+bare feet and nothing on but his shirt, with a red woollen belt, from
+which hung a key and a copper comb. On a similar occasion on the
+previous day, he had worn no hat; but this had been disapproved of, and
+he now wore some head-gear which he had woven out of broad strips of
+bast.[19] My grandfather made merry over this "sunbonnet." Then he put
+on his own cap and long coat of unbleached home-made cloth, placed
+beneath him his heavy cloak in case of rain, and took his seat on the
+car. Spiridon also folded his coat and sat upon it; it was made of
+unbleached cloth but dyed bright red with madder. Madder grew freely in
+the fields round Bagrovo, and was so much used that the servants about
+the house were called by the neighbours "redbreasts"; I have heard the
+nickname myself fifteen years after my grandfather's death.
+
+ [19] The inner bark of the lime-tree, used for many purposes in Russia.
+
+In the fields, Stepan Mihailovitch found everything to his mind. He
+examined the rye-crop; it was now past flowering and stood up like a
+wall, as high as a man; a light breeze was blowing, and bluish-purple
+waves went over it, now lighter and now darker in the sunlight; and the
+sight gladdened his heart. He visited the young oats and millet and all
+the spring-sown crops, and then went to the fallow, where he ordered his
+car to be driven backwards and forwards over the field. This was his
+regular way of testing the goodness of the work: any spot of ground that
+had not been properly ploughed and harrowed gave the light car a jolt;
+and, when my grandfather was not in a good humour, he stuck a twig or a
+stick in the ground at the place, sent for the bailiff if he was not
+present, and settled accounts with him on the spot. But to-day all went
+well: his wheels may have encountered such obstacles, but he took no
+notice of them. His next point was the hay-fields, where he admired the
+tall thick steppe-grass which was to fall beneath the scythe before many
+days were past. He paid a visit to the peasants' fields also, to see for
+himself, who had a good crop and who had not; and he drove over their
+fallow to test it. He noticed everything and forgot nothing. Passing
+over an untilled strip, he saw some wild strawberries nearly ripe; he
+stopped and, with Mazan's help, picked a large handful of splendid big
+berries, which he took home as a present for his "Arisha." In spite of
+the great heat, he was out till nearly noon.
+
+As soon as my grandfather's car was seen descending the hill, dinner was
+set on the table, and all the family stood on the steps to receive him.
+"Well, Arisha," he called out cheerfully, "what splendid crops God is
+giving us this year! Great is His goodness! And here are some
+strawberries for you; they are nearly ripe; the pickers must go out
+to-morrow." This attention was almost too much for my grandmother. As he
+spoke, he walked into the house, and the smell of the hot cabbage-soup
+came to meet him from the parlour. "Ah! I see dinner's ready; good!"
+said Stepan Mihailovitch more cheerfully than before, and walked
+straight into the parlour and sat down at table, without visiting his
+own room. I should mention that my grandfather had a rule: at whatever
+hour, early or late, he returned from the fields, dinner must be on the
+table, and Heaven help the women, if they did not notice him coming and
+failed to serve the meal in time! There were occasions when such neglect
+gave rise to sad consequences; but, on this happy day, everything went
+without a hitch. Behind my grandfather's chair stood a stout lad,
+holding a birch-bough with the leaves on, to drive away the flies. The
+hottest weather will not make a true Russian refuse cabbage-soup, and my
+grandfather supped his with a wooden spoon, because silver would have
+burnt his lips. Soup was followed by a fish-salad, made of kippered
+sturgeon, as yellow as wax, and shelled crayfish. All the courses were
+of this light kind, and were washed down with _kvass_[20] and home-made
+beer; the drinks were iced and so was the salad. There were days when
+dinner was eaten in terrible stillness and silent dread of an explosion;
+but this was a cheerful meal, with much loud talking and laughing. Every
+boy and girl about the place had heard that the master was in a cheerful
+temper, and they all crowded into the parlour in hopes of a "piece." He
+gave them all something good to eat; for there was five times as much
+food on the table as the family could eat.
+
+ [20] A drink made of malt and rye.
+
+Immediately after dinner he went to lie down. All flies were expelled
+from the bed-curtains, and the curtains drawn round him with the ends
+tucked under the mattress; and soon his mighty snoring proclaimed that
+the master was asleep. All the rest went to their rooms to lie down.
+Mazan and Tanaichonok, when they had had their dinner and swallowed
+their share of the remnants from the dining-room table, also lay down in
+the passage, close to the door of my grandfather's bedroom. Though they
+had slept before dinner, they went to sleep again at once; but they were
+soon wakened by the heat and the burning rays of the sun coming through
+the windows. They felt a strong desire to cool their parched throats
+with some of their master's iced beer; and the bold scamps managed to
+get it in the following way. My grandfather's dressing-gown and nightcap
+were lying on a chair near the half-open door of his room. Tanaichonok
+put them on and sat down on the stoop, while Mazan went off to the
+cellar with a jug and wakened the old housekeeper, who like every soul
+in the house was fast asleep. He said his master was awake and wanted an
+iced tankard at once. She was surprised at his waking so soon; but Mazan
+then pointed to the figure in the dressing-gown and nightcap sitting on
+the stoop. The beer was drawn at once and ice added; and Mazan went
+quickly back with his prize. The cronies shared the jug between them and
+then replaced the garments. An hour later their master awoke in
+excellent humour, and his first words were, "Iced beer!" This frightened
+the rascals; and, when Tanaichonok hurried off to the cellar, the
+housekeeper guessed at once where the previous jug had gone. She
+produced the liquor, but followed the messenger back herself, and found
+the real Simon Pure sitting on the stoop and wearing the dressing-gown.
+The truth came out at once; and Mazan and Tanaichonok shaking with fear
+fell at their master's feet. And what do you think my grandfather did?
+He burst out laughing, sent for his wife and daughters, and told them
+the story with loud bursts of laughter. The culprits breathed again, and
+one of them even ventured to grin. But Stepan Mihailovitch noticed this
+and very nearly grew angry: he frowned, but the composing effect of his
+good day was so strong that his face cleared up, and he said with a
+significant look, "Well, I forgive you this once; but, if it happens
+again ..."--there was no need to end the sentence.
+
+It is certainly strange that the servants of a man so passionate and so
+violent in his moments of passion should dare to be so impudent. But I
+have often noticed in the course of my life that the strictest masters
+have the most venturesome and reckless servants. My grandfather had
+other experiences of a similar kind. This same servant, Mazan, was
+sweeping out his master's room one day and preparing to make the bed,
+when he was suddenly tempted by the soft down of the bedding and
+pillows. He thought he would like a little taste of luxury; so down he
+lay on his master's bed and fell asleep. My grandfather himself came
+upon him sound asleep, and only laughed! He did, indeed, give the man
+one good rap with his staff; but that was nothing--he only did it in
+order to see how frightened Mazan would be. Worse tricks than these were
+played upon Stepan Mihailovitch in his time. During his absence from
+home, his cousin and ward, Praskovya Ivanovna Bagroff, was given in
+marriage to a dangerous and disreputable man whom he detested; the girl,
+who was only fourteen and a great heiress, was an inmate of Bagrovo and
+very dear to its owner. It is true that the plot was executed by the
+girl's relations on her mother's side; but Arina Vassilyevna gave her
+consent, and her daughters were actively engaged in it. But I shall
+return to my narrative for the present and leave this incident to be
+told later.
+
+He woke up at five in the afternoon and drank his iced beer. Soon
+afterwards he wanted his tea, in spite of the sultry heat of the day;
+for he believed that a very hot drink makes hot weather more bearable.
+But first he went down to bathe in the cool waters of the river, which
+flowed under the windows of the house. When he came back, the whole
+family were waiting for him at the tea-table--the same table set in the
+shade, with the same hissing teapot and the same Aksyutka. When he had
+drunk his fill of his favourite sudorific beverage, with cream so thick
+that the curd on it was yellow, my grandfather proposed that the whole
+party should make an expedition to the mill. The plan was received with
+joy; and Alexandra and Tatyana, who were fond of angling, took
+fishing-rods with them. Two cars were brought round in a minute. Stepan
+Mihailovitch and his wife took their seats on one, and placed between
+them their one boy,[21] the precious scion of their ancient and noble
+line; while the other carried the three daughters, with a boy to dig for
+worms on the mill-dam and bait their hooks for the young ladies. When
+they reached the mill, a seat was brought out for Arina Vassilyevna, and
+she sat down in the shade of the building, not far from the mill-race
+where her daughters were fishing. Meanwhile Elizabeth, the eldest,
+partly to please her father and partly from her own interest in such
+matters, went with Stepan Mihailovitch to inspect the mill and the
+pounding-machine. The little boy either watched his sisters fishing--he
+was not allowed to fish himself in deep places--or played beside his
+mother, who never took her eyes off him, in her fear that the child
+would somehow tumble in.
+
+ [21] The author's father.
+
+Both sets of millstones were at work, one making wheat-flour for the
+master's table, and the other grinding rye for a neighbour; and there
+was millet under the pounding-machine. My grandfather was well
+acquainted with all farming operations: he understood a mill thoroughly
+and explained all the details to his attentive and intelligent
+companion. He saw in a moment any defect in the machinery or mistake in
+the position of the stones. One of them he ordered to be lowered half a
+notch, and the rye-meal came out finer, to the great satisfaction of its
+owner. At the other stone, his ear detected at once that one of the cogs
+on the small wheel was getting worn. He stopped the current, and
+Boltuny�nok,[22] the miller, jumped down beside the wheel. He looked at
+it and felt it and then said, "You are quite right, _batyushka_ Stepan
+Mihailovitch! One of the cogs is a little worn." "A little you call
+it!"--said my grandfather, not at all vexed: "but for my coming, the
+wheel would have snapped this very night!" "I am sorry I did not notice
+it, Stepan Mihailovitch." "Well, never mind! Bring a new wheel, and take
+the worn cog off the other; and mind the new cog is neither thicker nor
+thinner than the rest; the whole secret lies in that." The new wheel,
+fitted and tested beforehand, was fixed at once and greased with tar;
+and the current was turned on by degrees, also by my grandfather's
+instructions; at once the stone began to hum and grind smoothly and
+evenly, with no stumbling or knocking. The visitors went next to the
+pounding-machine, where my grandfather took a handful of millet from the
+mortar. He blew the chaff away and said to the man who had brought the
+grain to the mill, a Mordvinian and an old acquaintance: "Have a care,
+friend Vaska! If you look, every grain is pounded already, and, if you
+go on, you will have less of it." Vaska tried it himself and saw that my
+grandfather was right. He said, "Thank you," ducked his head by way of
+bowing, and ran off to stop the current. Their last visit was to the
+poultry-yard, where a large number of ducks and geese, hens and turkeys,
+were looked after by an old woman and her little grand-daughter.
+Everything here was in excellent order. As a sign of special favour, my
+grandfather gave both of them his hand to kiss, and ordered that the
+hen-wife should get an extra allowance of 20 lbs. of wheat-flour every
+month to make pies with. Stepan Mihailovitch rejoined his wife in good
+spirits. Everything had gone right: his daughter had shown intelligence,
+the mill was working well, and the hen-wife, Tatyana Gorozhana,[23] was
+attending to her duties.
+
+ [22] A nickname: "Little Chatterer," a diminutive of _bolt�n_.
+
+ [23] She had got this nickname ("the town-woman") because she had spent
+      part of her youth in some town.
+
+The heat had long been abating; coolness came from the water and from
+the approach of evening; a long cloud of dust drifted along the road and
+came nearer the village with the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle;
+the sun was losing light and sinking behind the steep hill. Stepan
+Mihailovitch stood on the mill-dam and surveyed the wide mirror of the
+pond as it lay motionless in the frame of its sloping banks. A fish
+jumped from time to time; but my grandfather was no fisherman. "Time to
+go home, Arisha," he said at last: "I expect the bailiff is waiting for
+me." Seeing his good humour, his daughters asked leave to fish on: they
+said the fish would take better at sunset, and they would walk home in
+half an hour. Leave was given, and the old couple started for home on
+one of the cars, while Elizabeth took her little brother in the other.
+As Stepan Mihailovitch had expected, the bailiff was waiting for him by
+the stoop, and some peasants and their wives were there with him; they
+had got a hint from the bailiff, who knew already that his master was in
+the right mood, and now seized the opportunity to state some exceptional
+needs or prefer some exceptional requests. Not one of them was
+disappointed. To one my grandfather gave corn, and forgave an old debt
+which the man could have paid; another was allowed to marry his son
+before the winter[24] and to a girl of their own choosing; he gave leave
+to a soldier's wife,[25] who was to be turned out of the village for
+misconduct, to go on living with her father; and so on. Nor was that
+all: strong home-made spirits were offered to each of them, in a silver
+cup which held more than an ordinary dram. Then my grandfather gave his
+orders to the bailiff, shortly and clearly, and went off to his supper
+which had been standing ready some time. The evening meal did not differ
+much from the midday dinner; but the cooler air probably gave a keener
+edge to appetite. It was a custom with Stepan Mihailovitch to send his
+family off to bed and sit up for half an hour or so on the stoop, with
+nothing on but his shirt, for the sake of coolness. This day he stayed
+there longer than usual, laughing and jesting with Mazan and
+Tanaichonok; he made them wrestle and fight with their fists, and urged
+them on till they began to hit out in earnest and even clutched each
+other by the hair. He had laughed his fill; and now a word of command,
+and the tone it was spoken in, brought them to their senses and parted
+them.
+
+All the landscape lay before him, still and wonderful, enfolded by the
+short summer night. The glow of sunset had not yet disappeared, and
+would go on till it gave place to the glow of dawn. Hour by hour, the
+depths of the vault of heaven grew darker; hour by hour, the stars
+flashed brighter, and the cries of the night birds grew louder, as if
+they were becoming more familiar with man; the clack of the mill sounded
+nearer in the misty damp of the night air. My grandfather rose from his
+stoop, and crossed himself once or twice, looking at the starry sky.
+Then, though the heat in his bedroom was stifling, he lay down on the
+hot feather-bed and ordered his curtains to be drawn round him.
+
+ [24] After harvest is the normal time for peasants' marriages.
+
+ [25] A _soldatka_ is a woman whose husband is away serving in the Army.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF
+
+
+I promised to give a separate account of Mihail Maximovitch Kurolyessoff
+and his marriage with my grandfather's cousin, Praskovya Ivanovna
+Bagroff. This story begins about 1760, earlier than the time described
+in the First Fragment of this history, and ends much later. I shall now
+fulfil my promise.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was the only son of Mihail Bagroff; Mihail had a
+brother Peter, whose only daughter was Praskovya Ivanovna. As she was
+his only cousin and the sole female representative of the Bagroff family
+in that generation, my grandfather was much attached to her. While still
+in the cradle she lost her mother, and her father died when she was ten.
+Her mother, one of the Bakt�yeff family, was very rich and left to her
+daughter 900 serfs, a quantity of money, and still more in silver and
+valuables; and her father's death added 300 serfs to her property.
+Praskovya Ivanovna was therefore a rich orphan, and would bring a great
+fortune to her future husband. After her father's death she lived at
+first with her grandmother, Mme. Bakt�yeff; then she paid a long visit
+to Bagrovo; and finally Stepan Mihailovitch took her to his house as a
+permanent inmate. He was quite as fond of his orphan cousin as of his
+daughters and was very affectionate to her in his own way. But she was
+too young, too babyish, one might say, to appreciate her cousin's love
+and tenderness, which never took the form of spoiling, while, under her
+grandmother's roof, where she had spent some time, she had grown
+accustomed to indulgence. So it is not surprising that she grew tired of
+Bagrovo and wished to go back to old Mme. Bakt�yeff. Praskovya Ivanovna,
+though she was not beautiful, had regular features and fine intelligent
+grey eyes; her dark eyebrows, long and rather thick, were a sign of her
+masculine strength of character; she was tall and well-made, and looked
+eighteen when she was only fourteen. But, in spite of her physical
+maturity, her mind and feelings were still those of a mere child: always
+lively and merry, she capered and frisked, gambolled and sang, from
+morning till night. She had a remarkable voice and was passionately fond
+of joining with the maids in their singing or dancing or swinging; or,
+when nothing of that kind was to be had, she played with her dolls all
+day, invariably accompanying her occupation with popular songs of all
+sorts, of which she knew even then an immense number.
+
+A year before Praskovya Ivanovna went to live at Bagrovo, Mihail
+Kurolyessoff, an officer in the Army, came on leave to the Government of
+Simbirsk. He belonged to a noble family in the district, and was then
+twenty-eight years old. He was a fine-looking fellow, and many people
+called him handsome; but some said that, in spite of his regular
+features, there was something unpleasing about him; and I remember to
+have heard as a child debates on this point between my grandmother and
+her daughters. Entering the Army at fifteen, he had served in a regiment
+of high reputation in those days and had risen to the rank of major. He
+did not often come home on leave, and he had little reason to come,
+because the serfs--about 150 in all--who formed his property, owned
+little land and were scattered about. As a matter of course, he had
+received no proper education, but he had a ready tongue and wrote in an
+easy correct style. Many of his letters have passed through my hands;
+and they prove clearly that he was a man of sense and tact and also firm
+of purpose and business-like. I don't know his exact relationship to our
+immortal Suv�roff;[26] but I found in the correspondence some letters
+from the great captain, which always begin thus--
+
+        "Dear Sir and cousin, Mihail Maximovitch,"
+        and end--
+
+    "With all proper respect for you and my worthy cousin, Praskovya
+    Ivanovna,
+
+        "I have the honour to be," etc.
+
+ [26] A famous general in the reign of Catherine II. and a great popular
+      hero.
+
+Kurolyessoff was little known in the Government of Simbirsk. But "rumour
+runs all over the earth," and perhaps the young officer on leave
+permitted himself some "distractions" as they are called; or perhaps the
+soldier servant whom he brought with him, in spite of his master's
+severity, let something leak out at odd times. Whatever the reason, an
+opinion gradually took shape about him, which may be summed up in the
+following statements--"Toe the line, when you parade before the
+Major"--"Mind your P's and Q's, when talking to Kurolyessoff"--"When one
+of his men is caught out, he shows no mercy, though he may try to shield
+him"--"When he says a thing, he means it"--"He's the very devil when his
+temper's up." People called him "a dark horse" and "a rum customer"; but
+every one admitted his ability as a man of business. There were also
+rumours, probably proceeding from the same sources, that the Major had
+certain weaknesses, which, however, he gratified with due regard to time
+and place. But these failings were excused by the charitable
+proverbs--"A young man must sow his wild oats," and "It's no crime in a
+man to drink," and "The man who drinks and keeps his head, Scores two
+points, it must be said." So Kurolyessoff had not a positively bad
+reputation; on the contrary many people thought highly of him.
+Insinuating and courteous in his address, and respectful to all persons
+of rank and position, he was a welcome guest in every house. As he was a
+near neighbour of the Bakt�yeff family, and indeed a distant connexion,
+he soon managed to make his way into their good graces; they took a
+great liking to him and sounded his praises everywhere. At first he had
+no special object, but was merely following his invariable rule--to make
+himself agreeable to persons of rank and wealth; but later, when he met
+in their house Praskovya Ivanovna, lively, laughing, and rich, and
+looking quite old enough to be married, he formed a plan of marrying her
+himself and getting her wealth into his hands. With this definite object
+in view, he redoubled his attentions to her grandmother and aunt, till
+the two ladies quite lost their heads about him; and at the same time he
+paid court so cleverly to the girl herself, that she soon had a liking
+for him, as she naturally would for a man who agreed to everything she
+said, gave her everything she asked, and spoiled her in every possible
+way. Next he showed his hand to her relations: he professed that he had
+fallen in love with the orphan girl, and they believed that he was
+suffering all a passionate lover's pangs, mad with longing, and haunted
+by his darling's image day and night. They approved of his plan and took
+the poor victim of love under their protection. The favour and
+connivance of her relations made it easy for him to proceed along his
+path: he did everything he could to entertain and amuse the
+child--taking her out for drives behind his spirited horses, pushing her
+in the swing and sitting beside her in it himself, singing with her the
+popular songs which he sang very well, giving her many trifling
+presents, and ordering amusing toys for her from Moscow.
+
+Kurolyessoff knew, however, that the consent of her cousin and guardian
+was a necessary preliminary to complete success, and therefore tried to
+get into the good graces of Stepan Mihailovitch. Under various pretexts
+and provided with introductory letters from Praskovya Ivanovna's
+relations, he paid a visit at Bagrovo; but the visit proved a failure.
+At first sight this may seem strange; for some of the young officer's
+qualities were likely to appeal to Stepan Mihailovitch. But my
+grandfather, as well as his quick eye and sound sense, had that
+instinct, peculiar to men who are perfectly honest and straightforward
+themselves, which is instantly conscious of the hidden guile and crooked
+ways even of a complete stranger--the instinct which detects evil under
+a plausible exterior and surmises its future development. Kurolyessoff's
+respectful manner and polite speeches did not take him in for a moment:
+he guessed at once that there was some knavery underneath. There were
+other objections. My grandfather's own life was very strict, and the
+reports of the Major's peccadilloes which had casually come to his ear,
+though many people treated them lightly enough, filled his honest breast
+with disgust; and, though he was himself capable of furious anger, he
+hated deliberate unkindness and cold cruelty. For all these reasons his
+reception of his guest was cool and dry, though Kurolyessoff talked in a
+sensible practical way on all subjects and especially the management of
+land. Praskovya Ivanovna had now come to live with my grandfather; and,
+when the Major began, on the strength of their old acquaintance, to pay
+her compliments which she accepted with pleasure, his host's head bent a
+little to one side, his eyebrows met, and he shot a look at his guest
+which was hardly hospitable. Arina Vassilyevna, on the contrary, and her
+daughters, had been charmed straight off by the young man's seductions
+and were quite inclined to say kind things to him; but the storm-signals
+on the face of Stepan Mihailovitch quenched their ardour and made them
+all hold their tongues. The guest tried to restore the harmony of the
+party and to resume their agreeable conversation. But it was no use: he
+received short answers from them all, and his host was not even quite
+polite. Though it was getting late and an invitation to stay the night
+would have been the natural thing, there was nothing for it but to take
+his leave. "The man is a knave and rotten all through," said Stepan
+Mihailovitch to his family; "but perhaps he won't come here again." No
+voice was raised to contradict him; but, behind his back, the women went
+on for a long time praising the dashing young officer; and one who liked
+to listen to his merits and to tell of them herself, was the orphan girl
+with the large fortune.
+
+With the taste of this rebuff in his mouth, Kurolyessoff went back and
+told Mme. Bakt�yeff of his failure. The people there knew my grandfather
+well, and at once abandoned all hope that he would give his consent.
+Long consideration brought no solution of the difficulty. The bold Major
+suggested that her grandmother should invite the girl on a visit, and
+that the marriage should take place without the consent of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; but both Mme. Bakt�yeff and her daughter, Mme. Kurmysheff,
+were convinced that Stepan Mihailovitch would not let his cousin go
+alone, or, if he did, would be slow about it, and the Major's leave was
+nearly at an end. Then he proposed a desperate scheme--to induce
+Praskovya Ivanovna to elope with him, and to get married in the nearest
+church; but her relations would not hear of such a scandalous expedient,
+and Kurolyessoff went back to his regiment. The ways of Providence are
+past finding out, and we cannot judge why it came about that this
+nefarious scheme was crowned with success. Six months later, Mme.
+Bakt�yeff heard one day that Stepan Mihailovitch was called away to some
+distance by very important business and would not return for some time.
+His destination and errand I do not know; but it was some distant place,
+Astrakhan or Moscow, and the business was certainly legal, because he
+took with him his man of business. A letter was sent at once to Stepan
+Mihailovitch, begging that the child, during the absence of her cousin
+and guardian, might stay with her grandmother. A curt answer was
+received--that Parasha was very well where she was, and, if they wished
+to see her, they were welcome to visit Bagrovo and stay as long as they
+liked. Stepan Mihailovitch sent this plain answer, and gave the
+strictest injunctions to his always submissive wife, that she was to
+watch Parasha as the apple of her eye and never let her out of the house
+alone; and then he started on his journey.
+
+Mme. Bakt�yeff was constantly sending letters and messages to Praskovya
+Ivanovna and my grandfather's womankind; and she sent news of his
+departure at once to Kurolyessoff, adding that the absence would be a
+long one, and asking whether the Major could not come on leave, to take
+a personal share in the promotion of their scheme. She herself and her
+daughter went at once to Bagrovo. She had always been on friendly terms
+with Arina Vassilyevna, and now, on discovering that she also liked
+Kurolyessoff, revealed the fact that the young officer was passionately
+in love with Parasha; she launched out into praise of the suitor, and
+said, "There is nothing I wish so much as to see the poor little orphan
+comfortably settled in my lifetime; I am sure she will be happy. I feel
+that I have not long to live, and therefore I should like to hurry on
+the business." Arina Vassilyevna, on her side, entirely approved of the
+plan but expressed doubts whether Stepan Mihailovitch would consent:
+"Heaven knows why," she said, "but he took a strong dislike to that
+delightful Kurolyessoff." Arina Vassilyevna's elder daughters were
+summoned to a council presided over by Mme. Bakt�yeff and her daughter,
+a strong partisan of the Major's; and it was settled that the
+grandmother, as the girl's nearest relation, should manage the affair,
+without involving Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters; it was to appear
+that they knew nothing about it and took no hand in it. I have said
+already that Arina Vassilyevna was a kind-hearted and very simple woman;
+her daughters sympathised entirely with Mme. Bakt�yeff, and it is not
+surprising that she was persuaded by them to promote a scheme which was
+sure to provoke the furious rage of Stepan Mihailovitch.
+
+Meantime the innocent victim laughed and sang, with no suspicion that
+her fate was being decided. They often spoke of Kurolyessoff in her
+presence, praised him to the skies, and assured her that he loved her
+more than his own life, was constantly studying how to please her, and
+would certainly bring her a number of presents from Moscow on his next
+visit. All this she heard with pleasure, and often said that she loved
+Kurolyessoff better than any one in the world. While Mme. Bakt�yeff was
+at Bagrovo, she had a letter forwarded to her, in which Kurolyessoff
+assured her that he would come, as soon as he could get leave. Arina
+Vassilyevna promised to say nothing when writing to her husband, and
+also to send Parasha to her grandmother's house, in spite of her
+husband's strict orders to the contrary, on the pretext that her nearest
+relative was dangerously ill. When the two ladies left Bagrovo and went
+home, Praskovya Ivanovna cried and asked to go with them; the Major was
+expected soon, and that was an additional attraction; but permission was
+refused, out of respect, it was said, to her guardian's strict orders.
+Kurolyessoff had some difficulty in getting leave, and it was two months
+before he arrived. Immediately afterwards a special messenger was
+despatched to Bagrovo, with a letter from Mme. Kurmysheff to Arina
+Vassilyevna; the lady wrote that her mother was desperately ill and
+wished to see her grand-daughter and give her her blessing; she
+therefore asked that Parasha might be sent, with an escort. She also
+wrote that Stepan Mihailovitch would certainly have sent the child to
+see the last of her grandmother, and could not possibly resent this
+infraction of his commands. The letter was clearly intended to be shown
+by Arina Vassilyevna, in order to protect herself from her husband's
+displeasure. True to her promise and reassured by this letter, Arina
+Vassilyevna made her preparations at once and took Parasha herself to
+the place where the grandmother was supposed to be dying; she stayed
+there a week and returned home charmed by the politeness of Kurolyessoff
+and also by some presents which he had brought from Moscow for her, and
+for her daughters as well. Praskovya Ivanovna was very happy: her
+grandmother took a sudden turn for the better; that fairy godmother, the
+Major, had brought her a number of presents and toys from Moscow and
+stayed in the house continuously. He flattered her in every possible
+way, and soon took her fancy so completely, that, when her grandmother
+told her he wished to marry her, she was charmed. She ran up and down
+through the house like a perfect child, telling every one she met that
+she was going to marry the Major and would have capital fun--driving all
+day with him behind his fine trotters, swinging on a swing of immense
+height, singing, or playing with dolls, not little dolls, but big ones
+that were able to walk and bow. You can judge by this, how far the poor
+little bride realised her position. Fearing that reports might reach
+Stepan Mihailovitch, the plotters went to work quickly: they invited the
+neighbours to a formal betrothal, at which the pair exchanged rings and
+kisses, sat side by side at table, and had their healths drunk. At
+first, the bride got tired of the ceremony where she had to sit still so
+long and listen to so many congratulations; but, when she was allowed to
+have her new doll from Moscow beside her, she quite cheered up,
+introducing the doll to every one as her daughter, and making it curtsey
+when she did, in acknowledgment of their kind wishes. A week later, the
+marriage took place with all due formality; the bride's age was given as
+seventeen instead of fifteen, but no one would have guessed the truth,
+to look at her.
+
+Though Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters knew what the end must be,
+yet the news of the marriage, which came sooner than they expected,
+filled them with horror. The scales fell from their eyes, and they now
+realised what they had been about, and that neither the grandmother's
+sham illness nor her letter would serve to cover them from the just
+wrath of Stepan Mihailovitch. Before she heard of the marriage, Arina
+Vassilyevna had written to her husband that she had taken the child to
+her grandmother: "It was quite necessary," she wrote, "because the old
+lady was in a dying state. I stayed there a whole week, and mercifully
+the invalid took a good turn; but they insisted on keeping Parasha till
+her grandmother got well. I was helpless: I could not take her by force,
+so I agreed against my will and hurried back to our own children, who
+were quite alone at Bagrovo. And now I am afraid that you will be
+angry." In answering, he said she had done a foolish thing and told her
+to go back and fetch Parasha home at all costs. Arina Vassilyevna sighed
+and shed tears over this letter, and was puzzled how to act. The young
+couple soon came to pay her a visit. Parasha seemed perfectly happy and
+cheerful, though some of her childish gaiety had gone. Her husband
+seemed happy too, and at the same time so composed and sensible that his
+clever arguments had power to lull Arina Vassilyevna's fears to rest. He
+proved to her convincingly that her husband's wrath must all fall upon
+the grandmother: "And she," said he, "owing to that dangerous
+illness--though now, thank God! she is better--had a perfect right not
+to wait for the consent of Stepan Mihailovitch; she knew that he would
+be slow in giving it, though of course he must have given it in time. It
+was impossible for her to delay, owing to her critical condition, and it
+would have been hard for her to die without seeing her orphan
+grand-daughter settled in life; her place could not be filled even by a
+brother, far less by a mere cousin." Many soothing assurances of this
+kind were forthcoming, backed by some very handsome presents which were
+received by the Bagrovo ladies with great satisfaction and some sinking
+of heart. Other presents were left, to be given to Stepan Mihailovitch.
+Kurolyessoff advised Arina Vassilyevna not to write to her husband till
+he answered the letter of intimation from the young couple; and he
+assured her that he and his wife would write this at once. He did not
+really dream of writing: his sole object was to delay the explosion and
+get time to take root in his new position. Immediately after his
+marriage, he applied for leave to retire from the Army, and got it very
+soon. He then began by paying a round of visits with his bride to all
+the relations and friends on both sides. At Simbirsk he began by calling
+on the Governor and neglected no one of any importance who could be
+useful to him. All were enthusiastic in praise of the handsome young
+couple, and they were so popular everywhere, that the marriage was soon
+sanctioned by public opinion. Thus several months passed away.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had had no news from home for a long time, and his
+lawsuit dragged on interminably. He was suddenly seized by a longing to
+see his family again, and returned one fine day to Bagrovo. Arina
+Vassilyevna trembled all over when she heard the awful words, "The
+master has come!" Hearing that all were alive and well, he entered his
+house in high spirits, kissed his Arisha and daughters and son, and then
+asked in an easy tone, "But where on earth is Parasha[27]?" Encouraged
+by her husband's kind manner, Arina Vassilyevna answered: "I don't know
+for certain where she is; perhaps, with her grandmother. Of course you
+heard long ago, _batyushka_, that she was married." I shall not describe
+my grandfather's amazement and fury; but his fury became twice as hot,
+when he heard the name of the bridegroom. He was proceeding to settle
+accounts with his wife on the spot, when she and all her daughters fell
+at his feet and showed him Mme. Bakt�yeff's letter; thus she had time to
+convince him that she knew nothing about it and had been deceived
+herself. The fury of Stepan Mihailovitch was now diverted to Mme.
+Bakt�yeff; he ordered fresh horses to be ready, rested two hours, and
+then galloped straight off to her house. The battle royal that took
+place between the two may be imagined. The old lady stood his first
+torrent of unmeasured abuse without flinching; then she drew herself up,
+grew hot in her turn, and delivered her own attack upon my grandfather.
+"How dare you make this furious assault on me," she asked, "as if I was
+your bond-slave? Do you forget that my birth is quite as good as yours,
+and that my late husband held a much higher rank than you? I am a nearer
+relation to Parasha, I am her own grandmother, and her guardian as much
+as you are. I arranged for her settlement without waiting for your
+consent, because I was dangerously ill and did not wish to leave her
+dependent upon you. I knew your infernal temper; under your roof, the
+child would have had a taste of the stick some day. Kurolyessoff is an
+excellent match for her, and Parasha fell in love with him of herself.
+Everybody likes him and praises him. I know he did not take your fancy;
+but just ask your own family, and you will soon find out that they can't
+say enough in his praise!"
+
+ [27] A short form of Praskovya, which itself represents the Greek name
+      Paraskeva.
+
+"You lie, you old swindler!" roared my grandfather; "you deceived my
+wife by pretending that you were dying! Kurolyessoff has bewitched you
+and your daughter by the power of the devil, and you have sold your
+grand-daughter into his hands!"
+
+This was too much for Mme. Bakt�yeff, and she let out in her rage that
+Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were in league with her and had
+themselves accepted presents at different times from Kurolyessoff. This
+disclosure turned the whole force of my grandfather's rage back upon his
+own family. He threatened that he would dissolve the marriage on the
+ground that Parasha was not of age, and then started home. On the way he
+turned aside to visit the priest who had performed the ceremony, and
+called him to account. But the priest met his attack very coolly, and
+showed him with no hesitation the certificate of affinity, the
+signatures of the grandmother, the bride, and the witnesses, and also
+the baptismal certificate which alleged that Praskovya Ivanovna was
+seventeen. This was a fresh blow to my grandfather, for it deprived him
+of all hope of breaking the hateful marriage; and it increased
+enormously his anger against his wife and daughters. I shall not dwell
+upon his behaviour when he got home: it would be too painful and
+repulsive. Thirty years later, my aunts could never speak of that day
+without trembling. I shall only say, that the culprits made a full
+confession, that he sent back all the presents, including those intended
+for himself, to Mme. Bakt�yeff, to be forwarded to the proper quarter,
+that the elder daughters long kept their beds, and that my grandmother
+lost all her hair and went about for a whole year with her head
+bandaged. He sent a message to the Kurolyessoffs forbidding them to dare
+to appear before him, and ordered that their names should never be
+mentioned in his house.
+
+Time rolled on, healing wounds whether of mind or body, and calming
+passions. Within a year Arina Vassilyevna's head was healed, and the
+anger in the heart of Stepan Mihailovitch had cooled. At first he
+refused either to see or hear of the Kurolyessoffs, and would not even
+write to Praskovya Ivanovna; but, when a year had passed and he heard
+from all quarters good accounts of her way of life, and was told that
+she had suddenly become sensible beyond her years, his heart softened
+and he became anxious to see the cousin whom he had loved. He reasoned
+that she, as a perfect child, was less to blame than any of the rest,
+and gave her leave to come, without her husband, to Bagrovo; and, as a
+matter of course, she came at once. The reports were true: one year of
+marriage had wrought such a change in Praskovya Ivanovna, that Stepan
+Mihailovitch could hardly believe it. It was puzzling also, that she now
+showed towards her cousin a kind of love and gratitude which she had
+never felt in her girlhood, and was still less likely, one would think,
+to feel after her marriage. In his eyes, which filled with tears when
+they met, did she read how much love was concealed under that harsh
+exterior and that arbitrary violence? Had she any dark foreboding of the
+future, or did she dimly realise that here was her one support and stay?
+Or did she feel unconsciously, that the rough cousin who had opposed her
+happiness and still disliked her husband, loved her better than all the
+women who had indulged her by falling in with all her childish wishes? I
+cannot answer these questions; but all were struck by the change. In her
+careless childhood she had been indifferent to her cousin, thinking
+little of his rights and her duties; and now she had every reason to
+resent his treatment of her grandmother; yet she felt to him now as a
+devoted daughter feels to a tender father when both have long known and
+loved one another. Whatever the cause of it, this sudden feeling ended
+only with her life.
+
+But what was the remarkable change that had come over so young a woman
+as Praskovya Ivanovna, after one year of married life? The foolish child
+had turned into a sensible but cheerful woman. She frankly confessed
+that they had all behaved badly to Stepan Mihailovitch. For herself only
+she pleaded youth and ignorance, and, for her grandmother, her husband,
+and the rest, their blind devotion to her. She did not ask him to pardon
+the chief criminal at once; but she hoped that in time, when he saw her
+happiness and the unwearied care with which her husband managed her
+property and looked after her estates, her cousin would forgive the
+culprit and admit him at Bagrovo. My grandfather, though he made no
+answer at the time, was completely conquered by this appeal. He did not
+keep his "clever cousin"--as he now began to call her--long at his
+house; he said that her place was now elsewhere, and soon sent her back
+to her husband. At parting, he said: "If you are as well satisfied with
+your husband a year hence, and if he behaves as well to you as he does
+now, I shall be reconciled to him." A year later, as he knew that
+Kurolyessoff was behaving well and paying the utmost attention to the
+management of his wife's property, and found his cousin, when he saw
+her, looking healthy and happy and cheerful, Stepan Mihailovitch told
+her to bring her husband with her to Bagrovo. He received Kurolyessoff
+cordially, frankly confessed his former doubts, and ended by promising
+to treat him as a kinsman and friend, on condition of continued good
+conduct. The guest behaved very cleverly: he was less furtive and less
+insinuating than he used to be, but just as respectful, attentive, and
+tactful. His bearing was clearly more confident and self-assured; he was
+giving the closest attention to agricultural problems, on which he asked
+advice from my grandfather--advice which he took in very quickly and
+followed with remarkable skill. He was connected in some distant way
+with Stepan Mihailovitch, and addressed him as "uncle" and treated the
+rest of the family as relations. Even before the scene of reconciliation
+or forgiveness, he had rendered a service of some kind to Stepan
+Mihailovitch; my grandfather was aware of this and thanked him for it
+now; he even gave him a similar commission to execute. In fact, the
+visit passed off very well. But, though all the circumstances seemed to
+speak in favour of Kurolyessoff, my grandfather still said: "The lad is
+all right: he is clever and sensible; but somehow I don't take to him."
+
+It was in the course of the next year that Stepan Mihailovitch made his
+move to the district of Ufa. For three years after his marriage,
+Kurolyessoff behaved with discretion and moderation, or at least
+concealed his conduct with such care that nothing got round. Besides, he
+was constantly moving about and spent little time at home. There was
+only one report, which spread everywhere with exaggeration--that the
+young landowner was a very strict master. During the next two years he
+did wonders in the way of improving his wife's property, and established
+his character for unceasing activity, bold enterprise, and steadfast
+perseverance in the execution of his schemes. The property had been
+mismanaged previously: the land had been injured by neglect, and the
+peasants brought in very little income, not because there was no market
+for their grain, but because they were spoilt and lazy, and had too
+little land; and another difficulty was that some of them belonged to
+three different owners--Mme. Bakt�yeff and her daughter as well as
+Praskovya Ivanovna. Kurolyessoff began by transferring some of the
+peasants to new ground, while he sold the old land at a good profit. He
+bought about 20,000 acres of steppe in the Government of Simbirsk (now
+Sam�ra) and the district of Stavropolsk--excellent arable land, level
+and easy to plough, with over three feet of black soil. The land lay on
+the river Berlya, which had some coppices on its banks near the source;
+and there was also "Bear Hollow," which was left untouched for some time
+and is now the only forest on the property. He settled 350 serfs here.
+This estate turned out highly profitable, because it was only a hundred
+_versts_ from Sam�ra and about fifty from a number of ports on the
+Volga. It is well known that the value of an estate in our country
+depends entirely upon the market for grain.
+
+Next, Kurolyessoff went off to the district of Ufa and bought from the
+Bashkirs 60,000 acres. The soil, though good, was not as productive as
+that in Simbirsk, but there was a considerable quantity of wood, not
+only firewood, but timber for building. He planted two colonies there,
+one of 450 serfs and the other of 50; and he called the larger
+"Parashino" and the smaller "Ivanovka." As the Simbirsk estate was
+called "Kurolyessovo," each of the properties bore one of the names of
+his wife. Such a romantic fancy has always seemed to me curious,
+considering the sort of man that Kurolyessoff turned out to be; but some
+will maintain that these inconsistencies are common enough. He also made
+a seat for himself and his wife in the village of Choorassovo, fifty
+_versts_ from Simbirsk; this was a separate property of 350 serfs which
+his wife had inherited from her mother. He built there a splendid
+mansion, according to the ideas of those days, with all the usual
+appurtenances; it was finely decorated and furnished, and painted with
+frescoes inside and out; the chandeliers and bronzes, the silver plate
+and china, were a wonder to behold. The house was situated on the slope
+of a hill, from which more than twenty excellent springs came bubbling
+out. The house and the hill stood in the centre of an orchard, very
+large and productive, stocked with apple-trees and cherry-trees of every
+possible sort. The internal arrangements--the service and cooking, the
+horses and carriages--were luxurious and substantial. There was a
+constant succession of visitors at Choorassovo, either country
+neighbours, of whom there were a good many, or people from Simbirsk;
+they ate and drank, took walks and played cards, sang and talked, and
+were generally noisy and merry. Kurolyessoff dressed his wife up like a
+doll, anticipated all her wishes, and entertained her from morning till
+night, that is, when he happened to be at home. In short, after a few
+years, he had attained such a position all round, that good people
+admired him and bad people envied him. Nor did he forget the claims of
+religion: in place of an old tumbledown wooden erection, he built a new
+church of stone and equipped it splendidly; he even formed an excellent
+choir out of the household servants. Praskovya Ivanovna was quite
+contented and happy. She gave birth to a daughter in the fourth year of
+her marriage, and to a son a year later, but she soon lost them, the
+girl in infancy, and the boy when he was three. She had become so
+attached to the boy that this loss cost her dear. For a whole year her
+eyes were never dry, her excellent constitution was seriously affected,
+and she had no more children. Meanwhile her husband's reputation and
+influence grew by leaps and bounds. It is true that his behaviour to the
+small landowners was arbitrary and harsh; yet they, if they did not like
+him, were exceedingly afraid of him; and people of importance thought it
+only to his credit, that he made his inferiors know their proper place.
+His absences from home became more frequent and longer, from year to
+year, especially after the sad year in which Praskovya Ivanovna lost her
+son and would not be comforted. It is probable that he grew weary of
+tears and sighs and solitude; for she refused to have any visitors for a
+whole year. But indeed the most cheerful and noisy society at
+Choorassovo was no attraction to Kurolyessoff.
+
+Little by little, certain rumours began to spread abroad and gain
+strength. According to these reports, the Major was not merely strict,
+as was said before, but cruel; in the privacy of his estates at Ufa he
+gave himself up to drink and debauchery; he had gathered round him a
+band, with whom he drank and committed excesses of every kind; and,
+worse still, several victims had already been killed by him in the fury
+of his drunken violence. The police and magistrates of the district, it
+was said, were all his creatures: he had bribed some with money and
+others with drink and terrorised them all. The small landowners and
+inferior officials went in terror of their lives: if any dared to act or
+speak against him, they were seized in broad daylight and imprisoned in
+cellars or corn-kilns, where they were fed on bread and water and
+suffered the pangs of cold and hunger; and some were unmercifully
+flogged with an instrument called a "cat." Kurolyessoff had a special
+fancy for this implement, which was merely a leather whip with seven
+tails and knots at the end of each tail. They remained for some time
+after Kurolyessoff's death in a store-room at Parashino, for show, not
+for use; and I saw them there myself; they were burnt by my father when
+he inherited the property. These reports were only too well founded: the
+reality far surpassed the timid whisper of rumour. Kurolyessoff's thirst
+for blood, inflamed to madness by strong drink, grew unchecked to its
+full proportions, till it presented one of those horrible spectacles at
+which humanity shudders and turns sick. The instinct of the tiger is
+terrible indeed, when combined with the reasoning power of a man.
+
+At last the rumours were changed into certain knowledge; and of all the
+people with whom Praskovya Ivanovna lived--relations, neighbours, and
+servants, every one knew the real truth about Kurolyessoff. When he
+returned to Choorassovo from the scene of his exploits, he always showed
+the same respect to rank, the same friendly attention to his equals, the
+same anxiety to please his wife. She had now got over her loss and had
+recovered health and spirits; the house was as full of visitors as it
+used to be, and something was always going on. At Choorassovo,
+Kurolyessoff never struck any of the servants, leaving the bailiff and
+the butler in sole possession of this amusement; but they all knew about
+him and trembled at a mere look. Even relations and intimate friends
+showed some discomfort and embarrassment in his company. But Praskovya
+Ivanovna noticed nothing, or, if she did, ascribed it to a quite
+different cause--the involuntary respect which every one felt for her
+husband's remarkable success as a landowner, his splendid establishment,
+and his general intelligence and firmness of purpose. Sensible people
+who loved Praskovya Ivanovna, when they saw her perfectly composed and
+happy, were glad of her ignorance and hoped it might last as long as
+possible. There were, no doubt, some women among her dependants and
+humble neighbours whose tongues itched uncommonly, and who felt a strong
+desire to pay the Major out for his contemptuous treatment of them, by
+disclosing the truth; but, apart from the fear they could not help
+feeling, which would probably not have deterred them, there was another
+obstacle which prevented the fulfilment of their kind intentions. It was
+simply impossible to bring any tales against her husband to Praskovya
+Ivanovna. She was clever, keen-sighted, and determined; and, as soon as
+she detected any hidden innuendo to the detriment of Kurolyessoff, she
+knitted her dark eyebrows and said in her downright way that any offence
+of the kind would be punished by perpetual exclusion from her house. As
+the natural result of such a significant warning, nobody ventured to
+interfere in what was not their business. There were two servants in the
+house, a favourite attendant of her late father's and her own old nurse,
+whom she specially favoured, though they were not admitted to such close
+intimacy as old servants often were in those days; but they too were
+powerless. To them it was a matter of life and death that their mistress
+should know the real truth about her husband; for they had near
+relations who were personal attendants of Kurolyessoff's and were
+suffering beyond endurance from their master's cruelty. At last they
+determined to tell the whole story to their mistress. They chose a time
+when she was alone, and went together to her room; but the old nurse had
+hardly mentioned Kurolyessoff's name, when Praskovya Ivanovna flew into
+a violent passion. She told the woman that, if she ever again ventured
+to open her mouth against her master, she would banish her from her
+presence for ever and send her to live at Parashino. Thus all possible
+channels were blocked, and all mouths were stopped, that might have
+informed against the criminal. Praskovya Ivanovna loved her husband and
+trusted him absolutely. She knew that people like to meddle with what
+does not concern them, and like to trouble the water, that they may
+catch fish; and she had made up her mind at once and laid down an
+absolute rule, to listen to no tales against her husband. It is an
+excellent rule, and indispensable for the preservation of domestic
+peace. But there is no rule that does not admit of exceptions; and
+perhaps, in the present case, the resolute temper and strong will of the
+wife, added to the fact that all the wealth belonged to her, might have
+checked the husband at the outset of his career. As a sensible man, he
+would not have cared to deprive himself of all the advantages of a
+luxurious life; he would not have gone to such extremes or given such
+free play to his monstrous passions. It is more likely that, like many
+other men, he would have taken his pleasures in moderation and with
+precaution.
+
+Thus several years went by, during which Kurolyessoff gave himself up
+without restraint to his evil tendencies. His degeneration was rapid,
+and at last he began to commit incredible crimes, and always with
+impunity. I shall not describe in detail the kind of life he led on his
+estates, especially at Parashino, and also in the villages of the
+district; the story would be too repulsive. I shall say no more than is
+necessary to convey a true conception of this formidable man. During the
+early years when his whole attention was given to organising his wife's
+estates, he deserved to be called the most far-seeing, practical, and
+watchful of agents. To all the infinitely various and troublesome
+business, involved in removing peasants and settling them down in
+distant holdings, he gave his personal and unremitting attention. He
+kept constantly in view one object only, the well-being of his
+dependants. He could spend money where it was needed; he saw that it
+came to hand at the right time and in the right quantity; he anticipated
+all the wants and requirements of the settlers. He accompanied them
+himself for a great part of their journey, and met them himself at the
+end of it, where they found everything prepared for their reception. It
+is true that he was too severe and even cruel in the punishment of
+culprits; but he was just, and could keep his eyes shut at times. From
+time to time he allowed himself a little relaxation, when he disappeared
+for a day or two to amuse himself; but he could throw off the effects of
+his debauchery like water off a duck's back, and come to work again with
+fresh vigour.
+
+So long as he had the burden of his work upon his shoulders, it took up
+all his powers of mind and kept him from the fatal passion for drink,
+which robbed him of his senses and removed the curb from his monstrous
+inhuman passions. Work was his salvation; but, when he had got both the
+new estates, Kurolyessovo and Parashino, into order, and built
+manor-houses at both, with a second smaller house at Parashino, then
+came the season of little work and much leisure. Drunkenness, with its
+usual consequences, and violence, gained complete mastery over him, and
+developed by degrees into an insatiable thirst for human blood and human
+suffering. Encouraged by the passive fear of all around him, he soon
+ceased to set any limit to his arbitrary violence. He chose from among
+his dependants a score of ruffians, fit instruments for his purposes,
+and formed them into a band of robbers. They saw that their master bore
+a charmed life, and believed in his power; drunken and debauched
+themselves, they carried out all his insane orders willingly and boldly.
+If any man offended Kurolyessoff by the slightest independence in word
+or action--if, for example, he failed to turn up when invited to one of
+their drunken revels--the gang set off at once at a sign from their
+master, seized the culprit either secretly or openly wherever they found
+him, and brought him back to Parashino, where he was treated with insult
+and chained up in a cellar underground or flogged by their master's
+orders. Kurolyessoff was a man of taste: he liked good horses, and he
+liked good pictures--he thought them good at least--to adorn his walls.
+If anything of the kind took his fancy in a neighbour's house or in any
+house where he happened to be, he at once proposed an exchange; in case
+of a refusal, he would sometimes, if he was in a good humour, offer
+money; but, if this also was refused, he gave warning that he would take
+it and give nothing for it. And he did actually turn up with his gang a
+short time after, pack up whatever he wanted, and carry it off.
+Complaints were made, and the preliminary steps for an inquiry were
+taken. But Kurolyessoff saw this must be stopped at once. He sent a
+message to the district magistrate, that he would flay with the "cat"
+any officer of the law who dared to present himself; and he remained
+master of the situation. Meantime the man who had dared to complain was
+seized and beaten, on his own estate and in his own house, with his wife
+and children kneeling round and imploring mercy. It was Kurolyessoff's
+custom to make it up with his victims after a time: sometimes he offered
+them pecuniary compensation, but more often he restored peace by
+terrorising them; in any case, the stolen goods remained his lawful
+property. During his carouses he liked to boast that he had taken "that
+pretty thing in the gilt frame" from so-and-so, and that inlaid
+writing-table from some one else; and often these very people were
+sitting at the table, pretending to be deaf or plucking up heart to
+laugh at their own losses. There were even worse acts of violence, but
+these also went scot free.
+
+Kurolyessoff had a very powerful constitution: though he drank a great
+deal, it never disabled him but only put him on the move and roused a
+horrible activity in his clouded brain and inflamed body. One of his
+favourite amusements was to harness teams of spirited horses to a
+miscellaneous assortment of carriages, to pack the carriages with his
+ragtag and bobtail of men and women, and then scour over the fields and
+through the villages at full gallop, with the jingling of bells and the
+singing and shouting of his drunken rabble. He took a stock of liquor
+with him on these occasions and made every one he met, without regard to
+calling or sex or age, drink till they were intoxicated; and any one who
+dared to refuse was first flogged, and then tied to a tree or a post,
+though it might be raining or freezing at the time. Of more revolting
+acts of violence I say nothing. One day he was driving in this state of
+mind through a village, and, as he passed a threshing-floor, noticed a
+woman of remarkable beauty. "Stop!" he called out. "Petrushka, what do
+you think of that woman?" "She's uncommonly pretty," said Petrushka.
+"Would you like to marry her?" "How can I marry another man's wife?"
+asked Petrushka with a grin on his face. "I'll show you how! Seize her,
+my lads, and put her in the carriage beside me!" They did so; the woman
+was taken straight to the parish church, and there, though she protested
+that she had a husband living and two children, was married to
+Petrushka; and no complaints were made either in Kurolyessoff's lifetime
+or in that of his widow. When the estate came into my father's hands, he
+restored this woman with her husband and children to her former owner;
+her first husband had long been dead. My father also distributed various
+articles of property to their former owners when they asked for them;
+but many of the things had got worn out by tossing about in
+lumber-rooms. It is hard to believe that such things could happen in
+Russia, even eighty years ago; but the truth of the narrative it is
+impossible to dispute.
+
+This life of drunken and criminal violence, horrible and disgusting
+enough in itself, led on to worse, till the man's natural cruelty became
+a ferocious thirst for blood. To inflict torture became with him a
+necessity as well as a pleasure. On the days when he could not gratify
+this passion, he was depressed and listless, uneasy and even ill; and
+this was why his visits to Choorassovo grew steadily rarer and his stay
+there shorter. But, on his return to the solitude of Parashino, he made
+haste to reward himself for his abstinence. He had only to watch the
+labourers at their work, to secure a sufficient number of victims; no
+excuses were accepted, and it is always possible to find trifling cases
+of neglect on the land if you are determined to hunt for them. Yet it
+was the personal servants and people about the house who suffered most
+from his ferocity. He seldom flogged a peasant, unless the man had
+committed a serious offence or was personally known to him; but his
+bailiffs and clerks suffered as much at his hands as the household
+servants. He spared no one: every one of his favourites had, some time
+or other, been flogged within an inch of his life, and some of them many
+times. It is remarkable that, when Kurolyessoff got violently angry,
+which seldom happened, he did not use violence; but, when he had got
+hold of a man and intended to torture him for his own amusement, he
+would say in a quiet and even affectionate tone: "Well, my good friend
+Grig�ri Kuzmitch,"--Grishka[28] being his usual name--"it can't be
+helped; come, and I will settle accounts with you." Thus he would speak
+to his head-groom, who for some unknown reason was put to the torture
+more often than others. "Scratch him up a bit with the cat," said the
+master with a smile, and then the torture went on for hours, while the
+master drank tea with brandy in it, smoked his pipe, and from time to
+time passed jests on his victim till unconsciousness supervened.
+Trustworthy witnesses have assured me that only one expedient proved
+successful in saving life after such an ordeal: the lacerated body of
+the victim was wrapped up in sheepskins taken warm from the animals'
+backs as soon as they were slaughtered. Kurolyessoff would carefully
+examine his victim; then, if content, he would say, "Well, that's
+enough; take him away"--and then he became cheerful, jocular, and
+amiable for the whole day and sometimes for several days. In order to
+complete the portrait of this monster, I shall quote his own words which
+he repeated more than once among his boon-companions: "Don't talk to me
+of the knout or the stick! They kill a man before you mean it. The 'cat'
+is the thing for me: it gives pain without taking life!" I have told
+here only a tithe of what I know, but perhaps I have said enough. It is
+remarkable, as an instance of the inexplicable inconsistencies of
+corrupt human nature, that Kurolyessoff, at a time when he had reached
+the extreme limit of debauchery and cruelty, was zealously engaged in
+building a stone church at Parashino. At the time I am about to
+describe, the outside of the church was finished, and workmen had been
+hired for the internal decoration: carpenters, carvers, gilders, and
+_ikon_[29]-painters had been at work for some months and were occupying
+all the smaller manor-house of Parashino.
+
+ [28] A diminutive form of Grig�ri (Gregory).
+
+ [29] An _ikon_ is a sacred image, kept in a church or hung on the wall
+      of a room.
+
+Praskovya Ivanovna had now been married fourteen years. She noticed
+something strange about her husband, whom for two years she had only
+seen at long intervals for a few days at a time, but she did not even
+suspect anything like the truth. She went on with her easy cheerful way
+of life: in summer she gave great attention to her orchard and the
+water-springs which she left in their natural state and liked to clean
+out with her own hands; at other seasons she spent her time with her
+visitors and became a great lover of cards. Suddenly she received, by
+post or special messenger, a letter from an old lady for whom she had
+great respect, a distant relation of her husband's. This letter gave a
+full description of Kurolyessoff's life, and ended in this way, that it
+would be sinful not to open the eyes of the mistress of a thousand
+serfs, when they were suffering such monstrous cruelty and she could
+protect them by cancelling the legal authority she had given her husband
+to manage her estates. "Their blood cries to heaven," she wrote, "and at
+this moment a servant known to you, Ivan Onufrieff, is dying in
+consequence of cruel maltreatment. You have nothing to fear yourself
+from Kurolyessoff: he will not venture to show his face at Choorassovo,
+and your good neighbours and the Governor himself will protect you."
+
+This letter fell like a thunderbolt on Praskovya Ivanovna. I have heard
+her say myself that she was quite stunned for some minutes; but she was
+supported by her firm faith in God and the uncommon strength of her
+will, and soon determined on a step from which most brave men would have
+shrunk. She ordered horses to be harnessed, saying that she was going to
+Simbirsk, and then, with one maid and a man and the coachman, drove
+straight to Parashino. It was a long journey of 400 _versts_, and she
+had plenty of leisure to think over what she was doing. She used to say
+herself that she had formed no plan of action whatever; she merely
+wished to see with her own eyes and find out for certain what her
+husband was doing and how he lived. She did not entirely trust the
+letter from his kinswoman, who lived at a distance and might have been
+deceived by false reports; and she did not choose to question her old
+nurse at Choorassovo. The thought of danger never entered her head: her
+husband had always been so gentle and respectful with her, that it
+seemed to her quite natural and quite possible to induce him to return
+in her carriage to Choorassovo. She timed herself to arrive at Parashino
+in the evening, left her carriage outside the village, and walked
+unrecognised--few of the people there knew her--accompanied by her maid
+and man, to the court of the mansion-house. She passed through the back
+entrance, made her way to a wing from which loud sounds of singing and
+laughter were issuing, and opened the door with a steady hand.
+
+Fortune, as if on purpose, had brought together everything that could
+reveal at one flash the kind of life her husband was leading. More
+intoxicated than usual, he was carousing with his boon-companions.
+Dressed in a shirt of red silk, he held a glass of punch in one hand[30]
+while a tipsy herd of servants, retainers, and country women danced and
+sang before him. Praskovya Ivanovna nearly fainted at the sight. She
+understood all now. Unnoticed, because the room was crowded with people,
+she shut the door and left the house. On the steps she came face to face
+with one of Kurolyessoff's servants, not a young man, and, fortunately,
+sober. He recognised his mistress and was just calling out,
+"_Matushka_[31] Praskovya Ivanovna, is it you?"--when she put her hand
+over his mouth and led him to the centre of the courtyard. She said in
+an ominous voice, "Is this the way you go on behind my back? The days of
+your feasting and dancing are done." The man fell at her feet weeping
+and said: "_Matushka_, do you suppose that _we_ find pleasure in his
+goings-on, that _we_ are responsible? God himself has brought you here."
+She told him to be silent and take her to see Ivan Onufrieff; she had
+heard that he was still living. She found him in a dying state, lying in
+a cow-byre in the backyard. He was too weak to tell her anything; but
+his brother, Alexy�i, a mere lad, who had been flogged only the day
+before, crawled somehow from his pallet, fell on his knees, and told her
+what had befallen his brother and himself and others as well. Praskovya
+Ivanovna's heart swelled with pity and horror. She felt that she also
+was to blame, and she formed a firm resolve to put an end to the crimes
+and atrocities of Kurolyessoff. She thought there would be no
+difficulty. She gave strict orders that her presence should be kept
+secret. Then, as she heard that the smaller house, which had been built
+some years before, but, from some caprice of her husband's, never
+furnished, contained one habitable room unoccupied by the workmen, she
+went off, intending to pass the remainder of the night there and to
+speak next morning to her husband when he was sober. But the secret of
+her arrival was not strictly kept. The report reached the ear of one of
+the most desperate of Kurolyessoff's gang, and he, moved by devotion or
+by fear, whispered it to his master. Kurolyessoff was dumbfounded by the
+news; it sobered him in a moment; he felt uneasy and scented danger
+ahead. His wife's firm and masculine temper had found few opportunities
+to display itself hitherto, but he guessed that it was there. Dismissing
+his band of revellers, he had two buckets of cold water poured over his
+head; and then, braced up and invigorated by this expedient, he changed
+into ordinary clothing and went to see if his wife was asleep. He had
+had time to reflect and fix on a line of action. He guessed the truth,
+that Praskovya Ivanovna had received from some quarter information as to
+his way of life, but that she was incredulous and had come to Parashino
+to ascertain the truth herself. He knew that her eye had rested for a
+moment on his revels, but he did not know that she had seen Onufrieff
+and that Alexy�i had told her the whole story. He intended to play the
+repentant sinner, to excuse himself as best he could for his riotous
+debauch, to pour oil on the troubled waters by his delicate attentions,
+and to take his wife away as soon as possible from Parashino.
+
+ [30] The asterisks apparently imply that the author is unwilling to
+      report some details of this orgy.
+
+ [31] _I.e_. mother, a term of affection and respect.
+
+It was morning by now, and the sun had actually risen. Kurolyessoff
+stole on tiptoe to the room occupied by Praskovya Ivanovna and softly
+opened the door. A bed had been made for her on the top of a chest, but
+the sheets were still smooth and no one had lain down on them. He looked
+all round the room and saw Praskovya Ivanovna. She was kneeling in
+prayer; there was no _ikon_ in the room, and her eyes, full of tears,
+were fixed upon the Cross on the church, which was just opposite the
+window and glittered in the rays of the rising sun. He remained standing
+a few moments, and then said in a playful voice: "You have prayed long
+enough, my dear! I am delighted to see you. What made you think of
+coming?" Praskovya Ivanovna rose from her knees with no sign of
+confusion; she refused her husband's embrace; then, concealing the flame
+of her just anger under a cold determined manner, she told him that she
+knew all and had seen Ivan Onufrieff. She expressed in plain terms her
+aversion to the monster whom she could no longer regard as her husband,
+and she passed sentence upon him: he was to return the document which
+gave him authority over her estates, to leave Parashino at once, never
+to appear before her again, and never to set foot on any of her lands;
+if he refused, she would petition the Governor of the province, and
+reveal all his crimes; and his fate would be Siberia and penal
+servitude. Kurolyessoff was taken by surprise; he foamed at the mouth
+with rage and anger. "So that is the way you talk to me, my beauty! Then
+I shall change my tune too!" roared the infuriated ruffian. "You shall
+not leave Parashino till you sign a document transferring all your
+estates to me; if you refuse, I shall shut you up in a cellar and starve
+you to death." Then he caught up a stick from a corner of the room,
+felled his wife to the floor with his first blows, and went on beating
+her till she lost her senses. Next he ordered some of his trusted
+servants to carry their mistress to a stone cellar, which he locked with
+a huge padlock and put the key in his pocket. He was a formidable figure
+when he appeared before the assembled household; he had summoned them
+all, in order to discover the culprit who had led his mistress to the
+cow-byre; but the man had already sought safety in flight, accompanied
+by the coachman and manservant who had come from Choorassovo. The
+fugitives were pursued at once. Kurolyessoff did no injury to the maid,
+who had refused to desert her mistress: he gave her directions for
+exhorting the prisoner to submission, and then locked her up with his
+own hands in the same cellar. What did Kurolyessoff do next? He began to
+drink and riot more furiously than before. But alas! in vain did he
+swallow brandy like water, in vain did his revel rout dance and sing
+before him--he had turned gloomy and sullen. Yet this did not prevent
+him from working indefatigably for the attainment of his purpose. He
+procured from the local town a legal document by which Praskovya
+Ivanovna professed to sell Parashino and Kurolyessovo to one of his
+disreputable friends--Choorassovo he was kind enough to leave to
+her--and twice a day he went down to the cellar and pressed his wife to
+sign the paper; he begged pardon for his violence in the heat of the
+moment, promised that if she consented she should never see him again,
+and took an oath that he would restore all her property to her by his
+will. But Praskovya Ivanovna, though bruised and half-starved and
+suffering from fever, refused even to listen to any compromise whatever.
+So things went on for five days, and God only knows how it would all
+have ended.
+
+All this time my grandfather Stepan Mihailovitch was living and
+prospering on his estate of New Bagrovo, which was 120 _versts_ distant
+from Parashino. As I have mentioned already, he had frankly made it up
+with Kurolyessoff and was satisfied with him in general, though he felt
+no fancy for him. Kurolyessoff, on his side, showed great deference to
+Stepan Mihailovitch and all his family, and was ready to perform any
+services for them. When he had planted his colony at Parashino and was
+engaged in organising it, he came every year to Bagrovo and made himself
+very agreeable. He appealed to Stepan Mihailovitch, as a man of
+practical experience in colonising, for his advice; he received it
+gratefully, wrote it all down word for word, and really followed it. He
+even invited Stepan Mihailovitch twice to Parashino, to judge of his
+pupil's proficiency; and each time my grandfather approved entirely of
+what he saw; and on his last visit, when he had inspected the arable
+land and all the farming arrangements, he said to Kurolyessoff, "You are
+young, friend, but you've got on fast; I can teach you nothing." And, as
+a matter of fact, everything at Parashino was in excellent order. Of
+course the host received the old man as if he had been his own father,
+with all possible deference and attention. As years went on, ugly
+rumours about Kurolyessoff found their way to Bagrovo. As my grandfather
+disliked gossip, nothing was said to him at first; but the rumours grew
+steadily. The womankind at Bagrovo knew of them; and Arina Vassilyevna
+ventured at last to tell her husband that Kurolyessoff was leading a
+terribly wicked life. He would not believe it. He said: "Once you
+believe what people say, you will soon accuse your neighbour of robbing
+a church! I know what the Bakt�yeff servants were like--thieves and
+shirkers, to a man! And my cousin's serfs too got spoilt, with no master
+to look after them. It's not surprising if they're terrified of honest
+work and decent order. Friend Mihail may have gone to work too fast:
+what of that? they'll learn to bear it. As to his drinking--if he takes
+a glass after his work, a man's none the worse for that, provided he
+doesn't neglect his business. There _are_ beastly things a man shouldn't
+do; but there, I fancy, they're lying. You women are too fond of
+listening to gossip." For a long time after this, Stepan Mihailovitch
+heard nothing more of the rumours. At last, some Bagroff serfs, who had
+been transferred from the Government of Simbirsk to Parashino together
+with the serfs of the Bakt�yeff family, came to visit their relations at
+New Bagrovo and told terrible stories of their master. Arina Vassilyevna
+again appealed to her husband, and begged that he would himself question
+one of these men who was now at Bagrovo; he was an old man with an
+established character for speaking the truth; and Stepan Mihailovitch
+had known him all his life. My grandfather consented. He sent for the
+man and questioned him, and heard a story which made his hair stand on
+end. He could not think what to do, or how to mend matters. Praskovya
+Ivanovna's occasional letters showed that she was quite happy and
+undisturbed; and he concluded that she knew nothing of her husband's
+conduct. In the old days he had warned her himself never to listen to
+tales against her husband; and he felt sure that she was following his
+advice only too well. He reflected, that, if she learnt the truth, it
+was doubtful if she could do anything; she would distress herself
+terribly, all to no purpose. It was therefore desirable that her eyes
+should never be opened. He could not now interfere; and he thought
+interference useless in the case of such a man. "I hope he will break
+his neck or be tried for a murder; he deserves it. No hand but God's can
+mend a man like that. He is not so hard upon his peasants and labourers,
+and the house-servants are a pack of scoundrels; let them suffer for
+their sins! I have no mind to soil my fingers with this dirty business."
+Thus Stepan Mihailovitch reasoned in his own way. He broke off all
+relations with Kurolyessoff, however, and ceased to answer his letters.
+This hint was understood, and the correspondence came to an end. But to
+Praskovya Ivanovna, Stepan Mihailovitch began to write oftener and more
+intimately than before.
+
+So matters remained till the morning, when the three fugitives from
+Parashino made their appearance before my grandfather as he sat on his
+stoop. They had spent the first day concealed in an inaccessible swamp
+which joined on to the stackyards of Parashino; in the evening they
+learnt from some one in the village exactly what had happened, and made
+their way straight to Bagrovo, considering Stepan Mihailovitch as the
+only possible protector and champion of Praskovya Ivanovna. His feelings
+may be imagined when he heard what had happened at Parashino. He loved
+his one cousin not less, perhaps more, than his own daughters. The image
+of Parasha half-killed by her ruffian of a husband, of Parasha confined
+in a cellar for three days and perhaps dead already, presented itself so
+vividly to his lively imagination that he sprang up like one demented,
+and rushed down the courtyard and through the village, summoning his
+retainers and labourers in accents of frenzy. Those who were not in the
+cottages came running from the fields. When all were assembled, they
+were full of sympathy for their master's passionate despair, and cried
+with one voice that they would go on foot, if need be, to the rescue of
+Praskovya Ivanovna. In a short time three cars, drawn by teams of
+spirited horses from the stables of Bagrovo, and carrying a dozen men
+chosen for strength and courage, were galloping along the road to
+Parashino. The party included the fugitives from Parashino, and were
+armed with guns and swords, pikes and pitchforks. Later in the day two
+more cars followed to reinforce Stepan Mihailovitch; the men were armed
+in the same way; the horses were the best the peasants could produce. By
+the evening of the second day, the vanguard was within seven _versts_ of
+Parashino. They fed the jaded horses, and in the first light of the
+summer dawn dashed into the wide courtyard and drove straight up to the
+cellar. It was close to the rooms occupied by Kurolyessoff. Stepan
+Mihailovitch jumped out and began to beat his fist against the wooden
+door of the cellar. A voice faintly asked, "Who is there?" My
+grandfather recognised his cousin's voice; dropping a tear of joy that
+he had found her alive, and crossing himself, he called out in a loud
+voice, "Thank God! It is your cousin, Stepan Mihailovitch; you are safe
+now!" He sent off the servants from Choorassovo to get ready Praskovya
+Ivanovna's carriage, and posted six armed men to defend the gate, while
+he himself and the rest of his men applied axes and crowbars to the
+cellar-door. It gave way in a moment; and Stepan Mihailovitch himself
+carried out Praskovya Ivanovna, placed her on a car between himself and
+her faithful maid, and drove unmolested out of the courtyard with all
+his retainers. The sun was rising as they drove past the church, and his
+first beams lit up the Cross on the roof. It was just six days since
+Praskovya Ivanovna had prayed with her eyes fixed on that Cross; and now
+she prayed again and thanked God for her deliverance. The carriage
+caught them up, when they were five _versts_ from Parashino; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch moved his cousin into the carriage and drove with her back
+to Bagrovo.
+
+But I shall be asked, "How did all this happen? did no one see it? what
+had become of Kurolyessoff and his trusty retainers? is it possible that
+he was unaware of it or absent at the time?" No: the liberation of
+Praskovya Ivanovna took place before many witnesses; and Kurolyessoff
+was at home and knew what was going on, but did not venture to show his
+face.
+
+The explanation is quite simple. His men had spent the whole evening
+carousing with their master, and some of them were so drunk that they
+could not be roused. There was one sober man, a complete abstainer and a
+favourite. He wakened his master with some difficulty, and, trembling
+with fear, told him of the raid of Stepan Mihailovitch and the guns
+pointing straight at the windows. "But where are all our fellows?" asked
+Kurolyessoff. "Some are asleep, and others are hiding," said the man;
+but this was not true; for the drunken rabble was mustering near the
+outside steps. Kurolyessoff thought a moment; then with a gesture of
+despair he said, "Let her go, and the devil go with her! Lock the door,
+go to the window, and watch what happens." In a few minutes, the man
+cried out, "They are carrying away the mistress!--They're off!"--"Go to
+your bed," said his master; then he rolled himself up in his blankets
+and either fell asleep or made a pretence of it.
+
+Yes, right has a moral strength before which wrong must bend, for all
+its boldness. Kurolyessoff knew the stout heart and fearless courage of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, and he knew that he himself was in the wrong; and
+therefore, in spite of his furious temper and unscrupulous impudence, he
+let his victim go without a struggle.
+
+Tenderly and carefully Stepan Mihailovitch conveyed the sufferer, whom
+he had always loved and who now roused in him deep sympathy and a still
+greater affection. No question passed his lips on the journey; and, when
+he brought her in safety to Bagrovo, he forbade his womankind to trouble
+her with inquiries. But in a fortnight Praskovya Ivanovna was herself
+again, thanks to her strong constitution and high spirit; and then
+Stepan Mihailovitch determined to cross-examine her. In order to act, he
+must know the real truth, and he never trusted secondhand information.
+She told him the whole truth with perfect frankness, but begged that he
+would keep it from his family and that she should be asked no questions
+by any one else. She put herself altogether in his hands; but she feared
+his hot temper and implored him not to take vengeance on Kurolyessoff.
+She said positively that, on reflection, she had decided not to bring
+shame on her husband, or to stain the name which she must continue to
+bear throughout her life. She added that she now repented of the words
+which had burst from her lips at her first interview with Kurolyessoff
+at Parashino, and that nothing would induce her to make a complaint to
+the Governor against him. Yet she considered it her duty to rescue her
+serfs from his cruelty, and therefore intended to cancel the document
+which gave him authority over her estates. She asked Stepan Mihailovitch
+to take over the management himself, and also to write to Kurolyessoff
+demanding the document and stating that, if he refused to give it up,
+she would take legal steps to cancel it. She asked Stepan Mihailovitch
+to express this in plain terms but without any abusive epithets; and she
+offered to sign the letter herself, to make it more convincing. I should
+mention that she could hardly read and write her native language. Stepan
+Mihailovitch loved his cousin so well that he bridled his rage and
+assented to her wishes. But he would not hear of taking over the
+management. "No, my dear," he said; "I don't care to meddle in other
+people's affairs, and I don't want your relations to be saying that I
+feather my own nest while looking after your multitude of serfs. The
+land will be badly managed in your hands, I don't doubt; but you are
+rich and will have enough. I don't mind saying in the letter that I am
+to take over the management; that will give your sweet pet a turn! All
+the rest you ask shall be done."
+
+Strict orders were accordingly issued to the womankind to ask no
+questions of the lady. My grandfather wrote the letter to Kurolyessoff
+with his own hand, Praskovya Ivanovna added her signature, and a special
+messenger was despatched with it to Parashino. But, while they were
+considering and wondering and writing at Bagrovo, all was already over
+at Parashino. The messenger returned on the fourth day and reported
+that, by God's will, Kurolyessoff had died suddenly and was already
+buried.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch heard the news first. Involuntarily he crossed
+himself and said, "Thank God!" And so said all his family: in spite of
+their former weakness for Kurolyessoff, they had long looked on him with
+horror as a criminal and a ruffian. With Praskovya Ivanovna it was
+different. Judging by their own feelings, they all supposed she would
+welcome the news, and told her at once. But, to the surprise of every
+one, she was utterly prostrated by it and became ill again; and, when
+her strength got the better of the illness, her depression and
+wretchedness were extreme: for some weeks she wept from morning till
+night, and she grew so thin that Stepan Mihailovitch was alarmed. No one
+could understand the cause of such intense sorrow for a husband whom she
+could not love and who had treated her so brutally--"a disgrace to human
+nature," as they called him. But there was an explanation, and this is
+it.
+
+Many years later, my mother, who was a great favourite with Praskovya
+Ivanovna, was talking with her of past days--a thing which Praskovya
+Ivanovna generally avoided--and in the openhearted frankness of their
+conversation she asked: "Please tell me, aunt, why you took on so after
+your husband's death. In your place, I should have said a prayer for his
+soul, and felt quite cheerful." "You are a little fool, my dear,"
+answered Praskovya Ivanovna: "I had loved him for fourteen years and
+could not unlearn my feeling in one month, even though I had found out
+what he was; and, above all, I grieved for his soul: he had no time to
+repent before he died."
+
+After six weeks, Praskovya Ivanovna's good sense mastered her grief to
+some extent; and she consented, or, I should rather say, did not refuse,
+to travel with all the Bagroff family to Parashino, in order to attend a
+memorial service at Kurolyessoff's grave. To the general surprise, she
+dropped no tear at Parashino or during the sad ceremony; but one may
+imagine how much this effort cost her, in her condition of sorrow and
+bodily weakness. By her wish, only a few hours were spent at Parashino,
+and she did not enter that part of the house where her husband had lived
+and died.
+
+It is not difficult to guess the cause of Kurolyessoff's sudden death.
+When Stepan Mihailovitch had rescued his cousin from the cellar, the
+people at Parashino all plucked up heart, believing that the end of
+Kurolyessoff's rule had come. They all supposed that the owner of
+Bagrovo, who was in the position of a father to their mistress, would
+turn her husband neck and crop out of a place that did not belong to
+him. No one dreamed that their young mistress, insulted and beaten and
+half-starved in an underground cellar in her own house, would fail to
+appeal to the law for redress. Every day they expected an irruption from
+Stepan Mihailovitch with the sheriff at his back; but week followed
+week, and no one came. Kurolyessoff was as drunken and violent as ever:
+every one of his retainers he flogged till they were half-dead, for
+having betrayed him, not sparing even the sober man who had wakened him
+on the night of the rescue; and he boasted that Praskovya Ivanovna had
+given up to him the title-deeds of her estates. It was past the power of
+human endurance; and the future seemed hopeless.[32] Two of the
+scoundrels, who had been favourites, and, strangely enough, two who had
+suffered less than the rest from his cruelty, ventured upon a horrible
+crime. They poisoned him with arsenic, putting it into a decanter of
+_kvass_, which Kurolyessoff generally emptied during the night; and they
+put in so much, that he was dead in two hours. As they had taken no one
+into their confidence, the catastrophe startled and terrified the whole
+household. The servants suspected one another, but the real criminals
+remained unknown for some time. Six months later one of them became
+desperately ill and confessed his crime before he died; and his
+accomplice, though the dying man had not betrayed him, made off and was
+never seen again.
+
+ [32] From here to the end of the paragraph was removed by the censor
+      from the early editions of the work.
+
+The sudden death of Kurolyessoff would certainly have been followed by
+an inquest, but for the presence at Parashino of a young clerk called
+Mihaila Maximitch, who had only lately come to the place. By cleverness
+and good management, he contrived to get the affair hushed up. He became
+later Praskovya Ivanovna's man of business and the chief agent on all
+her estates, and enjoyed her full confidence. Under the name of
+"Mihailushka" he was known to all and sundry in the Governments of
+Simbirsk and Orenburg. He was a man of remarkable ability; though he
+made a large fortune, he lived discreetly and modestly for many years;
+but, when he received his freedom on the death of his mistress and lost
+his wife to whom he was much attached, he took to drinking and died in
+poverty. One of his sons, if I remember rightly, entered the official
+class and was eventually ennobled.
+
+I should not conceal the fact, that forty years later, when I became the
+owner of Parashino, I found the recollection of Kurolyessoff's
+management still fresh among the peasants, and they spoke of him with
+gratitude, because they felt every day the advantage of many of his
+arrangements. His cruelty they had forgotten, and they had felt it less
+than his personal attendants; but they remembered his power of
+distinguishing guilt and innocence, the honest workman and the shirker;
+they remembered his perfect knowledge of their needs and his constant
+readiness to give them help. The old men smiled as they told me that
+Kurolyessoff used often to say: "Steal and rob as you please, if you
+keep it dark; but, if I catch you, then look out!"
+
+When she went back to Bagrovo, Praskovya Ivanovna, soothed by the
+sincere and tender love of her cousin and by the assiduous attentions of
+his womankind (whom she did not much like but who expected great favours
+and benefits from her) gradually got over the terrible blow she had
+suffered. Her good health came back, and her peace of mind; and at the
+end of a year she resolved to go back to Choorassovo. It was painful to
+Stepan Mihailovitch to part with his favourite: her whole nature
+appealed to him, and he had become thoroughly accustomed to her society.
+Not once in his whole life was he in a rage with Praskovya Ivanovna. But
+he did not try to keep her: on the contrary, he pressed her to go as
+soon as possible. "It's no sort of life for you here, my dear," he used
+to say; "it's a dull place, though we have got accustomed to it. You are
+young still"--she was thirty--"and rich and used to something different.
+You should go back to Choorassovo, and enjoy your fine house and
+splendid garden and the springs. You have plenty of kind neighbours
+there, rich people who live a gay life. It is possible that God will
+send you better fortune in a second venture; you won't want for offers."
+Praskovya Ivanovna put off her departure from day to day--so hard did
+she find it to part from the cousin who had saved her life and been her
+benefactor from her childhood. At last the day was fixed. Early on the
+previous morning, she came out to join Stepan Mihailovitch, who was
+sitting on his stoop and thinking sad thoughts. She kissed and embraced
+him; the tears came to her eyes as she said: "I feel all your love for
+me, and I love and respect you like a daughter. God sees my gratitude;
+but I wish that men should see it too. Will you let me bequeath to your
+family all my mother's property? What I have from my father will come to
+your son in any case. My relations on my mother's side are rich, and you
+know that they have given me no reason to reward them with my wealth. I
+shall never marry. I wish the Bagroff family to be rich. Say yes, my
+dear cousin, and you will comfort me and set my mind at rest." She threw
+herself at his feet and covered with kisses the hands with which he was
+trying to raise her up. "Listen, my dear," said Stepan Mihailovitch in a
+rather stern voice: "You don't know me aright. That I should covet what
+does not belong to me, and cut out the rightful heirs to your
+estates--no! that shall never be, and never shall any one be able to say
+that of Stepan Bagroff! Mind you don't ever mention it again. If you do,
+we shall quarrel; and it will be the first time in our lives."
+
+Next day Praskovya Ivanovna left Bagrovo and began her own independent
+life at Choorassovo.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF
+
+
+Many years passed by and much happened during that time--famine and
+plague, and the rebellion of Pugatchoff.[33] The landowners of the
+Orenburg district scattered before the bands of the usurper, and Stepan
+Mihailovitch also made off with his family, first to Sam�ra, and then
+down the Volga to Saratoff and as far off as Astrakhan. But by degrees
+all disturbances passed over and calmed down and were forgotten.
+Children became boys, boys became men, and men came to grey hairs; and
+among these last was Stepan Mihailovitch. He saw this himself, but he
+hardly believed it. He would sometimes allude to the ravages of time,
+but he did so without uneasiness, as if there were no personal reference
+to himself. Yet my grandfather had ceased to be his old self: his
+herculean strength and tireless activity had gone for ever. This
+sometimes surprised him; but he went on living precisely in the old
+way--eating and drinking to his heart's content, and dressing with no
+regard to the weather, though he sometimes suffered for this neglect.
+Little by little, his keen clear eye became clouded and his great voice
+lost its power; his fits of anger were rarer, but so were his bright and
+happy moods. His elder daughters had all married, and the oldest had
+been dead some time, leaving a daughter of three years old. Aksinya,[34]
+the second, had lost one husband and married again; Elizabeth, a clever
+but arrogant woman, had somehow married a General Yerlykin, who was old
+and poor and given to drinking; and Alexandra had found herself a
+husband in Ivan Karatayeff, well-born, young, and rich, but a passionate
+lover of the Bashkirs and their wandering life--a true Bashkir himself
+in mind and body. The youngest daughter, Tanyusha, had not married. The
+only son[35] was now twenty-six, a handsome youth with a complexion of
+lilies and roses: his own father used to say of him, "Put a petticoat on
+him, and he'd be a prettier girl than any of his sisters!" Though his
+wife, Arina Vassilyevna, shed bitter tears and would not be comforted,
+Stepan Mihailovitch sent his son into the Army as soon as he was
+sixteen. He served for three years, and, owing to the influence of
+Mihail Kurolyessoff, acted as aide-de-camp for part of the time to
+Suv�roff. But Suv�roff left the district of Orenburg and was succeeded
+by a German general (I think his name was Treubluth); and he sentenced
+the young man to a severe flogging, from which his entire innocence, if
+not his noble birth, should have protected him. His mother nearly died
+of grief, when she heard it; and even my grandfather thought this was
+going too far. He withdrew his son from the Army and got him a place in
+the law court at Ufa, where he earned promotion by long and zealous
+service.
+
+ [33] Pugatchoff was a Cossack, who raised a formidable rebellion in East
+      Russia; taken prisoner by Suv�roff, he was executed at Moscow in
+      1775.
+
+ [34] The popular form of Xenia; the diminutive is Aksyutka.
+
+ [35] The author's father.
+
+I cannot pass over in silence a strange fact that I have noticed: most
+of the Germans and foreigners in general who held posts in the Russian
+service in those days were notorious for their cruelty and love of
+inflicting corporal punishment. The German who punished young Bagroff so
+cruelly was a Lutheran himself, but at the same time a great stickler
+for all the rites and ceremonies of the Russian Church. This historic
+incident in the annals of the Bagroff family happened in the following
+way. The general ordered a service to be performed in the regimental
+chapel on the eve of some unimportant saint's-day; he was always present
+himself on these occasions, and all officers were expected to attend. It
+was summer, and the chapel windows were open. Suddenly, a voice in the
+street outside struck up a popular song. The general rushed to the
+window: three subalterns were walking along the street, and one of them
+was singing. He ordered them under arrest and sentenced each of them to
+300 lashes. My unfortunate father, who was not singing but merely
+walking with his friends, pleaded his noble birth; but the general said
+with a sneer, "A noble is bound to show special respect to divine
+service"; and then the brute himself looked on till the last stripe was
+inflicted on the innocent youth. This took place in a room next the
+chapel, where the solemn singing of the choir could be distinctly heard;
+and the tyrant forbade his victim to cry out, "for fear of disturbing
+divine worship." After his punishment, he was carried off unconscious to
+hospital, where it was found necessary to cut off his uniform, owing to
+the swelling of his tender young body. It was two months before his back
+and shoulders healed up. What must it have cost his mother to hear such
+news of her only son whom she simply worshipped! My grandfather lodged a
+complaint in some quarter; and his son, who had sent in his papers at
+once, got his discharge from the Army before he left the hospital, and
+entered the Civil Service as an official of the fourteenth or lowest
+class. Eight years had now gone by, and the incident was by this time
+forgotten.
+
+Alexy�i Stepanitch was now living peacefully at Ufa and performing his
+duties there. Twice a year he paid a visit to his parents at Bagrovo,
+240 _versts_ away. His life was quite uneventful. Quiet, bashful, and
+unassuming, this young heir to a landed estate lived on good terms with
+all the world, till suddenly the modest course of his existence became
+disturbed.
+
+There was a permanent military administration in the town of Ufa, and
+next in authority the Lieutenant-Governor was Nikolai Zubin, who
+resided regularly in the town. M. Zubin was an honest and able man,
+but his character was weak. His wife had died, leaving three
+children--Sonitchka,[36] a girl of twelve, and two younger boys. He
+was devoted to his daughter; and it was no wonder he should love a
+child so beautiful and so clever, who, in spite of her tender years,
+soon became her father's companion and assisted him in the management
+of the household. Eighteen months after the death of his first wife,
+whom he had loved and sincerely mourned, M. Zubin found consolation by
+falling in love with the daughter of M. Rychkoff, a landowner in
+Orenburg, well-known for his descriptions of that country. The
+marriage soon took place; and the young wife, Alexandra, by her
+intelligence and beauty, soon gained entire control over her
+submissive husband. But she was hard and unfeeling, and conceived a
+hatred for her stepdaughter, her father's darling, who bade fair to
+grow up into a beautiful woman. The thing is common enough. The name
+of stepmother has long been proverbial for cruelty, and it fitted Mme.
+Zubin precisely. But it was by no means easy to tear Sonitchka from
+her place in her father's heart: she was not a girl who could be put
+down easily, and the contest which followed inflamed the stepmother's
+anger to an extraordinary pitch. She swore that this hussy of
+thirteen, who was the idol of her father and all the town, should some
+day live in the maids' room, wear the coarsest clothes, and carry the
+slops out of the children's nursery. She kept her oath to the letter:
+after two or three years, Sonitchka was living with the servants and
+clothed like a scullion, and she scrubbed and cleaned the nursery
+which was now inhabited by two half-sisters. But what was the father
+doing? He had once loved her dearly; but now for whole months he never
+saw her; and when he did meet her going about in rags, he turned away
+with a sigh, wiped away a furtive tear, and made off as soon as
+possible. It is the way of many elderly men who have married again and
+are dominated by young wives. As I do not know exactly the ways and
+methods by which Mme. Zubin attained her object, I shall not speak of
+them; nor shall I dwell upon the cruelties and sufferings inflicted
+upon the bereaved girl, with her sensitive temper and strong will;
+nothing was spared her, not even the most humiliating punishments and
+beatings for imaginary offences. I shall only say, that the
+stepdaughter was not far from suicide, and was only saved from it by a
+miracle. It happened thus. When she had decided to put an end to an
+intolerable existence, the poor child wished to say her last prayer
+before an image of Our Lady of Smolensk, the image with which her
+mother on her deathbed had blessed her. She fell on her knees in her
+garret before the _ikon_, and, with floods of bitter tears, pressed
+her face on the dirt-stained floor. Suffering deprived her of
+consciousness for some minutes; when she recovered and got up, she saw
+the candle, which she had put out the night before, still burning
+before the image. At first she cried out with surprise and involuntary
+fear; but soon she recognised that she had seen a miracle wrought by
+Divine Power. She took courage; she was conscious of a strength and
+composure she had never felt before; and she firmly resolved to suffer
+and endure and live. From that day the helpless child wore armour of
+proof against the increasing exasperation of her stepmother: whatever
+she was told to do, she did; whatever was inflicted upon her, she
+bore. Degrading punishment no longer forced the tears from her eyes,
+no longer made her turn sick and faint, as it used to do. "Mean slut"
+had long been her title, and "desperate wretch" was now added to it.
+But the measure of God's patience now brimmed over, and His thunder
+pealed: Mme. Zubin, in the prime of life and in the pride of her
+health and beauty, died ten days after giving birth to a son.
+Twenty-four hours before the end, knowing that she must die, she was
+eager to take the load off her conscience. Sonitchka was suddenly
+wakened in the night and summoned to her stepmother's bedside. The
+dying woman confessed in the presence of witnesses her guilty conduct
+towards her stepdaughter, begged her forgiveness, and conjured her in
+the name of God to be good to the children. The girl forgave her and
+promised to care for the orphans; and she kept that promise. Mme.
+Zubin confessed also to her husband that the accusations which had
+been brought against his daughter were all calumnies and falsehoods.
+
+ [36] A pet name for Sofya (Sophia). This is the author's mother, whose
+      real name was M�rya.
+
+Her death caused a complete reversal of affairs. M. Zubin also had a
+paralytic stroke, and, though he survived for some years, never left his
+bed again. The oppressed and ragged Cinderella, whom the servants--and
+especially those belonging to Mme. Zubin--had been mean enough to
+humiliate and insult to their heart's content, suddenly became the
+absolute mistress of the household, her sick father having put
+everything under her control. The reconciliation between the guilty
+father and the injured daughter was touching and even distressing to the
+daughter and all who saw it. For long, M. Zubin was wrung by remorse:
+his tears flowed day and night, and he repeated the same words over and
+over, "No, Sonitchka, it is impossible you should forgive me!" To each
+one of his acquaintance in the town he formally confessed his misconduct
+towards his daughter; and "Sofya Nikolayevna," as she was now called,
+became the object of general respect and admiration. Made wise by years
+of suffering, this girl of seventeen developed into a grown woman, a
+mother to the children, and the manager of the household. She even
+discharged public duties; for, owing to her father's illness, she
+received all heads of departments, officials, and private citizens; she
+discussed matters with them, wrote letters and official documents, and
+at last became the real manager of the business in her father's office.
+Sofya Nikolayevna nursed her father with anxious care and tenderness;
+she looked after her three brothers and two sisters, and even took
+trouble about the education of the elder children. Her own brothers,
+Sergh�i and Alexander, were now boys of twelve and ten; and she
+contrived to find teachers for them--a kind old Frenchman called
+Villemer, whom fortune had somehow stranded at Ufa, and a half-educated
+Little Russian who had been exiled to the town for an attempted fraud.
+She availed herself of the opportunity to study with her brothers, and
+worked so hard that she could soon understand a French book or
+conversation and even talk French a little herself. Eighteen months
+later she sent her brothers to Moscow for their education. Through a
+certain M. Anitchkoff who lived at Ufa, she had become acquainted with
+his cousin who lived at Moscow, and they often corresponded. The
+well-known writer, Novikoff, shared a house at Moscow with this M.
+Anitchkoff; and both friends were so struck by the letters from this
+young lady on the banks of the river By�laya, that they sent her
+regularly all new and important books in the way of Russian literature;
+and this did much for her mental development. This M. Anitchkoff had a
+special respect for her, and considered it an honour to carry out her
+request. He undertook to receive both her brothers and place them at a
+boarding-school connected with Moscow University, and performed his
+undertaking punctiliously. The boys got on well at school, but their
+studies were broken off when the summons came for them to enter the
+Guards, in which they had been enrolled while still in the cradle.
+
+All clever and educated people who came to Ufa hastened to make the
+acquaintance of Sofya Nikolayevna, were attracted by her, and never
+forgot her. Many of these acquaintances became in course of time the
+intimate friends of her children, and the relation was severed only by
+death. I shall name only those of them whom I knew myself--V.
+Romanovsky, A. Avenarius, Peter Chichagoff, Dmitri Myortvavo, and V.
+Itchansky. Scholars also and travellers, attracted by the novelty and
+beauty of the district, invariably made the young lady's acquaintance
+and left written testimony of their admiration for her beauty and wit.
+It is true that her position in society and her home helped her, and
+served, one might say, as a pedestal for the statue; but the statue
+itself was a noble figure. I remember especially the verses of Count
+Manteuffel, a traveller; he sent them to Sofya Nikolayevna with a most
+respectful letter in French; and he also sent a copy of an immense work
+in five quarto volumes, by a Dr. Buchan,[37] which had just been
+translated from English into Russian and made a great sensation in the
+medical world of that day. Buchan's _Domestic Medicine_ was a real
+treasure to Sofya Nikolayevna: she was able to make use of its
+directions to make up medicines for her father's benefit. In his verses
+Count Manteuffel compared the fair lady of Ufa to both Venus and
+Minerva.
+
+ [37] Buchan's _Domestic Medicine_ was published in 1769; the author died
+      in 1805.
+
+In spite of his enfeebled state, M. Zubin did not resign his office for
+several years. Twice a year he gave a ball; he did not appear himself,
+in order to welcome the ladies, but the men went to see him where he lay
+in his study; and the young hostess had to receive the whole town.
+Several times a year, her father insisted on her going out to balls in
+the houses of the leading people, and she yielded to his earnest
+entreaties and put in a short appearance at the ball. She wore fine
+dresses and was an excellent dancer in the fashion of the time. When she
+had gone through a Polish minuet and a single country-dance or
+schottische, she went away at once, after flashing through the room like
+a meteor. All who had the right to be so, were in love with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, but they sighed at a respectful distance; for this young
+lady gave none of them any encouragement whatever.
+
+And with this peerless creature the son of Stepan Mihailovitch fell in
+love! He could not understand and appreciate her fully, but her
+appearance alone and her lively cheerful temper were enough to bewitch a
+man; and bewitched he accordingly was. He saw her first in church, and
+the first sight was enough for his susceptible heart. Alexy�i
+Stepanitch--henceforth we shall give him both his names--soon discovered
+that the fair lady received all officials who visited at her father's
+house; and, being himself an official in the law-court, he began to
+appear regularly in her drawing-room, to pay his respects on high days
+and holidays. He saw her every time, and his passion grew steadily. His
+calls were so regular and so prolonged--though he hardly opened his
+mouth--that they soon attracted general notice; and it is probable that
+the first person to notice them was the young hostess herself. Rapturous
+looks, flaming cheeks, helpless confusion--these are the symbols by
+which love has always spoken. A frank passion has been an object of
+ridicule from time immemorial, and all Ufa laughed at Alexy�i
+Stepanitch. He was humble and shy and as bashful as a country girl; and
+his only reply to all jests and allusions to the subject was to blush
+the colour of a peony. But Sofya Nikolayevna, so cold and even snubbing
+in her manner to her fashionable admirers, was surprisingly indulgent to
+this speechless worshipper. Perhaps she was sorry for this young man who
+had no armour against all the ridicule he suffered on her behalf;
+perhaps she understood that his was no idle or passing fancy and that
+his whole life was at stake; anyhow, the severe young beauty not only
+bowed graciously and looked kindly at him, but tried also to start
+conversation; and his timid, incoherent replies and agitated voice did
+not seem to her ridiculous or repulsive. I should say, however, that
+Sofya Nikolayevna, though she stood on her dignity with self-assertive
+people, was always kind and condescending to humility and modesty.
+
+Things went on thus for some time. Suddenly, a bold thought flashed on
+the brain of Alexy�i Stepanitch--the thought of getting Sofya
+Nikolayevna for his wife. At first he was frightened by his own
+ambition, so bold and so unlikely to be realised. How could he raise his
+eyes to Sofya Nikolayevna, the chief personage in Ufa, and, in his
+opinion, the cleverest and most beautiful woman in the world? He
+abandoned his intention entirely for a time. But by degrees the lady's
+constant goodwill and attention, her friendly glances which seemed to
+him to hold out some encouragement, and, above all, the passion which
+mastered his whole being, recalled the abandoned ideal; and it soon grew
+familiar and became part of his life. There was an old lady called Mme.
+Alakayeff, then living at Ufa to look after a lawsuit, who used to visit
+at the Zubins' house; she was distantly related to Alexy�i Stepanitch
+and had always taken a great interest in him. He now began to visit her
+oftener, and did his best to please her; and at last he confessed his
+love for a certain person, and his intention to seek her hand. His love
+was the talk of the town and therefore no news to Mme. Alakayeff; but
+his intention of marrying her was a surprise. "She won't have you," said
+the old lady, shaking her head; "she's too clever, too proud, too highly
+educated. Plenty of people have been in love with her, but not one has
+ever dared to ask the question. You're a handsome lad, certainly,
+well-born and fairly well-off, and you will be rich in course of
+time--everybody knows that; but then you're a plain country fellow, no
+scholar or man of the world, and you're terribly bashful in society."
+Alexy�i Stepanitch was aware of all this himself; but love had entirely
+confused his brain, and a voice whispered in his ear day and night that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept him. Though the young man's hopes seemed
+to her unfounded, Mme. Alakayeff consented to go to Sofya Nikolayevna's
+house, where, without making any allusion to his wishes, she would turn
+the conversation on to him and take note of all that was said. She
+started at once, and Alexy�i Stepanitch remained in the house till she
+should come back. She was absent for some time, and the lover became so
+distressed and despondent that he began to cry and then fell asleep,
+tired out, with his head leaning against the window. When the old lady
+came back, she wakened him and said with a cheerful air: "Well, Alexy�i
+Stepanitch, there is really something in it! When I began to speak about
+you, and was rather hard upon you, Sofya Nikolayevna took up the cudgels
+in earnest on your behalf, and ended by saying that she was sure you
+were very kind and modest and gentle, and respectful to your parents;
+and she said that God sent his blessing on such people, and they were
+much better than your pert and forward talkers." Alexy�i Stepanitch was
+so enraptured by this report that he hardly knew where he was. Mme.
+Alakayeff gave him time to recover, and then said with decision: "If
+your mind is quite made up about this, I will tell you what you had
+better do. Go home at once, tell the whole story to your parents, and
+ask for their consent and blessing, before kind people put their oar in.
+If they give you one and the other, I don't refuse to work in your
+cause. Only don't be in a hurry: begin by getting on the soft side of
+your sisters; your mother won't go against your wishes. Of course, your
+father's consent matters most of all. I know him: he is masterful to a
+degree, but he has good sense; have a talk to him when he is in a good
+humour." Alexy�i Stepanitch did not see the need of all this caution and
+manoeuvring: he said that his parents would be delighted, and asked what
+possible flaw could be found in Sofya Nikolayevna. "Two terrible flaws,"
+said the shrewd old lady: "she has only twopence to her fortune, and her
+grandfather was a simple sergeant in a Cossack regiment." The
+significance of her words was entirely lost upon Alexy�i Stepanitch, but
+the old lady was not wrong in her presentiment, and her warning came too
+late.
+
+Within a week Alexy�i Stepanitch got leave of absence. He called on
+Sofya Nikolayevna to say "good-bye," and she treated him kindly, wishing
+him a pleasant journey, and hoping he might find his parents in good
+health and happy to see him. Her kind words encouraged him to hope, and
+off he went home. The old people were glad to see him, but they were
+puzzled by the time of his visit and looked at him inquiringly. His
+sisters--who lived near Bagrovo and came there in hot haste on a summons
+from their mother--kissed their brother and made much of him, but kept
+on smiling for some reason. The youngest sister, Tatyana, was his
+favourite, and he revealed his passion to her ears first. Being a rather
+romantic girl and fonder of her brother than the older sisters were, she
+listened to him with sympathy, and at last went so far as to confide to
+him a great secret: the family knew already of his love-affair and were
+opposed to it. It had happened in this way.
+
+Two months before, Ivan Karatayeff had travelled to Ufa on business and
+brought back this piece of news to his wife. Alexandra Karatayeff--I
+have spoken already of her character--boiled over with rage and
+indignation. She took the lead in the family, and could twist them all,
+except, of course, her father, round her little finger. She set one of
+her brother's servants to spy on his master, and made him report to her
+every detail concerning his love-affair and his life at Ufa; and she
+found a female friend in the town, who first rummaged and ferreted
+about, and then, with the help of a discarded attorney's clerk, sent her
+a long letter composed of town talk and servants' gossip. As her chief
+authorities were the servants of the late Mme. Zubin, it is easy to
+guess the kind of portrait which these enemies drew of Sofya
+Nikolayevna.
+
+It is a well-known fact that in the good old days of the Empress
+Catherine--perhaps it is the case still--there was little love lost
+between a man's wife and his sisters; and the case was worse when the
+sisters had only one brother, because his wife must become the sole and
+undisputed mistress of the household. A great deal of selfishness
+underlies human nature; it often works without our knowledge, and no one
+is exempt from it; honourable and kind people, not recognising selfish
+motives in themselves, quite honestly attribute their actions to other
+and more presentable causes; but they deceive themselves and others
+unintentionally. Where there is no kindness of heart or refinement of
+manners, selfishness shows itself without any concealment or apology;
+and so it was with the womankind of Stepan Mihailovitch. It was
+inevitable that they should all resent their brother's marriage,
+irrespective of his choice. "Alosha will change towards us and love us
+less than before; his bride will be a cuckoo in the nest and push out
+the birds born there"--such would certainly have been the language of
+the sisters, even if Alexy�i Stepanitch had chosen a bird of their own
+feather; but Sofya Nikolayevna was worse than anything they could
+imagine. Alexandra summoned her sister Elizabeth and hurried to Bagrovo,
+to communicate to her mother and sisters--of course, with suitable
+embellishments--all the information she had received of her brother's
+goings on. They believed every word she said, and their opinion of Sofya
+Nikolayevna was to the following effect. In the first place, the Zubin
+girl--this was her regular name in the secret meetings of the family
+council--was of mean birth: her grandfather had been a Ural Cossack, and
+her mother, Vyera Ivanovna Kandalintsoff, had belonged to the merchant
+class; the alliance was therefore a degradation to an ancient and noble
+family. In the second place, the Zubin girl was a mere pauper: if her
+father died or was dismissed from his post, she would depend on charity
+for her bread, and all her brothers and sisters would be a stone round
+her husband's neck. Thirdly, the Zubin girl was proud and fashionable, a
+crafty adventuress who was accustomed to lord it over the town of Ufa;
+and she would turn up her nose with no ceremony at plain people living
+in the country, however long their pedigree. Fourthly and lastly, the
+Zubin girl was a witch who used magic herbs to keep all the men running
+after her with their tongues hanging out; and their poor brother was one
+of her victims; she had scented out his future wealth and his easy
+temper, and had determined to marry into a noble family by hook or by
+crook. Alexandra managed the whole affair; her glib and wicked tongue
+frightened them all and soon proved to them, beyond all possibility of
+doubt, that such a marriage was a terrible misfortune for them. "Likely
+enough, she will get round Stepan Mihailovitch himself, and then we're
+all done for; we must leave no stone unturned to prevent the marriage."
+It was clearly of the first importance to impress upon Stepan
+Mihailovitch the worst possible opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna; but who
+was to bell the cat? Their conscience was not clear, and they dared not
+go to work openly. If their father suspected that they had any concealed
+purpose, he would not believe even the truth in that case; once before,
+when there had been some talk of choosing a daughter-in-law, he had seen
+through their repugnance to the scheme and had told them so plainly.
+
+They had recourse therefore to the following stratagem. Arina
+Vassilyevna had a married niece living near; her name was Flona
+Lupenevsky; she was short and stout, a notorious fool and gossip, and
+not averse to strong liquors. She was instructed to come to Bagrovo as
+if on an ordinary visit, and to bring in, among other topics, the
+love-affairs of Alexy�i Stepanitch; she was, of course, to represent
+Sofya Nikolayevna in the most unfavourable light. Alexandra spent a long
+time coaching this lady in what she was to say and how she was to say
+it. When she had learnt it as well as she could, Mme. Lupenevsky turned
+up at Bagrovo and had dinner there; after dinner, hosts and guests slept
+for three hours and then assembled for tea. The master of the house was
+in good humour and himself gave his guest an opening to begin her
+performance. "Come now, Flona," he said, "tell us the news you got from
+the travellers to Ufa"--her sister, Mme. Kalpinsky, had just been there
+with her husband--"I warrant they brought home a good budget, and you
+will add as much more out of your own head."
+
+"You will always have your joke, dear uncle," said the lady; "but they
+brought plenty of news, and I have no need to invent." Then off she
+started on a string of silly gossip, true and untrue, which I shall
+spare my readers. My grandfather pretended to disbelieve her throughout,
+even when she was telling the truth; he made fun of her stories, threw
+her out on purpose, and teased her till all the hearers laughed
+heartily. The stupid woman, who had taken a stiff glass on waking to
+give her courage, got vexed at last and said with some heat: "Uncle, why
+do you keep on laughing and believe nothing I say? Wait a moment; I have
+kept one special bit of news for the end, and that won't make you laugh,
+though you can't help believing it." The family exchanged glances, and
+my grandfather laughed. "Come, out with it!" he said coolly; "I shan't
+believe it; and, if I don't laugh at it, it's because I'm bored by your
+stories." "O uncle, uncle," she began, "you're quite in the dark about
+my dear cousin, Alexy�i Stepanitch. He's a perfect wreck: the witch of
+Ufa, the daughter of a great man there, Governor or Commander-in-Chief,
+I don't know which, has used devilish arts to fascinate him. She's a
+perfect beauty, they say, and has captivated all the men, young and old;
+she has bewitched them with magic herbs, and they all run after her. And
+my poor cousin, Alexy�i Stepanitch, is so bad that he can neither eat
+nor drink nor sleep. He's constantly sitting beside her, he can't take
+his eyes off her, he just looks and sighs; and at night he's always
+walking past her house, carrying a gun and a sword and keeping guard
+over her. They say that the Zubin girl is very sweet upon him; of course
+he's handsome and well-born; she knows what she's about and means to
+marry him. It's natural enough: she has no money, and her father is a
+Cossack's son who rose from the ranks; though he has worked his way up
+and held great posts, he has put nothing by; he has spent every penny on
+dinners and fine parties and dresses for his daughter. The old man is at
+death's door, and there is a swarm of children--half a dozen of them by
+his two wives. They will all settle on your shoulders, uncle, if my
+cousin marries her; she has no portion but the clothes she wears; they
+have silk to their backs but nothing to put in their bellies. And
+Alexy�i Stepanitch, they say, is changed out of all knowledge: he looks
+terrible; the very servants weep to see him and dare not inform you.
+Believe me, uncle, every single word is gospel truth. Question his
+servants, and they won't deny it."
+
+At this, Arina Vassilyevna began to cry and her daughters to rub their
+eyes. My grandfather was rather taken aback, but soon recovered himself.
+Then he smiled and said coolly: "Plenty of lies there, and perhaps a
+grain of truth. I have heard myself that the young lady is pretty and
+clever; and that's all the magic there is about it.[38] It's little
+wonder if Alexy�i's eyes were dazzled. All the rest is rubbish. Mlle.
+Zubin has no idea of marrying Alexy�i; he is no match for her; she will
+find a better man and a more pushing man to marry her. And now, that's
+enough: not a word more on the subject! Let us go and drink tea out of
+doors." As a matter of course, neither Mme. Lupenevsky nor any one else
+dared to refer again to the news from Ufa. The visitor departed in the
+evening. After supper, when Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were
+about to take a silent farewell of Stepan Mihailovitch, he stopped them
+and said: "Well, Arisha, what do you think about it? Though that stupid
+Flona added plenty of lies, yet it seems to me there is truth in the
+story too. The boy's letters have been quite different of late. The
+thing needs some looking into. The best plan would be to summon Alosha
+here; we shall learn all the truth from him." At this point Alexandra
+offered to send a special messenger to Ufa to find out the truth through
+a relation of her husband's: "She is a very honest woman," she said,
+"and nothing would make her tell a lie." Her father agreed not to send
+for his son till the fresh report arrived. Alexandra started at once for
+her own house, which was not more than 30 _versts_ from Bagrovo, and
+returned in a week, bringing with her the letter I have mentioned
+already, which she had received long before from her gossiping female
+friend at Ufa. This letter was shown and read aloud to Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and, though he put little faith in the women as detectives
+and informers, some statements in the letter seemed to him probable, and
+he was displeased. He said positively, that, if Mlle. Zubin did wish to
+marry Alosha, he would forbid it, on the ground of her birth. "Write by
+the next post to Alosha," he said, "and tell him to come home." A few
+days passed, and were used by the women to prejudice Stepan Mihailovitch
+as strongly as possible against the marriage; and then, as we know
+already, the young man turned up at Bagrovo without having received the
+letter.
+
+ [38] In general, my grandfather had little belief in witchcraft. A
+      wizard once told him that a gun was charmed and would not go off.
+      He took out the shot secretly and fired at the wizard, who got a
+      great fright. But he recovered and said that my grandfather himself
+      was "a man of power"; and this was generally believed, except by
+      Stepan Mihailovitch. (_Author's note._)
+
+Alexy�i Stepanitch heard the whole of this story from Tatyana, and it
+made him very serious and uneasy. He was not by nature strong-willed,
+and had been brought up in blind obedience to his family and his father.
+In his alarm, he did not know what to do. At last he decided to speak to
+his mother. Arina Vassilyevna was devoted to her only son; but, as she
+was accustomed to look on him as still a child and convinced that this
+child had taken a fancy to a dangerous toy, she met his avowal of strong
+feeling with the words one would use to a child who begged to hold the
+hot poker; and, when this treatment brought the tears to his eyes, she
+tried to comfort him in the way that a child is comforted for the loss
+of a favourite toy. He might say what he pleased, he might try as he
+pleased to refute the slander brought against Sofya Nikolayevna--his
+mother either did not listen at all or listened without attending. Two
+more days passed by; the young man's heart was breaking; though his love
+and longing for Sofya Nikolayevna increased every hour, it is probable
+that he would not easily have plucked up courage to broach the subject
+to his father; but Stepan Mihailovitch took the first step. Early one
+fine morning, he was sitting as usual on his stoop, when Alexy�i
+Stepanitch, looking rather pale and worn after an almost sleepless
+night, came out to join his father. The old man was in a cheerful mood;
+he greeted his son affectionately, and then, looking attentively at his
+face, he read what was going on within. He gave him his hand to kiss,
+and then said, not in anger but with energy: "Listen to me, Alexy�i! I
+know the burden on your mind, and I see that this fancy has taken a
+strong hold of you. Just tell me the story now, the whole truth and
+nothing but the truth." Alexy�i Stepanitch felt more fear than love for
+his father, and was not in the way of speaking to him frankly; but his
+love for Sofya Nikolayevna lent him courage. He threw himself at his
+father's feet and repeated the whole story, omitting no details and
+keeping nothing back. Stepan Mihailovitch listened with patience and
+attention. When one of the family appeared in the distance and evidently
+meant to come and say "good morning," he waved his blackthorn staff with
+a significant gesture, and then nobody, not even Aksyutka with the tea,
+dared approach before he summoned them. Though his son's story was
+ill-arranged, confused, long, and unconvincing, yet Stepan Mihailovitch
+with his clear head made out the gist of the matter. But unfortunately
+he did not and could not approve of it. Of the romantic side of love he
+had small appreciation, and his masculine pride was offended by his
+son's susceptibility, which seemed to him degrading weakness in a man
+and a sign of worthlessness; and yet at the same time he saw that Sofya
+Nikolayevna was not in the least to blame, and that all the evil he had
+heard about her was merely malicious falsehood, due to the ill will of
+his own womankind. After a little reflection, he said, with no sign of
+anger, even affectionately, but firmly: "Listen to me, Alexy�i! You are
+just at the time of life when a pretty girl may easily take a man's
+fancy. In that there is no harm whatever; but I see that you have gone
+too far, and that does not do. I don't blame Sofya Nikolayevna in the
+least; she seems to me a very worthy girl; but she's not a good match
+for you, and she won't suit us. In the first place, her nobility dates
+from yesterday, while you are the descendant of an ancient and noble
+line. Then she is accustomed to town life, highly educated, and
+independent; since her stepmother died she has ruled a household; and,
+though poor herself, she is used to luxury; but we are plain country
+people, and you know yourself how we live. And you ought to know your
+own character; you're too compliant. But her cleverness is the chief
+objection to her; to marry a wife cleverer than one's self is a mistake;
+she is sure to rule her husband; and you are so much in love that you
+are certain to spoil her at first. Well, as your father, I now bid you
+clear your head of this notion. I confess I don't believe myself that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept you. Choose your shoe of the right size,
+and it won't pinch your foot. We will find out a wife for you here--some
+gentle, quiet girl, well-born and with some money. Then you can give up
+your office and live here in comfort. You know, my boy, we're not
+rolling in wealth. We get enough to eat, but very little money comes in.
+As to the Kurolyessoff legacy, about which people made such a noise, I
+never give it a thought; we can't count on it: Praskovya Ivanovna is
+young enough to marry and have children of her own. Now, mind what I
+say, Alosha: throw all this off like water off a duck's back, and don't
+let me hear again of Sofya Nikolayevna." Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave
+his hand graciously to his son, who kissed it as respectfully as usual.
+The old man ordered tea to be served and the family to be summoned; he
+was more than usually cheerful and friendly to them all, but Alexy�i
+Stepanitch was terribly depressed. No anger on his father's part would
+have produced such an effect; that was soon over and was always followed
+by indulgence and kindness, but the old man's quiet determination
+deprived him of all hope. There was a change in his expression, so
+sudden and complete, that his mother was frightened to see it and plied
+him with questions--"Was he unwell? What had happened to him?" His
+sisters noticed the change also, but they were more cunning and held
+their tongues. None of this was lost on Stepan Mihailovitch. He looked
+askance at Arina Vassilyevna and muttered through his teeth, "Don't
+worry the boy!" So they took no more notice of him but left him in
+peace, and the day went on with its usual routine.
+
+The conversation with his father made a deep impression on Alexy�i
+Stepanitch; one may say that it crushed him. His appetite and sleep
+failed, he lost interest in everything, even his bodily strength was
+affected. His mother shed tears, and even his sisters were uneasy. Next
+day his mother found it difficult to get from him any account of the
+interview with his father. To all inquiries he returned the same answer:
+"My father won't hear of it; I am a lost man, and life will soon be over
+for me." And within a week he did really take to his bed; he was very
+weak and often half-conscious; and, though his skin was not hot, he was
+constantly delirious. No one could understand what was the matter with
+him; but it was simply a nervous fever. The family were terribly
+alarmed. As there were no doctors in the neighbourhood, they treated him
+with domestic remedies; but he grew steadily worse till he was so weak
+that his death was expected hourly. His mother and sisters screamed and
+tore their hair. Stepan Mihailovitch, though he shed no tears and was
+not always sitting by the bedside, probably suffered more than any one;
+he understood perfectly what had caused this illness. But youth at last
+asserted itself, and the turn came after exactly six weeks. Alexy�i
+Stepanitch woke up to life an absolute child, and life was slow in
+resuming its normal course with him; his convalescence lasted two
+months, and all the past seemed to have been blotted out from his
+memory. Everything that he saw, both indoors and out, pleased him as
+much as if it were new and strange. At last he got perfectly well; his
+face filled out and got back the healthy colour which it had lost for
+more than a year; he went out fishing and shooting quails, ate and drank
+heartily, and was in good spirits. His parents felt more joy than they
+could express, and were convinced that the illness had expelled all
+former thoughts and feelings from his head and heart. And perhaps this
+would really have been the case if they had taken him away from Ufa,
+kept him a whole year at home, and found a pretty girl for him to marry.
+But their fears were lulled to rest by his present condition, and they
+sent him back to the same place and the same duties after six months.
+This settled his fate once for all. The old passion revived and blazed
+up with far greater power. I do not know whether love came back to his
+heart all at once or by degrees; I only know that he went seldom at
+first to the Zubins' house, and then oftener, and at last as often as he
+could. I know also that his old friend, Mme. Alakayeff, continued her
+visits to Sofya Nikolayevna, sounding her cautiously as to her
+sentiments and bringing back favourable reports, which confirmed her own
+hope that the proud beauty was not indifferent to her humble worshipper.
+A few months after Alexy�i Stepanitch had returned to Ufa, a letter from
+him suddenly arrived at Bagrovo, in which he declared to his parents,
+with his usual affection and respect, but also with a firmness not
+characteristic of him, that he loved Sofya Nikolayevna more than his own
+life and could not live without her; he had hopes of her accepting him,
+and asked his parents to give him their blessing and their consent to
+the match. This letter was a great surprise and shock to the old people.
+Stepan Mihailovitch knitted his brows but did not express his feelings
+by a single word. The family all sat round in perfect silence till he
+dismissed them by a gesture. When he was alone, my grandfather sat there
+a long time, tracing patterns on the floor of his room with his
+blackthorn staff. He soon realised that it was a bad business, that they
+had been mistaken, and that no fever would cure the lad of his passion.
+His impulsive and kindly nature shook his resolve and made him inclined
+to give his consent, as may be inferred from what he said to his wife.
+When they were alone together next morning, he said: "Well, Arisha, what
+do you think of it? If we refuse, we shall see no more of Alosha than of
+our own ears. He will die of grief, or go off to the wars, or become a
+monk--and that's the end of the Bagroff family!" But Arina Vassilyevna
+had been primed already by her daughters, and she answered, as if her
+son ran no risk: "As you please, Stepan Mihailovitch; your will is mine
+too. But how can you hope they will respect you in future, if they
+resist your positive commands now?" This mean and cunning trick was
+successful: the old man's pride was touched, and he resolved to stand
+firm. He dictated a letter, in which he expressed surprise that his son
+should begin the old business over again, and repeated what he had
+already said by word of mouth. In short, the letter contained a positive
+refusal.
+
+Two or three weeks passed, and brought no reply from Alexy�i Stepanitch.
+Then there came one stormy autumn morning, when my grandfather was
+sitting across his bed in his own room; he was wearing his favourite
+dressing-gown of fine camel's hair over a shirt buttoning up at the
+side, and had slippers on his bare feet. Arina Vassilyevna was sitting
+near him with her spinning-wheel, spinning goat's down and carefully
+drawing out the fine long threads with which she intended to make
+cloth--cloth to provide her son with light, warm, comfortable garments.
+Tanyusha was sitting by the window, reading a book. Elizabeth, who was
+on a visit to Bagrovo, was sitting on the bed near her father, telling
+him of her troubles--her husband's poor prospects, and the shifts they
+had to practise at home to make ends meet. The old man listened sadly,
+with his hands on his knees, and his head, now turning white, bent down
+over his breast. Suddenly the door opened; and Ivan, a tall, handsome
+lad, wearing a travelling jacket, entered the room with a quick step and
+delivered a letter which he had brought from the post-town 25 _versts_
+away. The stir among the party showed that the letter was eagerly
+expected. "From Alosha?" asked the old man quickly and uneasily. "From
+my brother," answered Tanyusha, who had gone to meet Ivan, taken the
+letter quickly from him, and looked at the address. "You have lost no
+time, and I thank you. A dram for Ivan! Then go and have your dinner and
+rest." The spirit-case was opened at once; Tanyusha took out a long,
+cut-glass decanter, filled a silver cup with brandy, and handed it to
+Ivan. Ivan crossed himself and drank it, then coughed, bowed, and left
+the room. "Read it aloud, Tanyusha," said her father; she did his
+reading and writing for him. She placed herself by the window; her
+father left his bed and her mother her spinning-wheel, and all crowded
+round the reader, who had unsealed the letter by this time but dared not
+take a preliminary peep. After a moment's silence, the letter was read
+slowly and audibly. It began with the form of address usual in those
+days--"Dear and honoured Father, and dear and honoured Mother," and then
+went on in this fashion--
+
+"In answer to my last letter, I had the misfortune to receive a refusal
+of my request, my dearest parents. I cannot go against your will; I
+submit to it, but I cannot long drag the burden of my life without my
+adored Sofya Nikolayevna; and therefore a fatal bullet shall ere long
+pierce the head of your unhappy son."[39]
+
+ [39] I know the letter nearly by heart. It probably still exists among
+      the old papers of one of my brothers. Some expressions in it are
+      clearly borrowed from the novels which Alexy�i Stepanitch was fond
+      of reading. (_Author's note._)
+
+The letter produced a powerful effect. My aunts began to whimper; my
+grandmother, who was taken utterly by surprise, turned pale, threw out
+her hands, and flopped down on the ground like a corn-sheaf. Even in
+those days fainting-fits were not unknown. Stepan Mihailovitch never
+stirred; but his head bent a little to one side, as it used to do when a
+fit of anger was coming on, and began to tremble slightly; and that
+tremulous motion went on from that hour till his death. The daughters
+rushed to their mother's aid and soon brought her back to her senses. At
+once, Arina Vassilyevna threw herself at her husband's feet, raising the
+cry of mourning for the dead; and her daughters followed her example.
+Taking no notice of the storm-signals on his brow, and quite forgetting
+that she herself had egged him on to disappoint his son, she cried at
+the top of her voice: "_Batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch! have pity and do
+not be the death of your own child, our only son! Give Alosha leave to
+marry! If anything happens to him, I will not live one hour longer!" The
+old man never stirred. At last he said in an unsteady voice: "Enough of
+that howling! Alosha deserves a good whipping. But we'll leave it till
+to-morrow; morning brings good counsel. Now go and order dinner to be
+served." Dinner my grandfather regarded as a sedative at every domestic
+crisis. Arina Vassilyevna tried to begin again--"Mercy! Mercy!"--but
+Stepan Mihailovitch called out loudly, "Leave the room, all of
+you!"--and in his voice was audible the roar that goes before a storm.
+The room was cleared instantly, and no one ventured near him before the
+dinner-hour.
+
+It is hard to imagine the thoughts that passed through his mind in the
+interval, the struggle that took place in that iron heart between love
+and prudence, and the final defeat of the stubborn spirit; but, when
+Mazan's voice was heard outside the door, announcing dinner, my
+grandfather came out of his room quite composed. His face was rather
+pale, but his wife and daughters, who were standing, each by her own
+chair, till he appeared, could not see the faintest sign of anger; on
+the contrary, he was quieter and more cheerful than he had been in the
+morning, and made a hearty meal. Arina Vassilyevna had to harden her
+heart and suit her conversation to his mood; she dared not even sigh,
+far less ask questions; in vain she tried to guess what was passing
+through her husband's mind; the little chestnut-brown eyes in her fat
+face might ask what questions they pleased, but the dark-blue eyes of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, for all their frank good-humoured expression, gave
+no answer. After dinner he lay down as usual, and woke in a still more
+cheerful mood, but not a syllable did he utter about his son or the
+letter. Yet it was clear that no wrath was brooding in the old man's
+heart. When he said "good night"; to his wife after supper, she ventured
+to say, "Please say something about Alosha." He smiled and answered:
+"Did I not say that morning thoughts are best? Go to sleep, and God
+bless you!"
+
+Morning did indeed bring good counsel and kindly action. My grandfather
+got up at four o'clock when Mazan was kindling his fire, and his first
+words were: "Tanaichonok, you are to take a letter at once to Ufa for
+Alexy�i Stepanitch. Get ready immediately, and no one is to know your
+errand or where you are going. Put the young brown horse in the shafts,
+and the roarer abreast of him. Take six bushels of oats with you and a
+loaf of bread. Ask the housekeeper for two _roubles_ in copper for your
+expenses. See that all is ready when my letter is written, and don't
+lose a moment!" When my grandfather demanded haste, he always got it.
+Then he opened the oak desk which served him as a writing-table, got
+writing materials, and with some effort--for ten years past he had
+written nothing but his signature--he wrote as follows in a stiff,
+old-fashioned hand:--
+
+    "_Dear Son Alexy�i_,
+
+    "Your mother, Arina Vassilyevna, and I, give you our permission
+    to marry Sofya Nikolayevna Zubin, if that be God's will, and we
+    send you our blessing.
+
+        "Your father,
+
+          "_Stepan Bagroff_."
+
+Half an hour later, long before it was light, Tanaichonok had reached
+the top of the long hill and passed the stackyard, and was trotting
+briskly along the road to Ufa. At six o'clock Stepan Mihailovitch
+ordered Aksyutka to bring the _samovar_ but to wake no one in the house.
+In spite of this, the mistress was called and told in confidence that
+Tanaichonok had started very early with a pair of horses from the
+stable; he was carrying a letter from the master, but his destination
+was unknown. She did not venture to join her husband at once: she waited
+an hour or so, and appeared when he had finished his tea and was
+chatting with Aksyutka, the maid, who had been plain as a child and was
+now still plainer in middle life. "Well, what did they wake you for?"
+said Stepan Mihailovitch, holding out his hand to his wife. "I dare say
+you had a bad night." Arina Vassilyevna kissed his hand respectfully:
+"No," she said, "no one called me, I woke of myself; and I had a good
+night, for I hoped you would be kind to our poor boy." He looked
+attentively at her; but her face was accustomed to wear a mask, and he
+could not read her thoughts. "In that case," he said, "I have good news
+for you. I have sent a special messenger to Ufa and written to Alexy�i
+that he has permission from us both to marry Sofya Nikolayevna."
+
+Arina Vassilyevna had been horrified by her son's tragic intentions, and
+had sincerely begged and prayed her stern husband to consent to the
+marriage. Yet, when she heard how Stepan Mihailovitch had decided, she
+felt more fear than joy; or rather, she did not dare to feel joy,
+because she feared her daughters. She knew already what Elizabeth
+thought of the letter, and guessed what Alexandra would say. For these
+reasons she received the decision, which her husband hoped would delight
+her, rather coldly and strangely; and this did not escape him. Elizabeth
+expressed no satisfaction whatever, but merely respectful submission to
+her father's will; but Tanyusha, who took her brother's letter quite
+seriously, rejoiced with all her heart. Elizabeth was not alarmed even
+at first by her brother's threat; she shed tears and interceded for him,
+merely because it would not look well to act differently from her mother
+and youngest sister. She wrote at once to Alexandra, who was furious
+when she heard of the decision and came with all speed to Bagrovo. She
+too treated her brother's letter as an empty threat, a trick suggested
+by Sofya Nikolayevna; and the two together soon converted their mother
+and even Tanyusha to this belief. But the matter was settled, and open
+rebellion was now out of the question. Stepan Mihailovitch had thought
+that Sofya Nikolayevna would refuse his son; but no one else at Bagrovo
+believed this. But it is time now to leave Bagrovo and see what was
+going on at Ufa.
+
+I will not take upon myself to decide positively whether Alexy�i
+Stepanitch really intended to shoot himself, if his parents were
+obdurate, or took a hint from some incident in a novel and tried to
+excite their fears by suggesting the awful result of their refusal.
+Judging by the later development of his character--and I knew it well--I
+cannot think him capable of either course of action. Therefore, as I
+suppose, the young man was not playing a trick in order to frighten his
+parents; on the contrary, he sincerely intended to blow out his brains,
+if he was forbidden to marry Sofya Nikolayevna. But at the same time I
+do not think he could ever have brought himself to carry out his fatal
+purpose, although your mild quiet people, who are often called
+faint-hearted, are sometimes more capable of desperate actions than men
+of bold and energetic temperament. The idea of suicide was certainly
+borrowed from some novel: it was quite out of keeping with the character
+of Alexy�i Stepanitch, his view of life, and the circle of ideas in
+which he had been born and brought up. However that may be, when he had
+launched the fatal letter, he became greatly agitated and was soon laid
+up with fever. His friend and confidante, Mme. Alakayeff, knew nothing
+of the letter; she came to see him daily and soon perceived that his
+illness and his love-affair were not enough to account for his excessive
+agitation. She was sitting beside him one day, knitting a stocking and
+talking about trifles, in order to amuse the invalid and distract his
+mind from his hopeless passion; he was lying on the sofa, with his hands
+behind his head, looking out of the window. Suddenly he turned as white
+as a sheet. A cart with a pair of horses had turned off the street into
+the courtyard, and he recognised the horses and Tanaichonok. He sprang
+to his feet, cried out, "A message from my father, from Bagrovo!" and
+made for the door. Mme. Alakayeff seized his arm, and, with the help of
+a servant, prevented him from hurrying to the steps; it was wet and cold
+autumn weather. Meanwhile Tanaichonok came quickly into the room and
+delivered the letter. Alexy�i Stepanitch broke the seal with trembling
+fingers, read the few lines, burst into tears, and fell on his knees
+before the _ikon_. Mme. Alakayeff was puzzled until he handed her the
+letter; but, when she had read it, she too shed tears of joy. The young
+man was beside himself with happiness. He now confessed the nature of
+the letter he had written to his parents, and she shook her head when
+she heard it. Tanaichonok was called in and closely questioned; when he
+told how he had been sent off, they saw that Stepan Mihailovitch had
+settled the matter by himself, without the knowledge of his womankind
+and probably against their wishes.
+
+Mme. Alakayeff was entirely taken by surprise: even when she had read
+the letter over again she could not believe her own eyes, because she
+knew Stepan Mihailovitch of old and quite realised the opposition of the
+family. But, when the first excitement of surprise and joy was over, the
+two began to discuss how they should set to work. So long as opposition
+from their own side made the marriage seem remote and impossible, they
+had been sanguine as to the feelings of the lady; but now a doubt seized
+on Mme. Alakayeff. When she recalled and examined all the favourable
+signs, she felt that perhaps she had attached more importance to them
+than they deserved; and, like a sensible woman, she made haste to
+moderate the young man's confident hopes, prudently calculating that, if
+he were seduced by them, he would find it harder to bear the sudden
+collapse of those radiant dreams. A refusal now seemed to her quite
+possible, and her fears had effect upon her companion. Still, she did
+not back out of her promise to help him: on the contrary, she went next
+day and laid his proposal before Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+Simply, clearly, and with no exaggeration, she described the constant
+and ardent attachment of Alexy�i Stepanitch--all the town had long known
+it, and certainly Sofya Nikolayevna did; she spoke warmly of the fine
+character of her young relative, his kind heart, his rare modesty; she
+gave true and exact details of his financial position and prospects; she
+told the facts about his family, not forgetting to state that he had
+received by letter yesterday his parents' blessing and their full
+consent to seek the hand of a lady so worthy and highly respected as
+Sofya Nikolayevna; she added, that the young man had caught a fever in
+the excitement of waiting for his parents' reply, but found it
+impossible to postpone the decision of his fate, and therefore had asked
+her, as his kinswoman and a friend of Sofya Nikolayevna's, to find out
+whether a formal proposal for her hand, laid before her father, would be
+distasteful to her or not.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had long been accustomed to act for herself: without
+confusion and without any of the affectation and prudery expected of
+women in those days, she replied as follows:--
+
+"I thank Alexy�i Stepanitch for the honour he has done me, and you, dear
+lady, for your interest in the matter. I say frankly that I noticed long
+ago his partiality for me and have long expected that he would make me a
+proposal; but I have never decided whether I would accept or reject it.
+His last visit to his parents, the suddenness--you told me this
+yourself--of his long and dangerous illness at home, and the change in
+him when he came back to Ufa--these were signs that his parents
+disapproved of me as a daughter-in-law. This, I confess, I did not
+expect; it seemed more natural to fear opposition on the part of my
+father. Later I saw that Alexy�i Stepanitch had revived his former
+feeling for me; and now I suppose that he has been able to induce his
+father and mother to consent. But you must admit yourself, my dear lady,
+that the matter now assumes quite a new aspect. To enter a family where
+one is not welcome, is too great a risk. Certainly, my father would not
+oppose my choice; but can I venture to conceal the truth from him? If he
+were to learn that an obscure country squire thought twice before
+admitting me to the honour of alliance with his family, he would
+consider it a degradation, and nothing would induce him to consent. I am
+not in love with Alexy�i Stepanitch: I only respect his good qualities
+and his constant affection, and I believe he might make the woman he
+loved happy. Allow me, therefore, to think it over; and also, before I
+speak of this to my father and trouble him in his feeble state with such
+news, I wish to speak myself to Alexy�i Stepanitch. Let him come and see
+us, when he is well enough."
+
+Mme. Alakayeff reported this answer exactly to the young man. He did not
+think it promising, but she disagreed with him and tried to sooth his
+anxiety.
+
+After parting on very friendly terms with her visitor, Sofya Nikolayevna
+sat for a long time alone in her drawing-room, and thought hard. Her
+bright lively eyes were clouded; sombre thoughts raced through her brain
+and were reflected on the mirror of her beautiful face. All that she had
+said to Mme. Alakayeff was perfectly true: the question, whether she
+should marry Alexy�i Stepanitch or not, was really not settled. But the
+proposal had now been made, and it was necessary to make the great
+decision, so critical in every woman's life. Sofya Nikolayevna had an
+unusually clear head; in later years, the trials of life and her own
+passionate temperament may have warped her judgment, but she was able
+then to see everything exactly in its true light. Her prospects were not
+bright. Her father was a hopeless invalid, and Zanden, their best
+doctor, declared he could not live more than a year. His property
+consisted of two villages near Ufa, Zubkova and Kasimofka--forty serfs
+in all and a small amount of land; he had also scraped together a sum of
+10,000 _roubles_ which he intended as a portion for his daughter. To see
+her married was his constant and eager desire; but strange things do
+happen, and Sofya Nikolayevna had never before received a formal offer.
+He would leave behind him six orphans, the children of his two
+marriages, and separate guardians would have to be appointed. The three
+youngest would go to their grandmother, Mme. Rychkoff; their mother's
+fortune consisted of a small estate of fifty serfs. Sofya Nikolayevna's
+own brothers were at a boarding-school in Moscow; she would be left
+absolutely alone, without even distant relations to take her under their
+roof. In short, she had no where to lay her head. To face poverty and
+want, to live on the charity of strangers and in complete dependence
+upon strangers--such a fate might distress any one; but to a girl who
+had lived in comfort and held a high position in society, a girl proud
+by nature and flattered by general attention and popularity, a girl who
+had experienced all the burden of dependence and then all the charm of
+authority--such a change might well seem intolerable. And here was a
+young man, good-looking, honest, modest, the heir of an ancient line and
+an only son, whose father possessed 180 serfs and who was himself to
+inherit wealth from an aunt; and this young man worshipped her and
+offered her his hand and heart. At first sight, hesitation seemed out of
+the question. But, on the other hand, they were ill-matched in mind and
+temperament. No one in the town could believe that Sofya Nikolayevna
+would accept Alexy�i Stepanitch, and she realised the justice of public
+opinion and could not but attach importance to it. She was considered a
+marvel of beauty and intelligence: her suitor was certainly pretty in a
+boyish way--which was no recommendation to Sofya Nikolayevna--but rather
+simple and stupid, and passed with every one for a plain country lad.
+She was quick and enterprising: he was timid and slow. She was educated
+and might almost be called learned, had read much, and had a wide range
+of intellectual interests: he was quite ignorant, had read nothing but a
+few silly novels and a song-book, and cared for little beyond snaring
+quails and flying his hawks. She was witty and tactful and shone in
+society: he could not string three words together; clumsy, shy, abject,
+and ridiculous, he could only blush and bow and squeeze into a corner or
+against a door, to escape from the talkative and sociable young men whom
+he positively feared, though he was in truth far cleverer than many of
+them. She had a firm, positive, unbending temper: he was humble and
+wanting in energy, easily silenced and easily discomfited. Was he the
+man to support and defend his wife in society and in domestic life?
+
+Such were the contradictory thoughts and ideas and fancies which swarmed
+in the young girl's mind, mingling and jostling one another. Long after
+darkness had come down, she was still sitting there alone. At last a
+feeling of extreme misery, a terrible certainty that her reason was
+utterly baffled and growing less and less able to solve her problem,
+turned her thoughts to prayer. She hurried to her room to beg for the
+light of reason from on high, and fell on her knees before the image of
+Our Lady of Smolensk, who had once before by a miracle lightened her
+darkness and pointed out to her the path of life. For a long time she
+prayed, and her hot tears fell. But by degrees she felt a kind of
+relief, a measure of strength, a power of resolve, though she did not
+know yet what her resolve would be; and even this feeling helped her.
+She went downstairs to look at her father in his sleep; then she came
+back to her own room, lay down, and went peacefully to sleep. When she
+woke next morning, she was perfectly composed; she reflected for a few
+minutes, gave a thought to her hesitation and perplexity of the night
+before, and then kept quietly to her purpose, which was, first to have a
+conversation with her suitor, and then to settle the matter definitely,
+in accordance with the impression left on her mind by their interview.
+
+Alexy�i Stepanitch, wishing to know his fate as soon as possible, sent
+for the doctor and begged to be put on his legs without delay. The
+doctor promised to let him out soon and kept his promise for once.
+Within a week Alexy�i Stepanitch, though still pale, thin, and feeble,
+was sitting in Sofya Nikolayevna's drawing-room. Touched by the loss of
+colour and change in his young face, she was not quite as outspoken and
+rigorous as she meant to be. In substance she repeated to him what she
+had said to Mme. Alakayeff, but she added two points--that she would not
+part from her father while he lived, and that she would not live in the
+country. She wished to live in a town, in Ufa, for choice, where she was
+acquainted with many worthy and cultivated people, and hoped to enjoy
+their society after her marriage. She ended by saying that she would
+like to see her husband in the public service and holding a position in
+the town, which, if not brilliant, should at least secure deference and
+respect. To all these conditions and anticipations of a wife's rights,
+Alexy�i Stepanitch replied, with abject humility, that her will was law
+to him, and that his happiness would consist in the fulfilment of all
+her wishes. Such an answer no man should have given: it proved that his
+love was not to be depended on, and that he could not assure a woman's
+happiness; yet it pleased Sofya Nikolayevna, clever as she was.
+Reluctantly I must confess that love of power was one of her ruling
+passions; and the germs of this passion, now that she had been released
+from the cruel oppression of her stepmother, were sprouting actively at
+this time. Love of power did really, though she herself did not know it,
+help her to her decision.
+
+She expressed a wish to see the letter of consent which he had received
+from his parents; and he produced it from his pocket. She read it and
+was convinced that she was right in guessing that his wishes had at
+first been opposed. The young man was incapable of dissimulation, and
+also so much in love that he could not resist a kind look or word from
+his idol. So, when Sofya Nikolayevna demanded perfect frankness, he made
+a clean breast of everything; and I believe that this frankness finally
+settled the question in his favour. Sofya Nikolayevna was clever, but
+still she was a woman; and she was filled with the idea of reshaping and
+remoulding in her own way this good-tempered young man, so modest and
+sincere and uncorrupted by society. How delightful to think of the
+gradual awakening and enlightenment of this Orson! Orson had no lack of
+sense; and feeling, though wrapt in unbroken slumber, was there too.
+Orson would love her still better, if that were possible, in gratitude
+for his transformation. This vision took hold of her eager imagination;
+and she parted very graciously from her adorer, promising to talk the
+matter over with her father and communicate the result through Mme.
+Alakayeff. Alexy�i Stepanitch was "swimming in bliss"--to use an
+expression of that day. That evening Sofya Nikolayevna again had
+recourse to prayer, and prayed for a long time with great mental strain
+and fervour. She was exhausted when she went to sleep; and she had a
+dream which she interpreted, as people often do, as a confirmation of
+her purpose. Men are clever enough to interpret anything according to
+their desires. This dream I forget; but I remember that it was capable,
+with much more probability and much less forcing, of the opposite
+interpretation. Next morning Sofya Nikolayevna lost no time in telling
+her father, who was now in a very feeble state, of the proposal she had
+received. M. Zubin did not know Alexy�i Stepanitch, but had somehow come
+to think of him as a person of no importance; and he was not pleased, in
+spite of his eager desire to see his daughter settled before he died.
+But she proved to him, with her usual eagerness and convincing
+eloquence, that it was unwise to show the door to such a suitor. She
+urged all the advantages of the match which we know already, and, above
+all, that, far from parting with him, she would continue to live in the
+same house. She painted her helpless condition when it should please God
+to remove her father, till the sick man shed a tear and said: "Do as you
+please, my dear clever child. I consent to everything. Bring your future
+husband to see me soon: I wish to become better acquainted with him. And
+I insist on receiving a proposal in writing from his parents."
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna then sent a note to Mme. Alakayeff, asking Alexy�i
+Stepanitch to call on her father at a fixed hour. He was still "swimming
+in bliss," which he shared only with his old friend and supporter; but
+he was much disconcerted by this invitation which he had never expected
+from such a confirmed invalid. M. Zubin, in the absence of the
+Lieutenant-Governor the most important and powerful personage in the
+whole district of Ufa! M. Zubin, whom he had always approached with
+reverence and awe! His name seemed now more formidable than ever. What
+if he frowned on this proposal for his daughter's hand from one of the
+humblest of his subordinates? Might he not treat it as insolence, and
+thunder out: "How dared you think of my daughter? Are you a fit match
+for her? Off with him to prison and to judgment!" However wild these
+notions may appear, they did really pass through the young man's head;
+and he often told the story afterwards himself. Plucking up his spirits
+and encouraged by Mme. Alakayeff, he put on his uniform which hung
+loosely on his limbs from loss of flesh, and set off to wait on the
+great man. With his three-cornered hat under his arm, and clutching his
+troublesome sword in a trembling hand, he entered M. Zubin's study, so
+nervous that he could hardly breathe. M. Zubin, who had once been
+clever, lively, and energetic, now lay on his couch hardly able to move
+and shrunk to a mere skeleton. The visitor bowed low and remained
+standing by the door. This in itself was enough to annoy the invalid.
+"Step this way, M. Bagroff, and take a chair near my bed; I am too weak
+to talk loud." Alexy�i Stepanitch, with a profusion of bows, sat down on
+the edge of a chair close to the bed. "I understand that you seek my
+daughter's hand," the old man went on. The suitor jumped up, bowed, and
+said that he did in fact venture to seek this happiness.
+
+I could report the whole of this interview in detail, as I have often
+heard it fully described by Alexy�i Stepanitch himself; but part of it
+would be a repetition of what we know already, and I am afraid of
+wearying my readers. The important points are these. M. Zubin questioned
+the young man about his family, his means, and his intentions with
+regard to his profession and place of residence; he said that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would have nothing but her portion of 10,000 _roubles_, two
+families of serfs as servants, and 3000 _roubles_ in cash for initial
+expenses; and he added: "Though I am quite sure that you, as a dutiful
+son, would not have made such a proposal without the consent of your
+parents, yet they may change their minds; and social usage requires that
+they should write to me personally on the subject; and I cannot give you
+a positive answer till I receive a letter to that effect." Alexy�i
+Stepanitch got up repeatedly, bowed, and sat down again. He agreed to
+everything and promised to write that very day to his parents. In half
+an hour the invalid said that he was tired--which was perfectly
+true--and dismissed the young man rather drily. The moment he left,
+Sofya Nikolayevna entered her father's study; he was lying with closed
+eyes, and his face expressed weariness and also anxiety. Hearing his
+daughter's approach, he threw an imploring glance at her, pressed his
+hands to his breast, and ejaculated: "Is it possible, Sonitchka, that
+you intend to marry him!" But Sofya Nikolayevna had anticipated the
+result of the interview and was prepared for an even worse impression.
+"I warned you, father," she said in a gentle but firm voice, "that
+Alexy�i Stepanitch, owing to utter ignorance of society, awkwardness,
+and timidity, was bound to appear to you at first somewhat of a
+simpleton; but I, who have seen him often and had long conversations
+with him, will vouch for it that he is no fool and has more sense than
+most people. I beg you to have two more interviews with him; and I am
+sure you will agree with me." M. Zubin looked long at his daughter with
+a keen and penetrating gaze, as if he wished to read some secret hidden
+in her heart; then he sighed heavily and consented to do what she asked.
+
+By the next post Alexy�i Stepanitch sent a very affectionate and
+respectful letter to his parents. He thanked them for having given him
+life a second time, and humbly begged them to write at once to M. Zubin
+and request the hand of his daughter for their son; he added that this
+was the regular custom, and without such a letter the father would not
+give a positive answer. The fulfilment of this simple request gave some
+trouble to the old people at Bagrovo. They were no hands at composition,
+and, for want of previous experience, had no idea how to set about it,
+while they were exceedingly loath to commit themselves before the
+Governor's Deputy and their future relation, who was sure to be a
+skilful man of business and a practised writer. It took them a whole
+week to compose their letter; at last it got written somehow and was
+dispatched to Alexy�i Stepanitch. It was not a skilful production,
+having none of those polite phrases and expressions of affection which
+are indispensable in such cases.
+
+While waiting for the answer from home, Alexy�i Stepanitch received two
+more invitations from M. Zubin. The second visit did not remove the
+unfavourable impression produced by the first. On the next occasion,
+however, Sofya Nikolayevna was present. Returning from a call earlier
+than usual, she walked into her father's room, as if she did not know
+that her suitor was sitting there. Her presence made all the difference.
+She could make him talk and knew what he could talk about, so as to
+display to advantage his natural good sense, high principle, and
+goodness of heart. M. Zubin was obviously pleased: he spoke kindly to
+the young man and invited him to come to the house as often as he could.
+When they were alone, the old man embraced his daughter with tears,
+called her by many fond names, and said she was a witch whose spells
+could draw out a man's good qualities, even when they were so deeply
+hidden that no one suspected their existence. She too was much pleased;
+for she had not dared to hope that Alexy�i Stepanitch would do so much
+to support her favourable opinion and justify the character she had
+given him.
+
+The letter containing the formal proposal arrived at last, and Alexy�i
+Stepanitch delivered it in person to M. Zubin. Alas! without the magic
+presence and aid of Sofya Nikolayevna the suitor failed again to please
+his future father-in-law, who was also far from satisfied with the
+letter. Next day he had a long conversation with his daughter, in which
+he set before her all the disadvantages of marrying a man inferior to
+herself in intelligence, education, and force of character; he said that
+the Bagroff family would not take her to their hearts--they would be
+much more likely to hate her, because coarse and cruel ignorance always
+hates refinement; he warned her not to rely on the promises of a lover;
+for these as a rule are not kept after marriage, and Alexy�i Stepanitch,
+even if he wished, would not have the power to keep them. To all this
+sage advice, drawn directly from the experience of life, she had an
+answer of surprising adroitness; and at the same time she depicted in
+such lively colours the advantages of marrying a man who, if he lacked
+energy and refinement, was at least kind-hearted, honourable, loving,
+and no fool, that her father was carried away by her confidence and gave
+his full consent. She clasped her father in her arms and kissed his
+wasted hands; then she gave him the _ikon_ and received his
+blessing,[40] kneeling by his bed and weeping. "Father," she cried in
+her excitement, "with God's help, I hope that in a year's time Alexy�i
+Stepanitch will be a different creature: the reading of good books, the
+society of clever people, and constant conversation with his wife--these
+will make up for defects of education; his bashfulness will pass away,
+and the power to take a place in society will come of itself." "May it
+be so!" he answered. "Now send for the priest. I wish that we should
+pray together for your happiness."
+
+ [40] The sacred image is often held by the person giving the blessing.
+
+That same evening Alexy�i Stepanitch was invited to the house, with Mme.
+Alakayeff and some old friends of the Zubins'--M. Anitchkoff and the
+Misailoffs; and the favourable answer was given. The young man's bliss
+no words can describe: Sofya Nikolayevna, even in extreme old age, used
+to speak of his joy at that moment. He threw himself at M. Zubin's feet
+and kissed his hands, cried and sobbed like a child, and nearly fainted
+from the effect of this immense good-fortune which down to the last
+moment had seemed beyond his reach. She too was deeply moved by such a
+frank expression of ardent and entire devotion.
+
+The official betrothal came two days later, and all the town was invited
+to the ceremony. There was general surprise, because many had
+disbelieved the reports of the engagement. But all sceptics were
+convinced at last, and came to express their congratulations and good
+wishes. Alexy�i Stepanitch was radiant with happiness; he was quite
+unaware of any hidden meaning in congratulations, of any mockery in
+looks and smiles. But Sofya Nikolayevna let nothing pass unnoticed: she
+saw everything and heard everything, though, in speaking to her, every
+one was cautious and polite. Though she knew beforehand the view society
+would take of her action, she could not help being vexed by this
+expression of their opinion. But no one detected her vexation; for she
+was cheerful and affectionate with every one and especially with her
+suitor, and seemed perfectly happy and content with her choice. The pair
+were soon summoned into M. Zubin's study, and the betrothal took place
+there before a few witnesses. While the priest read the prayers, the old
+man shed tears; when the rite was over, he told the bridegroom to kiss
+the bride and embraced them both himself with a great effort; then he
+gazed earnestly at Alexy�i Stepanitch and said, "Love her always as you
+do now; God is giving you such a treasure ..." and then he broke down.
+The engaged couple and the witnesses returned to the drawing-room, where
+all the men embraced the bridegroom and kissed the bride's hand, while
+all the ladies embraced the bride and had their hands kissed by the
+bridegroom. When this fuss was over, the pair were made to sit on a sofa
+side by side, and exchange kisses again; and then the company, holding
+glasses in their hands, repeated their congratulations and good wishes.
+Anitchkoff acted as host, and Mme. Alakayeff as hostess. Alexy�i
+Stepanitch, who had never in his life drunk anything but water, was
+forced to take a glass of wine, and the unfamiliar stimulant had a
+strong effect upon him, weakened as he was by recent illness and
+constant agitation. He became uncommonly lively, laughed and cried, and
+talked a great deal, to the amusement of the company and the
+mortification of the bride. The guests soon grew merry: glass followed
+glass, and a fine supper was served. All ate and drank heartily, and at
+last the party broke up amid noise and merriment. The bridegroom's head
+was beginning to ache; and Mme. Alakayeff took him home in her carriage.
+
+M. Zubin felt that he was in great danger and therefore wished to have
+the wedding as soon as possible; but, as he also wished his daughter's
+outfit to be rich and splendid, it was necessary to postpone the
+ceremony for some months. Her mother's diamonds and emeralds had to be
+sent to Moscow, to be reset and restrung in the newest fashion; silver
+had to be ordered from Moscow, and some dresses and presents; the other
+dresses, curtains for the state bed, and a sumptuous black-brown fur
+cloak which cost 500 _roubles_ then and could not be bought now for
+5000--all these were made in Kazan; a quantity of table-linen and
+Holland sheets were also provided. Ten thousand roubles, the amount
+fixed for the dowry, was a great sum in those days; and, as many
+valuable things were provided as well, the inventory of the bride's
+outfit assumed such splendid proportions, that when I read it now I can
+hardly believe in the simple life of our ancestors at the end of last
+century.
+
+The first business after the formal betrothal was to send complimentary
+letters to all relations on both sides. One of Sofya Nikolayevna's gifts
+was her remarkable skill in letter-writing; and her letter to her future
+husband's parents was such that Stepan Mihailovitch, though no
+letter-writer himself, set a high value on it. First he listened to it
+with great attention; then he took it out of Tanyusha's hand, praised
+the distinct handwriting, and read it through twice himself. "Well,
+she's a clever girl," he said, "and I make sure she has a warm heart."
+This enraged the family, but they had the sense to keep silent.
+Alexandra alone could not restrain herself: her gooseberry eyes flashed
+with rage as she said: "She can write a fine letter, father, I admit;
+but all is not gold that glitters." The old man scowled at her and said
+in his dangerous voice: "How do you know? You're snarling at her
+already, and you've never even seen her! Take care! Keep your tongue
+from wagging, and don't stir up the rest!" All sat as silent as mice,
+and, of course, hated Sofya Nikolayevna worse than ever. Meanwhile
+Stepan Mihailovitch, under the influence of that warm and affectionate
+letter, took the pen himself and wrote as follows, in defiance of all
+established etiquette:--
+
+        "_My dear, precious, sensible Daughter-in-Law to be_,
+
+    "If you, without seeing us, have learnt to love and respect us
+    old people, we feel the same for you. And when, by God's
+    blessing, we meet, we shall love you still better; and you will
+    be to us as our own daughter, and we shall rejoice in the
+    happiness of our son Alexy�i."
+
+On her side, Sofya Nikolayevna valued the old man's simple words as they
+deserved; from what she had heard, she had already taken a fancy to him.
+As she had no relations living, the bridegroom had no letters to write;
+but she asked Alexy�i Stepanitch to write a letter of intimation to M.
+Anitchkoff, the friend at Moscow whom she had never seen and who had
+taken her brothers under his care. The bridegroom of course gladly
+consented. Not having much confidence in his power to express himself on
+paper, she asked to see the letter before it was sent. When she read it,
+she was horrified! Alexy�i Stepanitch, who had heard a great deal of M.
+Anitchkoff as a wit, took it into his head to adopt an elaborate style.
+Therefore he had recourse to some novel of the day, and filled two sides
+with phrases which, under other circumstances, would have made Sofya
+Nikolayevna laugh outright; as it was, the blood rushed to her face, and
+then the tears poured from her eyes. When she grew calmer, she wondered
+how she was to get out of such an awkward situation. She did not wonder
+long, however. She wrote a rough draft of a letter herself, and then
+said to her betrothed, that, not being in the habit of writing to
+strangers, he had written in a way that might not please Anitchkoff; and
+therefore she had written a rough draft, which she asked him to copy out
+and send off. She felt shame and pain, and was hurt on his account; her
+voice shook, and she nearly broke down. But he welcomed her suggestion
+with enthusiasm; when she read him the letter, he was charmed with it,
+praised her wonderful skill, and covered her hands with kisses. This was
+the first step in disrespect for her future husband, the first step
+towards realising her dream of complete domination over him; and she did
+not find it easy to take.
+
+Knowing that his parents had little money and were forced to be chary in
+spending any, Alexy�i Stepanitch wrote to ask for a very moderate sum;
+and, to strengthen his request, he asked Mme. Alakayeff to write to his
+father, to assure him that the request was reasonable and that some
+expense was inevitable in view of the marriage. He asked only 800
+_roubles_, but Mme. Alakayeff stated the necessary sum at 1500. The old
+people replied that they had not got such a sum; they sent him all they
+had--300 _roubles_, and suggested that, if the other 500 were necessary,
+he should borrow them; but they promised to send him a team of four
+horses with a coachman and postilion, and provisions of all kinds. They
+did not even answer Mme. Alakayeff: so indignant were they with her for
+demanding such a huge sum. It could not be helped: Alexy�i Stepanitch
+thanked them for their kindness and borrowed 500 _roubles_; when even
+this proved insufficient, Mme. Alakayeff gave him 500 more, without the
+knowledge of his parents.
+
+Meantime, as the engaged couple met more often and were together longer,
+they became more intimate. Sofya Nikolayevna for the first time saw her
+husband as he really was, and realised for the first time what a heavy
+task lay before her! She had made no mistake in thinking that he
+possessed natural intelligence, a very kind heart, strict principles of
+honour, and perfect integrity in official life; but otherwise she found
+such a limitation of ideas, such a pettiness of interests, such an
+absence of self-esteem and independence, that her courage and firmness
+in the execution of her purpose were more than once severely shaken.
+More than once, in despair, she took the engagement-ring off her finger,
+laid it before the image of Our Lady of Smolensk, and prayed with tears
+that her feeble intelligence might be enlightened by divine wisdom. As
+we know already, she was accustomed to act thus at each crisis in her
+life. When she had prayed, she felt braver and calmer. Interpreting this
+feeling as heavenly guidance, she would put her ring on again and go
+back, composed and cheerful, to join her lover in the drawing-room. Her
+father felt that he was losing strength daily; and she was able to
+assure him that she was constantly discovering fresh merits in her
+lover, that she was quite content and looked forward to happiness in her
+marriage. By this time disease had dulled M. Zubin's perspicacity: he
+not only believed that she was sincere, but was convinced himself that
+his daughter would be happy. "Thank God!" he used to say; "now I can die
+happy."
+
+And now the wedding-day drew near. The bride's outfit was all ready. The
+bridegroom too made his preparations, being guided by the advice of Mme.
+Alakayeff, who assumed the entire management of him. The old lady, in
+spite of her shrewdness, was surprised by his profound ignorance of the
+customs of polite society. But for her, he would have been guilty of
+many blunders which would have made his bride blush for shame. Thus he
+intended to give her as a birthday-present a kind of cloth for a dress
+which would only have been suitable as a present to her maid; and he
+thought of driving to the church in an old shandrydan without springs,
+which would have made all the town laugh; and so on. The things were not
+of importance in themselves; but it would have tried Sofya Nikolayevna
+too hard to see her bridegroom the laughing-stock of Ufa society. All
+such things were put right by Mme. Alakayeff, or rather by the bride
+herself, for the two women discussed every point together. Sofya
+Nikolayevna told her lover in time, that he must not think of giving her
+a present for her birthday, because she loathed birthday-presents in
+general. For the wedding, she made him buy a new English carriage which
+had lately been ordered from Petersburg by a local landowner; his name
+was Murzahanoff,[41] and he had managed to run through his fortune in a
+few months. The price paid for the carriage was 350 _roubles_; Sofya
+Nikolayevna bought it herself as a present from her father to the
+bridegroom, and begged him not to trouble the dying man by thanking him.
+And the other difficulties were got over in the same fashion.
+
+ [41] The Russianised form of an oriental name, Mirza Khan.
+
+Then the bride and bridegroom wrote, for themselves and M. Zubin, to
+Stepan Mihailovitch and Arina Vassilyevna, pressing them to honour the
+wedding by their presence; but the old people, as a matter of course,
+declined the invitation. They had lived so long in their country
+solitude that town and town society seemed to them something strange and
+formidable. None of the daughters wished to go either; but Stepan
+Mihailovitch thought this awkward, and desired Elizabeth and Alexandra
+to attend the wedding. The latter was accompanied by her husband,
+Karatayeff; but Yerlykin was detained by his duties at Orenburg.
+
+The presence of these uninvited and unexpected guests was the cause of
+much annoyance to Sofya Nikolayevna. Her future sisters-in-law were
+clever and cunning women; they were determined to dislike her, and their
+behaviour to her was cold, unfriendly, and even rude. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna knew very well the sort of attitude they were likely to
+adopt, yet she thought it her duty to be friendly and even cordial to
+them at first; but when she saw that all her efforts were vain, and that
+the better she treated them the worse they treated her, she retired
+behind a wall of cold civility. But this did not protect her from those
+mean hints and innuendoes which it is impossible not to understand and
+not to resent, though it is awkward to do either, because you lay
+yourself open to the retort--"If the cap fits, wear it!" This odious
+form of attack, now banished to the servants' hall by the advance of
+refinement, was formidable in those days, and much used in the houses of
+rural landowners, many of whom differed little from their own servants
+in their manners and customs. But is it true that it has really been
+banished? Does it not still live on among us, concealed under more
+decent and artistic forms?
+
+The good people of Ufa made fun, as might be expected, of the country
+clothes and manners of the two ladies. As to Karatayeff, who had now
+adopted all the Bashkir habits and began drinking Bashkir decoctions at
+eight in the morning, when he was first introduced to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+he kissed her hand with a sounding smack three times over, and cried out
+with real Bashkir enthusiasm, "My word! what a dazzler brother Alexy�i
+has hooked!" The coarse jests and compliments of the man were as
+distressing as the malicious sallies of the women; and both forced Sofya
+Nikolayevna to swallow many tears. But worse than all was the blindness
+of Alexy�i Stepanitch: he seemed perfectly satisfied with the relations
+between his sisters and his bride, and this was not only a mortification
+for the present but also a peril for the future. These venomous
+creatures, who were staying with their brother, began at once to drop
+their poison into his simple soul, and did it so artfully that he did
+not suspect their manoeuvres. Allusions to the young lady's pride, to
+the poverty which she hid under jewels and fine clothes, to her caprices
+and his meek submission to them, were dinned into his ears all day long.
+Much passed unnoticed, but much also went straight to the mark and made
+him thoughtful and vaguely uneasy. All their attacks, whether secret or
+open, were accompanied by a pretence of sympathy and sisterly affection.
+"What makes you look so worn, my dear boy?" Elizabeth would ask; "Sofya
+Nikolayevna wears you out with all her commissions. You've just got back
+from the other end of the town, tired and hungry, and off you run again,
+without eating a morsel, to dance attendance on her. As your sisters, we
+can't help being sorry for you"; and then sham tears, or at least some
+play with the pocket-handkerchief, completed the crafty sentence. Then
+Alexandra would make a furious entry into the conversation. "No, my
+dear, I really cannot stand it! I know you will be angry, and perhaps
+you will cease to love us; but I can't help it, I must tell you the
+truth. You are quite changed: you're ashamed of us and have forgotten us
+altogether; your one wish is to mumble that girl's hand; your one fear,
+to get into her black books. You have become her lackey, her slave! Then
+it cuts us to the heart to see that old witch, Mme. Alakayeff, ordering
+you about like a servant and making you fetch and carry for her; and
+she's not content with that, but finds fault with you and urges you to
+greater activity." Alexy�i Stepanitch could think of no answer to all
+this, except that he loved his sisters and would continue to do so,
+and--it was time to go and see Sofya Nikolayevna; whereupon he took his
+hat and hurried off. "Oh, go by all means!" Alexandra called after him,
+"and go quick; or else she will be angry and perhaps withhold her hand
+from your lips!" Scenes like this took place again and again and
+undoubtedly left their impression.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna could not help noticing that his sisters' visit had
+brought about a certain change in her lover. He seemed depressed, was
+less exact in keeping his engagements, and spent less time with her. The
+reason for this she herself understood very well; and Mme. Alakayeff,
+who had become a very intimate friend and also knew all that went on in
+the Bagroffs' lodgings, did not fail to provide her with detailed
+information. Her impulsive nature made her unwilling to let things drag
+on. She reasoned justly, that she ought not to give time for the
+sisters' influence to take root at leisure, that she must open her
+lover's eyes and put the strength of his character and affection to a
+decisive test. If they proved too weak, it was better to part before
+marriage than to unite her fate to such a feeble creature, who was, to
+use her own expression, "neither a shield from the sun nor a cloak to
+keep out the rain." She summoned him early one morning and ordered that
+no visitors should be admitted to the drawing-room where they were
+sitting. Then she turned to Alexy�i Stepanitch, who was looking pale and
+frightened, and addressed him as follows:--
+
+"I wish to have a frank explanation with you and to make a clean breast
+of what I am feeling; and I ask you to do the same. Your sisters detest
+me and did their best to rouse your parents against me. That I know from
+yourself. But your love overcame all obstacles: your parents gave you
+their approval, and I resolved to accept you and brave the hatred of all
+your family. I hoped to find protection in your love for me and in my
+endeavour to prove to your parents that I don't deserve their
+displeasure. But now I see that I was mistaken. You saw yourself how I
+received your sisters, how friendly I was and how hard I tried to please
+them; and, though their rudeness made me draw back, yet I never once
+failed in politeness to them. And what has been the result? It is only a
+week since they came, and you treat me differently already: you make me
+promises and then forget to keep them; you spend less time with me; you
+are depressed and anxious, and even less affectionate to me than you
+used to be. Don't defend yourself, or deny it; that would not be
+honourable on your part. I know that you love me still, but you are
+afraid to show it; you fear your sisters, and that is why you are
+depressed and even avoid opportunities of being alone with me. You know
+yourself that all this is quite true. Well, then, tell me, how can I
+hope that your love will stand firm? It is a strange kind of love that
+turns coward and hides, because your sisters disapprove of your bride,
+as you knew they did long ago. Suppose your parents disapprove of me and
+turn up their noses at me? What then? Then you will really cease to love
+me. No, Alexy�i Stepanitch, honourable men do not behave so to the woman
+they love. The knowledge that your sisters disliked me should have made
+you twice as attentive and twice as devoted in their presence; and then
+they would not have dared to utter a syllable; but you have suffered
+them to use insulting language in your presence. I know just how they
+speak to you. From all this I conclude that your love is not love at
+all, but love-making, that I cannot rely on you, and that we had better
+part now than be unhappy for life. Consider carefully what I have said;
+I shall give you two days to think it over. Come to the house as usual,
+but I shall not see you alone and shall not refer to this interview.
+After two days, I shall ask for an honest answer to these questions:
+'Have you sufficient firmness to be my defender against your relations
+and any one else who chooses to insult me? Can you shut your sisters'
+mouths and prevent them from uttering in your presence a single
+insulting word or allusion against me?' To break her engagement a week
+before her marriage is a great misfortune for any girl; but it is better
+to bear it once for all than to suffer all one's life. You know that I
+am not in love with you, but I was beginning to love you; and I believe
+my love would have been stronger and more constant than yours. Now,
+good-bye! For to-day and to-morrow we are strangers."
+
+Long before she ended, Alexy�i Stepanitch had been in tears, and he
+tried several times to interrupt; but, before he could open his mouth,
+she had left the room and shut the door behind her. It was some time
+before he recovered from this tremendous blow. But at last the terrible
+thought of losing his adored mistress presented itself to him with
+appalling reality, and summoned up that energy and vigour of which the
+mildest and gentlest of men are capable, though they cannot keep it up
+for long. He hurried home; and, when his sisters, with no pity for his
+evident disturbance and distress, greeted him with the usual malicious
+jests, he flew into such a rage and attacked them with such fury that
+they were frightened. The wrath of a gentle patient man is a formidable
+thing. Among other things he told his sisters that, if they ventured to
+say another insulting word about his bride or about himself, he would
+instantly move to other lodgings, from which, as well as from M. Zubin's
+house, they would be excluded; and he would write to his father and tell
+him the whole story. That was enough. Alexandra had a clear recollection
+of her father's warning-"Keep your tongue quiet, and don't stir up the
+rest of the family!" She knew very well what a thunder-cloud her
+brother's complaint would call up, and what alarming consequences she
+might expect. Both the sisters fell on their brother's neck and begged
+forgiveness with tears; they solemnly declared that it should never
+happen again; they were really very fond of Sofya Nikolayevna, and it
+was only out of pity for his health and fear that he was doing too much
+that they had ventured on these foolish jests. They called on Sofya
+Nikolayevna that same day and paid court to her with the utmost
+servility. The meaning of all this was not lost upon her, and she felt
+she had prevailed.
+
+The position of her lover really deserved pity. His feelings, which had
+been calmed and composed to some extent by frequent interviews with
+Sofya Nikolayevna, her simple friendly behaviour to him, and the near
+prospect of the marriage, had then been rather alarmed and abashed by
+the sneers of his sisters; and now they flamed up so fiercely, that at
+the present moment he was capable of any self-sacrifice, of any
+desperate action, a true knight-errant! His state of mind was clearly
+reflected on his handsome young face during those two endless days. The
+lovers met several times, and Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at his
+face without pain; but she had the firmness to support the test she had
+imposed. The agitation and pity which she felt were a surprise to
+herself. She felt that she did really love this simple, modest young
+man, who was absolutely devoted to her and would not have hesitated to
+put an end to his existence if she made up her mind to refuse him. At
+last the two long days were over. Early on the third day Alexy�i
+Stepanitch sat in the drawing-room, waiting for his mistress to appear.
+The door opened softly, and in she came, more beautiful, more charming
+than ever. She was smiling, and her eyes expressed such tenderness that,
+when he looked at her and saw her kind hand stretched out towards him,
+the excess of his emotion deprived him for an instant of the power of
+speech. He soon recovered, and then, instead of taking her hand, fell at
+her feet and poured forth a torrent of burning heartfelt eloquence. She
+interrupted him and raised him to his feet. Then she said: "I see and
+feel your love, and I share it; I believe all your promises; I put my
+fate in your hands without fear." She had never been so affectionate to
+him before, and she used words of tenderness which he had never before
+heard from her lips.
+
+Only five days remained before the marriage. All their preparations were
+complete, and the lovers were free to spend most of their time together.
+For five whole months Sofya Nikolayevna had been true to her intention
+of educating her future husband over again. She never lost a suitable
+moment, but did her best to impart those ideals which he did not
+possess, to clear up and develop feelings of which he was dimly
+conscious, and to root out the notions which he had derived from his
+early surroundings. She even made him read, and discussed with him the
+books he had read, explaining what puzzled him, filling up gaps in his
+memory, and illustrating fiction from real life. But it is probable that
+she got on faster with her task during these five days than in the
+course of five long months; for the recent incident which I have
+described had raised her lover's mind to a higher level of refinement,
+and he was in an unusually receptive and impressionable mood. How far
+the teacher succeeded on the whole in impressing her ideas upon the
+pupil, I cannot venture to decide. It is hard to know how much weight to
+attach to the opinions of the two persons concerned; but it is certain
+that in later years they both maintained--and they appealed to the
+evidence of disinterested persons in confirmation of the statement--that
+a great change took place in Alexy�i Stepanitch, and even a complete
+transformation. I am very willing to believe it; but I have a proof that
+his proficiency in social etiquette left something to be desired. I know
+that he made his bride very angry the day before the marriage, and that
+her vehemence left a strong and painful impression on his mind. It
+happened in the following way. Two ladies were calling on Sofya
+Nikolayevna when a servant brought in a paper parcel and handed it to
+his mistress, with the explanation that Alexy�i Stepanitch had sent it
+by his coachman and wished her at once to make a cap for his sister
+Alexandra. Her lover had left her half an hour before without saying one
+word about this commission, and Sofya Nikolayevna was exceedingly
+annoyed. The ladies, who were of some importance, had supposed at first
+that the parcel contained a present from the bridegroom; and now they
+did not try to conceal their amusement. Sofya Nikolayevna lost patience:
+she ordered the parcel to be returned, with a message that Alexy�i
+Stepanitch had better apply to a milliner; it was no doubt a mistake to
+have brought the thing to her. The explanation was quite simple. On
+going home, he had found his sister in a great difficulty, because the
+milliner, who had engaged to make her a cap for the wedding, had fallen
+ill and returned the materials. As he had seen with his own eyes the
+skill with which Sofya Nikolayevna could trim hats and caps, he offered
+to help his sister out of her trouble, and told his servant to carry the
+parcel to his bride, with a humble request that she would trim a cap for
+Alexandra. But the servant was busy, and, instead of going himself, sent
+the coachman; and the humble request became, in the coachman's mouth, an
+imperious demand. Alexy�i Stepanitch hastened back to explain matters,
+and carried with him the same unlucky parcel. Sofya Nikolayevna had not
+yet cooled down, when she saw him coming into the room with the odious
+parcel under his arm; and she flared up worse than ever, and said many
+violent and unkind things which she had better have left unspoken. The
+culprit, utterly dumbfounded, tried to defend himself, but did it very
+badly; he was seriously hurt by this onslaught. She sent the materials
+for the cap to some milliner she knew of; and then, repenting of her
+violence, she tried to put matters right. But, to her surprise, Alexy�i
+Stepanitch could not get over it: he felt that he had been unjustly
+treated, and she had frightened him. He became very depressed, and her
+efforts to calm and cheer him were unsuccessful.
+
+The wedding-day, the 10th of May, 1788, arrived, and the bridegroom paid
+an early visit to his bride. After her excitement of the previous day,
+she was distressed to see that Alexy�i Stepanitch still wore the same
+pained expression. She felt hurt; for she had always supposed that he
+would be in an ecstasy of joy on the day when he led her to the altar;
+and here he was, looking demure and even depressed! She expressed her
+feelings, and that made matters worse. Of course, he assured her that he
+considered himself the happiest man in the world, and so on; but the
+pompous and trivial phrases, which he had repeated many a time before
+and she had heard with satisfaction, were now distasteful to her ear,
+because they lacked the fire of inward conviction. They soon parted, to
+meet next in church, where the bridegroom was to be in waiting for her
+at six in the evening.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was assailed by a terrible misgiving--would she be
+happy in her marriage? A host of dark forebodings passed before her
+heated imagination. She blamed herself for her hot temper and violent
+language; she recognised that the offence was trifling, and that she
+must expect many slips of the kind on her lover's part, and must take
+them calmly. They had happened often enough before; but, on this
+occasion, the unlucky combination of circumstances and the presence of
+the two unfriendly visitors had pricked her vanity and irritated her
+natural impetuosity. Conscious that she had frightened her lover, she
+repented of her fault; but at the same time she was aware in the depth
+of her heart that she was quite capable of committing the same fault
+again. And now she realised afresh all the difficulty of the tremendous
+task she had undertaken--the reformation and regeneration of a man of
+twenty-seven. Her whole life--and it might be long--must be spent with a
+husband whom she loved indeed but could not entirely respect; there
+would be constant collision between utterly different ideas and opposite
+qualities, and they would often misunderstand one another. Doubts of
+success, doubts of her own strength, doubts of her power to command the
+qualities of firmness and calmness so foreign to her nature--these rose
+before her for the first time in their appalling truth, and she shrank
+back in terror. But what could she do? If she broke off the marriage at
+the eleventh hour, what would be the consequences? It would be a
+terrible blow to her dying father, who took comfort in the conviction
+that his daughter would be happy in the care of a kind husband; her
+rivals in society and enemies would mock at her; she would be the talk
+of the town and the laughing-stock of the district, perhaps even a mark
+for calumny; and, above all, she would kill, literally kill, her devoted
+lover. And all for what? Merely because she was afraid she might lack
+firmness to carry out a purpose which she had deliberately formed and
+which was beginning to take shape with triumphant success. "No! that
+shall never be! God will help me; Our Lady of Smolensk will be my
+intercessor and will give me strength to conquer my impetuous nature."
+Thus Sofya Nikolayevna thought, and thus she decided. She wept and
+prayed and regained her stability.
+
+The Church of the Assumption was quite close to the Zubins' house, and
+there was then an empty space round it. Long before six o'clock, it was
+surrounded by a crowd of curious spectators. The high steps projecting
+from the house into the street were blocked by the carriages of the
+privileged persons who had been invited to escort the bride. The bride
+was dressed, and her little brother, Nikolinka, whose birth had cost his
+mother her life three years before, put on the stockings and shoes,
+according to established custom, though of course the maids lent their
+assistance. By six the bride was ready; she received her father's
+blessing and came into the drawing-room. The rich bridal-dress lent an
+added lustre to her beauty. The bridegroom, on his way to church, had to
+pass right under the drawing-room windows, and Sofya Nikolayevna saw him
+drive past in the English carriage drawn by the four fine horses bred at
+Bagrovo; he had his head out and was looking up at the open windows; she
+smiled and nodded. Next came the bridegroom's sisters with Mme.
+Alakayeff, and all the men who were escorting him to church. She did not
+wish to keep him waiting, and insisted, in spite of various hindrances,
+that they should start at once. Sofya Nikolayevna was calm and composed
+when she entered the church; she gave her arm cheerfully and smilingly
+to the bridegroom; but she was vexed to see that his face still wore the
+same sad expression; and it was generally remarked that they both looked
+depressed during the ceremony. The church was brilliantly lighted and
+full of people; the cathedral choir did not spare their voices.
+Altogether, it was a dignified and splendid ceremony. When the rite was
+over, the young couple were escorted to the Zubins' house by the
+bridegroom's sisters, the whole train of friends and relations on both
+sides, and all the important people of Ufa. Dancing began at once and
+went on till an early but sumptuous supper was served. Privileged guests
+paid a visit to M. Zubin in his study and congratulated him on his
+daughter's marriage. The usual festivities took place on the next and
+following days--balls, dinners, and calls, in fact, the regular routine
+which we see nowadays even in Moscow and Petersburg.
+
+The shade of sadness soon vanished from the faces of the young couple.
+They were perfectly happy. Kind people could not look at them without
+pleasure; and every one said, "What a handsome couple!" A week later,
+they prepared for a visit to Bagrovo; the bridegroom's sisters had gone
+back there three days after the wedding, and Sofya Nikolayevna had sent
+by them an affectionate letter to the old people.
+
+Startled by their brother's explosion, Elizabeth and Alexandra had been
+cautious of late. They refrained from all hints and sneers and grimaces
+in his presence, and were even polite to Sofya Nikolayevna. She, of
+course, was not taken in by this; but their brother entirely believed in
+the sincerity of their devotion to his bride. At the wedding and the
+festivities which followed, they were, naturally, somewhat out of place,
+and therefore hastened their departure. On arriving at Bagrovo, they
+determined to do nothing rash and to hide their hostility towards Sofya
+Nikolayevna from their father; but to their mother and two sisters they
+described the marriage and events at Ufa in such a way as to fill their
+minds with a strong prejudice against the bride; and they did not forget
+to mention their brother's threats and his fury excited by their attacks
+upon Sofya Nikolayevna. It was agreed to treat her kindly in the
+presence of Stepan Mihailovitch, and to say nothing bad about her to him
+directly; at the same time they were to use every opportunity to excite
+by indirect means his displeasure against their enemy. It was a highly
+delicate operation; and Elizabeth and Alexandra could not trust it to
+any hands but their own.
+
+My grandfather questioned them minutely about the wedding, the people
+they had seen there, the health of M. Zubin, and so on. They praised
+everything, but the poison under their praises could be smelt and
+tasted, and they failed to deceive their father. By way of a joke, and
+perhaps also for the sake of comparison, he turned to Karatayeff and
+said: "Well, now, friend Ivan, what say you of the daughter-in-law? As a
+man, you are a better judge of the point than the women are."
+Karatayeff, disregarding a signal from his wife, burst out with
+enthusiasm: "I do assure you, _batyushka_, that such another
+dazzler"--he always used this phrase of a beautiful woman--"as brother
+Alexy�i has bagged is not to be found in the whole world. A look from
+her is as good as a shilling. And her cleverness! it's past all telling.
+But there's one thing, _batyushka_: she's proud; she can't stand a joke.
+When you try to have a little fun with her, she gives you a look that
+makes you bite off the end of your tongue." "I see, my friend, that she
+made short work with your nonsense," said the old man with an amused
+look; then he laughed and added, "Not much amiss there, so far." In
+fact, Stepan Mihailovitch, from what he had heard and the bride's
+letters and Karatayeff's description, had formed in his own mind a
+highly favourable opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+The expected visit of the young couple produced bustle and confusion in
+the quiet or, one might say, stagnant waters of life at Bagrovo. They
+had to bestir themselves, to clean things up, and bring out their best
+clothes. The bride was a fine town lady, poor, perhaps, but accustomed
+to live in luxury; she would be critical and contemptuous--so they all
+thought, and so they all said, except the master of the house. As there
+were no separate rooms in the house unoccupied, Tanyusha had to turn out
+of her bedroom, one corner of which overlooked the garden and the clear
+waters of the Boogoorooslan with its green bushes and loud nightingales.
+Tanyusha was very unwilling to move to the bath-house, but there was no
+other place: all her sisters were put up in the house, and Karatayeff
+and Yerlykin slept in the hayloft. The day before the visitors' arrival
+brought their state-bed and bed-hangings and curtains for the windows,
+and with them a man who knew how to put everything up properly.
+Tanyusha's room was completely furnished in a few hours. Stepan
+Mihailovitch came to see it and expressed his admiration, but the women
+bit their lips with envy. At last a messenger galloped up and announced
+that the couple had stopped at the village of Noikino, eight _versts_
+from Bagrovo; they were to change their dress there and would arrive in
+two hours. This caused a general stir. The priest had been summoned
+hours before; but, as he had not yet arrived, Stepan Mihailovitch sent a
+mounted messenger to hasten his steps.
+
+Meantime the following scene was taking place in the Mordvinian village
+of Noikino. The travellers were making their way along side roads and
+had always to send a man ahead to arrange about fresh horses. The people
+of Noikino had all known Alexy�i Stepanitch from childhood, and had a
+great regard and respect for his father. Every one of the six hundred
+inhabitants of the village, men and women, old and young, gathered
+before the cottage where the young people were to make their halt. Sofya
+Nikolayevna had probably never seen people of this tribe close at hand;
+and therefore the dress of the women and the uncommonly tall stout
+girls--their white shifts embroidered with red wool, their black woollen
+girdles, and the silver coins and little bells which hung from their
+heads over their breasts and backs--was very interesting to her. But,
+when she heard them all break out into joyful greetings and compliments
+and good wishes, childish enough and expressed in bad Russian, but
+coming from the heart, then she both laughed and cried. "What a fine
+wife God has given you, Alosha! How glad our father Stepan Mihailovitch
+will be! Good luck! Good luck!" But, when the bride, arrayed in her fine
+city clothes, came out to take her seat in the carriage, there was such
+a roar of enthusiastic applause that the horses actually shied. The
+travellers made a present of ten _roubles_, to be spent on whisky, to
+the whole village, and went on their way.
+
+The stackyard at Bagrovo was at the top of a hill, and now the high
+carriage was seen emerging from behind it. The cry, "They're coming!
+they're coming!" flew from room to room, and house-servants and
+labourers soon gathered in the large courtyard, while the young people
+and children ran to meet the carriage. The master and mistress, attended
+by all their family, came out upon the steps. Arina Vassilyevna wore a
+silk jacket and skirt and a silk handkerchief adorned with gold sprigs
+upon her head; Stepan Mihailovitch was clean-shaved and wore an
+old-fashioned frock-coat and a stock round his neck. Husband and wife
+stood on the top step; and he held in his hands an ikon representing the
+Presentation of the Virgin, while she carried a loaf of bread and a
+silver salt-cellar. Their daughters and two sons-in-law were grouped
+round them. The carriage drove up to the steps. The young couple got
+out, knelt down before the old people, and received their blessing; then
+they exchanged embraces with each member of the family. Hardly had the
+bride completed this ceremony and turned again towards her
+father-in-law, when he caught her by the hand and looked keenly at her
+eyes from which the tears were falling. His own eyes grew wet; he
+clasped her in a tight embrace, kissed her, and said, "I thank God. Let
+us go and thank Him together!" He took her by the hand and led her
+through the crowd of people into the parlour. There he made her sit near
+him; and the priest, who was waiting for them with his robes on,
+pronounced the solemn words--
+
+"We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord."
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO
+
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch joined fervently in the prayers, and so did his
+daughter-in-law. When the service was over, all kissed the Cross, and
+the priest sprinkled the young pair and the rest of the company with
+holy water. Then the kissing and embracing began over again, with the
+phrases customary on such occasions--"We beg that you will regard us as
+relations and love us," and so on--said of course by those to whom the
+bride was still a stranger. Stepan Mihailovitch said nothing: he only
+looked affectionately at the tearful eyes and flaming cheeks of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, listened attentively to every word she spoke, and noted her
+every movement. Then he took her by the hand and led her to the
+drawing-room, where he sat down on the sofa and made the pair sit near
+him. Arina Vassilyevna seated herself next to her son at the other end
+of the sofa, while her daughters with their husbands sat round the
+central group. It should be said that Stepan Mihailovitch never sat in
+the drawing-room: he entered it very seldom and never stayed long. There
+were only two parts of the house which he used--his own room, and the
+outside stoop, a very simple contrivance of beams and boards; there he
+was thoroughly at home, but in the drawing-room he was never quite at
+his ease. For once he put constraint upon himself and carried on a
+friendly conversation with his daughter-in-law. He began by asking about
+her father's health, and expressed sincere regret on hearing that he
+grew weaker daily: "In that case, my dear," he said, "I must not keep
+you too long at Bagrovo." It need not be said that the bride was at no
+loss for words: she was not merely polite, but cordial and eager to make
+a good impression. Arina Vassilyevna, naturally a very simple woman,
+took her tone from her husband, as far as her intelligence and her dread
+of disobeying her daughters would let her. She was friendly to her son's
+wife and had taken a real liking to her at first sight; but the others
+were silent, and it was not hard to guess their feelings from their
+faces. After half an hour the bride whispered to her husband, who rose
+at once and went to the bedroom which had been specially prepared for
+them, near the drawing-room. Stepan Mihailovitch looked on with
+surprise; but the bride's lively talk engaged his attention, and he was
+so much interested by it that he was startled when presently the folding
+doors of the bedroom opened and his son came in, holding a large silver
+salver so loaded with presents for the family that it actually bent
+under their weight. Sofya Nikolayevna sprang to her feet; she took from
+the salver and presented to her father-in-law a piece of fine English
+broadcloth, and a waistcoat of watered silk, richly laced with gold
+thread and embroidered all over with spangles; and she told him quite
+truly that she had worked it all with her own hands. Stepan Mihailovitch
+looked uneasily at his son standing with the salver in his arms, but he
+accepted the presents graciously and kissed his daughter-in-law. Next,
+Arina Vassilyevna was presented with a silk handkerchief covered with
+gold embroidery, to wear over her head, and a complete length of
+excellent China silk, which even then was considered a rarity; each
+sister-in-law received a piece of costly silk, and each of their
+husbands a piece of English broadcloth; but these presents were
+naturally rather less valuable. All got up, kissed the hands of the
+donor, and bowed their thanks. Meanwhile the door leading to the parlour
+was cracking with the pressure of curious spectators of both sexes, and
+the well-oiled heads of the maids kept peeping timidly out of the
+bedroom door, which they had to themselves, because none of the outdoor
+servants dared to enter the elegant apartment of the young couple. In
+the parlour there was a great noise; for the menservants were prevented
+by the intruders from laying the table, and were unable to turn them
+out. Stepan Mihailovitch guessed what was going on; he got up and
+glanced through the door; one look and one quiet word was enough: "Off,"
+he said, and the parlour was empty in a moment.
+
+The dinner passed off in the usual fashion. The young pair sat side by
+side between the old couple; there were a great many courses, one richer
+and more indigestible than another; the cook Stepan had been lavish with
+his spice, cloves, and pepper, and especially with his butter. The bride
+ate the dainties pressed upon her by Stepan Mihailovitch, and prayed
+that she might not die in the night. There was little talking, partly
+because every mouth was otherwise occupied, and also because the party
+were not good at conversation. Indeed they were all uncomfortable in
+their own ways. Yerlykin in his sober intervals drank nothing but water,
+and hardly spoke at all at such times, which gained him a reputation for
+exceptional intelligence; and Karatayeff dared not open his mouth in the
+presence of Stepan Mihailovitch except to answer a question, and went no
+further than repeating the last words of other people's remarks. If they
+said: "The hay crop will be good, if we get no rain," or "The rye made a
+good start till that sudden frost came"--Karatayeff came in like an
+echo, "if we get no rain," "till the frost came"; and his repetitions
+were sometimes ill-timed. As the hosts had not thought of procuring
+sparkling wine from Ufa, the health of the bride and bridegroom was
+drunk in strawberry wine, three years old and as thick as oil, which
+diffused about the room the delicious perfume of the wild strawberry.
+Mazan, with long boots smelling of tar on his feet, and wearing a long
+coat which made him look like a bear dressed up in sacking, handed round
+the loving-cup; it was ornamented with a white pattern and had a
+dark-blue spiral inside its glass stalk. When the young pair had to
+return thanks, Sofya Nikolayevna was not much pleased to drink from the
+cup which had just left Karatayeff's greasy lips; but she made no wry
+faces. Indeed she was intending to drain the cup, when her father-in-law
+stopped her: "Don't drink it all, my dear," he said; "the liquor is good
+and sweet but strong; you are not accustomed to it, and your little head
+would ache." She declared that such a noble drink could not hurt her,
+and begged to be allowed a little more, till Stepan Mihailovitch allowed
+her one sip from the cup which he held in his hands.
+
+It was clear to all the family that the old man was pleased with his
+daughter-in-law and liked all that she said. And she could see this
+herself, though she had been surprised twice over by a shadow of
+displeasure passing over his face. But more than once during the meal
+she had encountered his expressive look, as his eyes rested with
+satisfaction on her. At last the long and solemn dinner came to an end.
+Sofya Nikolayevna, unlike the rest, had found this rustic feast very
+wearisome, but she had done her best to enliven it by cheerful
+conversation. When they rose from table, his son and daughters kissed
+their father's hand, and Sofya Nikolayevna tried to do so too, but the
+old man embraced and kissed her instead. It was the second time this had
+happened, and Sofya Nikolayevna, with her natural impulsiveness, asked
+him in a lively affectionate tone: "Why do you not give me your hand,
+_batyushka_? I am your daughter too, and I wish to kiss your hand out of
+love and respect, like the rest." The old man looked at her keenly and
+attentively; then he said in a kind voice: "I love you, my dear, but I
+am not a priest,[42] and no one kisses my hand except my own children."
+
+ [42] Devout Russians kiss a priest's hand.
+
+The party went back to the drawing-room and sat down where they were
+before. The maid Aksyutka brought in coffee, which was only served on
+very solemn occasions; the old man did not drink it, but all his family
+were very fond of it; they always called it "coff," never "coffee." When
+it was swallowed, Stepan Mihailovitch rose and said: "Now it is time to
+have a good sleep, and the young people too would be none the worse of a
+rest after their journey"; then he went off to his own room, escorted by
+his son and daughter-in-law. "This is my den, my dear," said the old man
+cheerfully; "sit down and be my guest. As your husband knows, it was an
+exception for me to sit in the drawing-room with you all, with this
+bearing-rein on, as well," and he pointed to his stock: "and in future,
+if any one wants my society, I shall welcome them here." Then he kissed
+her, gave his hand to his son to kiss, and let them go. When alone, he
+undressed and lay down, to rest from the unusual bodily exertions and
+mental excitement of the day. He was soon sound asleep; and his powerful
+snoring echoed through the house and swayed to and fro the curtains
+which Mazan had drawn round his old master.
+
+His example was followed by the rest. Yerlykin and Karatayeff went off
+to the stable to lie down on the haymow; both their faces showed that
+they had done well at dinner, and Karatayeff had also drunk too much.
+The daughters assembled in their mother's room which was separate from
+their father's; and now began such a debate and discussion, carried on
+in whispers, that not one of the party even lay down to sleep that
+afternoon. Poor Sofya Nikolayevna was their theme, and her
+sisters-in-law simply tore her to pieces; they were enraged beyond all
+bounds by their father's evident partiality for her. But there was one
+kind heart there--Aksinya, the eldest sister, who was now a widow for
+the second time; she stood up for Sofya Nikolayevna and brought down
+their wrath on her own head: they turned her out of the room and
+banished her for the future from their family councils; and to her old
+nickname of "Miss Simplicity," they now added another offensive title
+which she still bore in advanced old age. Yet, for all the persecution
+of her sisters, her kind heart never swerved from its devotion to her
+sister-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile the young pair went off to their own fine bedroom. With the
+help of her own maid Parasha, a brisk, black-eyed girl, Sofya
+Nikolayevna unpacked the large number of boxes and trunks which the
+English coach had brought from Ufa. Parasha was able already to run
+through a list of outdoor servants and old people among the peasants who
+deserved special notice; and her mistress, who had brought with her a
+goodly store of trifles, fixed the present to be given to each, taking
+account of their age and services, and the respect which their owners
+had for them. The husband and wife were not tired and did not think it
+necessary to rest. Sofya Nikolayevna changed into a simpler dress, and
+left Parasha to finish the unpacking and arrangement of the bedroom,
+while she went out with her young husband, who was very anxious, in
+spite of the heat, to show her all his favourite haunts--the beech-wood,
+the island with its lime-trees just coming into leaf, and the
+transparent waters of the river where it made a bend round the island.
+And how delightful it was there at that season, when the freshness of
+spring combines with the warmth of summer! Alexy�i Stepanitch was
+passionately in love with his adored wife, and time had not yet blunted
+the edge of his happiness; but he was disconcerted to find that she was
+not charmed either by wood or island, and indeed took little notice of
+either. She sat down in the shade on the bank of the rapid river, and
+began at once to speak to her husband of his relations. She discussed
+their reception. "I like your father so much," she went on, "and I could
+see at the first glance that he liked me; perhaps your mother liked me,
+but she seemed afraid to show it. Aksinya seems the kindest of them, but
+she is afraid of something too. Oh, I understand it all perfectly; I
+know in what quarter the damp wood is smouldering. I did not miss a
+single word or a single glance; I know what I am bound to expect. God
+will judge your sisters, Elizabeth and Alexandra!" But Alexy�i
+Stepanitch was hardly listening to her words. The fresh shade, the green
+of the boughs bending over the stream, the low ripple of the running
+water, the fish jumping, his adored wife sitting beside him with one arm
+round his waist--in such surroundings how was it possible to find fault
+or make objections or express discontent? How was it possible even to
+take in what was said? And in fact Alexy�i Stepanitch did not take in
+what his young wife was saying to him: he was so happy that nothing but
+silence and oblivion of the world around him could serve as a full
+expression of his intoxicating bliss. But Sofya Nikolayevna went on: she
+said a great deal, with warmth and feeling; and then she noticed that
+her husband was not listening and was nearly asleep. She sprang up at
+once, and then followed a scene of conflict and mutual misunderstanding,
+more pronounced than any they had ever had before, though there had been
+premonitory symptoms once or twice already. Sofya Nikolayevna kept
+nothing back this time: the tears rushed from her eyes as she poured
+forth a torrent of reproaches for his indifference and inattention.
+Alexy�i Stepanitch was puzzled and distressed: he felt as if he had
+fallen from the skies or awakened from a delightful dream. Thinking to
+calm his wife, he assured her with perfect sincerity, that there was
+nothing wrong at all, that it was all her imagination, and that all the
+family loved her; how could any one help loving her, he asked. That he
+was honestly convinced of this was clear as day; and his eyes and face
+and voice all expressed his devoted love to his wife; yet Sofya
+Nikolayevna, for all her cleverness and lively sensibility, did not
+understand her husband, and found in his words only a fresh proof of the
+same indifference and inattention. Statements and explanations went on
+with increasing heat, and I do not know how far they would have gone;
+but suddenly Alexy�i Stepanitch caught sight of his sister Tatyana's
+maid crossing the high gangway and hastening towards them. He guessed
+that they were being searched for because his father had got up, and
+told his wife at once what he feared. She regained her self-control in a
+moment, caught his arm, and hastened home with him; but he was not in
+good spirits as he walked behind her.
+
+Preparations had been made beforehand at Bagrovo to celebrate the day of
+the young people's arrival by an entertainment given to the outdoor
+servants and all the serfs on the estate; and, if serfs from
+neighbouring estates chose to come on foot or on wheels, they were
+welcome too. A quantity of beer had been brewed, and some twenty buckets
+of strong home-made spirits distilled; and drinking vessels of all kinds
+were ready. Before he lay down after dinner, Stepan Mihailovitch had
+asked whether many had come from the neighbouring villages. When he was
+told that the whole population, from the old men and women to the
+babies, had assembled, he smiled and said, "Well, we shall not stint
+them; tell the housekeeper and steward to have everything ready." He did
+not sleep long, but he woke in even better spirits than when he lay
+down. "Is all ready?" he asked at once, and was told that all was ready
+long ago. The old man dressed quickly; instead of his ceremonial
+frock-coat, he put on his familiar dressing-gown of fine camel's hair,
+and went out to the stoop to superintend the entertainment in person. On
+the broad lawn which was not fenced off from the road, tables had been
+put up on trestles, and the tables were laden with barrels of beer,
+casks of whisky, and piles of buns to eat with the liquor; these buns,
+made of wheat-flour, were cut in halves. The outdoor servants stood in a
+group apart near the house; a great crowd of serfs and their wives stood
+further off, and beyond them a still greater crowd of Mordvinians of
+both sexes. Stepan Mihailovitch threw a hasty glance over the scene, saw
+that all was in order, and went back to his stoop. The family had
+collected round him, and he was just going to ask where the young couple
+were, when they appeared together. He greeted his daughter-in-law even
+more affectionately than before, and treated her with no more formality
+than if she had been his own daughter. "Now then, Alosha," he said,
+"take your wife's arm and lead her round to greet the people; they are
+all anxious to see her and kiss the hand of their young mistress. Let us
+start!" He went in front himself; then came Alexy�i Stepanitch, leading
+his wife, and last, at a little distance, Arina Vassilyevna with her
+daughters and their husbands. The sisters-in-law, except Aksinya, found
+it hard to restrain their wrath. The signs of growing affection on their
+father's part, his mention of Sofya Nikolayevna as "the young mistress,"
+the triumph of this hated intruder, her beauty and pretty clothes, her
+ready easy tongue, her charming respect and affection for her
+father-in-law--all these things rankled in their jealous bosoms. They
+felt at once that they had sunk in importance. "It matters less to us,"
+whispered Alexandra; "we are severed branches; but I can't look at
+Tanyusha without crying. She is nothing now in the household but Sofya
+Nikolayevna's maid. And you, mother--no one will respect you any more:
+the servants will all look to her for orders." Her voice shook, and the
+tears gathered in her round rolling eyes. Meanwhile Stepan Mihailovitch
+had got to the outdoor servants and was calling the peasants to come
+nearer: "Why don't you all stand together? You all belong to the same
+family. Well," he went on, "here you see your young mistress; the young
+master you know already. When the time comes, serve them as faithfully
+and zealously as you have served me and Arina Vassilyevna, and you will
+earn their love and favour." All the people bowed to the ground. The
+bride, unaccustomed to such demonstrations, felt disconcerted, not
+knowing where to go or what to do. Noticing this, her father-in-law
+said: "Don't be frightened! Their heads may bend, but they won't come
+off. Well, my friends, first kiss your young mistress's hand, and then
+drink to her health." The people all got up and came near Sofya
+Nikolayevna. She looked round and signed to her man Theodore and handy
+Parasha, who were standing at one side, holding the presents. In a
+moment they handed her a large parcel and a well-filled box. It felt
+strange to her to stretch out her hand to be kissed while standing
+motionless as a statue; and she began to kiss them all herself. This
+ceremony was repeated, as each received a gift from her hands. But
+Stepan Mihailovitch interfered at this point: he saw that at that rate
+he would not get his tea till supper-time. "My dear," he said, "you
+can't possibly kiss them all once, let alone twice! There are too many.
+The old people are a different matter; but it will be enough if they
+kiss your hand." This simplified and shortened the rather tiresome
+ceremony, but even so it lasted a long time. Stepan Mihailovitch
+sometimes spun it out himself, because he could not refrain from naming
+some of the people and praising them to her. Many of the old people
+spoke some simple words of love and devotion, some shed tears, and all
+looked at the bride with pleasure and cordiality. Sofya Nikolayevna was
+much moved. "These good people are ready to love me, and some love me
+already," she thought; "how have I deserved it?" At last, when young and
+old had kissed her hand and she had kissed some of them, and when all
+had received handsome presents, Stepan Mihailovitch took her hand and
+led her to the crowd of Mordvinians. "I am glad to see you, neighbours,"
+he cried in a hearty cheerful voice; "and thank you for coming. I ask
+your goodwill for this young lady who is coming to live near you. You
+are welcome to eat and drink what God has given us." The Mordvinians
+showed their pleasure by shouting, "Many thanks, Stepan Mihailovitch!
+Thank God, for giving such a wife to your son! You deserve such luck for
+your goodness, Stepan Mihailovitch."
+
+When the drinking began, Stepan Mihailovitch surrounded by his family
+hastened back to his beloved stoop. He was conscious that his tea-time
+was long past: it was now past seven, and tea was invariably served at
+six. The long shadow of the house was sloping towards the south, and its
+edges touched the storehouse and stable; the _samovar_ had long been
+hissing on a large table close to the stoop, and Aksyutka was in
+attendance. While the rest sat down round the table, Stepan Mihailovitch
+stuck to his favourite place: he first spread out his invariable woollen
+mat to sit on, and then sat down on the stoop. Tatyana, assisted by
+Aksyutka, poured out tea. Then Sofya Nikolayevna asked leave of her
+father-in-law to sit beside him, and he consented with obvious
+satisfaction. She sprang up from the table, carried her half-finished
+cup of tea to the stoop, and sat down beside the old man. He caressed
+her and ordered a mat to be put down for her, that she might not spoil
+her dress. Then they began a lively, cheerful talk; but at the tea-table
+angry looks and even whispers were exchanged, in spite of the presence
+of the young husband. He could not help noticing this, and his spirits,
+which had not been high before, fell yet lower. Suddenly the old man's
+loud voice rang out: "Come and join us, Alosha; it's livelier over
+here." Alosha started; but the change of place seemed to improve his
+spirits. When tea was over, they remained where they were and went on
+talking till supper, which was served at nine--an hour later than usual.
+All the time the loud singing and hearty laughter of the revellers rang
+out far and wide as the darkness slowly gathered round; but they all
+departed to their own homes as soon as the family had finished supper.
+On saying "good night" Sofya Nikolayevna asked her father-in-law to give
+her his blessing, and the old man at once signed her with the Cross and
+kissed her with a father's tenderness.
+
+The young couple were escorted to their room by the lady of the house
+and her eldest daughter, who sat there a few minutes; and then it was
+the turn of Alexy�i Stepanitch to escort his mother and sister to rest.
+Sofya Nikolayevna hastily dismissed her maid and sat down by one of the
+open windows fronting the river, which was fringed at that point by a
+thick border of osier and alder. It was a lovely night: the freshness
+from the river and the scent of the young leaves came through the open
+windows, together with the trills and calls of the nightingales. But
+Sofya Nikolayevna had something else to think of. As a clever woman who
+knew in advance what awaited her in her husband's family, she had
+naturally formed a plan of action beforehand. She had always lived in a
+town and had no conception of the sort of life led by landowners of
+moderate means on their scattered estates in that vast country. She had
+not expected much, but the reality was far worse than she had imagined.
+Nothing was to her taste, neither house, nor garden, nor wood, nor
+island. In the neighbourhood of Ufa she had been accustomed to admire
+noble views from the mountainous bank of the river By�laya; and this
+little village in a hollow, the time-stained and weather-beaten wooden
+house, the pond surrounded by swamps, and the unending clack of the
+mill--all this seemed to her actually repulsive. And the people were no
+better: from her husband's family to the peasants' children, she could
+love none of them. But there was one exception, and that was Stepan
+Mihailovitch. But for him, she would have been in despair. She had
+formed a favourable opinion of him from the beginning; then, when she
+first saw him, she was frightened by his rough exterior; but she soon
+read in his intelligent eyes and kindly smile, and heard in his voice,
+that this old man had a tender heart which beat kindly to her, that he
+was ready to love her and would love her. Knowing from the first that
+all her hopes depended upon him, she had firmly resolved to gain his
+love by all means; but now she had learnt to love him herself, and her
+deliberate plan coincided with the impulse of her heart. In this respect
+Sofya Nikolayevna was satisfied with herself: she saw that she had
+reached her goal at once. But she was distressed by the thought that by
+her impetuosity she had hurt her kind husband. She waited impatiently
+for him, but, as if to spite her, he did not return. Had she known where
+he was, she would have hurried off in search of him long ago. She longed
+to throw herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness with tears, and
+to remove the last trace of dissatisfaction from his mind by a torrent
+of loving words and caresses. But Alexy�i Stepanitch still did not
+return; and the happy moment, when she was penitent and loving and
+filled with a passionate desire to atone for her fault, went by to no
+purpose. An impulse soon passes, and Sofya Nikolayevna first grew
+alarmed and then angry at her husband's long absence. When he came in at
+last, looking rather upset and distressed, instead of rushing into his
+arms and begging to be forgiven, his wife called out to him in an
+excited and somewhat irritated voice, as soon as he crossed the
+threshold: "Where on earth have you been? Why did you leave me alone? I
+am quite worn out with waiting for you two whole hours!" "I sat a
+quarter of an hour or so with my mother and sisters," he answered. "And
+that was time enough for them to complain of me and invent calumnies
+against me, and you believed them! Why are you so depressed and sad?"
+Sofya Nikolayevna's face expressed strong emotion, and her beautiful
+eyes filled with tears. The young husband was startled and even alarmed;
+he was beginning to dread her tears. "Sonitchka," he said, "calm
+yourself; no one complained of you; why should they, when you have
+injured no one?" This was not quite a true statement. If nobody had
+complained openly or attacked her in plain terms, they had implied by
+hints and allusions that his wife was singling out her father-in-law to
+pay court to, with the object of trampling on the rest of the family;
+but they saw through her tricks, and so would her husband some day when
+he found himself under her feet! Alexy�i Stepanitch did not believe
+these innuendoes; but the feeling of sadness, which had never left him
+since the scene on the island, became heavier and lay like lead on his
+kind heart. He only said, "It is no use talking like that," and left the
+room. But, instead of returning at once to his bedroom, he spent some
+time in walking alone up and down the parlour which was now dark and
+empty. Through the seven open windows he looked at the Jackdaw Wood
+sleeping in darkness, and at the dark line of trees by the river, the
+scene of his childhood's amusements and occupations; and he listened to
+the sound of the mill, the whistles of the nightingales, and the
+screeching of the owls. Feeling somewhat relieved, he went off to the
+bedroom, entirely unconscious of the reception he was to meet there.
+
+But Sofya Nikolayevna soon grew calmer: the voice of penitence began to
+speak again in her heart, though not with the same force as before; she
+changed her tone and turned to her husband with a genuine feeling of
+love and pity; she caressed him and begged his forgiveness. She spoke
+with unfeigned warmth of her happiness in finding that she loved his
+father, and begged him to be perfectly frank with her: frankness, she
+said, was essential between them. Her husband was soothed and comforted;
+and in the fullness of his heart he told her all he had determined to
+keep secret at all costs, lest he should make a quarrel between his wife
+and his sisters. He lay down and went to sleep at once, but Sofya
+Nikolayevna lay awake for long, and her brain worked busily. At last she
+remembered that she had to get up early, because she intended to join
+her father-in-law on the stoop at sunrise, long before the family
+assembled; she wished to cheer the old man by her presence and to speak
+her mind to him at leisure. At last, with a strong effort, she fell
+asleep.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna woke with the first rays of the sun. Though she had
+not slept long, she rose fresh and vigorous. She dressed quickly, kissed
+her husband and told him she was going to his father and he might sleep
+on another hour or so, and then hurried off. Stepan Mihailovitch, after
+sleeping longer than usual, had just washed himself and gone out to the
+stoop. It was a lovely May morning, with all the charm of late spring,
+fresh and yet deliciously warm; all living things sang together for joy,
+and the long morning shadows still hid the coolness and moisture from
+the conquering rays of the sun. The feeling of the morning took hold of
+Sofya Nikolayevna and breathed life into her, though she was not
+accustomed to be moved by natural beauty or the charms of the country.
+Her father-in-law was surprised and pleased to see her. Her fresh face
+and shining eyes, her neat hair and pretty dress, made it impossible to
+guess that she had sprung out of bed after little sleep and had spent
+but little time over her toilet before she hurried out. Stepan
+Mihailovitch liked people to be lively and quick and clever; and all
+these requirements he was pleased to find in Sofya Nikolayevna. He
+kissed her and said good-humouredly: "What made you get up so early? You
+can't have had your sleep out. I'm sure you're not accustomed to rise so
+early; you will have a headache." "No, _batyushka_," she replied,
+embracing the old man with genuine tenderness; "I am used to early
+rising. From childhood I have had much to do and many cares, with a sick
+father and a whole family to look after. Of late I have been spoilt and
+have lain in bed longer. But I woke early this morning, and Alexy�i told
+me"--here the old man frowned--"that you were up already; so I came out
+here, hoping that you would not drive me away but allow me to give you
+your tea." The words were ordinary enough, but they came from the heart
+and were spoken so earnestly that the old man was touched. He kissed her
+forehead and said: "Well, in that case, thank you, my dear child. You
+shall give me my tea, and we shall have a leisurely talk together."
+Aksyutka had already set the _samovar_ on the table. Stepan Mihailovitch
+gave orders that no one else should be called, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+began to arrange about the tea. All her actions were as quick and neat
+as if she had done nothing else all her life. The old man was pleased,
+as he watched that young and pretty figure so unlike what he was
+accustomed to, and those busy active fingers. The tea was made strong,
+and served exactly as he liked it: that is, the teapot, covered with a
+napkin, was placed on the top of the _samovar_; his cup was filled close
+up to the brim; Sofya Nikolayevna handed it without spilling a single
+drop in the saucer; and the fragrant beverage was so hot that it burnt
+his lips. The old man took his cup and tasted the tea. With surprise and
+pleasure he said: "I declare you are a witch: you know all my tastes and
+fancies. Well, if you make yourself as pleasant to your husband, he will
+be a happy man." He generally drank his tea alone, and the family did
+not begin theirs till he had finished; but this morning, when he had got
+his second cup, he told his daughter-in-law to pour one out for herself
+and drink it sitting beside him. "I never drink more than two, but I
+will take a third cup to-day; the tea tastes better somehow," he said in
+the kindest of tones. And indeed, the pleasure which Sofya Nikolayevna
+felt in her occupation was so visible on her expressive face that it
+could not but communicate itself to the susceptible nature of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and his spirits rose unusually high. He made her take a
+second cup and eat a scone, of the kind for which the ovens at Bagrovo
+were long famous. The tea was cleared away, and a conversation began,
+most lively and animated, most frank and affectionate. Sofya Nikolayevna
+gave free course to her eager feelings; she talked easily and
+charmingly; her conquest of the old man was complete. In the middle of
+their talk he suddenly asked, "What of your husband? Is he asleep?"
+"Alexy�i was waking when I left him," she said quickly; "but I told him
+to sleep on." The old man frowned severely and was silent. After a
+moment's reflexion, he spoke, not angrily but seriously. "Listen to me,
+my dear little daughter-in-law; you are so clever that I can tell you
+the truth without beating about the bush. I don't like to keep a thing
+on my mind. If you take my advice--well and good; if you don't--well,
+you are not my daughter and can please yourself. I don't like your
+calling your husband 'Alexy�i,' as his parents might; he has got another
+name;[43] 'Alexy�i' is a name you might address to a servant. A wife
+must treat her husband with respect if she wishes other people to
+respect him. There was another thing yesterday I did not like: you sent
+him to fetch the presents, and he stood there holding the tray like a
+footman. Then again just now, you said you had 'told' him to go to
+sleep. A wife ought not to give orders to her husband; if she does,
+mischief comes of it. That may be the fashion with you in the town, but,
+according to our old-fashioned country notions, all that is a great
+mistake." Sofya Nikolayevna listened respectfully, and then she spoke,
+so frankly and feelingly, that every word made its way to the old man's
+heart: "I thank you, _batyushka_, for not keeping back from me what
+displeased you. I shall gladly do what you wish, and I begin to see
+myself that I was wrong. I am still young, _batyushka_, and I have had
+no one to guide me: my own father has not left his bed for six years. I
+caught up that way of addressing my husband from others; but it shall
+never happen again, either in your presence or behind your back.
+_Batyushka_," she went on, and the large tears welled from her eyes, "I
+have come to love you like a father; treat me always as a daughter: stop
+me, scold me, whenever I do wrong, but forgive me and do not keep
+displeasure in your heart against me. I am young and hasty, and I may go
+wrong at every step. Remember that I am a stranger in this house, where
+nobody knows me and I know nobody. Do not you fail me." Then she fell on
+his neck and embraced him like a daughter, kissing his breast and even
+his hands; and the old man's own eyes filled with tears. He let her keep
+hold of his hands and said, "Well, that is all right." As we know
+already, Stepan Mihailovitch had a natural sagacity which divined the
+presence of evil and was attracted by goodness; and he never made a
+mistake in either case. He had taken a fancy to his daughter-in-law at
+first sight; and now that he understood her and appreciated her, he
+loved her for better and for worse. That love was exposed to many trials
+in later years, and any other man might have wavered, but he never
+wavered in his love for her to his last breath.
+
+ [43] _I.e._ Stepanitch, son of Stephen, which should be used in public
+      by the wife.
+
+Alexy�i Stepanitch soon appeared, and was followed by all the family.
+Her daughters had urged Arina Vassilyevna to go out long before, but she
+did not dare to appear, because, when Stepan Mihailovitch gave orders
+"that no one should be called," it was taken to mean that he did not
+wish to see any one. She only came out now because her husband had told
+Mazan to summon all the family. There was no trace of tears on Sofya
+Nikolayevna's face; and she greeted the newcomers with more than usual
+cordiality. Nor could one tell from Stepan Mihailovitch that anything
+unusual had happened; but the bride could not conceal her high spirits,
+and the two sisters-in-law noticed this at once and guessed the alarming
+truth pretty accurately.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had settled that the young couple were to visit
+their relations in order of seniority; and it was therefore arranged
+that they should go to Aksinya's house next day. Aksinya herself went
+home that afternoon, accompanied by her sister Elizabeth, who was to
+help her in entertaining the guests. The distance was only 50 _versts_,
+and the strong Bagrovo horses could go all the way without baiting. The
+start was fixed for six o'clock next morning.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch did not in the least conceal his feelings towards
+his daughter-in-law. He kept her beside him and talked with her
+repeatedly, asking questions about her family affairs, or making her
+speak of her life at Ufa; and he listened to her with attentive
+interest, now and then giving his opinion in some pithy phrase. She
+eagerly caught up his pertinent remarks; but it was clear that she was
+moved, not by obsequious concurrence with the old man's ways of
+thinking, but by a full comprehension of his words and a conviction of
+their truth. Then in his turn he initiated her into the past and present
+history of her new relations; and his whole description was so simple
+and true, so frank and lifelike, that she realised it as few could have
+done, and was charmed by it. Never in her life had she met his equal.
+Her own father was intelligent and kind, emotional and unselfish; but at
+the same time he was weak, falling in with the prevailing tone of his
+surroundings, and bearing the stamp of the evasive time-serving official
+who had worked his way up from a clerk's stool to the position of
+Governor's Deputy. Here she saw before her an old man of little
+education and uncouth exterior, and report said of him that he was
+ruthless when angry; and yet he was sensible, kind, and honest, and
+inflexible in his clear judgment of right and wrong--a man who was
+upright in all his actions and truthful in every word he spoke. Her
+quick intellect conceived a noble type of manly worth, which set aside
+her old ideas and opened up new possibilities. And what happiness that
+this man was her husband's father! On him depended her peace of mind in
+her husband's family, and perhaps even the happiness of her marriage!
+
+Dinner was a much more lively and cheerful affair than on the previous
+day. The bride sat as before between her husband and her father-in-law;
+but Arina Vassilyevna now took her usual place opposite Stepan
+Mihailovitch. Immediately after dinner, Aksinya left, accompanied by
+her sister Elizabeth. As the old man was lying down to rest as
+usual, he said, "Well, Arisha, I think God has given us a splendid
+daughter-in-law; it would be a sin not to take her to our hearts." "True
+indeed, Stepan Mihailovitch," she answered; "if you approve of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, of course I do." The old man made a wry face but said
+nothing; and she hurried away, fearing to make a slip of the tongue, and
+anxious to report to her daughters the remarkable words of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, which must be accepted as law and obeyed, in appearance at
+least, to the letter.
+
+Though she had slept little at night, Sofya Nikolayevna could not sleep
+after dinner. She went out with her husband, and they walked, by his
+wish, to the old beech-wood, where the jackdaws built, and down the
+course of the river. There was no repetition of the old disagreements.
+She had been charmed and captivated by her father-in-law, and she now
+tried to convey to her husband the feelings of her own eager
+impressionable mind. As all people of her temperament are apt to do, she
+transferred to her handsome young husband some part of the merits she
+had found in his father, and loved him more than ever. He listened with
+surprise and pleasure to the enthusiasm of his beautiful wife, and said
+to himself, "Thank God that my father and she have become such friends!
+There will be no further trouble." He kissed her hands, and said that he
+was the happiest man on all the earth, and she a peerless goddess before
+whom all should bow down. He did not quite understand his wife nor
+appreciate her estimate of his father, so acute and profound; he only
+felt, as he had always felt, perfectly convinced that Stepan
+Mihailovitch was the kind of man whom all must respect and even fear.
+This time Sofya Nikolayevna found no faults: his feelings were her
+feelings and his language hers: she praised the deep river and the
+beech-wood with all its uneven stumps; even of her sisters-in-law she
+spoke kindly.
+
+When he woke up in the afternoon, Stepan Mihailovitch at once summoned
+all the family. It was a long time since he had been seen in such a
+bright and gentle mood: whether it was due to a good sleep or to happy
+feelings, it was clear to every one that the old master was satisfied
+and cheerful beyond his wont. After their father's pronouncement,
+Alexandra and Elizabeth were on their guard, while Tanyusha (as she was
+always called) and her mother were very willing to be more friendly and
+conversational. At a sign from his wife Karatayeff began with more
+boldness to echo what was said, even when he was not addressed; but his
+brother-in-law, the General, persisted in his gloomy silence and frowned
+significantly. The conversation became unusually brisk and animated. The
+old man expressed a wish to have his tea early, in the shade near the
+stoop, of course; and the privilege of pouring it out was conferred on
+Sofya Nikolayevna exclusively. Tanyusha was quite willing to hand over
+the office. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch ordered two cars to be brought
+round, took his daughter-in-law in one, and drove off with all his
+family to the mill. It should be said that a mill was a special hobby of
+my grandfather's, and that he understood the working of it thoroughly.
+The mill itself was not much to look at, and the weed grew round it in
+an untidy way; but the stones did their work thoroughly well. He liked
+to show off his mill, and now displayed it in detail to his
+daughter-in-law, taking pleasure in her utter ignorance and
+astonishment, which sometimes turned to fear, when he suddenly turned on
+a strong current of water upon all the four wheels, till the machinery
+began to move and swing and rattle, the stones to whirl round, creaking
+and whizzing, and the building, filled with flour-dust, to quiver and
+shake under foot. All this was an entire novelty to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+and she did not like it at all, though out of politeness she asked many
+questions and expressed surprise and admiration at everything. He was
+much pleased, and kept her there a long time. When the pair went out
+upon the dam, where Alexy�i Stepanitch and his sisters were fishing,
+they were hailed with laughter by the anglers: they were both covered
+with flour. Stepan Mihailovitch was accustomed to this; besides he had
+given a shake and a brush to his clothes on leaving the mill; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna had no suspicion that she was so completely and artistically
+powdered. When he looked at her, her father-in-law himself laughed
+heartily; and she laughed more than any one, and was very merry,
+regretting only that she had no looking-glass to consult, to find out if
+her ball-dress became her. Seeing the anglers intent upon their sport,
+Stepan Mihailovitch next drove his companion round the pond and over the
+bridge; and, after visiting the stream higher up, he came back along the
+dam to the place where the anglers were engaged, while Arina
+Vassilyevna, who was very stout, sat on the ground and watched them. The
+whole course of their drive was over bog and swamp; it was hardly safe
+to cross the crazy little bridge, and difficult to make way over the dam
+which was made of manure and sank under the wheels. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna found all this distasteful, it was impossible for Stepan
+Mihailovitch to detect her. He saw neither mire nor swamp, and he was
+impervious to the unpleasant smell from the stagnant water and the
+material of the dam. He had planned and constructed it all himself, and
+he enjoyed it all. It grew damp at sunset, and all set off for home in
+good spirits. The anglers carried their spoil with them, perch and other
+kinds. The bailiff was waiting for his master by the stoop; and orders
+were given about work on the land, while the bride put her dress in
+order. Meanwhile the fish was boiled or fried in sour cream, while the
+largest perch were baked in their skins and scales; and all these were
+pronounced very good at supper.
+
+So the second day passed, and the party broke up early, because the
+young couple had to make an early start next morning for their visit.
+When alone with her mother and youngest sister, Alexandra threw off the
+mask with relief and gave full play to her infernal temper and cruel
+tongue. She saw perfectly that all was lost and all her forebodings
+realised: that her father was taken in the toils and infatuated with the
+adventuress, and there was nothing to be done now except to dismiss the
+pair to Ufa as soon as possible and devise some scheme in their absence.
+She abused her mother and sister for being too affectionate: "But for
+me," she said, "you would have been taken in too by that dressed-up
+doll, that pauper with a Cossack for her grandfather."
+
+At six exactly next morning the young couple started in their English
+coach drawn by six of the fine horses bred at Bagrovo. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was up in time to give his tea to her father-in-law; and he embraced her
+at starting, and even signed her with the Cross, because she was to be
+absent for the night. They drove down the river and across it, and then
+uphill to the little town of Boogoorooslan. Without a halt our
+travellers crossed the river Great Kinel, and the horses trotted at the
+rate of ten _versts_ an hour along the rutty road on the flat side of
+the river, where the grass grew tall and thick and there was no sign of
+habitation. It was long since Alexy�i Stepanitch had been across the
+Kinel; and he was delighted by the greenness and fragrance of the
+steppe. Bustards constantly rose off the road, and solitary snipe kept
+up with the carriage, wheeling over it and flying on ahead, or perching
+on the guide-posts and filling the air with their notes. Alexy�i
+Stepanitch was very sorry that he had not taken his gun. In those days
+the steppe was alive with birds of every kind, and the sound of their
+myriad voices was so attractive to him, and indeed absorbed his
+attention so completely, that his ears were generally deaf to the lively
+and clever conversation of his wife. She soon noticed this and became
+thoughtful; her high spirits gave place to displeasure, and she began to
+talk to her maid, Parasha, who was with them in the coach. After
+crossing a district of high level land, they arrived at their
+destination exactly at noon. The little wooden house, an even greater
+contrast than Bagrovo to the houses of Ufa, stood on the flat bank of
+the Little Kinel, divided from it only by a kitchen-garden containing a
+few sunflowers and young vegetables and rows of peeled pea-stakes. I
+still recall with pleasure this unpretending spot, which I first saw ten
+years after this time; and I understand why my father liked it and my
+mother was bound to dislike it. It was a bare empty spot, quite flat and
+fully exposed to the sun, without a bush or a tree; the level steppe
+with its marmot-burrows lay all round; and the quiet river flowed by,
+deep in places and overgrown with reeds. It had nothing striking or
+picturesque to attract any one; yet Alexy�i Stepanitch preferred it even
+to Bagrovo. I don't agree with him, but I had a strong liking for that
+quiet little house on the river-bank, the clear stream, the weed swaying
+in the current, the wide stretch of grassy steppe, and the ferry which
+started from close to the door and took you across to a yet wilder
+steppe, where the prairie-grass stretched straight southwards to what
+seemed an illimitable distance.
+
+The hostess, with her two little boys and a daughter of two years old,
+met her guests at the door; her sister Elizabeth and her husband were
+there also. In spite of the unpromising aspect of the simple rooms,
+everything was very clean and nice, much more so indeed than at Bagrovo.
+Though "Miss Simplicity," as her sisters called her, was a widow with
+small children, there was a neatness and order in the place which showed
+that it was managed entirely by a female hand. I have said already that
+Aksinya was a kind woman and had taken a fancy to her sister-in-law; it
+was therefore very natural that she did honour to her guests and
+received them with cordiality in her own house. This had been foreseen
+at Bagrovo, and Elizabeth had been sent on purpose to restrain the
+excessive friendliness of her sister by means of her superior
+intelligence and higher position in society, due to her husband's rank.
+But that simple soul held out against her clever, cunning sister: to all
+her urgent admonitions her answer was short and plain: "Do as you please
+at Bagrovo; you may hate and abuse Sofya Nikolayevna, but I like her;
+she has always been polite and kind to me, and therefore I intend to
+make her and my brother happy in my house." And she carried out her
+purpose with sincere affection and satisfaction, showing every attention
+to her sister-in-law and pressing her good things on both guests. But
+the proud Elizabeth and even her husband--though he drank so much
+towards evening that he had to be shut up in an empty bath-house--were
+much colder and more distant in their behaviour than at Bagrovo. Sofya
+Nikolayevna took no notice of them, and was charming to her hostess and
+the children. After dinner the party rested for a little and then went
+out for a walk by the river; they crossed by a ferry to the far bank and
+drank tea there. Sofya Nikolayevna was asked to fish, but she declined,
+saying that she hated fishing and was quite happy sitting with her
+sisters-in-law. But Alexy�i Stepanitch, much pleased to see how well his
+wife got on with his eldest sister, eagerly accepted the proposal and
+sat till supper-time on the bank, hidden in the thick reeds; he landed
+several of the large bream which abounded in the quiet waters of the
+Kinel. The servants used constantly to fish for their own amusement and
+for that of their young masters. The guests determined to start next
+morning at six, and were half inclined to depart even earlier, so as not
+to keep Stepan Mihailovitch waiting for his dinner. Their hostess and
+her sister were to wait till the evening, spending a night at
+Boogoorooslan to rest the horses, and reaching Bagrovo the following
+day.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was still a little vexed with her husband. For all her
+intelligence she could not understand how a man who loved her dearly
+could also love his damp Bagrovo, with its stump-strewn woods, unsavoury
+dam, and stagnant pools; how he could gaze with delight at the tiresome
+steppe with its stupid snipe; and, above all, how he could desert his
+wife for hours for the sake of a fishing-rod and those bream which smelt
+so damp and disgusting! So she felt almost offended when Alexy�i
+Stepanitch tried to communicate to her his delight in nature and in
+sport. She was wise enough, however, not to start upon explanations or
+reproofs this time; the scene on the island was still fresh in her
+memory.
+
+The young couple passed a peaceful night in Aksinya's own bedroom which
+she had given up to them; and she had done it up for them to the best of
+her ability, undeterred by the caustic remarks of her sister. They left
+the house half an hour earlier than the time originally fixed; and
+nothing particular happened on their way back, except that Alexy�i
+Stepanitch was not quite so much absorbed by the steppe and the snipe,
+and did not call out quite so loud when bustards rose off the road, so
+that he could listen with more attention to his wife and look at her
+more tenderly. They reached Bagrovo before they were expected. But
+preparations were making for dinner, and Alexandra had had time to say:
+"Poor papa will have to wait for dinner to-day; but how can you expect
+town-people to get up so early several days running?" The old man saw
+through this perfectly. He astonished them all by saying very
+good-humouredly, "Well, never mind; we can wait for our guests." This
+caused a sensation, because Stepan Mihailovitch had never in his life
+sat down to dinner later than twelve o'clock, though sometimes, when he
+felt hungry, he had it earlier, and the slightest delay or unpunctuality
+made him exceedingly angry. "You see what Sofya Nikolayevna can do,"
+whispered Alexandra to her mother and youngest sister; "if _she_ keeps
+him waiting, there is no complaint; but if you had come back from
+Nyeklyoodovo late for dinner, you would never have heard the end of it,
+nor should we." The malicious whisper was hardly ended when the carriage
+dashed up to the steps; while the tired horses snorted, the old man
+kissed his daughter-in-law and praised her for being in time; then his
+voice rang through the house, "Mazan, Tanaichonok, dinner at once!"
+
+The day passed off as before. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch, whose
+affection for his daughter-in-law seemed to grow with every hour,
+ordered the drove of horses to be driven in from the steppe. He wished
+to show it to Sofya Nikolayevna, who happened to say that she had never
+seen such a thing and would like to see it. When the animals were driven
+into the yard, the old man took his daughter-in-law round himself,
+pointing out the best brood-mares, the yearlings and two-year-olds and
+young geldings, all fat and healthy from the steppe where they grazed
+together all summer. He gave her two fine mares with foals at foot, and
+hoped she would have good fortune with their stock. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was much pleased by the foals, and liked to watch them as they started
+and bounded and then nuzzled against their mothers; and she expressed
+much gratitude for the gift. Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave strict orders
+to his head groom, Spirka: "See," he said, "that special care is taken
+of Sofya Nikolayevna's mares; and we shall put a special mark on the
+foals by splitting one ear rather lower; and later we must make a brand
+with the young mistress's name on it." Then he turned to her: "I wish
+you were a lover of horses, my dear," he went on; "Alexy�i does not care
+for them in the least." The old man was very fond of them himself, and,
+though he was not rich, by endless trouble he had got together a large
+stud and owned a breed which was the admiration of fanciers and good
+judges. He was pleased by her interest in his stud; though her only
+motive was to please him, he believed that she meant what she said, and
+carried her off to see how the carriage-horses, his own and those of his
+guests, were fed; of the latter there were often a large number in the
+stables at Bagrovo.
+
+I am afraid of wearying the reader by such a minute description of the
+young couple's visit, and shall only say that the next day, which was
+the fifth, was spent just like the preceding day. According to the order
+of seniority the next formal visit should have been to the Yerlykins;
+but, as their estate was 170 _versts_ from Bagrovo and much nearer Ufa,
+it was settled to take them on the return journey to the town. There was
+this other reason, that General Yerlykin, Elizabeth's silent, gloomy
+husband, having broken out at Aksinya's house, had started on one of his
+regular drinking bouts which generally lasted at least a week, so that
+his wife had been forced to leave him with some friends at
+Boogoorooslan, and give out that he was ill. So Alexandra was to receive
+the next visit, and started off home with her husband on the previous
+day; with her father's consent, she invited the oldest and youngest of
+the sisters for the occasion, while Elizabeth remained behind,
+ostensibly to be near her sick husband, though her real object was to
+bring her influence to bear on her parents. The Karatayeffs lived about
+50 _versts_ from Bagrovo; the distance was the same as to Aksinya's
+house, but the road ran in the opposite direction, due north, and passed
+through woods and hills in the second half of the journey. The visitors
+started after an early lunch. As the road was little used and heavy for
+the horses, they halted half-way for two hours in the open field, and
+reached Karatayevka about tea-time. The house was infinitely worse than
+Aksinya's: the small dark windows caught the eye at once; the floors
+were uneven, riddled with rat-holes, and so dirty as to defy soap and
+water. Sofya Nikolayevna felt fear and disgust as she entered this
+inhospitable and repulsive dwelling. Alexandra was haughty in her
+reception of them; she was profuse in sarcastic apologies of this kind:
+"We are glad to see our guests and bid them welcome; my brother, I know,
+will not be critical, but I doubt if Sofya Nikolayevna will deign to
+enter our poor house after her father's grand mansion at Ufa. Of course
+we are poor people, with no official rank; living on our own property,
+_we_ have no lucrative salaries to maintain us." But Sofya Nikolayevna
+gave as good as she got: she replied that the way people lived depended
+as much on their tastes as on their money, and that it was all one to
+her where her husband's relations lived and how they lived. When supper
+was over, the young couple were shown to their bedroom, which was the
+so-called drawing-room. As soon as the candle was out, a great
+disturbance began in the room; the pattering and noise increased, and
+swarms of rats soon assailed them with such boldness that the poor bride
+lay awake all night, shaking with fear and disgust. Alexy�i Stepanitch
+was forced to light a candle and arm himself with a window-prop for the
+defence of the bed, on which the rats kept jumping up as long as it was
+dark. He felt neither fear nor disgust; it was no novelty to him; at
+first he was rather amused by the ceaseless activity and bold springs of
+the repulsive creatures, and then he fell asleep, lying across the bed
+and still holding the window-prop. But his wife woke him again and again
+and only fell asleep herself at sunrise, when the enemy sought the
+concealment of his trenches. She got up with a headache, but her hostess
+only laughed at the fright the rats had given her, and added that they
+only attacked strangers, and the people of the house were used to them.
+Tanyusha was afraid of rats herself; and she and Aksinya could not look
+unmoved at the signs of suffering on their sister-in-law's face. They
+expressed sympathy with her, and Aksinya even scolded Alexandra for not
+taking the ordinary precautions by placing the bed in the centre of the
+room, attaching curtains to it, and tucking the ends under the mattress;
+but the hostess said with an angry laugh, "It is a pity they did not
+bite off her nose." "You had better look out!" said her sister; "if this
+gets to our father's ears, you will catch it."
+
+Karatayevka was situated on the slope of a hill, above a little
+spring-fed stream which was dammed up at the end of the village and
+turned a small mill. The position was not bad, but the owners and all
+their ways were so objectionable that the place had no attraction for
+any one. M. Karatayeff, who was afraid of Stepan Mihailovitch at Bagrovo
+and of his wife at home, would have liked to pay some attentions to
+Sofya Nikolayevna when his wife was out of the room; but he only found
+courage to ask leave from time to time to kiss her hand, and generally
+added that she was the most beautiful creature in the world. When he
+repeated his request, it was refused. His was a strange existence. Most
+of his summer was spent in visiting wandering Bashkir tribes, and
+drinking _koumiss_ every day till he was intoxicated; he spoke the
+Bashkir language like a native; he rode on horseback whole days without
+dismounting, and had become as bow-legged as a Bashkir; he had their
+skill with the bow and could smash an egg at long range with the best of
+them. All the rest of the year he spent in a kind of lumber-room warmed
+by a stove, near the house-door; he wore a skin coat, and kept the
+little window always open even in the hardest frosts; and there he
+remained all day with his head stuck out of the window, humming Bashkir
+songs and taking a sip now and then of Bashkir mead or some decoction of
+herbs. Why Karatayeff looked out of his window over the empty yard with
+a rough path running across it, what he saw and noted there, what
+thoughts passed through the brain at the top of that big body--these are
+problems which no ingenuity can solve. Sometimes, it is true, his
+philosophic meditations were disturbed: when some plump woman or girl
+appeared from the servants' quarters and walked mincingly along the path
+towards the cattle-shed, then a pantomime of nods and signals took place
+between the window and the yard; but soon the fair vision turned out of
+sight and vanished like a ghost, and Karatayeff was left staring into
+empty void.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was eager to escape from this horrible place: after an
+early dinner, during which the horses were already standing at the door,
+they said "good-bye" at once and started. The hostess kissed her
+sister-in-law on both cheeks and on the shoulders, and thanked her
+significantly for her kind visit; and Sofya Nikolayevna, just as
+significantly, thanked the lady for her kind hospitality.
+
+When alone with her husband in the carriage, Sofya Nikolayevna gave vent
+to her anger. Aksinya in her simplicity had let out accidentally that
+the hostess had purposely taken no precautions against the rats; and the
+bride, though she had refrained from an outburst in her enemy's house,
+was unable any longer to control her excitable nature. Forgetting that
+Alexandra was her husband's sister, and that Parasha was in the carriage
+with them, she was lavish in her terms of abuse. Alexy�i Stepanitch, a
+straightforward and kindly man himself, could not believe that there was
+any intention on the part of his sister: attributing what had happened
+to mere carelessness, he was hurt by his wife's violent language which
+was really inexcusable under any provocation. The young husband was
+angry for the first time with his young wife: saying that she should be
+ashamed to speak so, he turned from her and was silent. Such was their
+state of mind when they arrived at Mertovshchina, where Mme. Myortvavo,
+a remarkably intelligent old lady, was then living with her daughter
+Katherine who had lately been married to Peter Chichagoff. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was warmly attached to both the Chichagoffs. She did not in
+the least expect to find them there, and soon forgot all her displeasure
+in this agreeable surprise; she became very lively and cheerful, but no
+one could fail to notice that Alexy�i Stepanitch remained silent and
+sad.
+
+Chichagoff's history, and especially his second marriage, is quite a
+romance; and I shall tell it as briefly as I can, because we shall often
+come across this family in future, and especially because the life of
+the young Bagroffs was a good deal influenced by this pair. Peter
+Chichagoff was a man of exceptional ability or, I should rather say,
+exceptional acuteness, and had received what was for those days an
+advanced education in many subjects: he knew several languages, could
+draw and understood architecture, and wrote both in prose and verse. In
+his hot youth he fell in love at Moscow with a young lady of the
+Rimsko-Korsakoff family, and went so far as to misrepresent his
+position, in order to win her hand. This was discovered after the
+marriage, and he was banished to Ufa. His wife soon died. Within a year
+he consoled himself and fell in love with Katherine Myortvavo, who was
+attracted by his gay and amiable temper, his intelligence and
+acquirements; his face was so very plain that it could exercise no
+attraction. She was no longer a girl and had too strong a character to
+be controlled by her mother and brothers: they let her marry Chichagoff,
+and he was pardoned soon afterwards but not allowed to leave the
+Government of Ufa. Sofya Nikolayevna liked him for two reasons: because
+he was the husband of her dearest friend, and perhaps still more for his
+own cleverness and wide information. Mme. Myortvavo had just settled to
+leave Ufa and live in the country, and the Chichagoffs had come on
+purpose to help her in building a house and a church. After a week's
+experience of her husband's relations, this meeting was a spring in the
+desert to Sofya Nikolayevna; it was like a breath of fresh air in which
+her heart and quick intelligence expanded; she talked on with her
+friends till near midnight. But Alexy�i Stepanitch would have sat there
+in silence and solitude, had not the old lady grasped the situation and
+entertained him by her pleasant talk. After supper, however, he said
+"good-night," and went off to the bedroom allotted to the visitors; when
+Sofya Nikolayevna came she found him fast asleep. They started for
+Bagrovo early next day without disturbing their hosts.
+
+During their drive Alexy�i Stepanitch was still sullen and silent. In
+reply to direct questions from his wife, his answers were so cold and
+short that she gave up speaking to him. Her lively and impatient temper
+resented this treatment, but she did not care to clear up matters in
+Parasha's presence, preferring to wait till the after-dinner rest when
+she would be alone with her husband. For the present she started a
+conversation with her maid about their life at Ufa, while Alexy�i
+Stepanitch squeezed into a corner of the carriage and either fell asleep
+or pretended to. They reached Bagrovo two hours before dinner. Stepan
+Mihailovitch was obviously pleased to see his daughter-in-law again, and
+even said that he had missed her. "My dear," he added; "you really must
+not stay here too long, or I shan't be able to let you go; as it is, I
+shall miss you, likely enough." He made her give him a minute account of
+their expedition. He praised Mme. Myortvavo whom he knew well, and said
+that he would send her an invitation next day to come with her daughter
+and son-in-law and dine at Bagrovo; he fixed on the following Sunday,
+which was four days ahead, for the entertainment. "You must visit the
+Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys the day after to-morrow," he said; "and then
+you can invite them too for Sunday; and then, three days later, you had
+better be off home to Ufa. Your father has never been parted from you
+before, and must miss you terribly; and I am sure, my dear, that you are
+even more anxious to see him, poor suffering old man!"
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was not long in finding out that something
+disagreeable had happened on this expedition. In the course of
+conversation, he said, "Well, were the Karatayeffs glad to see you?" The
+answer was of course in the affirmative; but Sofya Nikolayevna happened
+to mention that she had been kept awake all night by rats. This
+surprised the old man: he had only been there once, long ago, and had
+heard nothing of the kind. But here Arina Vassilyevna unsuspiciously
+joined in, in spite of the warning signs of her daughter Elizabeth; she
+suffered for it afterwards, poor lady, at the hands of her daughters. "O
+yes, yes, _batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch!" she cried; "the rats there
+are perfectly awful! Without bed-curtains, it's impossible to get a wink
+of sleep." "Had you no curtains to your bed, then?" asked the old man,
+and there was an ominous change in his voice as he spoke. "No," was the
+only possible answer. "An excellent hostess!" he said, and looked at his
+wife and daughter in such a way that a cold shiver ran down their backs.
+
+The Karatayeff party had not yet returned, but were expected by
+tea-time. Dinner was not a cheerful meal: all were out of spirits, and
+each had his or her own reasons. Arina Vassilyevna and Elizabeth were
+conscious of the approaching storm, and feared that the thunderbolt
+might smite them also. It was long since Stepan Mihailovitch had been in
+a rage, and the prospect was more alarming to them because they had
+become unused to such outbreaks. Sofya Nikolayevna noted the frown on
+her father-in-law's face; she did not object to his giving a good fright
+to his daughter, whom she detested as her avowed enemy; but she feared
+she might somehow get involved herself. She had no unkind intention in
+speaking about the rats: she never supposed that her father-in-law would
+take any special notice of this circumstance or attach serious
+importance to it. Nevertheless, a stone lay on her heart also: she could
+not determine how to act towards her husband. He had been angry with her
+for the first time, when she used insulting language about his sister:
+was it best to wait till he appealed to her voluntarily, or to put an
+end to the uncomfortable situation by begging him to forgive her? Her
+love and her tender caresses might then cause him to forget her
+regrettable impulsiveness. And she certainly would have chosen this
+course; for she was passionately in love with her kind young husband.
+She blamed herself severely: she ought to have foreseen everything and
+been prepared for everything. She knew that Alexy�i Stepanitch would not
+hesitate to die for her, but she knew also that she ought not to demand
+of him what he could not give--a tender and constant observation, and a
+full comprehension of all the trifling occurrences that might give her
+pain. And this was hard for her, with her hot blood and sensitive
+nerves, her eager, excitable brain and impressionable nature. Such were
+the poor woman's thoughts and feelings as she walked up and down her
+room waiting for her husband; his mother had stopped him on his way
+there after dinner and asked him to come to her bedroom. The minutes
+seemed to her like hours. The thought that he was loitering on purpose,
+fearing a scene and unwilling to be alone with her; the thought, that
+without relieving her heart of its many troubles and without a
+reconciliation with her husband, she would see him again in the presence
+of her enemies and must play a part the whole evening--this thought
+oppressed her heart and threw her into a fever. Suddenly the door
+opened, and Alexy�i Stepanitch walked in. There was no hesitation in his
+movements; he was no longer timid and sad, but fearless and even
+displeased. He began at once to reproach her for complaining to his
+father and getting Alexandra into trouble. "They are all trembling and
+crying now, and God only knows what will come of it," he said, primed
+with all that his mother and sister had been impressing upon him. "It is
+wrong and a sin on your part to cause trouble and quarrels in your
+husband's family. I told you what my father is like when he is angry;
+and you, knowing this and seeing his love for you, took advantage of
+it!" Sofya Nikolayevna's patience snapped instantly, and she fired up at
+once; love was silent, and of pity and contrition not a trace was left;
+and her poor husband discovered that Stepan Mihailovitch was not the
+only person who could fly into a passion. An irresistible flood of
+complaints, accusations, and reproaches poured down upon him. He was
+utterly crushed and confounded; he could make no defence, and was all
+but a monster in his own eyes. Soon he was kneeling at her feet and
+begging forgiveness with tears. It was not surprising that Alexy�i
+Stepanitch was powerless before that volcanic eruption of feeling and
+intelligence, that heartfelt conviction and wonderful power of
+eloquence. A man entirely in the right, a man much more resolute than
+Alexy�i Stepanitch, would have pleaded guilty before the youth and
+beauty of a woman whom he loved. And Alexy�i Stepanitch was certainly
+not in the right.
+
+When the storm had calmed down in the bedroom of the young couple, it
+was still brewing at the other end of the house, in the smallish room
+which belonged to Stepan Mihailovitch. Sleep had not brought peace to
+him or smoothed the frown from his high forehead. He sat for some time
+across his bed in gloomy silence, and then called out, "Mazan!" Mazan
+had long been lying outside the door, breathing heavily according to his
+wont, and looking in through a chink; he had been placed there as a
+sentry, while the family were sitting in the parlour, full of gloomy
+apprehensions. He called out at the top of his voice, "What is your
+pleasure, sir?"--and hurried into the room. "Has my daughter Alexandra
+arrived? Yes? Then bring her here." Alexandra entered on his heels, for
+on such occasions delay was more dangerous than anything. "How dared
+you, Madam," began the old man in the voice she knew and dreaded--"how
+dared you set rats on your brother and his wife?" "I am sorry, father,"
+humbly answered Alexandra, while her knees trembled beneath her, and
+fear kept down her own infernal temper. "I put my guests on purpose in
+the drawing-room, and I never thought of putting curtains to their bed.
+I was so busy and so glad to see them that it slipped my memory." "You
+were so glad to see them! Do you expect me to believe _that_? How did
+you dare to act so to your brother and to me? How did you dare to bring
+shame on your father in his old age?" The affair would perhaps have gone
+no further than angry words and loud threats and possibly a rap from his
+fist; but Alexandra, stung by the thought that she was suffering on
+account of Sofya Nikolayevna, and hoping that the storm would still blow
+over, forgot that any sort of answer was a new offence. She could not
+resist saying, "I am punished for nothing on her account." A fresh and
+terrible fit of rage seized Stepan Mihailovitch, that rage which
+invariably ended in painful and shocking violence. Words of fury were on
+the point of rushing from his lips, when Arina Vassilyevna, with her
+daughters Aksinya and Tanyusha, ran into the room and fell at the old
+man's feet, with tears and cries; they had been standing outside the
+door and had seen what was coming. Karatayeff had been standing there
+with them; but he ran out of the house and into the wood, where he
+slashed furiously at the innocent birch-branches with his stick,
+punishing them for the wrong done to his wife. Elizabeth did not venture
+to enter the room, knowing that her own conscience was not clear, and
+that her father was quite aware of the part she had played. "_Batyushka_
+Stepan Mihailovitch!" cried Arina Vassilyevna, "your will is law, you
+are our master, do what pleases you! Only do not shame us and disgrace
+your family in the sight of your daughter-in-law! You will frighten her
+out of her life; all this is new to her." The words seemed to have some
+effect on the old man. He was silent for a moment; then he pushed
+Alexandra from him with his foot, crying, "Begone, and don't venture to
+show yourself till I send for you!" No one waited for any further
+orders: in a moment the room was cleared, and all was silence round
+Stepan Mihailovitch; but his blue eyes long remained dark and clouded,
+and his chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing, as he restrained
+his passionate anger which had been aroused and not satisfied.
+
+The _samovar_ had long been hissing on the drawing-room table, not in
+the shade of the stoop, because heavy rain had just ceased falling and
+it was damp out of doors. Nature seemed to sympathise with what was
+passing in the house of Bagrovo. Soon after dinner two clouds of intense
+blackness had met in the zenith and long remained there motionless,
+emitting from time to time flashes of lightning and shaking the air with
+peals of thunder. At last the rain came down in torrents, the clouds
+shifted to the east, and the setting sun shone out. Fields and woods
+smelt sweeter, refreshed by the rain, and the birds began to sing
+louder; but alas! the storms of human passion are not followed by such a
+calm.
+
+Alexandra pretended illness, but the other daughters came with their
+mother to the drawing-room; Karatayeff also was there, but Yerlykin was
+still absent from the house, on the pretext of ill-health. Stepan
+Mihailovitch had tea in his room and gave orders that he was not to be
+disturbed. The door of the young couple's room was locked; after a short
+delay, tapping was tried and brought them out at once. Sofya Nikolayevna
+looked cheerful, and her husband really was more cheerful than before;
+but it was easy to guess from their faces that something unusual had
+been happening in their room. Of what had passed in the bedroom of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, they knew nothing. As for Arina Vassilyevna and her
+daughters, they looked like people who had just been pulled out of the
+water or snatched from the fire. It is a pity that there was no one to
+observe the scene; for it is certain that the different expressions on
+the faces of the company would have afforded an entertaining spectacle.
+All attempts to keep up a conversation were unsuccessful. The absence of
+the father and of one daughter puzzled Sofya Nikolayevna beyond
+endurance: she invented some pretext for going to her own room, where
+she summoned Parasha and got to the bottom of the mystery. They knew all
+about it in the maids' room: not only had Mazan and Tanaichonok been
+listening all the time, but the old lady and her daughter were in the
+habit of keeping nothing back from their waiting-women. Thus Parasha was
+able to give her mistress an exact and detailed report. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was much disturbed. She had never expected such alarming
+consequences; she heartily regretted having told her father-in-law about
+the wretched rats; and she was sincerely sorry for Alexandra. She went
+back to the drawing-room and asked leave to visit the invalid, but was
+told she was asleep. During her absence, Alexy�i Stepanitch had heard
+the whole story. After a hasty supper they separated to their rooms at
+ten o'clock. When alone with her husband, Sofya Nikolayevna, with much
+agitation and many tears, fell on his neck, and again asked his
+forgiveness with heartfelt penitence, blaming herself much more than she
+really deserved. But he did not understand the delicacy of feeling which
+prompted her genuine grief and drew from her tears. He was only sorry to
+see her distress herself about trifles; and he tried to console her by
+saying that all was well that ends well, that the family were accustomed
+to such scenes, that his father would wake in a good temper to-morrow
+and forgive Alexandra, and all would go on as well as at first. Only he
+begged her not to have any explanations with any of the family, and not
+to beg pardon, as she wished to do, for her unintentional slip; and he
+advised her not to visit his father in the morning but to wait till he
+sent for her. Sofya Nikolayevna understood her husband's character
+better than she had ever done before; and the knowledge hurt her deeply.
+While he slept peacefully all night, she never closed an eye.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was the worse for his fit of anger and also disliked
+the thought that his daughter-in-law might have heard of it. His honest
+nature resented every underhand action and deliberate unkindness; and
+also he saw, in what his daughter had done, disregard to his own
+authority and position. He was on the brink of an illness; he ate no
+supper, stayed indoors instead of going to sit on the stoop, and, when
+he should have seen his bailiff, sent his orders by a servant. But the
+benign darkness of night which gives light to the eye of our mind, the
+stillness, and then sleep, which calms the passions of men and rains
+down blessings upon them--all these did their kindly office. Early next
+day he summoned Arina Vassilyevna and gave her his instructions to
+convey to his daughters--they were intended mainly for Alexandra, but in
+part also for Elizabeth--that Sofya Nikolayevna was not to know of any
+unpleasantness, and they were to behave accordingly. In a short time the
+_samovar_ was placed on the table, and all the family summoned. Arina
+Vassilyevna fortunately had time to send a message by her son to Sofya
+Nikolayevna, begging her to do her best to cheer up the master of the
+house: "He is not quite well," she said, "and in low spirits for some
+reason." In spite of her sleepless night and the aching of her own
+heart, Sofya Nikolayevna carried out this request to admiration; all the
+party, and she herself more than any, were anxious that it should be
+done.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was an astonishing woman! Lively, impressionable, and
+excitable, she could be carried away in a moment by impulses of the head
+or heart, and was capable of very sudden and complete transformations of
+behaviour. In later years stupid people accused her of insincerity on
+this ground, but no one else did. It was really a kind of artistic
+power, which enabled her to adapt herself instantly to a new atmosphere
+and a new position, and to act absolutely in accordance with her
+immediate purpose; and this purpose, being entirely sincere, acted like
+a spell on others. In this case, she laid herself out to calm the
+agitation of her father-in-law, for whom she had conceived a warm
+affection, and who had championed her cause at the cost of his peace of
+mind and at the risk of his health; and she wished to relieve her
+husband and his family, who had been terrified and assailed owing to her
+slip of the tongue. Her imagination and feelings were so completely
+mastered by this purpose that she exercised a kind of magical power over
+the party and soon subdued them all by the irresistible spell of her
+personality. She poured out tea herself and handed the cups herself,
+first to her father-in-law and then to the rest; she talked to every one
+so easily and pleasantly and brightly that the old man, quite convinced
+that she had caught no glimpse of the skeleton in the cupboard, soon
+relaxed his features. Of him also it was true that his cheerfulness was
+infectious; and, before an hour had passed, all traces of the storm of
+yesterday had disappeared.
+
+Immediately after dinner the young couple started off to pay two
+ceremonial visits--to Ilarion Kalpinsky and his wife Catherine at
+Nyeklyoodovo, and to our old acquaintance Mme. Lupenevsky, who lived
+within two _versts_ of the Kalpinskys. Kalpinsky was in his own way a
+remarkable man: though he had received no regular education, he was very
+intelligent and well-read; his origin was obscure--it was said that he
+was of Mordvinian descent--but he had risen to a considerable rank in
+the public service, and had made a marriage of interest with the
+daughter of a country gentleman of good family. His present pursuit was
+farming, and his object to save money. He set up for a freethinker; and
+his few neighbours who had heard of Voltaire called him a Voltairian. He
+lived at home without taking any part in the life of the family, and
+reserved to himself complete freedom in the gratification of his
+somewhat Epicurean tastes and habits. Though she had heard of him, Sofya
+Nikolayevna had never seen him, because he had only recently removed to
+Orenburg from his public office at Petersburg. She was surprised to find
+in him a man possessed of intelligence and culture according to the
+standards of the time, and dressed like a gentleman living in the
+capital. She was pleased with him at first; but he soon began to show
+off before such an attractive visitor, and then his profanity and the
+shameless immorality of his family life made her feel a disgust for him
+which she never afterwards got over. His wife was far more intelligent
+than her sister, Mme. Lupenevsky, but not her superior in any other
+respect. The visit lasted for an hour, and was followed by a visit to
+Mme. Lupenevsky. In both houses tea was given to the guests and
+home-made jam, and the meal was seasoned with a kind of conversation
+which horrified Sofya Nikolayevna. Both families were invited to dine at
+Bagrovo on the following Sunday. By one of those striking
+inconsistencies in human nature which it is impossible to explain, Mme.
+Lupenevsky fell in love at first sight with Sofya Nikolayevna, and used
+such language to her at parting that her guest must needs either blush
+or laugh aloud; nevertheless her words were the expression of sincere
+and even enthusiastic attachment.
+
+The pair reached home an hour before supper-time, and were welcomed with
+unusual cordiality and pleasure by Stepan Mihailovitch, whom they found
+sitting on the familiar stoop. He was much amused when he was told that
+Mme. Lupenevsky had conceived such a passion for his daughter-in-law,
+kissing her repeatedly, claiming that they were kindred spirits, and
+lavishing terms of affection upon her. Contrary to custom, the whole
+family went out again to the stoop after supper, and spent a long time
+there in cheerful conversation with the master of the household, in the
+cool of the night and under the starry sky. Stepan Mihailovitch, though
+he could not have explained why, was fond of the faint colourless light
+that follows the glow of sunset.
+
+The solemn feast on the Sunday was to be something beyond what had ever
+been seen at Bagrovo, but nothing special happened on either of the
+intervening days. Yerlykin came back from Boogoorooslan looking yellow
+and ill, as he always did after a drinking-bout. Stepan Mihailovitch
+knew of his son-in-law's unfortunate weakness or disease, and tried to
+cure him by dosing him with unpalatable drinks, but without success.
+When sober, Yerlykin had a loathing for alcohol and could not raise a
+glass of wine to his lips without a shudder; but he was seized four
+times a year with a sudden and irresistible craving for spirits. If the
+attempt was made to keep drink from him, he became a most pitiable and
+wretched object, talking constantly and weeping, and begging abjectly
+for the poison; and if it was still refused, he became frantic and even
+capable of attempts at suicide. Sofya Nikolayevna, who had heard the
+whole story, was exceedingly sorry for him. She spoke kindly to him and
+tried to make him talk to her. But it was no good: the General persisted
+in his sullen silence and gloomy pride. Instead of being grateful to her
+sister-in-law, Elizabeth resented these advances to her husband, and
+expressed her resentment in bitter terms. But Stepan Mihailovitch
+noticed this and addressed a stern reproof to his clever daughter, who
+did not love her sister-in-law any the better in consequence.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch twice took his daughter-in-law out to see his crops
+of rye and spring-sown wheat, and drove with her to all his favourite
+water-springs in the hills, and the "Sacred Wood" where the trees had
+been protected from the axe by a religious service. The old man believed
+that all these sights were interesting and agreeable to her; but in fact
+she positively disliked them all. Her sole support was in the thought
+that she would soon leave Bagrovo and would do her best never to set
+eyes on it again. If any one had told her that she would spend most of
+her life there, grow old there, and even die there, she would not have
+believed it: she would have said that death was preferable, and would
+have meant what she said. But whatever God decrees, to that man can
+become accustomed, and that he can endure.
+
+Sunday came and the guests began to assemble. Mme. Myortvavo came, and
+the Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys, and two old bachelors, the judge and the
+mayor of Boogoorooslan. Another guest was Afrosinya Andr�yevna (her
+surname, which was never used, I forget), a spare little old lady and a
+great talker; she had a small estate near Bagrovo. She was famous for
+her powers of invention, and Stepan Mihailovitch liked at times to
+listen to her, as a grown man sometimes listens with pleasure to a fairy
+tale intended for children.
+
+But Afrosinya Andr�yevna deserves that the reader should have at least a
+bowing acquaintance with her. At one time in her life she had spent ten
+years in Petersburg to watch a lawsuit; when she won it, she came back
+to her little estate in the country. She brought back with her from
+Petersburg a store of anecdotes whose extravagance made Stepan
+Mihailovitch laugh till he cried. For instance, she used to represent
+herself as a bosom friend of the Empress Catherine, adding by way of
+explanation that two people could not live ten years in the same town
+without being thrown together. "I was in church one day"--she talked
+this way when she was in the vein--"the people were going out, and the
+Empress walked past me, and I made a low curtsey and ventured to
+congratulate her on the festival; and then Her Majesty was so very kind
+and condescending as to say: 'How are you, Afrosinya Andr�yevna? How is
+your suit going? Why don't you come to see me of an evening and bring
+your knitting with you? We could chat together and pass the time
+pleasantly.' Of course I never missed an evening after that. I got to
+know the people about the court, and every one in the palace without a
+single exception knew me and liked me. Suppose a royal footman was sent
+anywhere, to buy something it might be, he never failed to look in at my
+house and tell me all about it. As a matter of course, I always offered
+him a glass of something good; I kept a bottle of whisky in the cupboard
+on purpose. I was sitting by my window one evening when I saw a royal
+footman in red uniform, with the coat of arms on it, ride past at a
+gallop; he was soon followed by a second and a third. That was too much
+for me: I threw up the window and called out, 'Philip Petrovitch! Philip
+Petrovitch! what are you all galloping for, and why don't you pay me a
+visit?' 'No time! Afrosinya Andr�yevna!' was his answer; 'a terrible
+thing has happened: candles will soon be wanted at the palace, and we've
+run out of them!' 'Stop!' I cried out; 'I have 5 lbs. of candles laid
+in; you can come in and take them.' Philip Petrovitch was delighted; I
+carried out the candles with my own hands and relieved the people from
+their difficulty. So you see, _batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch, they
+simply couldn't help being fond of me."
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had many traits of character peculiar to himself;
+and this was one--though he was a sworn foe to deliberate lying of every
+kind, and detested the most trifling deception and even the kind of
+evasion which is sometimes quite excusable, yet he liked listening to
+the harmless fabrications and fictions of simple people, who were
+innocently carried away by the vividness of their imagination till they
+actually came to believe in their own incredible romancing. He liked
+talking to Afrosinya Andr�yevna, not only at a merry party, but also
+when they were alone together, if he was in the right mood for it; and
+she spent whole hours in pouring out for his benefit the story of her
+life in Petersburg, which consisted entirely of such incidents as that
+which I have already quoted.
+
+But it is time to go back to the guests arriving at Bagrovo. The mayor's
+_kaftan_[44] and the judge's uniform were equally remarkable; but the
+best sight of all was Kalpinsky: on each side of him stood a female
+scarecrow in the person of his wife and of her sister, while he himself
+wore an embroidered coat of French cut, a pair of watch-chains, a number
+of rings, silk stockings and shoes with gold buckles. All the family
+wore their best bib and tucker, and even Stepan Mihailovitch was forced
+to smarten himself up. M. Chichagoff, who had a critical, satirical turn
+of mind, made fun with much effect of the motley assembly and especially
+of his friend Kalpinsky; he was talking all the time to his wife and to
+her inseparable companion, Sofya Nikolayevna, who sat together and apart
+from the rest. Sofya Nikolayevna had hard work to keep from laughing:
+she tried not to listen, and begged Chichagoff either to hold his tongue
+or to start a conversation with Stepan Mihailovitch, whom he would find
+worthy of respect. He did so, and soon took a great fancy to the old
+man; and his feeling was reciprocated. But Stepan Mihailovitch disliked
+Kalpinsky, both as an upstart and also as an unbeliever and loose-liver.
+
+ [44] The kaftan is a long cloth coat belted in at the waist.
+
+The splendour of the banquet may be imagined. Stepan Mihailovitch for
+once resigned all his favourite dishes--haggis, roast ribs of pork, and
+porridge made of green rye. A _chef_ had been procured, of special skill
+in the culinary art. Materials of all sorts were provided in
+abundance--a six-weeks-old calf, a pig fed to monstrous proportions, fat
+sheep, and poultry of all kinds. It was the custom then to place all the
+courses at once on the cloth; and the table at Bagrovo could hardly hold
+them all or support their weight. Cold dishes came first--smoked hams
+seasoned with garlic; next came green cabbage soup and crayfish soup,
+with forcemeat balls and rolls of different kinds; then fish-salad on
+ice, sturgeon kippered and sturgeon dried, and a dish heaped
+mountain-high with crayfish tails. Of entr�es there were only two:
+salted quails _aux choux_, and stuffed ducks with a red sauce containing
+raisins, plums, peaches, and apricots. These entr�es were a concession
+to modern fashion; Stepan Mihailovitch did not like them and called them
+"kickshaws." They were followed by a turkey of enormous size and
+fatness, and a hindquarter of veal; the accessories were preserved
+melons and gourds, apple chips, and pickled mushrooms. The dinner ended
+up with round jam-tarts and raised apple pies served with thick cream.
+All this was washed down with home-made liquors, home-brewed March beer,
+iced _kvass_, and foaming mead.
+
+Such were the meals which our heroic grandfathers and grandmothers
+consumed without leaving out a single course, and even managed to digest
+satisfactorily! But they took their time over it, and the meal went on
+for hours. The dishes were solid, substantial affairs, as we have seen,
+and there were plenty of them; and the servants also, both those of the
+house and those whom the guests brought with them, had no idea of
+waiting: they bustled about and collided with one another and seemed
+likely at every moment to spill the sauce or the gravy over some lady's
+dress.
+
+The dinner was a cheerful meal. The master of the house had Mme.
+Myortvavo on his right, and on his left Chichagoff, who steadily rose in
+his host's good graces and was quite capable, unaided, of enlivening the
+dullest of parties. The young couple were near the head of the table,
+with Mme. Chichagoff and Kalpinsky; the latter, while paying constant
+attentions to the two young women and exchanging an occasional jest with
+Alexy�i Stepanitch, ate for two all the time, to make up for the
+voluntary abstinence which he practised at home, in his eagerness to
+save money. Yerlykin sat next to Chichagoff; unlike the rest of the
+party, he ate little and drank nothing but cold water; he never spoke,
+but looked gloomy and profound. The lady of the house had her daughters
+and nieces with other guests near her at table. The party next adjourned
+to the drawing-room, where there were two tables set out with
+sweetmeats. On one stood a round cabinet of Chinese porcelain resting on
+a round metal stand which was gilt and painted in bright colours. The
+cabinet contained a number of closely-fitting trays, each of which held
+a different sort of preserved fruit--raspberries, strawberries,
+cherries, gooseberries, and blackberries; and there were crystallised
+rose-petals in a small round receptacle at the top. This cabinet, which
+would be considered very rare and precious nowadays, was a present sent
+by the bride's father to Stepan Mihailovitch. Small plates were set out
+on the other table, filled with black and white currants, apricots,
+peaches, dates, raisins, nuts of many kinds, and almonds in the shell.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch rose from table in such good spirits that he did not
+even wish to lie down and rest. All could see--and indeed he wished it
+to be seen--his pride in his daughter-in-law and his affection for her;
+and her love and respect for him were as plain to see. During dinner he
+often turned towards her and asked her to do him some trifling
+service--to hand something, or pour out something. "Please help me
+yourself," he would say, "for you and I agree in our tastes"--or, "Just
+remind me of what I said to you the other day"--or, "Do repeat what you
+told me yesterday; I seem to have forgotten it." After dinner it was the
+same: he often asked her to give some order, or to hand him something,
+and so on. The form of his address was always plain and unpretentious,
+sometimes even unceremonious; but the tone of affection in which these
+appeals were expressed left no doubt in the mind of any spectator that
+he was entirely captivated by his daughter-in-law. And she, I need
+hardly say, replied with love and gratitude to every token of the stern
+old man's love for her--tokens often so slight that many would have
+missed them. Stepan Mihailovitch, who was thoroughly enjoying himself,
+tried to make Mme. Lupenevsky talk: pretending ignorance, he asked in a
+loud voice, "Well, Flona, what say you of my daughter-in-law?" The
+lady's enthusiasm had been raised to a higher pitch by the ale and
+strong waters she had been drinking. She declared most positively and
+solemnly that she had fallen in love at first sight with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, and rather preferred her to her own daughter, Lizanka; and
+that Alexy�i Stepanitch was the most fortunate of men. "It used to be
+quite another story," said the old man significantly; "don't change back
+again, my dear!" But now Sofya Nikolayevna, perhaps from a dislike for
+this topic, strongly urged her father-in-law to go and lie down, if only
+for a short time. He consented, and she went with him and drew his
+curtains with her own hand; he asked her to see to the entertainment of
+the party, and she hurried back, pleased and flattered by this
+commission. While some lay down to rest, the others crossed to the
+island and sat on the river-bank in the shade of the trees. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was reminded of the scene that had taken place there so
+recently--her unreasonable excitement and the unjust reproaches which
+had rankled in the mind of her husband. Her heart was full; and, though
+she saw him now, in perfect content and happiness, laughing loudly at a
+story which Kalpinsky was telling, she drew him aside, threw her arms
+round him, and said with tears in her eyes, "Forgive me, my dear, and
+bury in oblivion all that happened here on the day we came!" Alexy�i
+Stepanitch had a strong objection to tears; but he kissed both her hands
+and said good-humouredly, "How can you recall such a trifle, my darling?
+You are quite wrong to trouble yourself." Then he hurried back to hear
+the end of the story, which was very amusing as Kalpinsky told it.
+Though there was really no cause for distress, Sofya Nikolayevna felt a
+momentary heartache.
+
+The master of the house soon woke and summoned all the party to join him
+by the stoop. Tables and chairs were placed in the broad thick shadow
+cast by the house; and the _samovar_ was soon hissing. Tea was poured
+out by Sofya Nikolayevna; there were rolls and scones and cream so thick
+that it had a golden tinge on it; and for all this some at least of the
+guests still found room. The Kalpinskys and Mme. Lupenevsky went off
+after tea: there was positively no room for them to sleep at Bagrovo,
+and they had not far to go, only fifteen _versts_. The guests from
+Boogoorooslan also took their leave.
+
+Mme. Myortvavo and her party left early next morning, and the Yerlykins
+after dinner, to prepare for a visit from the young couple on their way
+back to Ufa. The same evening Stepan Mihailovitch announced quite
+frankly that the time had come for the rest of the party to disperse: he
+wished to spend the last days alone with his son and daughter-in-law,
+and to enjoy their society without interruption. As a matter of course,
+his wishes were carried out. Alexandra said "good-bye" to her
+sister-in-law as graciously as she could, and the sister-in-law said
+"good-bye" to her with unfeigned satisfaction. Her secret wish to spend
+some days without the hateful presence of Elizabeth and Alexandra had
+been divined by Stepan Mihailovitch; and she blessed him in her thoughts
+for his power of intuition. Aksinya was quite different; and Sofya
+Nikolayevna parted from her with feelings of gratitude and real
+affection. None of this escaped the old man's keen eyes. Tanyusha and
+her mother caused no constraint, partly because they were more
+good-tempered and friendly to their guest, and also because they often
+withdrew and left the others to their own devices.
+
+The three remaining days were spent at Bagrovo in perfect peace of mind,
+untroubled by malevolent observation or pretences of affection or
+venomous innuendoes. The strain on Sofya Nikolayevna's nerves was
+relaxed, and she was able to take her bearings with less prejudice and
+study the peculiarities of the little world in which she found herself.
+In spite of their complete unlikeness to herself, she could now
+understand her mother-in-law and Tanyusha better, and make allowances
+for them; she could form a cooler judgment of Stepan Mihailovitch, and
+could understand how her husband came to be what he was. To some extent
+she realised that Alexy�i could not be entirely changed, and that the
+time was distant--perhaps it would never come--when misunderstandings
+between them would cease. But this last thought passed too lightly
+through her mind; and the old dream, that she could educate her husband
+over again and make a new man of him, took fresh hold of her eager
+imagination. What happens to most young wives in the course of life was
+happening now to Sofya Nikolayevna: she found in her husband a certain
+inferiority, certain limitations of feeling and perception; and though
+her love for him was none the less passionate on that account, she was
+beginning to feel vaguely dissatisfied with his love for her, because he
+found room in his heart for other things--the pond and the island, the
+steppe and its population of snipe, the river and those horrid fish! A
+feeling of jealousy, though directed to no definite object as yet, was
+lurking at her heart; and she felt a dim presentiment of coming
+disaster.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch also had been somewhat taken up hitherto by constant
+observation of the feelings and actions of his daughters; but now he was
+more at leisure to attend to his daughter-in-law and his son also. For
+all his want of education and rough-and-ready way of expressing himself,
+his natural sagacity and power of intuition revealed to him the whole
+difference of character between the two; and he found here matter for
+serious reflexion. Their present love for one another was a pleasant
+sight to him, and he felt happy when he saw Sofya Nikolayevna's eyes
+constantly fixed on her husband and her eager desire to please him; but
+his happiness had a shade of fear and of disbelief in the solidity and
+permanence of a state of things in itself so charming. He would have
+liked to speak his mind on the subject, to give them some hints or some
+useful advice; but, whenever he began, he could not find the right words
+for thoughts and feelings which he could not make clear even to himself;
+and he went no further than those trivial commonplaces which, for all
+their triviality, have been bequeathed to us by the practical wisdom of
+past generations and are verified by our own experience. His failure
+troubled him, and he said so frankly to his daughter-in-law. She was a
+clever woman, yet she failed to understand the thoughts which the old
+man was turning over in his brain, and the feeling hidden in his heart.
+To his son he said: "Your wife is very clever and very excitable. Her
+tongue will probably run away with her at times; if so, don't be weak
+with her: stop her at once, and make her see her mistake. Scold her, but
+forgive her at once; if she displeases you, don't be sullen or keep up
+resentment; have it all out with her at once. But trust her absolutely;
+she is as true as steel." Again, when he was alone with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, he said to her: "My dear daughter-in-law, God has given you
+many good gifts. I have only one thing to say to you: don't give the
+reins to your impetuous temper. Your husband is honest and kind; his
+temper is mild, and he will never willingly hurt your feelings; don't
+you hurt his. Honour him and treat him with respect. If you cease to
+respect your husband, things will go wrong. Suppose he says or does
+something you don't like, then say nothing; don't be too exacting, and
+don't expect perfection. I can see you through and through, and I love
+you dearly. For God's sake, don't fill the cup till it runs over:
+anything can be overdone, even a wife's devotion to her husband."
+
+The advice was received as always by his son with profound respect, and
+by Sofya Nikolayevna with the ardent gratitude of a daughter. There was
+much talk on other subjects--their future life at Ufa, the husband's
+prospects in his profession, and the means of defraying their
+expenditure. Definite arrangements were made on all points, and all
+parties were satisfied.
+
+And now the day came for their departure. The silk curtains in the
+bedroom were taken down; the muslin and satin pillow-cases with broad
+lace edging were taken off the pillows; and all this finery was packed
+up and dispatched to Ufa. Pies of different kinds were baked for the
+travellers. Father Vassili was summoned once more, and the prayers for
+those "travelling by land or by water" were said. Fresh horses were to
+be in readiness at Korovino, forty _versts_ away; to that point they
+were to be taken by the Bagrovo horses, the same fine team of six which
+had conveyed the pair on their ceremonial visits. They dined together
+for the last time; and for the last time Stepan Mihailovitch pressed his
+favourite dishes on his daughter-in-law. The carriage was already
+standing at the steps. When the party rose from table, they went to the
+drawing-room and sat there in silence for some minutes. Then Stepan
+Mihailovitch crossed himself and rose to his feet; the rest followed his
+example, said a prayer,[45] and began their good-byes. All shed tears
+except Stepan Mihailovitch, and even he had hard work to refrain. He
+embraced his daughter-in-law and gave her his blessing; then he
+whispered in her ear, "Mind, I look forward to a little grandson." She
+blushed up to the ears and kissed his hands without speaking; and now he
+did not resist her doing so. All the outdoor servants and most of the
+peasants were standing by the steps. Some of them had half a mind to
+come forward and say farewell to their young master and mistress; but
+Stepan Mihailovitch, who hated good-byes and parting scenes, called out,
+"What are you up to there? Make your bow, and that will be enough!"
+Sofya Nikolayevna had only time to exchange greetings with one or two of
+the people. They took their seats quickly, and the strong horses started
+off with the carriage as if it had been a mere feather. Stepan
+Mihailovitch shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand; for some
+minutes he tried to make out the moving carriage in the cloud of dust
+which followed it; and, when it had reached the stackyard at the top of
+the hill, he went back to his own room and lay down to sleep.
+
+ [45] In prayers of this kind, nothing is said aloud: the worshipper
+      turns towards the _ikons_ on the wall and crosses himself.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA
+
+
+During the first few minutes Sofya Nikolayevna felt sorry for her
+father-in-law and sad to part with him. The image of the old man who had
+learnt to love her and was suffering now from the separation, came
+vividly before her. But before long the easy motion of the carriage,
+with the fleeting glimpses of fields and coppices and the outline of the
+hills along which they were driving, had a soothing effect upon her
+mind; and she began to feel heartily glad that she had left Bagrovo. Her
+joy was too great to be concealed, though she realised that her husband
+would not like it. He, she thought, was sadder than he had any business
+to be. Some explanations might possibly have followed, but were
+fortunately prevented by the presence of Parasha. The carriage rolled
+quickly through the village of Noikino, where it was saluted by hearty
+shouts from the Mordvinians, and then crossed the river Nasyagai by a
+crazy bridge. They crossed the same river again and passed through the
+village of Polibino, and came at last to Korovino, where a fresh team
+was waiting for their arrival; their own horses were to rest there for
+some hours and return to Bagrovo in the evening.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had provided herself with writing materials, and now
+she wrote a warm letter of thanks to her husband's parents. It was
+intended especially for Stepan Mihailovitch; and he understood this
+perfectly and hid the letter in the secret drawer of the modest
+writing-desk which satisfied his needs; and there Sofya Nikolayevna came
+upon her own letter unexpectedly eight years afterwards, when the old
+man was in his grave. The horses were put to, good-byes were said to the
+coachman and postilion--long-legged Tanaichonok was acting as postilion
+on this occasion--and the pair resumed their journey. Fortune was kind
+at this point to Sofya Nikolayevna: it proved impossible to get to the
+Yerlykins' house, and thus she was saved from a most tiresome and
+oppressive visit. A deep river on the way had to be crossed, and the
+bridge had rotted and collapsed. As it would take a long time to mend
+it, the young couple could keep straight on towards Ufa. As they got
+near the town, Sofya Nikolayevna could think of nothing but her sick
+father, who had not seen her for more than a fortnight; he had been left
+in the care of servants and must be feeling lonely and eager for his
+daughter's return. The travellers took a full hour to cross the river
+By�laya in a crazy ferry-boat; and the ascent of the steep hill on the
+other side took time. Before it was over, Sofya Nikolayevna was very
+impatient and in great agitation. At last she got to the house. In a
+fever of excitement she hurried to her father's room and softly opened
+the door. He was lying in his usual position; and near him, on the very
+armchair which was usually occupied by Sofya Nikolayevna herself, his
+servant Nikolai was sitting.
+
+This man was a Kalmuck, and I must tell something of his history. In
+those distant times it was a common practice in the district of Ufa to
+buy native boys and girls, either Kalmucks or Kirghizes, from their
+parents or relations, and to make use of them later as serfs. Forty
+years before the date of my story, M. Zubin had bought two Kalmuck boys.
+He had them baptized, became fond of them, and made pets of them. He had
+them taught to read and write; and, when they grew up, they became his
+personal servants. Both of them were intelligent and neat-handed and
+appeared to be very devoted; but, when Pugatchoff[46] raised the
+standard of revolt, they both ran off and joined the rebels. One of them
+soon lost his life; but the other, who had been his master's favourite
+and was called Nikolai, now became the favourite of one Chika, who was
+prominent among the rebels and stood high in the favour of Pugatchoff
+himself. It is well known that one band of the revolters was encamped
+for a long time near Ufa, on the opposite bank of the river By�laya.
+Nikolai was in this camp and had by this time been promoted to a
+position of some authority. It was said that he was fiercer than any of
+them and breathed fire and slaughter against no one so much as his old
+master who had brought him up. Tradition tells that, whenever the rebels
+were preparing to cross the river and fall upon the defenceless town,
+they saw a great army march out to defend the heights on the opposite
+bank, and an ancient warrior at their head, riding on a snow-white
+horse, and holding a spear in one hand and a Cross in the other. The
+cowardly band of outlaws were terrified by this vision and desisted from
+all their attempts; and they had done nothing when the news came that
+Pugatchoff was defeated. Of course they scattered at once. The revolt
+came to an end, and the scattered rabble were seized and brought to
+trial. Nikolai, who was one of these, was condemned to the gallows. I
+cannot vouch for the truth of this; but I have been assured that, after
+his trial at Ufa, the noose was actually round his neck, when M. Zubin
+claimed the privilege which he possessed as a landholder, pardoned his
+old favourite, and took him home, undertaking to be responsible himself
+for the criminal's behaviour. Nikolai seemed penitent and tried by zeal
+and devotion to atone for his crime. By degrees he contrived to get back
+into his master's confidence; and, when Sofya Nikolayevna, after her
+stepmother's death, took over the management of the household, she found
+Nikolai established as butler; he had been a favourite with her
+stepmother, and this now became a passport to her father's goodwill.
+Nikolai had been guilty of much insolence to his young mistress during
+her time of humiliation; but he was a very cunning fellow and quite
+realised his present position. He played the part of the repentant
+sinner, throwing all the guilt on the stepmother, and blaming himself
+for the slavish spirit in which he had carried out her orders. It would
+have been quite easy for Sofya Nikolayevna to get rid of him for good
+and all; but her youth and generous nature made her believe that his
+repentance was genuine. She pardoned him, and actually begged her father
+to leave him in his old position. As time went on, she was sometimes
+vexed by the way in which he settled things without consulting her, and
+she felt doubts about his honesty. She noticed also that his intimacy
+with her father, though concealed from her, was closer than she liked.
+But he was very zealous in his attendance upon his sick master, sleeping
+always in the same room, and also found time to do his work as butler
+exceedingly well. She was therefore content with mild reproofs, and the
+man was left free to take root at leisure in his double office. When she
+became engaged, she had to see herself to the buying of her
+wedding-clothes and to spend much time with her future husband; and so
+she was less with her father and gave less attention to household
+affairs. Nikolai took full advantage of this opportunity, and his power
+over the old invalid increased daily. Hoping soon to get rid of his
+mistress and to become master of the house himself, he grew more
+insolent and less careful to conceal his power. Sofya Nikolayevna
+sometimes snubbed him sharply; she was grieved to see her father's
+increasing dependence on this man and abdication of his own authority.
+
+ [46] See note to p. 67 (Transcriber: note 33).
+
+Nikolai had made full use of the few days that preceded and followed the
+marriage, and of her absence for a fortnight at Bagrovo: his master, now
+at death's door, was completely under his control. Sofya Nikolayevna
+guessed the true state of affairs as soon as she saw the man lying
+asleep in the armchair; never before had he ventured on such a liberty.
+She gave him a look which sent him in some haste and confusion out of
+the room. Her father was by no means as pleased to see her as she
+expected; he made haste to tell her that Nikolai was not to blame: "It
+is at my urgent wish," he said, "that he sometimes takes a seat at my
+bedside." "It is a pity you do that, father," she said; "you will spoil
+him altogether and be forced to turn him off; I know him better than you
+do." Then, without entering upon further explanations, she expressed her
+joy at having found him no worse. Alexy�i Stepanitch soon came in, and
+then the old man, touched by his daughter's unfeigned tenderness, his
+son-in-law's attentive behaviour, and the love between husband and wife,
+listened with pleasure to their narrative and thanked God with tears for
+their happiness.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna began at once the business of instalment. She chose
+three rooms, quite separate from the rest, for their own occupation; and
+in a few days her arrangements were so complete that she could receive
+her own guests without any disturbance to her father. It was her
+intention to arrange as before about the management of the house and the
+attendance on her father, and to assign to Nikolai the subordinate part
+of carrying out her instructions; but the man had always hated her, and
+now felt himself strong enough to declare open war against his young
+mistress. While attending to the father more zealously than ever, he
+contrived with extraordinary cunning to insult the daughter at every
+turn; and to Alexy�i Stepanitch he was so insolent that the young man
+lost patience, in spite of his easy and unexacting temper, and told his
+wife that he could not possibly put up with the position. For some time
+Sofya Nikolayevna did not trouble her father, hoping by her own
+influence to keep Nikolai within the bounds of reasonable politeness;
+she relied upon his intelligence, and also believed that he knew her
+determined character and would not venture to drive her to extremities.
+But the malicious Asiatic--this was the servants' name for him--was
+convinced beforehand that he would conquer, and tried to provoke Sofya
+Nikolayevna into some passionate outburst. Long ago he had been able to
+instill into his master the belief that the young lady could not endure
+her father's faithful servant and would certainly try to turn him out of
+the house. The invalid was horrified by this prospect, and solemnly
+declared that he would prefer death to such a deprivation. Sofya
+Nikolayevna tried to hint to her father in very gentle and affectionate
+terms that Nikolai forgot himself in his behaviour to her husband and
+neglected to carry out her orders; it seemed to be his intention to
+provoke her to anger. But her father became agitated and refused to
+listen: he said that he was perfectly satisfied with Nikolai, and begged
+her not to trouble the butler but to give her orders to some other
+servant. Young and impulsive, and accustomed to undisputed authority in
+her father's house, Sofya Nikolayevna found it hard to endure the
+insulting behaviour of an unworthy menial; yet her love for her father,
+and her desire to nurse and comfort him and alleviate his sufferings as
+far as possible, kept her for long from the idea of leaving him in that
+dying state to depend entirely upon such a wretch as Nikolai and other
+servants. She controlled her impulsiveness and injured pride; she gave
+her household orders through one of the other servants, knowing all the
+time that all her instructions were altered by her enemy at his will and
+pleasure. She induced her father to order that Nikolai should not enter
+the sick-room while she was sitting there. But this arrangement soon
+broke down: under various pretexts, the man constantly came into the
+room; and indeed the invalid himself constantly asked for him. This
+painful situation continued for several months.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna arranged her engagements in the town in accordance
+with her own wishes. The people whom she liked she often met, either in
+their houses or her own; the rest she seldom saw, and was content to
+exchange formal calls with them. Her husband was acquainted already with
+everybody in the town; but his wife's intimate friends now became
+intimate with him. He became popular with them and got on very well in
+his new position--I mean, in the select society that gathered round his
+wife.
+
+Meanwhile, soon after her return to Ufa, Sofya Nikolayevna began to feel
+unpleasant symptoms of a peculiar kind, which gave great satisfaction to
+Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard of them. The continuation of his
+ancient line, the descendants of the great Shimon, was a constant theme
+of the old man's thoughts and wishes; it troubled his peace of mind and
+stuck in his head like a nail. On receiving the good news from his son,
+Stepan Mihailovitch was full of happy hopes and convinced that the child
+would infallibly be a boy. His family always said that his spirits were
+unusually high at this time. He had prayers said in church for his
+daughter-in-law's health, forgave certain sums owed him by neighbours or
+dependants, asked every one to congratulate him, and made them drink
+till they were dizzy.
+
+In his excitement and joy, it occurred to him suddenly to bestow a mark
+of his favour upon Aksyutka, the maid who poured out tea and coffee, to
+whom he always showed an unaccountable partiality. Aksyutka was a
+peasant's daughter who had lost both parents and was brought to the
+house at Bagrovo when she was seven years old, merely to save her from
+starvation. She was exceedingly ugly--red-haired and freckled, with eyes
+of no colour in particular; she was also bad-tempered and a horrible
+sloven. This does not sound attractive; but Stepan Mihailovitch took a
+great fancy to her, and never did dinner pass without his giving or
+sending to the child something taken from the dishes at table. When she
+grew up, he made her pour out his tea in the morning and talked to her
+for hours at a time. She was now a good deal over thirty. One morning,
+soon after the good news came from Ufa, Stepan Mihailovitch said to her:
+"What makes you go about looking like a scarecrow? Be off, you stupid
+creature, and put on your best clothes that you wear on holidays. I mean
+to find you a husband." Aksyutka grinned: she thought her master was not
+serious, and answered: "Why, who would marry an orphan like me, except
+perhaps Kirsanka, the shepherd?" (Kirsanka, as every one knew, was
+deformed and idiotic.) Stepan Mihailovitch seemed vexed; he went on, "If
+I arrange the marriage, you can have your pick of the young men. Go and
+dress yourself, and come back at once." Aksyutka went out surprised and
+delighted; and Stepan Mihailovitch summoned Little Ivan to his presence.
+We have heard something of this man already; he was now twenty-four
+years old, with a complexion of lilies and roses, a very fine young
+fellow, both tall and stout. At the time of Pugatchoff's revolt, when
+the master himself took refuge with his family at Astrakhan, Ivan's
+father had been left in charge of the serfs at Bagrovo; and it was
+generally supposed that his death was due to overwork and anxiety at
+that time. He left two sons, both called Ivan, and this one was known as
+Little Ivan, to distinguish him from his elder brother, who inherited
+his father's nickname of Weasel. Little Ivan appeared before his master,
+"like a leaf before the grass."[47] Stepan Mihailovitch looked at him
+with admiration, and then said in a voice so kind that the lad's heart
+leaped for joy, "Ivan, I mean to give you a wife." "Your will is law,
+_batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch," answered the man, devoted body and
+soul to his master. "Well, go and dress yourself in your best, and come
+back to me in less than no time." Ivan flew off to do his master's
+bidding. Aksyutka was the first to reappear; she had smoothed her red
+hair and greased it with oil, and put on her smartest jacket and skirt,
+and her bare feet were hidden in shoes; but alas! she was no more
+beautiful than before. She was much excited, and her mouth was
+constantly expanding into a broad grin, which she tried to hide with her
+hand, because she felt ashamed of it. Stepan Mihailovitch laughed: "Oh,
+she's willing enough to take a husband," he said. Back flew Ivan; but
+the sight of Aksyutka's ugly face and fine dress sent a cold shiver down
+his back. "There is your bride," said Stepan Mihailovitch; "she is a
+good servant to me as your father was once. You may both count on my
+protection." His wife now came in, and he turned to her and said:
+"Arisha, the bride's clothes are all to be made out of our stuff; I
+shall give her a cow and provide everything to eat and drink at the
+wedding." No one raised any objections, and the marriage took place.
+Aksyutka was charmed with her handsome husband, but he detested his
+repulsive wife, who was ten years older than him to boot. She was
+jealous of him all day long, and not without reason; and he beat her all
+day long, with some excuse on his side also; for nothing but the
+stick--and not even that for long--could shut her mouth and keep her
+wicked tongue from wagging. It was a pity, a great pity: Stepan
+Mihailovitch did a wrong thing when he made others sad because he was
+happy.
+
+ [47] _I.e._ "instantly," though why the phrase means this I cannot
+      discover. In Russian fairy-tales, a witch regularly summons any one
+      she wants with the words, "Stand thou before me, like a leaf before
+      the grass!"
+
+Of his happiness I judge partly by tradition but more from a letter
+which he wrote to Sofya Nikolayevna and which I have seen myself. We
+have seen that he was capable of strong and deep affection; yet it is
+hard to believe that a man with so little refinement of manner could
+give verbal expression to such tender and delicate solicitude as
+breathed through the whole of this letter. He begged her and commanded
+her to be careful of her health, and sent her much advice on the
+subject. Unfortunately, I can only remember a few words of it: "If you
+were living in my house"--this was one thing the old man said--"I would
+not suffer the wind to blow on you or a grain of dust to settle on your
+skin."
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was able to appreciate this affection, though she
+understood that half of it was intended for the expected heir; and she
+promised to carry out scrupulously his wishes and instructions. But it
+was hard for her to keep this promise. She was one of those women who
+pay for the joy of motherhood by a constant discomfort which is more
+painful and distressing than any real illness; and she suffered in mind
+also, because her relations with her father became daily more
+humiliating and the insolence of Nikolai more unbearable. Alexy�i
+Stepanitch, who saw no danger in his wife's constant sufferings, and was
+told that the symptoms were quite natural and would soon pass away,
+though he was sorry for his wife, was not excessively put out; and this
+was another cause of distress to Sofya Nikolayevna. He worked hard at
+his duties in the law-court, hoping soon to be promoted. He had become
+accustomed to living with his father-in-law; he avoided for the present
+all contact with Nikolai, and looked forward without impatience to a
+change in their position. His wife did not like this either. Things
+dragged on like this, as I have said already, for several months, and it
+was not a happy time for any of them.
+
+But Nikolai was not satisfied with this state of things: he desired a
+final solution. Seeing that Sofya Nikolayevna was controlling her quick
+temper and righteous indignation, he determined to force her hand. It
+was necessary for his purpose that she should lose patience and complain
+to her father; and he warned the invalid more than once that he was
+constantly expecting Sofya Nikolayevna to complain of him and demand his
+instant dismissal. He did not wait for any pretext or opportunity. One
+day, in the presence of other servants, when his young mistress was
+standing close to him at the open door of the next room, he began,
+speaking loud and looking straight at her, to use such offensive
+language of herself and her husband that Sofya Nikolayevna was struck
+dumb for a moment by his insolence. But she recovered immediately, and
+without a word to him rushed to her father's room, where, choking with
+wrath and excitement, she repeated the insulting words which had been
+said almost to her face by his favourite. Nikolai came in at her heels
+and would not let her finish her story. Feigning tears and crossing
+himself, he solemnly swore, that it was mere slander, that he had never
+said anything of the sort, and that it was wicked of Sofya Nikolayevna
+to ruin an innocent man! "You hear what he says, Sonitchka," said the
+invalid in a peevish voice. This was too much for Sofya Nikolayevna:
+stung to the quick, she forgot her magnanimous self-restraint and forgot
+also that she might kill her father with fright. She raised her voice
+with such effect that the favourite was forced to leave the room. Then
+she said to her father: "After this insult I cannot live under the same
+roof with Nikolai: you must choose which of us is to go, he or I!"--and
+then she rushed wildly from the room. The old man had a seizure, and
+Nikolai hastened to his aid. The usual remedies were applied with
+success, and then master and man had a long conversation, after which
+Sofya Nikolayevna was summoned to the room. "Sonitchka," he said, with
+all the firmness and calmness he could muster, "my weak and suffering
+state makes it impossible for me to part with Nikolai; my life depends
+on him. You must buy another house; here is money for the purpose."
+Sofya Nikolayevna fell fainting to the ground and was carried back to
+her own room.
+
+To this had come the tender tie of affection between parent and child, a
+tie which should surely have been made doubly strong by the temporary
+coolness due to the stepmother, and then by the father's penitence and
+the daughter's devotion and forgetfulness of all her wrongs. And then,
+when she married, she had chosen her husband with this in view, and had
+stipulated that she should not be parted from her father! And now they
+were to part at a time when the doctors declared he would not live
+another month! But in this forecast the doctors were mistaken, just as
+they often are nowadays: he lived on for more than a year.
+
+When Sofya Nikolayevna recovered from her swoon and her eyes fell on the
+pale anxious face of Alexy�i Stepanitch, she realised that there was one
+creature on earth who loved her: she threw her arms round her husband,
+and floods of tears gave relief to her heart. She told him all that had
+passed between her and her father. The narrative revived the smart of
+her wounded feelings, and brought out more clearly the difficulty of her
+position; and she would have despaired, but for the support of her kind
+husband. Though weaker in character and less far-sighted than she was,
+he never ran into extremes and never lost presence of mind and power of
+judgment in the trying hours of life. It may seem strange that Alexy�i
+Stepanitch could give moral support to Sofya Nikolayevna; but, for all
+her exceptional intelligence and apparent strength of will, the effect
+of a sudden shock to her feelings was to make her lose courage and
+become utterly bewildered. As an honest chronicler of oral tradition, I
+am bound to add that she was too sensitive to the opinion of society and
+paid it too much deference, in spite of her own superiority to the
+people among whom she lived. What would be said by people at Ufa, and
+especially by the ladies who took the lead in society there? What would
+be thought by her husband's family? What, above all, would be said by
+Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard that she had left her father? As she
+asked herself these questions, the injury to her pride gave her as much
+pain as the wound to her feelings as a daughter. To her it seemed
+equally terrible that her father should be blamed for ingratitude to his
+daughter, or that she should be blamed for failing in affection to a
+dying father. One or other alternative was bound to be chosen; and
+either he or she was bound to be condemned.
+
+Alexy�i Stepanitch felt deep pity for her as he watched these
+sufferings, and he felt puzzled also. It was no easy task to administer
+consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna: her eager fancy painted appalling
+pictures of disaster, and her ready tongue gave them lively expression.
+She was prepared to brush aside every attempt to find an issue from the
+situation, and to trample on every suggestion of a settlement. But
+Alexy�i Stepanitch had love to teach him, and also that sanity and
+simplicity of mind which was wanting in his wife. He waited till the
+first irrepressible outburst was over, the first outcry of the wounded
+heart; and then he began to speak. The words were very ordinary, but
+they came from a kind, simple heart; and if they did not calm Sofya
+Nikolayevna, they did at least by degrees make it possible for her to
+understand what was said. He told her that she had always done her duty
+as a loving daughter, and that she must continue to do it by falling in
+with her father's wishes. It was probably no sudden decision: her father
+might have wished for a long time that they should live apart. For a
+sick and dying man it was difficult or even impossible to part from the
+regular attendant who nursed him so faithfully. Stepan Mihailovitch must
+be told the whole truth; but to acquaintances it would be enough to say
+that her father had always intended to set up the young couple in a
+house of their own during his lifetime. She would be able to visit her
+father twice a day and attend to him almost as much as before. Of course
+people in the town would find out in time the real reason of the
+separation--they had probably some idea already of the facts--but they
+would only pity her and abuse Nikolai. "Besides," he added, "though your
+father talked like that, when it comes to acting, he may shrink from the
+separation. Talk it over with him, and lay all your case before him."
+Sofya Nikolayevna made no reply: during a long silence her eyes rested
+with a curious, puzzled gaze on her husband. The truth of his simple
+words and his plain way of looking at things--these breathed peace and
+comfort into her heart. His plan seemed to her new and ingenious, and
+she wondered she had never thought of it herself. With a heart full of
+love and gratitude she embraced her husband.
+
+So it was settled that Sofya Nikolayevna should appeal to her father to
+alter his decision and let them stay on in the house, at all events
+until she had entirely recovered from her confinement; their household
+arrangements would be quite separate, and all collisions with Nikolai
+would be avoided. In favour of this suggestion, there was one very
+pressing argument--that, while it was bad for Sofya Nikolayevna in her
+present condition to be jolted over the ill-paved streets of the town,
+no risk to herself would prevent her from paying a daily visit to her
+father. But the explanation with her father was unsuccessful. The old
+man told her calmly but firmly that his decision had been carefully
+considered and was no impulse of the moment. "My dear Sonitchka," he
+said, "I knew beforehand that after your marriage you could not live
+under the same roof as Nikolai. You are not able to judge him coolly,
+and I don't blame you for it: he sinned deeply against you in old days,
+and, though you forgave him, you were unable to forget his conduct. I
+know that he does not behave properly to you even now; but you take an
+exaggerated view of it all." At this point Sofya Nikolayevna tried to
+break in, but he stopped her and said: "Wait and hear to the end what I
+have to say. Let us suppose that he is as guilty as you take him to be:
+that makes it all the more impossible for you to live in the same house
+with him; but I cannot face parting from him. Have pity on my helpless
+and suffering condition. I am no longer a man, but a lifeless corpse;
+you know that Nikolai has to move me in bed ten times a day; no one can
+take his place. All I ask is peace of mind. Death is hovering over me,
+and every moment I must prepare for the change to eternity. I was
+constantly made wretched by the thought that Nikolai was giving offence
+to you. Our parting is inevitable; go, my dear, and live in a house of
+your own. When you come to visit me you shall not see the object of your
+dislike: he will be only too glad to keep out of the way. He has gained
+his object and got you out of the house, and now he will be able to rob
+me at his leisure. I know and see it all, but I forgive him everything
+for his unwearied nursing of me day and night. What he undergoes in his
+attendance on me is beyond the power of human endurance. Do not distress
+me, but take the money and buy a house for yourselves."
+
+I shall not describe all the phases through which Sofya Nikolayevna
+passed--her doubts and hesitations, her mental conflicts, her tears and
+sufferings, her ups and downs of feeling from day to day. It is enough
+to say that the money was accepted and the house bought, and husband and
+wife were settled there before a fortnight had passed. The little house
+was new and clean, and had never been occupied before. Sofya Nikolayevna
+began with her usual ardour to put her house in order and to settle the
+course of their daily life; but her health, much affected by her
+condition, and still more by all the agitation she had gone through,
+soon broke down altogether. She was confined to bed for a fortnight, and
+did not see her father for a whole month. Their first interview was a
+touching and pitiful sight. He had grown much weaker; missing his
+daughter and blaming himself for her illness, he had suffered much by
+her absence. Their meeting gave happiness to both, but it cost them
+tears. He was especially grieved to see her so terribly thin and so
+altered in looks; but this was due, not so much to grief and illness as
+to her condition. The features of some women look different and even
+ugly during pregnancy; and Sofya Nikolayevna was a case in point. In
+course of time things settled down and her relations with her father
+became easy; Nikolai never ventured to appear when she was present.
+There was just one person who could not reconcile himself to the thought
+that she had left a dying father to settle in a house of her own; and
+that was Stepan Mihailovitch. She quite anticipated this, and wrote him
+a very frank letter just before she was taken ill, in which she tried to
+explain her father's action and defend it as far as possible. She might
+have saved herself the trouble, for Stepan Mihailovitch blamed her and
+not her father, and said that it was her duty to bear without a sign of
+displeasure all the misconduct of "that scoundrel" Nikolai. He wrote to
+his son to reprove him for allowing his wife to abandon her father to
+the hands of servants. But Stepan Mihailovitch did not realise, either
+that the separation was necessary to preserve the peace of a dying man,
+or that a wife could act without the permission of her husband. In the
+present case, however, husband and wife were entirely of one mind.
+
+To put the finishing touches to the new house and modest household
+arrangements, Sofya Nikolayevna called in the assistance of a widow whom
+she knew, who lived in a humble position at Ufa. This was Mme.
+Cheprunoff, a very simple and kind-hearted creature. She owned a little
+house in the suburbs, and a small but productive garden, which brought
+her in a trifle. She had other means of maintaining herself and her
+adored only child, a little one-eyed boy called Andrusha: she hawked
+about small wares of different kinds, and even sold cakes in the market.
+But her chief source of income was the sale of Bokhara muslin, which she
+went to Orenburg every year to buy. Sofya Nikolayevna was related
+through her mother to this woman; but she had the weakness to conceal
+the relationship, though every one in the town knew it. Mme. Cheprunoff
+was devoted to her brilliant and distinguished kinswoman. She used to
+pay secret visits to Sofya Nikolayevna during the time when she was
+persecuted and humiliated by her stepmother; and Sofya Nikolayevna, when
+her time of triumph and influence came, became the avowed benefactress
+of Mme. Cheprunoff. When they were alone together, Sofya Nikolayevna
+lavished caresses upon her unselfish and devoted kinswoman; but, when
+other people were present, the one was the great lady and the other the
+poor _prot�g�e_ who sold cakes in the streets. This treatment did not
+offend Mme. Cheprunoff: on the contrary, she insisted on it. She loved
+and admired her beautiful cousin with all her heart, and looked on her
+as a superior being, and would never have forgiven herself if she had
+thrown a shadow on the brilliant position of Sofya Nikolayevna. The
+secret was revealed, as it had to be, to Alexy�i Stepanitch; and he, in
+spite of the ancient lineage which his sisters were always dinning into
+his ears, received this humble friend as his wife's worthy kinswoman,
+and treated her with affection and respect all his life; he even tried
+to kiss the work-worn hand of the cake-seller, but she would never allow
+it. He was only prevented by his wife's earnest entreaties from speaking
+of this relationship in his own family and in the circle of their
+acquaintance. This conduct earned him the love of the simple-minded
+woman; and whenever there were differences in the household in later
+years, she was his ardent champion and defender. She knew all the shops
+and was a great hand at a bargain; and so, with her help, Sofya
+Nikolayevna did her furnishing quickly and well.
+
+When the young Bagroffs bought a house and started housekeeping by
+themselves, there was much talk and gossip in the town; and at first
+many exaggerations and inventions were current. But Alexy�i Stepanitch
+had spoken the truth: the real reason came out before long. This was due
+chiefly to Nikolai, who boasted among his friends that he had ousted the
+pettish young lady, and took the opportunity to give a lively
+description of her character. So the talk and gossip soon quieted down.
+
+Husband and wife had at last a house entirely to themselves. In the
+morning, Alexy�i Stepanitch drove down to his work at the law-courts,
+dropping his wife at her father's house; and on his return he spent some
+time every day with his father-in-law, before taking his wife home. A
+modest dinner awaited them there. To sit alone together, at a meal of
+their own ordering, in their own house, was a charming sensation for a
+time; but nothing is a novelty for long, and this charm could not last
+for ever. In spite of her bad health and small means, Sofya
+Nikolayevna's clever hands made her little house as dainty as a toy.
+Taste and care are a substitute for money; and many of their visitors
+thought the furnishing splendid. The hardest problem was to arrange
+about their servants. Sofya Nikolayevna had brought two servants as part
+of her portion--a man named Theodore and a black-eyed maid called
+Parasha; these two were now married to one another; and at the same time
+Annushka, a young laundress belonging to Sofya Nikolayevna, was married
+to Yephrem Yevs�itch, a young servant who had been brought from Bagrovo.
+This man was honest and good-natured and much attached to his young
+mistress, which cannot be said of the other servants. She returned his
+affection, and he well deserved it: he was one in a thousand, and his
+devotion to her was proved by his whole life.
+
+Yevs�itch (as he was always called in the family) became later the
+attendant of her eldest son,[48] and watched over him like a father. I
+knew this worthy man well. Fifteen years ago I saw him for the last
+time; he was then blind and spending his last days in the Government of
+Penza on an estate belonging to one of the grandsons of Stepan
+Mihailovitch. I spent a whole month there in the summer; and every
+morning I went to fish in a pool where the stream of Kakarma falls into
+the river Niza. The cottage where Yevs�itch was living stood right on
+the bank of this pool; and every day as I came up I saw him leaning
+against the angle of the cottage and facing the rising sun. He was bent
+and decrepit, and his hair had turned perfectly white; pressing a long
+staff to his breast, he leaned upon it with the knotted fingers of both
+hands, and turned his sightless eyes towards the sun's rays. Though he
+could not see the light, he could feel its warmth, so pleasant in the
+fresh morning air, and his face expressed both pleasure and sadness. His
+ear was so quick that he heard my step at some distance, and he always
+hailed me as an old fisherman might hail a schoolboy, though I was then
+myself over fifty years old. "Ah, it's you, my little falcon!"--he used
+to call me this when I was a child--"you're late this morning! God send
+you a full basket!" He died two years later in the arms of his son and
+daughter and his wife, who survived him several years.
+
+ [48] _I.e._ the Author.
+
+Meantime life at Ufa took a very regular and unvarying course. Owing to
+her state of health and spirits, Sofya Nikolayevna paid few visits and
+only to intimate friends, whose small number was made smaller by the
+absence of the Chichagoffs. Autumn was nearly over before those dearest
+of friends returned from the country with Mme. Myortvavo. The disordered
+nerves and consequent low spirits of his wife were at first a source of
+great uneasiness to Alexy�i Stepanitch. He was completely puzzled: he
+had never in his life met people who were ill without anything definite
+the matter, or sad with no cause for sadness; he could make nothing of
+illness due to some inexplicable grief, or grief due to some imaginary
+or imperceptible illness. But he saw that there was no serious danger,
+and his anxiety calmed down by degrees. He was convinced that it was all
+the effect of imagination, which had always been his way of accounting
+for his wife's moods of excitement and distress, whenever he found it
+impossible to arrive at any reason within his comprehension. If he
+ceased to be uneasy, he began to be rather bored at times; and this was
+very natural, in spite of his love for his wife and pity for her
+constant suffering. To listen for whole hours every day to constant
+complaints about her condition, which was not after all so very
+exceptional; to hear gloomy presentiments, or even prophecies, of the
+fatal results which were sure to follow (and Sofya Nikolayevna, thanks
+to her reading of medical works, was extraordinarily ingenious in
+discovering ominous symptoms); to endure her reproaches and constant
+demands for those trifling services which a man can seldom render--all
+this was wearisome enough. Sofya Nikolayevna saw what he felt, and was
+deeply hurt. If she had found him in general incapable of deep feeling
+and strong passion, she would have reconciled herself sooner to her
+situation. She used often to say herself, "A man cannot give you what he
+has not got"; and she would have recognised the truth of the saying and
+submitted to her fate. But the misfortune was that she remembered the
+depth and ardour of her husband's passion in the days of his courtship,
+and believed that he might have continued to love her in the same
+fashion, had not something occurred to cool his feelings. This unlucky
+notion by degrees took hold of her imagination, and her ingenuity soon
+discovered many reasons to account for this coolness and much evidence
+of its truth. As to reasons--there was the hostile influence of his
+family, her own ill-health, and, worst of all, her loss of beauty; for
+her looking-glass forced upon her the sad change in her appearance. Her
+proofs were these--that her husband was not disquieted by her danger,
+took insufficient notice of her condition, did not try to cheer and
+interest her, and, above all, found more pleasure in talking to other
+women. And then a passion, which hitherto had lurked unrecognised, the
+torturing passion of jealousy, as keen-sighted as it is blind, flashed
+up like gunpowder in her heart. Every day there were scenes--tears and
+reproaches, quarrels and reconciliations. And all the time Alexy�i
+Stepanitch was entirely innocent. To the insinuations of his sisters he
+paid no attention at all; to his father's opinion he attached great
+importance, and that was so favourable to Sofya Nikolayevna that she had
+even risen in her husband's eyes in consequence. He was sincerely, if
+not deeply, distressed about her sufferings; and her loss of beauty he
+regarded as temporary, and looked forward with pleasure to the time when
+his young wife would get back her good looks. Though the sight of her
+suffering distressed him, he could not sympathise with all her
+presentiments and prognostications which he believed to be quite
+imaginary. He was incapable, as most men would be, of paying her the
+sort of attention she expected. It was really a ticklish business to
+administer consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna in her present condition:
+you were quite likely to put your foot in it and make matters worse; it
+required much tact and dexterity, and these were qualities which her
+husband did not possess. If he found more pleasure in talking to other
+women, it was probably because he was not afraid that some casual remark
+might cause annoyance and irritation.
+
+But Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at the matter in this light. Her
+view of it was dictated by her nature, whose fine qualities were apt to
+run to extremes. But what was to be done, if the nerves of one were
+tough and strong and those of the other sensitive and morbid, if hers
+were jarred by what had no effect upon his? The Chichagoffs alone
+understood the causes of this uncomfortable situation; and, though they
+received no confidences from either husband or wife, they took a warm
+interest in both and did much to calm Sofya Nikolayevna's excitement by
+their friendship, their frequent visits, and their rational and sensible
+conversation. Both husband and wife owed much to them at this period.
+
+So things went on till the time that Sofya Nikolayevna became a mother.
+Though she was often troubled in mind, her health improved during the
+last two months, and she was safely delivered of a daughter. She
+herself, and her husband still more, would have preferred a son; but,
+when the mother pressed the child to her heart, she thought no more of
+any distinction between boy and girl. A passion of maternal love filled
+her heart and mind and whole being. Alexy�i Stepanitch thanked God for
+his wife's safety, rejoiced at her relief, and soon reconciled himself
+to the fact that his child was a girl.
+
+But at Bagrovo it was quite another story! Stepan Mihailovitch was so
+confident that he was to have a grandson to carry on the line of the
+Bagroffs, that he would not believe at first in the birth of a
+grand-daughter. When at last he read through his son's letter with his
+own eyes and was convinced that there was no doubt about it, he was
+seriously annoyed. He put off the entertainment planned for his
+labourers, and refused to write himself to the parents; he would only
+send a message of congratulation to the young mother, with instructions
+that the infant was to be christened Praskovya, in compliment to his
+cousin and favourite, Praskovya Ivanovna Kurolyessova. His vexation over
+this disappointment was a touching and amusing sight. Even his womankind
+derived a little secret amusement from it. His good sense told him that
+he had no business to be angry with any one, but for a few days he could
+not control his feelings--so hard was it for him to give up the hope, or
+rather the certainty, that a grandson would be born, to continue the
+famous line of Shimon. In the expectation of the happy news, he had kept
+his family tree on his bed, ready any day to enter his grandson's name;
+but now he ordered this document to be hidden out of sight. He would not
+allow his daughter Aksinya to travel to Ufa in order to stand godmother
+to the babe; he said impatiently, "Take that journey for a girl's
+christening? Nonsense! If she brings a girl every year, you would have
+travelling enough!" Time did its work, however, and the frown, never a
+formidable frown this time, vanished from the brow of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, as he consoled himself with the thought that he might have
+a grandson before a year was out. Then he wrote a kind and playful
+letter to his daughter-in-law, pretending to scold her for her mistake
+and bidding her present him with a grandson within a twelvemonth.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was so entirely absorbed by the revelation of
+maternity and by devotion to her child, that she did not even notice the
+signs of the old man's displeasure, and was quite unaffected by
+Aksinya's absence from the christening. It proved difficult to keep her
+in bed for nine days after her confinement. She felt so well and strong
+that she could have danced on the fourth day. But she had no wish to
+dance; she wanted to be on her feet day and night, attending to her
+little Parasha. The infant was feeble and sickly; the mother's constant
+distress of body and mind had probably affected the child. The doctor
+would not allow her to nurse the child herself. Andr�i Avenarius was the
+name of this doctor; he was a very clever, cultivated, and amiable man,
+an intimate friend of the young people and a daily visitor at their
+house. As soon as possible Sofya Nikolayevna took her baby to her
+father's house, hoping that it would please the invalid to see this
+mite, and that he would find in it a resemblance to his first wife. This
+resemblance was probably imaginary; for, in my opinion, it is impossible
+for an infant to be like a grown-up person; but Sofya Nikolayevna never
+failed to assert that her first child was the very image of its
+grandmother. Old M. Zubin was approaching the end of his earthly career;
+both body and mind were breaking fast. He looked at the baby with little
+interest, and had hardly strength to sign it with the Cross. All he said
+was, "I congratulate you, Sonitchka." Sofya Nikolayevna was distressed
+by her father's critical condition--it was more than a month since she
+had seen him--and also by his indifference to her little angel, Parasha.
+
+But soon the young mother forgot all the world around her, as she hung
+over her daughter's cradle. All other interests and attachments grew
+pale in comparison, and she surrendered herself with a kind of frenzy to
+this new sensation. No hands but hers might touch the child. She handed
+it herself to the foster-mother and held it at the breast, and it was
+pain to her to watch it drawing life, not from its mother, but from a
+stranger. It is hard to believe, but it is true, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+admitted it herself later, that, if the child sucked too long, she used
+to take it away before it was satisfied, and rock it herself in her arms
+or in the cradle, and sing it to sleep. She saw nothing of her friends,
+not even of her dear Mme. Chichagoff. Naturally they all thought her
+eccentric or absurd and her chief intimates were vexed by her conduct.
+She paid a hasty visit every day to her father, and returned every day
+with fear in her heart that she would find the child ill. She left her
+husband perfectly free to spend his time as he liked. For some days he
+stopped at home; but his wife never stirred from the cradle and took no
+notice of him, except to turn him out of the little nursery, because she
+feared that twice-breathed air might hurt the baby. After this, he began
+to go out alone, till at last he went to some party every day; and he
+began to play cards to relieve his boredom. The Ufa ladies were amused
+at the sight of the deserted husband, and some of them flirted with him,
+saying that it was a charity to console the widower, and that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would thank them for it when she recovered from her maternal
+passion and reappeared in society. Sofya Nikolayevna did not hear of
+these good Samaritans till later; when she did, she was vexed. Mme.
+Cheprunoff, who came often to the house, watched Sofya Nikolayevna with
+astonishment, pity, and displeasure. She was a tender mother herself to
+her little boy with the one eye, but this devotion to one object and
+disregard of everything else seemed to her to border on insanity. With
+groans and sighs she struck her fists against her own body--this was a
+regular trick of hers--and said that such love was a mortal sin which
+God would punish. Sofya Nikolayevna resented this so much that she kept
+Mme. Cheprunoff out of the nursery in future. No one but Dr. Avenarius
+was admitted there, and he came pretty often. The mother was constantly
+discovering symptoms of different diseases in the child; for these she
+began by consulting Buchan's _Domestic Medicine_, and then, when that
+did not answer, she called in Avenarius. He found it impossible to argue
+her out of her beliefs: all he could do was to prescribe harmless
+medicines. Yet the child was really feeble, and at times he was obliged
+to prescribe for it in real earnest.
+
+It is difficult to say what would have been the upshot of all this; but,
+by the inscrutable designs of Providence, a thunderbolt burst over the
+head of Sofya Nikolayevna: her adored child died suddenly. The cause of
+death was uncertain: it may have been too much care, or too much
+medicine, or too feeble a constitution; at any rate, the child
+succumbed, when four months old, to a very slight attack of a common
+childish ailment. Sofya Nikolayevna was sitting by the cradle when she
+saw the infant start and a spasm pass over the little face; she caught
+it up and found that it was dead.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna must have had a marvellous constitution to support
+this blow. For some days she knew no one and the doctors feared for her
+reason; there were three of them, Avenarius, Zanden, and Klauss; all
+three were much attached to their patient, and one of them was always
+with her. But, by God's blessing and thanks to her youth and strength,
+that terrible time passed by. The unhappy mother recovered her senses,
+and her love for her husband, whose own distress was great, asserted
+itself for the time and saved her. On the fourth day she became
+conscious of her surroundings; she recognised Alexy�i Stepanitch, so
+changed by grief that he was hard to recognise, and her bosom friend,
+Mme. Chichagoff; a terrible cry burst from her lips and a healing flood
+of tears gushed from the eyes which had been dry till then. She silently
+embraced her husband and sobbed for long on his breast, while he sobbed
+himself like a child. The danger of insanity was past, but the
+exhaustion of her bodily strength was still alarming. For four days and
+nights she had neither eaten nor drunk, and now she could swallow no
+food nor medicine nor even water. Her condition was so critical that the
+doctors did not oppose her wish to make her confession and receive the
+sacraments. The performance of this Christian duty was beneficial to the
+patient: she slept for the first time, and, when she woke after two
+hours looking bright and happy, she told her husband that she had seen
+in her sleep a vision of Our Lady of Iberia, exactly as she was
+represented on the _ikon_ of their parish church; and she believed that,
+if she could put her lips to this _ikon_, the Mother of God would surely
+have mercy on her. The image was brought from the church, and the priest
+read the service for the Visitation of the Sick. When the choir sang, "O
+mighty Mother of God, look down in mercy on my sore bodily
+suffering!"--all present fell on their knees and repeated the words of
+the prayer. Alexy�i Stepanitch sobbed aloud; and the sufferer too shed
+tears throughout the service and pressed her lips to the image. When it
+was over, she felt so much relief that she was able to drink some water;
+and from that time she began to take food and medicine. Her two dear
+friends, Mme. Chichagoff and Mme. Cheprunoff, were with her constantly;
+she was soon pronounced out of danger, and her husband's troubled heart
+had rest. The doctors set to work with fresh zeal to restore her
+strength, and their great anxiety was in a way dangerous to their
+patient; for one of them found traces of consumption, another of
+_marasmus_, and the third was apprehensive of an aneurysm. But
+fortunately they were unanimous on one point: the patient should go at
+once to the country, to enjoy pure air and, preferably, forest air, and
+take a course of _koumiss_. At the beginning of June it was not too late
+to drink mare's milk, as the grass on the steppes was still fresh and in
+full growth.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch took the news of his grand-daughter's death very
+coolly: he even said, "No reason to tear one's hair over _that_! There
+will be plenty more girls." But when he heard later of the dangerous
+illness of Sofya Nikolayevna, the old man was much disturbed. When a
+third message came, that she was out of immediate danger but very ill,
+and that the doctors were baffled and prescribed a course of _koumiss_,
+he was exceedingly angry with the doctors: "Those bunglers murder our
+bodies," he said, "and defile our souls by making us swallow the drink
+of heathens. If a Russian is forbidden by his Church to eat horseflesh,
+then he has no business to drink the milk of the unclean animal." Then
+he added with a heavy sigh and a gesture of disgust: "I don't like it at
+all: her life may perhaps be saved, but she will never be right again,
+and there will be no children." Stepan Mihailovitch was deeply grieved
+and remained for a long time in a state of depression.
+
+Twenty-nine _versts_ to the south-west of Ufa, on the road to Kazan,
+where the Uza falls into that noble river, the Dyoma, there lay in a
+rich valley a little Tatar village called by the Russians Alkino,
+surrounded by forests. The houses nestled in picturesque disorder at the
+foot of a hill called Bairam-Tau[49] which gave them shelter from the
+north; and another hill, Zein-Tau,[50] rose on the west. The Uza,
+fringed with bushes, flowed to the south-west; the forest-glades were
+fragrant with grasses and flowers; and, all round, oaks and limes and
+maples cleft the air and imparted to it an invigorating virtue. To this
+charming spot Alexy�i Stepanitch brought his wife, weak and pale and
+thin, a mere shadow of her old self; Avenarius, their friend and doctor,
+came with them, and they had some difficulty in getting the patient to
+the end of the journey. The owner of the village received them with
+cordial hospitality; he had a comfortable house, but Sofya Nikolayevna
+was unwilling to install herself there, and one of the outbuildings was
+cleared out for her occupation. The family were only too kind in their
+attentions to her, so that the doctor was obliged to forbid their visits
+for a time. They spoke Russian fairly well, though they professed the
+Mohammedan creed; and, though their dress and habits were then partly
+Russian and partly Tatar, _koumiss_ was their invariable drink from
+morning till night. For Sofya Nikolayevna, the health-giving beverage
+was prepared in a cleanly, civilised manner: the mare's milk was
+fermented in a clean, new wooden bucket and not in the usual bag of raw
+horse-hide. The natives declared that _koumiss_ made in their fashion
+tasted better, and was more effective; but Sofya Nikolayevna felt an
+unconquerable aversion to the horse-hide bag. When the doctor had laid
+down rules for the cure, he went back to Ufa, leaving Alexy�i
+Stepanitch, with Parasha and Annushka, in charge of the invalid. The air
+and the _koumiss_, of which small doses were taken at first; the daily
+drives with Alexy�i Stepanitch through the forest which surrounded the
+village--Yevs�itch, who was now a favourite with Sofya Nikolayevna,
+acted as coachman; the woods, where the patient lay for whole hours in
+the cool shade on a leather mattress with pillows, breathing the
+fragrant air into her lungs, listening sometimes to an entertaining
+book, and often sinking into refreshing sleep--the whole life was so
+beneficial to Sofya Nikolayevna that in a fortnight she was able to get
+up and could walk about. When Avenarius came again he was delighted by
+the effect of the _koumiss_, and increased the doses; but, as the
+patient could not endure it in large quantities, he thought it necessary
+to prescribe vigorous exercise in the form of riding on horseback. For a
+Russian lady to ride was in those days a startling novelty: Alexy�i
+Stepanitch did not like it, and Sofya Nikolayevna herself was shocked by
+the notion. Their host's daughters presented an instructive example, for
+they constantly rode far and wide over the country on their Bashkir
+ponies; but Sofya Nikolayevna turned a deaf ear for long to all
+persuasions, and even to the entreaties of her husband, whom the doctor
+had speedily and completely convinced of the necessity of the exercise.
+At last the Chichagoffs came on a visit to Alkino, and Sofya
+Nikolayevna's resistance was overcome by a joint effort. What appealed
+to her most strongly was the example of Mme. Chichagoff, who, in the
+spirit of true friendship, sacrificed her own prejudices and began to
+ride, at first alone, and then with the patient. This hard exercise
+required a change of diet; and fat mutton, which Sofya Nikolayevna did
+not like either, was prescribed. Avenarius probably took a hint from the
+habits of the Bashkirs and Tatars, who, while moving from place to place
+throughout the summer, drink _koumiss_ and eat hardly anything but fat
+mutton, not even bread; and they ride all day long over the broad
+steppes, until the prairie grass turns from green to grey and veils
+itself with a soft, silvery down. The treatment answered admirably. They
+sometimes rode out in a large party with the sons and daughters of their
+host. There was a potash factory which they sometimes visited, about two
+_versts_ from Alkino, situated in the depth of the forest and on the
+bank of a stream; and Sofya Nikolayevna looked with interest at the iron
+cauldrons full of burning wood-ash, the wooden troughs in which the
+dross was deposited, and the furnaces in which the product was refined
+and converted into porous white lumps of the vegetable salt called
+"potash." She admired the rapidity with which the work was carried on,
+and the activity of the Tatars, whose skull-caps were a novelty to her,
+and also the long shirts which came down to their feet and yet left them
+free command of their limbs. In general her hosts were very kind, and
+tried to amuse their guest by making the natives sing and dance before
+her, or wrestle, or run races on horseback.
+
+ [49] Hill of Feasting.
+
+ [50] Hill of Meeting.
+
+At first Alexy�i Stepanitch was always present at these expeditions and
+entertainments; but, when he ceased to feel anxious about his wife's
+health, and saw her surrounded by troops of attentive friends, he began
+by degrees to find some time on his hands. Country life and country air,
+with the beauty of that landscape, roused in him a desire for his old
+amusements. He made fishing-lines and began to angle for the wily trout
+in the clear mountain streams round Alkino; and he went out sometimes to
+catch quails with a net. Theodore, Parasha's young husband, was a
+capital hand at this sport and could make pipes to decoy the birds. With
+sportsmen in general, netting for quails does not rank high; but really
+I do not know why they despise it. To lie on the fragrant meadow grass
+with your net hanging in front of you on the tall stalks; to hear the
+quails calling beside you and at a distance; to imitate their low, sweet
+note on the pipe; to hear the excited birds reply and watch them run, or
+even fly, from all sides towards you; to watch their curious antics, and
+to get excited yourself over the success or failure of your
+strategy--all this gave me much pleasure at one time, and even now I
+cannot recall it with indifference. But it was impossible to make this
+pleasure intelligible to Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+In two months she was well on the way to recovery: her face filled out,
+and a bright colour began to play again upon her cheeks. When Avenarius
+paid a third visit, he was entirely satisfied; and he had a perfect
+right to triumph; for he was the first to prescribe _koumiss_ and
+directed the treatment himself. He had always been attached to his
+patient; and now that he had succeeded in saving her life, he loved her
+like a daughter.
+
+Alexy�i Stepanitch sent a weekly bulletin to his father at Bagrovo.
+Stepan Mihailovitch was glad to hear that his daughter-in-law was
+getting better; but of course he disbelieved in the healing power of the
+_koumiss_, and was very angry about the riding, which they were rash
+enough to mention in writing to him. His wife and daughters made use of
+this opportunity, and the sneering remarks, which they let fall on
+purpose in the course of conversation, worked him up to such a pitch
+that he wrote his son a rather offensive letter which gave pain to Sofya
+Nikolayevna. But, when he was convinced that his daughter-in-law had
+quite recovered and had even grown stout, pleasing hopes began to stir
+again in his breast, and he grew reconciled in some degree to the
+_koumiss_ and the riding.
+
+The young Bagroffs returned to Ufa at the beginning of autumn. Old M.
+Zubin was very far gone by that time, and his daughter's wonderful
+recovery produced no sort of impression on him. All his earthly business
+was done, and all ties broken; every thread that held him to life was
+severed, and the soul could hardly find shelter in the disruption of the
+body.
+
+The normal course of relations between the young couple had been, so to
+speak, arrested in its development by a number of events: first, by the
+birth of the child and the mother's extravagant devotion to it; then, by
+the child's death which nearly deprived the mother of her reason and her
+life; and, finally, by the long course of treatment and residence in the
+Tatar village. In the stormy season of her distress and sickness, Sofya
+Nikolayevna had ever before her eyes the genuine love and self-sacrifice
+of her husband. At that time there were none of those collisions, which
+constantly occur at ordinary times between ill-matched characters; and,
+even if there were occasions for such misunderstandings, they passed
+unnoticed. When gold is in circulation, small change is of little
+importance. In exceptional circumstances and critical moments, nothing
+but gold passes; but the daily expenditure of uneventful life is mainly
+carried on with small change. Now Alexy�i Stepanitch, though he was not
+poor in gold, was often hard up for small change. When a man, if he sees
+distress and danger threatening the health and life of one whom he
+loves, himself suffers in every fibre of his being; when he forgets
+sleep and food and himself altogether; when the nerves are strung up and
+the moral nature uplifted--at such times there is no room for small
+exactions, no room for small services and attentions. But when the time
+of tragic events has gone by, everything quiets down again; the nerves
+are relaxed and the spirit contracts; the material life of flesh and
+blood asserts itself, in all its triviality; habits resume their lost
+power; and then comes the turn of those exactions and demands we spoke
+of, the turn of small services and polite attentions and all the other
+trifles which make up the web of actual ordinary life. Time will again
+apply the test and bring back the necessity of self-sacrifice; but
+meanwhile life runs on without a stop in the ordinary groove, and its
+peace and adornment and pleasure--what we call happiness, in fact--is
+made up entirely of trivial things, of small change.
+
+For these reasons, when Sofya Nikolayevna began to recover and Alexy�i
+Stepanitch ceased to fear for her life and health, there began by
+degrees to reappear, on one side, the old exacting temper, and, on the
+other side, the old incapacity to satisfy its demands. Gentle reproaches
+and expostulations had become tiresome to the husband, and fierce
+explosions frightened him. Fear at once banished perfect frankness, and
+loss of frankness between husband and wife, especially in the less
+assertive and independent of the two, leads straight to the destruction
+of domestic happiness. After the return to Ufa, this evil would probably
+have grown worse in the trivial, idle atmosphere of town life; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna's father was now actually dying, and his sad, suffering
+condition banished all other anxieties and monopolised his daughter's;
+thoughts and feelings. Obedient to the law of her moral nature, she gave
+herself up without reserves to her duty as a daughter. Thus the process
+which was unveiling every corner of their domestic life, was again
+brought to a standstill. Sofya Nikolayevna spent her days and nights
+with her father. Nikolai, as before, waited on his sick master, nursing
+him with wonderful devotion and indefatigable care; and, as before, he
+kept out of sight of Sofya; Nikolayevna, though he had now the right and
+the power to appear before her with impunity. Touched by his behaviour,
+she had sent for him; a reconciliation took place, and she gave him
+leave to be present with her in the sick-room. The dying man, in spite
+of his apparent insensibility to all around him, noticed this change: he
+pressed his daughter's hand in his feeble grasp, and said in a hardly
+audible whisper, "I thank you." Sofya Nikolayevna never left her father
+after this time.
+
+I said that when Stepan Mihailovitch received the good news of his
+daughter-in-law's recovery, fond hopes awoke once more in his breast.
+They were not disappointed: before long Sofya Nikolayevna wrote to him
+herself, that she hoped, if God was good to her, to give birth to a son,
+to be the comfort of his old age. At the instant Stepan Mihailovitch was
+overjoyed, but he soon controlled his feelings and hid his happiness
+from his womankind. Perhaps it occurred to him that this second child
+might be a daughter, that Sofya Nikolayevna and the doctors between them
+might kill it too with too much love and too much medicine, and that the
+mother might lose her health over again; or perhaps Stepan Mihailovitch
+was like many other people, who deliberately prophesy calamities with a
+secret hope that fortune will reverse their prognostications. He
+pretended that he was not in the least glad, and said coolly: "No, no!
+I'm too old a bird to look at _that_ chaff. When the thing happens, it
+will be time enough to believe it and rejoice over it." His family were
+surprised to hear him speak so, and said nothing in reply. But, as a
+matter of fact, the old man for some unknown reason became convinced
+once more in his heart that he would have a grandson: he gave
+instructions again to Father Vassili to repeat in church the prayer for
+"women labouring of child"; and he fished out once more the family tree
+from its hiding-place, and kept it always beside him.
+
+Meanwhile M. Zubin's last hour on earth came quietly on. He had suffered
+much for many years; it seemed hardly natural that life should linger on
+in a body which had lost all force and motion; and the ending of such a
+bare and pitiful existence could distress no one. Even Sofya Nikolayevna
+had only one prayer--that her father's soul might depart in peace. And
+there _was_ peace, and even happiness, at the moment of death. The face
+of the dying man lit up suddenly, and this expression remained long upon
+the features, though the eyes were shut and the body had grown cold. The
+funeral was a solemn and splendid ceremony. M. Zubin had once been very
+popular; but he had become forgotten by degrees, and sympathy for his
+suffering had become gradually weaker. But now, when the news of his
+death flew round the town, old memories revived and evoked a fresh
+feeling of love and pity for him. On the day of his funeral every house
+was empty, and all the population of Ufa lined the streets between the
+Church of the Assumption and the cemetery. May he rest in peace! If he
+had the weakness of human nature, he had also its goodness.
+
+After M. Zubin's death, guardians were appointed for the children of his
+two marriages; and Alexy�i Stepanitch became guardian of his wife's two
+brothers, who, before finishing their education at the Moscow
+boarding-school, were summoned to Petersburg to enter the Guards. I
+forgot to mention that M. Zubin, shortly before his death, was
+successful in obtaining for Alexy�i Stepanitch his promotion to a higher
+office at the law-courts.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna wept and prayed for a long time, and Alexy�i
+Stepanitch wept and prayed at her side; but those tears and prayers were
+not painful or violent and had no ill effect on the recently restored
+health of Sofya Nikolayevna. Her husband's entreaties and the advice of
+her friends and doctors prevailed with her, and she began to take care
+of herself and to pay due attention to her condition. They convinced her
+that the health and even the life of the unborn child depended on the
+state of her own health and spirits. Their arguments were confirmed by
+bitter experience, and she resolutely submitted to all that was required
+of her. When her father-in-law wrote to her and expressed in simple
+words his sympathy with her loss and his fear that she might again
+injure her own health by excess of grief, she sent a very reassuring
+letter in reply; and she did in fact attend carefully to her bodily
+health and composure of mind. A regular but not monotonous plan of life
+was laid down. The two doctors, Klauss--who was becoming very intimate
+with the Bagroffs--and Avenarius, made her go out every day before
+dinner, and sometimes on foot; and each evening they had an
+unceremonious party of pleasant people at home, or went out themselves,
+generally to the Chichagoffs' house. Mme. Chichagoff's brothers became
+great friends of the Bagroffs, especially the younger, Dmitri, who asked
+that, when the time came, he might stand godfather. Both brothers were
+well-bred men and well-educated, according to the standards of the time;
+and they came often to the house and passed the time there with
+pleasure. In the Bagroffs' house, reading aloud was a favourite
+occupation. But, as no one can read or listen to reading without
+intervals, Sofya Nikolayevna was taught to play cards. Klauss took the
+chief part in initiating her into this science; and, whenever the
+Bagroffs were alone of an evening, he never failed to make up their
+table. Avenarius could not take part in this pastime, because he never
+in his life knew the difference between the five and the ace.
+
+Spring set in early that year, but in all its beauty. The ice on the
+By�laya broke up, and the blocks were carried down by the stream; the
+river broke its banks and spread till it was six _versts_ across. The
+whole of this expanse could be clearly seen from the windows of the
+Bagroffs' little house; their orchard burst into leaf and flower, and
+the fragrance of bird-cherries and apple-blossom filled the air. They
+used this orchard as a drawing-room, and the warm weather did good to
+Sofya Nikolayevna and made her stronger.
+
+At this time an event happened at Ufa which caused a great sensation
+there and was especially interesting to the young Bagroffs, because the
+hero of the story was an intimate friend of theirs, and, if I am not
+mistaken, distantly related to Alexy�i Stepanitch. Sofya Nikolayevna, as
+one would expect from her character, took a lively interest in such a
+romantic affair. A young man, named Tim�sheff, one of the most prominent
+and richest nobles of the district, fell in love with a Tatar girl, the
+daughter of a rich Tatar landowner. Her family, just like the Alkins,
+had altered their way of living to a certain extent in conformity with
+European customs, and they spoke Russian well; but they strictly
+observed the Moslem faith in all its purity. The beautiful Salm�
+returned the love of the handsome Russian officer, who was a captain in
+the regiment stationed near Ufa. As she could not be married to a
+Russian without changing her religion, it was perfectly certain that her
+parents and grown-up brothers would never give their consent to such a
+union. Salm� struggled long against her love, and love burns more
+fiercely in the hearts of women of Asia. At last, as is the rule in such
+cases, Mahomet was defeated, and Salm� made up her mind to elope with
+her lover, meaning to be baptised first and then married. The commander
+of Tim�sheff's regiment was General Mans�roff, a universal favourite and
+the kindest of men, who gained distinction afterwards when he crossed
+"The Devil's Bridge" in the Alps with Suv�roff. He had lately married
+for love himself, and he knew and sympathised with Tim�sheff's
+enterprise, and promised to take the lovers under his protection. One
+dark, rainy night Salm� sallied forth from her father's house, and found
+Tim�sheff waiting for her in a wood close by with a pair of
+saddle-horses; they had to gallop about 100 _versts_ to reach Ufa. Salm�
+was a skilful rider; every ten or fifteen _versts_ they found fresh
+horses, guarded by soldiers of Tim�sheff's regiment; he was very popular
+with his men. Thus the fugitives flew along "on the wings of love," as a
+poet of that day would infallibly have said. Meanwhile Salm�'s absence
+was quickly noticed: her passion for Tim�sheff had long been suspected,
+and a strict watch was kept over her movements. A band of armed Tatars
+assembled instantly, and followed the enraged father[51] and brothers in
+furious pursuit of the lovers, uttering fierce shouts and threats of
+vengeance. They took the right track and would probably have captured
+the fugitives--at any rate blood would have been spilt, because a number
+of soldiers, eagerly interested in the affair, were posted at different
+points along the road--had not the pursuit been delayed by a stratagem.
+The bridge over a deep and dangerous river was broken down behind the
+lovers; and the Tatars were forced to swim across, and thus lost some
+two hours. Even so, the boat which carried Tim�sheff and Salm� across
+the By�laya under the walls of Ufa, had hardly reached mid-stream, when
+the old Tatar galloped up to the bank, attended by his sons and half of
+his faithful company; the other half had stopped when their horses fell
+dead under them. A whole regiment of Russian soldiers were in possession
+of all the punts and ferry-boats, on the pretence of crossing to the
+town. The unhappy father gnashed his teeth in fury, cursed his daughter,
+and rode off home. Half dead with weariness and fear, Salm� was placed
+in a carriage and taken to the house of Tim�sheff's mother. The affair
+now assumed a legal and official character: here was a Mahometan woman
+asking of her own free will to be received into the Christian Church,
+and the authorities of the town took her under their protection,
+informed the _mufti_, who lived at Ufa and was always called "the Tatar
+bishop," of all that had passed, and called upon him to stop the injured
+family or any other Mahometans from all attempts to recover by violence
+a person who had deliberately preferred the Christian faith. In a few
+days the clergy prepared the convert to receive the sacraments of
+baptism and unction. The rite was celebrated with great pomp in the
+Cathedral: Salm� was christened Seraphima, and immediately afterwards,
+without leaving the church, the young lovers were married. All Ufa was
+interested in the affair. The young people and all the men naturally
+stood up for the beautiful Salm�; but the women, some of whom, perhaps,
+had personal reasons for disappointment, judged her conduct severely.
+Very few stretched out the hand of sincere friendship to the convert,
+whom her husband's station admitted to the inner circle of Ufa society.
+The young couple had no warmer sympathisers than Sofya Nikolayevna and
+Alexy�i Stepanitch; and they were actively assisted by the wife of
+General Mans�roff, an amiable young woman whose maiden name was
+Bulg�koff. Before long the Tim�sheffs had a firm footing in their new
+sphere. The bride's education was taken in hand; she had much natural
+ability, and soon became a success in society, where she aroused both
+sympathy and envy, due in some degree to her beauty and the peculiarity
+of her position. Sofya Nikolayevna kept up a steady friendship with
+Seraphima Tim�sheff till death divided them. To the general regret, Mme.
+Tim�sheff died of consumption three years after her marriage. She left
+two sons; her husband nearly went out of his mind with grief; he left
+the Army, gave up his life to the care of his children, and never
+married again. It was currently reported, though I cannot vouch for the
+truth of the reports, that her illness and death were due to secret
+pining after the kinsfolk she had abandoned and remorse for her change
+of religion.
+
+ [51] Another version of the story tells that the mother led the pursuit.
+      (_Author's note_.)
+
+These events did nothing to arrest the quick flight of time. The day
+came when Sofya Nikolayevna was forbidden to go out to parties, or even
+to take drives in the country. In fine weather she walked up and down
+the garden for half an hour twice a day; if it was wet, she opened all
+the doors in the house and followed the same routine under cover. It is
+probable that all this seclusion and strict regimen did more harm than
+good; yet my opinion is contradicted by the facts, for Sofya Nikolayevna
+was in perfect health. Alexy�i Stepanitch found it necessary to let the
+doctors have their way; for he was constantly receiving instructions
+from his father to watch over his wife like the apple of his eye. Her
+friends also, and especially the doctors who felt a strong personal
+attachment for her, kept such a close watch on Sofya Nikolayevna that
+she could neither take a step nor swallow a morsel or drink a drop
+without their permission. As Avenarius had to leave the town on some
+official business, it fell on Klauss, who was the other leading lady's
+doctor at Ufa, to undertake the personal supervision of her health.
+Klauss was a German, a very kind man, clever and well-educated, but
+singularly grotesque in his appearance. Though he was still of middle
+age, he wore a bright yellow wig; and people asked where he could have
+got human hair of a colour never beheld on any human head; his eyebrows
+also were yellowish, and so were the whites of his small brown eyes; but
+his face, which was round and rather small, was as red as burning coal.
+His habits in society were very odd: though he liked kissing the hands
+of ladies, he would never allow himself to be kissed on the cheek,
+maintaining that it was a gross breach of manners on the part of a man
+to permit such a greeting. He had a great fondness for small children
+which he showed in this way: he took the child on his knees, placed its
+hand on the palm of his own left hand and stroked it for hours at a time
+with his right hand. His special favourites he constantly addressed as
+"Monster!" or "Turk!"--and Sofya Nikolayevna naturally came in for her
+share of these endearments.[52]
+
+ [52] Klauss became lecturer on midwifery in the Foundling Hospital at
+      Moscow in 1791, and died in 1821 after the conscientious discharge
+      of his duties for thirty years. He never left off the yellow wig.
+      He was an enthusiastic and well-known numismatist. (_Author's
+      note._)
+
+Owing to his intimacy with the young Bagroffs, Klauss knew all about
+Stepan Mihailovitch--his eager desire for a grandson, and the impatience
+with which he was awaiting the event. As Klauss wrote Russian well, he
+wrote out a forecast, for whose accuracy he vouched, in a distinct
+handwriting for the old man's benefit: he foretold that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would give birth to a son between the 15th and 22nd of
+September. When the forecast was sent to Stepan Mihailovitch, "German
+liar!" was his only comment; but in his heart he believed it; for his
+excitement and joy could be seen in his face and heard in every word he
+spoke. About this time, our old acquaintance, Afrosinya Andr�yevna, paid
+him a visit at Bagrovo. He let her see more than others of his main
+anxiety, that he might have another grand-daughter; and she told him
+that, when passing through Moscow, she had gone to Trinity Church there,
+to say her prayers to St. Sergius; and there she heard that some
+well-known lady, the mother of several daughters, had taken a vow that
+if her next child was a boy, it should be christened Sergh�i; and she
+did give birth to a son before the year was out. Stepan Mihailovitch
+said nothing at the time; but he wrote a letter himself to his son and
+daughter-in-law by the next post, expressing his desire that they should
+say prayers in church to St. Sergius the Wonder-worker, and take a vow
+to call their child Sergh�i if it were a boy. In explanation of his wish
+he added: "There has never yet been a Sergh�i in the Bagroff family."
+These instructions were carried out to the letter. Sofya Nikolayevna
+spared no pains to provide everything that a careful mother could think
+of for her expected child; above all, an admirable foster-mother was
+found at Kasimofka, one of the villages that had belonged to her father.
+M�rya Vassilyevna, a peasant woman, had every qualification for her
+office that one could wish for; and she was perfectly willing to
+undertake the duty, and moved to Ufa in good time, bringing her own
+infant with her.
+
+The crisis was now approaching. By this time Sofya Nikolayevna was
+forbidden to walk. Catherine Chichagoff was kept to her own house by
+ill-health, and no other visitors were admitted. But Mme. Cheprunoff was
+constantly with her cousin, never leaving her except to see her own
+beloved little boy, Andrusha. Klauss came to breakfast every morning,
+and again for tea, which he drank with rum in it, in the evening; then
+he played cards with husband and wife; and, as the stakes were too small
+to buy cards with, the prudent German procured some used packs which he
+brought with him. Reading sometimes took the place of cards, and Klauss
+was present on these occasions. Alexy�i Stepanitch, who had gained some
+experience and skill in the art, was the regular reader; and sometimes
+Klauss brought a German book and translated it aloud, which gave
+pleasure to his hearers, especially to Sofya Nikolayevna, who wished to
+get some knowledge, if only a smattering, of German literature.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had experienced already the absorbing and unlimited
+power of maternal affection, the strongest of all our feelings, and she
+was filled with awe by her present condition. She accepted it as a
+sacred duty to maintain mental composure, and so to preserve the health
+of her unborn infant and secure its existence, on which depended all her
+hopes, all her future, and all her life. We know Sofya Nikolayevna
+pretty well already; we know how apt she was to be carried away; and
+therefore we shall not be surprised to hear that she gave herself up
+wholly to her feeling for the child she bore. Every hour of the day and
+night was devoted to the task of taking care of herself in all possible
+ways. Her mind and her thoughts were so entirely concentrated upon this
+one object that she noticed nothing else and was, apparently, quite
+satisfied with her husband, though it is probable that things happened
+which might have made her dissatisfied. The more Alexy�i Stepanitch got
+to know his wife, the more she surprised him. He was a man singularly
+unable to appreciate excessive display of feeling, or to sympathise with
+it, from whatever object it arose. Thus his wife's power of passionate
+devotion frightened him; he dreaded it, just as he used to dread his
+father's furious fits of anger. Excessive feeling always produces an
+unpleasant impression upon quiet unemotional people; they cannot
+recognise such a state of mind to be natural, and regard it as a kind of
+morbid condition which some persons are liable to at times. They
+disbelieve in the permanence of a mental composure which may break down
+at any moment; and they are afraid of people with such a temperament.
+And fear is fatal to love, even to a child's love for his parents. In
+general I must say that, in point of mutual understanding and sympathy,
+the relations between Alexy�i Stepanitch and his wife, instead of
+becoming closer, as might have been expected, grew less intimate. This
+may seem strange, but it often happens thus in life.
+
+Just at this time Klauss was transferred to an official post at Moscow.
+He had already taken leave of his colleagues and all his acquaintance;
+and he waited on solely with a view to Sofya Nikolayevna's confinement,
+hoping to be of service to her in case of necessity. He calculated that
+he might be able to get away on the 17th or 18th of September, and hired
+horses for that date. Hiring was necessary, because he intended to break
+his journey to visit a German friend, who lived at some distance from
+the post-road, so that the coach would not serve his purpose. The 15th
+of September passed, but the expected event did not take place. Sofya
+Nikolayevna felt better and more enterprising than usual; and it was
+only the pedantry of the doctor, she said, that kept her to the sofa.
+When the 16th, 17th, and 18th had all gone by, the German, in spite of
+his love for Sofya Nikolayevna, got very angry, because he had to pay a
+_rouble_ a day to the driver he had hired--a terribly high price,
+according to the ideas of those days; and the Bagroffs bantered him
+about this in a friendly way. The reading and card-playing went on every
+evening; and if the doctor won 60 _kopecks_[53] from his hosts, he was
+much pleased, and said that his driver would not cost him much _that_
+day. The 19th passed off with no change. On the 20th, when Klauss came
+in the morning, Sofya Nikolayevna stood at her bedroom door and greeted
+him with a curtsey. He got very angry: "Monster!" he said, "you are
+treating me abominably"; but he kissed as usual the hand she held out to
+him. "It is too bad, Alexy�i Stepanitch," he went on; "your wife is
+ruining me. Her baby ought to have been born on the 15th, and here she
+is, dropping curtseys on the 20th!" "Never mind, my dear fellow," said
+Alexy�i Stepanitch, patting him on the shoulder; "you must rob us at
+cards to-night. But the packs are nearly worn out." Klauss promised to
+bring a new pack; he lunched there, and, after sitting on till two
+o'clock, took his leave. He called again at six in the evening, punctual
+to the minute. Finding no one in the hall, or parlour, or drawing-room,
+he tried to get into the bedroom, but the door was locked; he knocked,
+and it was opened by Mme. Cheprunoff. The doctor went in and stood dumb
+with astonishment. The floor of the room was covered with rugs; green
+silk curtains hung by the windows, and a fine silk canopy over the
+double bed; a candle, shaded by a book, was burning in a corner; and in
+the bed, resting on embroidered pillows and wearing a dainty, easy
+morning wrapper, lay Sofya Nikolayevna. Her face looked fresh, and her
+eyes were radiant with happiness. "Congratulate me, my dear friend!" she
+said in a strong, audible voice; "I am the happy mother of a son!" The
+doctor, when he looked at her face and heard her voice, took the whole
+thing to be a mystification and a hoax. "Monster! don't try to play
+tricks on so old a bird as I am!" he said. "Better get up; I have
+brought a new pack of cards. It will be a present for the baby," he
+added, coming up to the bed and shoving the cards under a pillow. "My
+dear friend," said Sofya Nikolayevna, "I swear to you I have got a son!
+Look at him; there he is!" And there, resting on a large down-pillow
+trimmed with lace, and wrapped in a pink velvet coverlet, he really saw
+a newborn infant, a strong boy; and Alyona Maksimovna, the midwife, was
+standing near the bed.
+
+ [53] 1 _rouble_ = 100 _kopecks_.
+
+The doctor flew into a furious rage. He sprang back from the bed as if
+he had burnt himself, and roared out, "What! in my absence! after my
+staying on here for a week and losing money every day, you did not send
+for me!" His face turned from red to purple, his wig came half off, and
+his whole stumpy figure looked so ridiculous that the lady in the bed
+burst out laughing. Then the midwife tried to soothe him: "_Batyushka_,"
+she said, "we had no time to think of anything at the moment; then, when
+we had got things straight, we meant to send for your Honour, but Sofya
+Nikolayevna said you would be here at once." The worthy man soon
+recovered from his vexation; tears of joy started to his eyes; he caught
+hold of the infant in his practised hands and began to examine it by the
+candle-light, turning it round and feeling it till it squalled loudly.
+Then he thrust a finger into its mouth, and, when the infant began to
+suck lustily, the doctor was pleased and called out, "How fine and
+healthy he is, the little Turk!" Sofya Nikolayevna was frightened when
+she saw her priceless treasure so freely handed; and the midwife tried
+to take it from him, fearing it would be "overlooked." But Klauss was
+inexorable: he ran about the room, holding the child, and called for a
+tub of warm water with a sponge and some soap, and a binder. Then he
+turned back his sleeves, tied on an apron, threw down his wig, and began
+to wash the babe, talking to it like this: "Ah, my little Turk, that
+stops your crying; you like the feel of the warm water!"
+
+Then Alexy�i Stepanitch hurried into the room, almost beside himself
+with joy. He had been dispatching a special messenger to carry the good
+news to Stepan Mihailovitch, and writing letters to his parents; and
+there was a separate letter for his sister Aksinya, begging her to come
+as soon as possible and stand godmother to his son. Before the doctor
+had time to dry himself, the happy father embraced him till he nearly
+choked him; he had already exchanged greetings with every one in the
+house, and many tears of joy had been shed. And Sofya Nikolayevna--but,
+what _she_ felt, I dare not try to express in words: her bliss was such
+as few on earth ever feel and no one can feel for long.
+
+The event produced extraordinary rejoicing within the house, and even
+the neighbours shared in it. The intoxication of joy was prolonged by
+liquor; and soon all the servants were singing and dancing in the court.
+Some who never drank at other times now took a drop too much; and one of
+these was Yevs�itch. They found it impossible to control him: he was
+always begging to go to his mistress's bedroom to see the little son. At
+last his wife, with Parasha's help, tied him tightly to a heavy bench;
+and even then he went on kicking out his legs, cracking his fingers, and
+attempting to articulate the chorus of a song.
+
+Tired out by his exertions and by joyful excitement, Klauss at last sat
+down in an armchair and much enjoyed a cup of tea. He was somewhat too
+liberal with the rum that evening, and felt a buzzing in his head after
+the third cup. So he gave instructions that the baby was to have no milk
+but only syrup of rhubarb till the morning, and took leave of his happy
+host and hostess. He kissed the baby's hand, promised to call early the
+next morning, and went off to spend the night at his own house. As he
+passed through the court, he saw the dancing, and the sound of singing
+came from every window of the kitchen and servants' quarter. He stood
+still; and, though he was sorry to interfere with the good people's
+merriment, yet he advised them to stop their singing and dancing,
+because their mistress needed rest. To his surprise, they all took his
+hint and lay down at once, intending to sleep. As he passed out of the
+gate he muttered to himself: "Well, he's a lucky child! How glad they
+all are to have him!"
+
+And it is really true that this child was born under a happy star. His
+mother, who had suffered constantly before her former confinement, had
+perfect health before his birth; his parents lived in peace together
+during those halcyon days; a foster-mother was found for him who proved
+to be more devoted than most real mothers; he was the answer to prayers
+and the object of fond desires, and the joy over his coming into the
+world spread far beyond his parents. The very day of his birth, though
+the season was autumn, was warm as summer.
+
+But what happened at Bagrovo, when the good news came that God had given
+a son and heir to Alexy�i Stepanitch? This is what happened at Bagrovo.
+From the 15th of September, Stepan Mihailovitch counted the days and
+hours, and waited for the special messenger from Ufa. The man had been
+told to gallop day and night with relays of horses. This method of
+travelling was new, and Stepan Mihailovitch disapproved of it as a
+foolish waste of money and an unnecessary tax on the country people. He
+preferred to use his own horses; but the importance and solemnity of
+this occasion made him depart from his regular practice. Fortune did not
+keep him in suspense too long: on the 22nd of September, when he was
+sleeping after dinner, the messenger arrived, bearing letters and the
+good news. The old man woke from a sound sleep, and had hardly had time
+to stretch himself and clear his throat when Mazan rushed into the room
+and, stammering with joyful excitement, got out the words, "A grandson,
+_batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch! Hearty congratulations!"
+
+The first movement of Stepan Mihailovitch was to cross himself. Then he
+sprang out of bed, went barefoot to his desk, snatched from it the
+family tree, took the pen from the ink-bottle, drew a line from the
+circle containing the name Alexy�i, traced a fresh circle at the end of
+the line, and wrote in the centre of the circle, "_Sergh�i_."
+
+                                  ----
+
+Farewell! my figures, bright or dark, my people, good or bad--I should
+rather say, figures that have their bright and dark sides, and people
+who have both virtues and vices. You are not great heroes, not imposing
+personalities; you trod your path on earth in silence and obscurity, and
+it is long, very long, since you left it. But you were men and women,
+and your inward and outward life was not mere dull prose, but as
+interesting and instructive to us as we and our life in turn will be
+interesting and instructive to our descendants. You were actors in that
+mighty drama which mankind has played on this earth since time
+immemorial; you played your parts as conscientiously as others, and you
+deserve as well to be remembered. By the mighty power of the pen and of
+print, your descendants have now been made acquainted with you.[54] They
+have greeted you with sympathy and recognised you as brothers, whenever
+and however you lived, and whatever clothes you wore. May no harsh
+judgment and no flippant tongue ever wrong your memory!
+
+ [54] This work first appeared in parts in a Moscow magazine. When they
+      were collected in a book, this epilogue was added.
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                  ----
+
+                               PRINTED BY
+
+                   WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
+
+                           LONDON AND BECCLES
+
+                                  ----
+
+                          _By SERGE AKSAKOFF_.
+
+                           YEARS OF CHILDHOOD
+
+                           By SERGE AKSAKOFF.
+
+    Translated, for the first time, from the Russian by J. D. DUFF,
+                 Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
+
+                       _Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net._
+
+                                  ----
+
+"We are grateful to Mr. Duff for translating for the first time into
+English this remarkable book. 'Years of Childhood' becomes the more
+fascinating the more one reads and thinks about it. Aksakoff read a new
+and ecstatic meaning into things which are banal and tame to most men
+and women, and the eager eye of his mind scanned deep into the lives and
+loves of the people round about him."--_Morning Post._
+
+"Serge Aksakoff holds a distinct and, one might say, delightful position
+in Russian literature. He placed himself, almost without an effort, in
+the ranks of the great masters of his nation by instinctively obeying
+the precept that men of letters should look in their own hearts and
+write. One can hardly thank the translator sufficiently for this first
+rendering of the book in any other language than Russian."--_The Times._
+
+"English readers may well be grateful to Mr. J. D. Duff for his
+translation of a very unusual book. He promises us a translation of 'A
+Family History,' which carries on the narrative of Aksakoff's life and
+gives some account of his family. In the original the two make one book,
+and all who read this first instalment will welcome the completion of
+it."--_Spectator._
+
+"A book of rare charm."--_Observer._
+
+"Mr. Duff, with this admirable rendering, has unearthed a treasure for
+the English reader. Let us hope that the other portion of these memoirs
+will appear without delay. For this is Russia herself--convincingly real
+and intimate." --_English Review._
+
+"Apart from its great artistic value, Aksakoff's work has the
+attractiveness that belongs to all origins. What Mr. Maurice Baring once
+said, that the story of Aksakoff's memoirs is as vivid and interesting
+as any novel, is quite true. And it is not only true but remarkable; for
+reminiscences, especially of childhood, do not usually have the sort of
+interest that a novel has, however vivid they may be.... The fact is,
+Aksakoff succeeded in solving perhaps the hardest problem in
+literature,--the problem of working a child's consciousness as a medium
+for all it is worth. The book has, for us, this advantage over the other
+major works of Russian literature, that it has found in Mr. Duff a
+translator who is not only a scholar, but an artist skilful enough never
+to force the note for a moment." --_New Statesman._
+
+"A charming Russian book. At this time when so many translations from
+the Russian are appearing, well advised and ill advised, it is good to
+be able to put the hand on one superlatively good book. Here is a
+refreshment for tired eyes and tired souls. It is put into beautiful
+English, and the book can be read aloud with much profit and
+pleasure."--_Country Life._
+
+"Of an extraordinary richness and novelty."--_Westminster Gazette._
+
+                         LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD
+
+
+
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+<body>
+<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Russian Gentleman, by S. T. (Sergei
+Timofeevich) Aksakov, Translated by J. D. Duff</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: A Russian Gentleman</p>
+<p>Author: S. T. (Sergei Timofeevich) Aksakov</p>
+<p>Release Date: February 6, 2012  [eBook #38781]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4 class="pg">E-text prepared by Hunter Monroe<br />
+    and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br />
+    from page images generously made available by<br />
+    Internet Archive<br />
+    (<a href="http://www.archive.org">http://www.archive.org</a>)</h4>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10">
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">
+      Note:
+    </td>
+    <td>
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/russiangentleman00aksauoft">
+      http://www.archive.org/details/russiangentleman00aksauoft</a>
+	</td>
+  </tr>
+</table>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<div class="document" id="a-russian-gentleman">
+<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN</h1>
+
+<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- -->
+<!--  -->
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line"><em class="italics">UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME</em></div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 7<em class="italics">s.</em> 6<em class="italics">d.</em> net</div>
+<div class="line">A RUSSIAN SCHOOLBOY</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 10<em class="italics">s.</em> 6<em class="italics">d.</em> net</div>
+<div class="line">YEARS OF CHILDHOOD</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">BY</div>
+<div class="line">SERGE AKSAKOFF</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">Translated from the Russian by</div>
+<div class="line">J. D. DUFF</div>
+<div class="line">FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD</div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">A</div>
+<div class="line">RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">BY</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">SERGE AKSAKOFF</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">BY</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">J. D. DUFF</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">SECOND IMPRESSION</div>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">LONDON</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">EDWARD ARNOLD</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">1917</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line"><em class="italics">All rights reserved</em></div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">TO J. F. D.</div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="translator-s-preface">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id111">TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">Serge Aksakoff,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id2" id="id1"><sup>1</sup></a> the author of this Russian classic, was
+born at Ufa, in the district of Orenburg, on September 20,
+1791. His father held some office in the law-court of the
+town, and his grandfather lived in the country as the
+owner of large estates, to which Aksakoff ultimately
+succeeded. His grandfather had migrated about 1760
+from Simbirsk to Ufa, where the population consisted
+mainly of Tatars and a number of Finnish tribes&mdash;Mordvinians,
+Choovashes, and others.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Aksakoff was educated at Kazan, and entered the Civil
+Service in 1808. After serving in many different capacities&mdash;he
+was censor of the Press at Moscow for some years&mdash;he
+retired in 1839 and devoted himself exclusively to
+literature. He married in 1816; and his two sons, Constantine
+and Ivan, both played a conspicuous part in the
+public life of Russia. He died at Moscow, after a long and
+painful illness, on April 30, 1859.</p>
+<p class="pnext">His high and secure place among Russian writers
+Aksakoff owes to three works&mdash;his <em class="italics">Years of Childhood</em> and
+<em class="italics">Recollections</em>, which are autobiography, and his <em class="italics">Family
+History</em>, which is here translated under the title of <em class="italics">A
+Russian Gentleman</em>. This is his most famous work: his
+portrait of his grandfather is his masterpiece, and his
+descriptions of his parents' courtship and marriage are
+as vivid and minute as his pictures of his own early
+childhood.</p>
+<p class="pnext">He began to write this book soon after his retirement
+from the public service. Portions of it were published in
+a Moscow magazine in 1846; and the whole work appeared,
+with the addition of a short Epilogue, in 1856. He published
+<em class="italics">Recollections</em> in the same volume; and <em class="italics">Years of
+Childhood</em>&mdash;which should have preceded <em class="italics">Recollections</em>&mdash;followed
+in 1858, the last year of his life.</p>
+<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">A Russian Gentleman</em> seems a suitable title for this
+book, because the whole scene, in which a multitude of
+characters appear, is entirely dominated and permeated
+by the tremendous personality of Aksakoff's grandfather,
+Stepan Mihailovitch. Plain and rough in his appearance
+and habits, but proud of his long descent; hardly able to
+read or write, but full of natural intelligence; capable of
+furious anger and extreme violence in his anger, but
+equally capable of steadfast and even chivalrous affection;
+a born leader of men and the very incarnation of truth,
+honour, and honesty&mdash;Stepan Mihailovitch is more like a
+Homeric hero than a man of modern times.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The reader, when he reflects that Aksakoff's present
+narrative ends with the day of his own birth, will be
+inclined to think that the author must have had a lively
+imagination. I therefore translate the sentence with
+which Skabichevsky, a critic of reputation, begins his
+review of Aksakoff's work:&mdash;</p>
+<p class="pnext">"Aksakoff's books are remarkable, first of all, on this
+ground: you will find in them no trace of creative or
+inventive power."</p>
+<p class="pnext">I suppose myself that he derived his information chiefly
+from his mother; but there are certainly scenes in the
+book which he cannot have owed to this source.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This translation has been made from the Moscow edition
+of 1900. I should say here: (1) that I have abridged
+some of the topographical detail at the beginning of the
+book; (2) that I have dealt freely with the Notes which
+Aksakoff added, sometimes promoting them to the text,
+and sometimes omitting them wholly or in part. I know
+of two previous translations. A German translation,
+<em class="italics">Russische Familienchronik</em>, by Sergius Raczynski, was
+published at Leipzig in 1858. This seems to me a good
+translation, and I have found it useful in some difficulties.
+An English translation "by a Russian Lady" was published
+at Calcutta in 1871; and there is a copy in the
+British Museum. I have not seen this; but I have heard
+that it is inadequate, and the first few sentences, which
+were copied out for me, seem to bear this out.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I have completed a translation of Aksakoff's remaining
+book of Memoirs&mdash;his <em class="italics">Recollections</em> of school and college;
+and I hope that it may be published after a short interval.</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">J. D. DUFF.</div>
+<div class="line"></div>
+<div class="line"><span class="small-caps">Cambridge.</span></div>
+<div class="line"><em class="italics">Jan. 11, 1917.</em></div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="contents level-3 section" id="id3">
+<h3 class="level-3 pfirst section-title title">CONTENTS</h3>
+<ul class="compact simple toc-list">
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#translator-s-preface" id="id111">TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fragment-i-stepan-mihailovitch-bagroff" id="id116">FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF</a></span><ul class="compact toc-list">
+<li class="level-3 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-migration" id="id112">1. <span class="small-caps">The Migration</span></a></span></li>
+<li class="level-3 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#the-government-of-orenburg" id="id113">2. <span class="small-caps">The Government of Orenburg</span></a></span></li>
+<li class="level-3 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fresh-scenes" id="id114">3. <span class="small-caps">Fresh Scenes.</span></a></span></li>
+<li class="level-3 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#my-grandfather-on-one-of-his-good-days" id="id115">4. <span class="small-caps">My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days</span></a></span></li>
+</ul>
+</li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fragment-ii-mihail-maximovitch-kurolyessoff" id="id117">FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fragment-iii-the-marriage-of-the-young-bagroff" id="id118">FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fragment-iv-the-young-couple-at-bagrovo" id="id119">FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO</a></span></li>
+<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><span class="first"><a class="reference internal pginternal" href="#fragment-v-life-at-ufa" id="id120">FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA</a></span></li>
+</ul>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="fragment-i-stepan-mihailovitch-bagroff">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id116">FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF</a></h2>
+<div class="level-3 section" id="the-migration">
+<h3 class="level-3 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id112">1. <span class="small-caps">The Migration</span></a></h3>
+<p class="pfirst">When my grandfather lived in the Government of Simbirsk,
+on the ancestral estate granted to his forefathers by
+the Tsars of Muscovy, he felt cramped and confined. Not
+that there was really want of room; for he had arable
+land and pasture, timber and other necessaries in abundance;
+but the trouble was, that the estate which his
+great-grandfather had held in absolute possession, had
+ceased to belong to one owner. This happened quite
+simply: for three successive generations the family consisted
+of one son and several daughters; and, when some
+of these daughters were married, their portions took the
+shape of a certain number of serfs and a certain amount
+of land. Though their shares were not large, yet, as the
+land had never been properly surveyed, at this time four
+intruders asserted their right to share in the management
+of it. To my grandfather, life under these conditions was
+intolerable: there was no patience in his passionate temperament;
+he loved plain dealing and hated complications
+and wrangles with his kith and kin.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For some time past, he had heard frequent reports
+about the district of Ufa&mdash;how there was land there without
+limit for the plough and for stock, with an indescribable
+abundance of game and fish and all the fruit of the
+earth; and how easy it was to acquire whole tracts of land
+for a very trifling sum of money. If tales were true, you
+had only to invite a dozen of the native Bashkir chiefs in
+certain districts to partake of your hospitality; you provided
+two or three fat sheep, for them to kill and dress in
+their own fashion; you produced a bucket of whisky,
+with several buckets of strong fermented Bashkir mead
+and a barrel of home-made country beer&mdash;which proves,
+by the way, that even in old days the Bashkirs were not
+strict Mahometans&mdash;and the rest was as simple as A B C.
+It was said, indeed, that an entertainment of this kind
+might last a week or even a fortnight: it was impossible
+for Bashkirs to do business in a hurry, and every day it
+was necessary to ask the question, "Well, good friend,
+is it time now to discuss my business?" The guests had
+been eating and drinking, without exaggeration, all day
+and all night; but, if they were not completely satisfied
+with the entertainment, if they had not had enough of
+their monotonous singing and playing on the pipe, and
+their singular dances in which they stood up or crouched
+down on the same spot of ground, then the greatest of the
+chiefs, clicking his tongue and wagging his head, would
+answer with much dignity and without looking his questioner
+in the face: "The time has not come; bring us
+another sheep!" The sheep was forthcoming, as a matter
+of course, with fresh supplies of beer and spirits; and the
+tipsy Bashkirs began again to sing and dance, dropping
+off to sleep wherever they felt inclined. But everything
+in the world has an end; and a day came at last when the
+chief would look his host straight in the face and say:
+"We are obliged to you, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id7" id="id4"><sup>2</sup></a> ever so much obliged!
+And now, what is it that you want?" The rest of the
+transaction followed a regular fashion. The customer
+began with the shrewdness native to your true Russian:
+he assured the Bashkir that he did not want anything at
+all; but, having heard that the Bashkirs were exceedingly
+kind people, he had come to Ufa on purpose to form a
+friendship with them, and so on. Then the conversation
+would somehow come round to the vast extent of the
+Bashkir territory and the unsatisfactory ways of the
+present tenants, who might pay their rent for a year or
+two and then pay no more and yet continue to live on the
+land, as if they were its rightful owners; it was rash to
+evict them, and a lawsuit became unavoidable. These
+remarks, which were true enough to the facts, were followed
+up by an obliging offer to relieve the kind Bashkirs of some
+part of the land which was such a burden to them; and in
+the end whole districts were bought and sold for a mere
+song. The bargain was clinched by a legal document, but
+the amount of land was never stated in it, and could not
+be, as it had never been surveyed. As a rule, the boundaries
+were settled by landmarks of this kind: "from the
+mouth of such and such a stream as far as the dead beech-tree
+on the wolf-track, and from the dead beech-tree in a
+bee-line to the watershed, and from the watershed to
+the fox-earths, and from the fox-earths to the hollow tree
+at Soltamratka," and so on. So precise and permanent
+were the boundaries enclosing ten or twenty or thirty
+thousand <em class="italics">dessyatines</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id8" id="id5"><sup>3</sup></a> of land! And the price of all this
+might be about one hundred <em class="italics">roubles</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id9" id="id6"><sup>4</sup></a> and presents worth
+another hundred, not including the cost of the entertainments.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stories of this kind had a great attraction for my
+grandfather. As a man of strict integrity, he disapproved
+of the deception practised on the simple Bashkirs; but he
+considered that the harm lay, not in the business itself, but
+in the method of transacting it, and believed that it was
+possible to deal fairly and yet to buy a great stretch of
+land at a low price. In that case he could migrate with
+his family and transfer half of his serfs to the new estate;
+and thus he would secure the main object of this design.
+For the fact was, that for some time past he had been so
+much worried by unending disputes over the management
+of the land&mdash;disputes between himself and the relations
+who owned a small part of it&mdash;that his desire to leave the
+place where his ancestors had lived and he himself was
+born, had become a fixed idea. There was no other means
+of securing a quiet life; and to him, now that his youth was
+past, a quiet life seemed more desirable than anything else.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So he scraped together several thousand <em class="italics">roubles</em>, and
+said good-bye to his wife, whom he called Arisha when he
+was in a good humour and Arina when he was not; he
+kissed his children and gave them his blessing&mdash;his four
+young daughters and the infant son who was the single
+scion and sole hope of an ancient and noble family. The
+daughters he thought of no importance: "What's the
+good of them? They look out of the house, not in; if
+their name is Bagroff<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id11" id="id10"><sup>5</sup></a> to-day, it may be anything on earth
+to-morrow; my hopes rest entirely on my boy, Alexy&eacute;i"&mdash;such
+were my grandfather's parting words, when he
+started to cross the Volga on his way to the district of Ufa.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But perhaps I had better begin by telling you what
+sort of a man my grandfather was.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch Bagroff&mdash;this was his name&mdash;was
+under the middle height; but his prominent chest, uncommonly
+broad shoulders, sinewy arms, and wiry muscular
+frame, gave proof of his extraordinary strength. When
+it happened, in the rough-and-tumble amusements of
+young men, that a number of his brother-officers fastened
+on him at once, he would hurl them from him, as a sturdy
+oak hurls off the rain-drops, when its branches rock in the
+breeze after a shower. He had fair hair and regular
+features; his eyes were large and dark-blue, quick to light
+up with anger but friendly and kind in his hours of composure;
+his eyebrows were thick and the lines of his mouth
+pleasant to look at. The general expression of his features
+was singularly frank and open: no one could help trusting
+him; his word or his promise was better than any bond,
+and more sacred than any document guaranteed by Church
+or State. His natural intelligence was clear and strong.
+All landowners of that time were ignorant men, and he
+had received no sort of education; indeed he could hardly
+read and write his native language. But, while serving in
+the Army, and before he was promoted from the ranks, he
+had mastered the elementary rules of arithmetic and the
+use of the reckoning-board&mdash;acquirements of which he
+liked to speak even when he was an old man. It is probable
+that his period of service was not long; for he was
+only quarter-master of the regiment when he retired.
+But in those days even nobles served for long in the ranks
+or as non-commissioned officers, unless indeed they passed
+through this stage in their cradles, first enrolled as sergeants
+in the Guards and then making a sudden appearance as
+captains in line regiments. Of the career of Stepan Mihailovitch
+in the Army I know little; but I have been told
+that he was often employed in the capture of the highwaymen
+who infested the Volga, and always showed good sense
+in the formation of his plans and reckless courage in their
+execution; that the outlaws knew him well by sight and
+feared him like fire. On retiring from the Army, he lived
+for some years on his hereditary estate of Bagrovo<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id13" id="id12"><sup>6</sup></a> and
+became very skilful in the management of land. It was
+not his way to be present from morning to night where his
+labourers were at work, nor did he stand like a sentry over
+the grain, when it was coming in and going out; but, when
+he was on the spot, he looked to some purpose, and, if he
+noticed anything amiss, especially any attempt to deceive
+him, he never failed to visit the offender with a summary
+form of punishment which may rouse the displeasure of
+my readers. But my grandfather, while acting in accordance
+with the spirit of his age, reasoned in a fashion of his
+own. In his view, to punish a peasant by fines or by
+forced labour on the estate made the man less substantial
+and therefore less useful to his owner; and to separate
+him from his family and banish him to a distant estate
+was even worse, for a man deprived of family ties was sure
+to go downhill. But to have recourse to the police was
+simply out of the question; that would have been considered
+the depth of disgrace and shame; every voice in
+the village would have been raised to mourn for the offender
+as if he were dead, and he would have considered himself
+as disgraced and ruined beyond redemption. And it must
+be said for my grandfather, that he was never severe
+except when his anger was hot; when the fit had passed
+away, the offence was forgotten. Advantage was often
+taken of this: sometimes the offender had time to hide,
+and the storm passed by without hurting any one. Before
+long, his people became so satisfactory that none of them
+gave him any cause to lose his temper.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After getting his estate into good order, my grandfather
+married; his bride was Arina Vassilyevna Nyeklyoodoff,
+a young lady of little fortune but, like himself,
+of ancient descent. This gives me an opportunity to explain
+that his pedigree was my grandfather's foible: he
+was moderately well-to-do, owning only 180 serfs, but
+his descent, which he traced back, by means of Heaven
+knows what documents, for six hundred years all the way
+to a Varyag<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id15" id="id14"><sup>7</sup></a> prince called Shimon, he valued far more
+than any riches or office in the State. At one time he was
+much attracted by a rich and beautiful girl, but he would
+not marry her, merely because her great-grandfather was
+not a noble.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After this account of Stepan Mihailovitch, let us go
+back to the course of the narrative.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My grandfather first crossed the Volga by the ferry
+near Simbirsk, and then struck across the steppe on the
+further side, and travelled on till he came to Sergievsk,
+which stands on a hill at the meeting of two rivers and
+gives a name to the sulphur springs twelve <em class="italics">versts</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id18" id="id16"><sup>8</sup></a> from the
+town. The deeper he plunged into the district of Ufa, the
+more he was impressed by the spaciousness and fertility
+of that country. The first place where he found trees
+growing was the district of Boogoorooslan; and in the
+town of that name, perched on a high hill above the river,
+he made a halt, wishing to make inquiries and learn more
+particulars of the lands that were for sale. Of land belonging
+to the Bashkirs there was little left in this district:
+some of the occupiers were tenants of the Crown, whom
+the Government had settled on lands confiscated for rebellion,
+though later they granted a general pardon and restored
+their territory to the Bashkir owners; part of the
+land had been let to tenants by the Bashkirs themselves;
+and part had been bought up by migrating landowners.
+Using Boogoorooslan as a centre, my grandfather made
+expeditions to the surrounding districts and spent some
+time in the beautiful country watered by the Ik and the
+Dyoma.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id19" id="id17"><sup>9</sup></a> It is an enchanting region; and even in his old
+age Stepan Mihailovitch often spoke with enthusiasm of
+the first impression produced on him by the astonishing
+richness of that soil. But he did not allow himself to
+be carried away. Ascertaining on the spot that any
+purchaser of Bashkir land was quite sure to be involved in
+endless disputes and lawsuits&mdash;for it was impossible for
+the acquirer to make sure either of his own title or of the
+number of the former owners&mdash;my grandfather, who
+feared and hated like poison the very name of a lawsuit,
+resolved to buy no land direct from the Bashkirs or without
+formal legal documents to confirm his ownership. Thus
+he hoped to exclude the possibility of disputes, and surely
+he had reason for such a hope; but things turned out very
+differently, and the last claim was only settled by his
+youngest grandson when he was forty years old.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My grandfather returned reluctantly from the banks
+of the Ik and the Dyoma to Boogoorooslan, where he
+bought land from a Russian lady near the river of that
+name and distant twenty-five <em class="italics">versts</em> from the town. The
+river is rapid and deep and never runs dry. For forty
+<em class="italics">versts</em>, from the town of Boogoorooslan to the Crown settlement
+of Fair Bank, the country on both sides of the river
+was uninhabited, so that there was ample room; and the
+amenities of the spot were wonderful. The river was so
+transparent that, if you threw in a copper coin, you could
+see it resting on the bottom even in pools fifteen feet deep.
+In some places there was a thick border of trees and bushes&mdash;birches,
+poplars, service-trees, guelder-roses, and bird-cherries,
+where the hop-bines trailed their green festoons
+and hung their straw-coloured clusters from tree to tree;
+in other places, the grass grew tall and strong, with an
+infinite profusion of flowers, including tall Meadow Sweet,
+Lords' Pride (the scarlet Lychnis), Kings' Curls (the Martagon
+lily), and Cat-grass or Valerian. The river flows along
+a valley varying in breadth and bordered on both sides by
+sloping hills with a steep cliff here and there; the slopes
+were thickly covered with hard-wood trees of all sorts.
+As you got out of the valley, the level steppe spread out
+before you, a black virgin soil over two feet in depth.
+Along the river and in the neighbouring marshes, wild
+ducks of all kinds, and geese, woodcocks, and snipe made
+their nests and filled the air with their different notes and
+calls; while on the table-land above, where the grass grew
+thick and strong, the music in the air was as rich and quite
+distinct. Every kind of bird that lives in the steppe bred
+there in multitudes&mdash;bustards, cranes, and hawks; and
+on the wooded slopes there were quantities of black-game.
+The river swarmed with every variety of fish that could
+endure its ice-cold water&mdash;pike, perch, chub, dace, and
+even salmon. Both steppe and forest were filled beyond
+belief with wild creatures. In a word, the place was, and
+still is, a paradise for the sportsman.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My grandfather bought about 12,000 acres for 2500
+<em class="italics">roubles</em>. That was a large sum in those days, and the price
+was much higher than was generally paid. When he had
+assured his title by legal documents, he went back with a
+light heart to his expectant family in the Government of
+Simbirsk. There he set to work with fierce energy and
+made all preparations for transferring at once a portion of
+his serfs to the new estate. It was an anxious and troublesome
+job, because the distance was considerable&mdash;about
+400 <em class="italics">versts</em>. That same autumn twenty families of serfs
+started for the district of Boogoorooslan, taking with them
+ploughs and harrows with rye for sowing. They chose
+their ground and set to work on the virgin soil. Two
+thousand acres were lightly ploughed, then harrowed, and
+sown with winter rye; two thousand more were ploughed
+in preparation for the spring sowing; and some cottages
+were built. When this was done, the men travelled back
+to spend the winter at home. When winter was over,
+twenty more labourers again went forth; and, as the spring
+advanced, they sowed the two thousand acres with spring
+wheat, erected fences round the cottages and byres, and
+made stoves for the cottages out of clay. The second
+party then returned home. These were distinct from the
+actual settlers, who remained at home, preparing for their
+move and selling off what they did not need&mdash;their houses
+and kailyards, stock and corn, and all sorts of odds and
+ends.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The date fixed was the middle of June, that the colonists
+might reach their destination before St. Peter's Day,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id21" id="id20"><sup>10</sup></a>
+when hay-cutting begins. The carts were packed with the
+women and children and old people, and awnings of bast
+bent over them to protect them from the sun and rain;
+the indispensable pots and pans were piled up inside, the
+cocks and hens perched on the top, and the cows tied on
+behind; and off they started. The poor settlers shed
+bitter tears as they parted for ever with their past life,
+with the church in which they had been christened and
+married, and with the graves of their fathers and grandfathers.
+Nobody likes moving, and a Russian peasant
+least of all; but to move in those days to an unknown land
+inhabited by unbelievers, where the churches were so distant
+that a man might die without confession and infants
+remain long unchristened, a land of which rumour reported
+evil as well as good&mdash;this seemed a terrible ordeal. When
+the peasants had gone, my grandfather started after them.
+He had taken a vow that, when circumstances allowed, he
+would build a church dedicated to the Presentation of Our
+Lady&mdash;it was actually built by his son&mdash;and he named the
+new settlement after the festival. But the peasants, whose
+example was followed by their neighbours, called it New
+Bagrovo, after their master and in memory of Old Bagrovo,
+from which they had come; and to this day the formal
+name is only used in legal documents. No one knows the
+village, with its fine stone church and high manor-house,
+by any other name than Bagrovo. With unremitting care
+and attention my grandfather watched the labour of the
+people on their own land and on his; the hay was mown,
+the winter rye and spring corn were cut down and carried,
+and the right moment was chosen for each operation. The
+yield of the crops was fabulous. The peasants thought
+things were not so bad after all. By November, cottages
+were built for them all, and the beginning of a house for
+the owner was run up. All this was not done without
+help from neighbours. In spite of the long distances, they
+came willingly to lend a hand to the new landowner, who
+proved to be sensible and friendly; they ate and drank
+and turned to with a will, and sang as they worked. In
+that winter my grandfather went to Simbirsk and brought
+back his wife and children with him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Next year forty more serfs were transferred and set up
+in their new abodes; and this proved an easier job. My
+grandfather's first operation in this year was to build a
+mill; without it, it had been necessary to drive forty <em class="italics">versts</em>
+to get his corn ground. A spot was chosen where the river
+was not deep, the bottom sound, and the banks high and
+solid. Then a dam of earth and brushwood was started
+from each bank, like a pair of hands ready to clasp; next,
+the dam was wattled with osiers, to make it more substantial;
+and all that remained was to stop the swift
+strong current and force it to fill the basin intended for it.
+The mill itself, with two pairs of millstones, was built beforehand
+on the lower bank. All the machinery was ready and
+even greased. It was the business of the river, when
+checked in its natural course, to fill the broad dam and
+pour through wooden pipes down upon the great wheel.
+When all was ready and four long oaken piles had been
+firmly driven into the clay bottom of the river, my grandfather
+invited his neighbours to lend him their assistance
+for two days; and they came, bringing horses and carts,
+spades, forks, and axes. On the first day, great piles of
+brushwood, straw, manure, and fresh-cut sods were heaped
+up on both banks of the Boogoorooslan, while the river
+continued to pour down its waters at its own sweet will.
+Hardly any one slept that night, and next morning at sunrise
+about a hundred men set to work to dam the stream;
+they all looked solemn and serious, as if they had important
+business before them. They began on both sides at the
+same moment. With loud cries they hurled with sturdy
+arms faggots of brushwood into the water; part was
+carried down by the stream, but part stuck against the
+piles and sank across the channel. Next came bundles of
+straw weighted with stones, then soil and manure, then
+more brushwood, followed by more straw and manure,
+and, on the top of all, a thick layer of sods. All this accumulation
+was swallowed up till it rose at last above the
+surface of the water. At once, a dozen strong and active
+men sprang on to the barrier and began to tread it and
+stamp it down. The operation was performed with the
+utmost speed; and the general excitement was so great
+and the noise so vociferous, that a passer-by, if he had not
+known the reason of it, might have been frightened. But
+there was no one there to be frightened by it: only the
+uninhabited steppes and dark forests and all the region
+round re-echoed the shouts of the labourers. The voices
+of women and children swelled the chorus; for such an
+important affair aroused interest in every breast, and the
+noise and excitement were universal. The resistance of
+the river was not overcome at once. For long it tore away
+and carried down brushwood and straw, manure and turf;
+but man at last conquered. The baffled water stopped, as
+if reflecting; then it turned back, and rose till it poured
+over its banks and inundated the fields. By evening the
+mill-pond had taken shape; or one might call it a floating
+lake, where the banks and all the green grass and bushes
+had disappeared; only the tops of submerged trees,
+doomed to die, stuck up here and there. Next day the
+mill began to work, and goes on working and grinding to
+this day.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-3 section" id="the-government-of-orenburg">
+<h3 class="level-3 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id113">2. <span class="small-caps">The Government of Orenburg</span></a></h3>
+<p class="pfirst">How wonderful in those days was that region, in its
+wild and virginal richness! It is different now; it is not
+even what it was when I first knew it, when it was still
+fresh and blooming and undeflowered by hordes of settlers
+from every quarter. It is changed; but it is still beautiful
+and spacious, fertile and infinitely various, the Government
+of Orenburg. The name sounds strange, and the
+termination "burg" is inappropriate enough. But when
+I first knew that earthly paradise, it was still called the
+"Province of Ufa."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Thirty years ago, one who was born within it<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id23" id="id22"><sup>11</sup></a> expressed
+in verse his fears for the future of the land; and these have
+been realised in part, and the process still goes on. But
+still hast thou power to charm, wondrous land! Bright
+and clear, like great deep cups, are thy lakes&mdash;Kandry and
+Karatabyn. Full of water and full of all manner of fish
+are thy rivers, whether they race down the valleys and
+rocky gorges of the Ural Mountains, or steal softly, glittering
+like a string of jewels, through the prairie-grass of the
+steppes. Wondrous are these rivers of the steppe, formed
+by the union of countless little streams flowing from deep
+water-holes&mdash;streams so tiny that you can hardly see the
+trickle of water in them. And thy rivers that flow swift
+from fountain-heads and run under the shade of trees and
+bushes are transparent and cold as ice even in the heat of
+summer; and all kinds of trout, good to eat and beautiful
+to see, live there; but they soon die out, when man begins
+to defile with unclean hands the virgin streams of their
+clear cool retreats. Fertile is the black soil of thy corn-land,
+and rich thy pastures; and thy fields are covered in
+spring with the milk-white blossom of the cherry-tree and
+wild peach, while in summer the fragrant strawberries
+spread over them like a scarlet cloth, and the small cherries
+that turn purple later when they ripen in autumn. Rich
+is the harvest that rewards the peasant, however idle and
+ignorant, when he scratches with his rude ploughshare the
+surface of thy soil. Fresh and green and mighty stand
+thy forests of all manner of trees; and buzzing swarms of
+wild bees fill their self-chosen nests among the leaves with
+the fragrant honey of the lime blossom. The Ufa marten,
+with its priceless fur, is still to be found in the wooded
+head-waters of the great rivers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The original inhabitants of the land are men of peace,
+the wandering tribes of Bashkirs. Their herds of horses
+and cattle and flocks of sheep, though far smaller than
+they were once, are still numerous. When the fierce
+storms of winter are over, the Bashkirs crawl forth, thin
+and wasted like flies in winter. With the first warmth
+and the first sprouting of the grass they drive out into
+the open their half-starved herds and flocks, and drag
+themselves after them, with their wives and children. A
+few weeks change them beyond recognition, both men and
+animals. What were mere skeletons have become spirited
+and tireless horses; and the stallion proudly guards his
+mares as they graze, and keeps both man and beast at a
+distance. The meagre cattle have grown fat, and their
+udders swell with milk. But for cow's milk the Bashkir
+cares nothing. For the <em class="italics">koumiss</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id25" id="id24"><sup>12</sup></a> is now in season and
+already fermenting in the bags of horse-hide; and every
+creature that can drink, from the infant in arms to the
+tottering old man, swallows the health-giving beverage, a
+drink for heroes. And the result is marvellous: all the
+traces of winter and starvation soon disappear, and even
+the troubles of old age; their faces fill out, and pale sunken
+cheeks take on the hue of health. But their deserted
+villages are a sad and even alarming sight. A traveller
+unfamiliar with the country might well start, appalled by
+the emptiness and deadness of the place. There stand the
+deserted huts with their white chimneys, and the empty
+window-frames look mournfully at him like human faces
+with no eyes in the sockets. He may hear the bark of a
+half-starved watch-dog, whom his master visits and feeds
+at long intervals, or the mewing of a cat that has run wild
+and finds food for herself; but that is all: not one human
+being remains.</p>
+<p class="pnext">How varied and picturesque, each in its own way, are
+the different regions of the land&mdash;the forests, the steppes,
+and, more than all, the hills, where all metals, even gold,
+are found along the slopes of the Ural ridge! How vast
+the expanse, from the borders of Vyatka and Perm, where
+the mercury often freezes in winter, to the little town of
+Guryeff on the edge of Astrakhan, where small grapes
+ripen in the open air&mdash;grapes whose wine the Cossack
+trades in and drinks himself for coolness in summer and
+warmth in winter. How noble is the fishing in the Urals,
+unlike any other both in the fish that are caught and in the
+manner of catching them! It only needs a faithful and
+lively description to attract general attention.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But I must ask pardon. I have gone too far in the
+description of the beautiful country where I was born.
+Now let us go back and observe the life and unwearied
+activity of my grandfather.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-3 section" id="fresh-scenes">
+<h3 class="level-3 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id114">3. <span class="small-caps">Fresh Scenes.</span></a></h3>
+<p class="pfirst">Stepan Mihailovitch had peace at last. Many a time
+he thanked God from the bottom of his heart, when the
+move was completed and he found elbow-room on the
+banks of the Boogoorooslan. His spirits rose, and even
+his health was better. No petitions, no complaints, no
+disputes, no disturbance! No tiresome relations, no
+divided ownership! No thieves to fell his trees, no trespassers
+to trample down his corn and meadows! He was
+undisputed master at last in his own house, and beyond
+it: he might feed sheep, or mow grass, or cut firewood
+where he pleased without a word from any one.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The peasants too soon became accustomed to the
+new habitation and soon grew to love it. And that was
+but natural. Old Bagrovo had wood, but little water;
+meadow-land was so scarce that it was hard for them to
+find grazing for one horse and one cow apiece; and, though
+the natural soil was good, it had been cropped over and
+over from time immemorial till its fertility was exhausted.
+The new site gave them wide and fertile fields and meadows,
+never touched till now by ploughshare or scythe; it gave
+them a rapid river with good fresh water, and springs in
+abundance; it gave them a broad pond with fish in it and
+the river running through it; and it gave them a mill at
+their very doors, whereas before they had to travel
+twenty-five <em class="italics">versts</em> to have a load of corn ground, and
+perhaps to wait after all a couple of days till their turn came.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It surprises you perhaps that I called Old Bagrovo
+waterless; and you may blame my ancestors for choosing
+such a spot to settle in. But they were not to blame, and
+things were different in old days. Once on a time Old
+Bagrovo stood on a pretty stream, the Maina, which took
+its rise from the Mossy Lakes three <em class="italics">versts</em> distant; and
+also along the whole settlement there stretched a lake, not
+broad but long and clear, and deep in the middle, with a
+bottom of white sand; and another streamlet, called The
+White Spring, issued from this lake. So it was in former
+times, but it is quite another story now. Tradition tells
+that the Mossy Lakes were once deep round pools surrounded
+by trees, with ice-cold water and treacherous
+banks, and no one ventured near them except in winter,
+because the banks were said to give way under foot and
+engulf the bold disturber of the water-spirit's solitary
+reign. But man is the sworn foe of Nature, and she can
+never withstand his treacherous warfare against her beauty.
+Ancient tradition, unsupported by modern instances,
+ceased to be believed. The people steeped their flax on
+the banks and drove their herds there to water; and the
+Mossy Lakes were polluted by degrees, and grew shallow
+at the edges, and even dried up in places where the wood
+all round was cut. Then a thick scurf formed on the top;
+moss grew over it, and the vein-like roots of water-plants
+bound it together, till it was covered with tussocks and
+bushes and even fir-trees of some size. One of the pools
+is now entirely covered; of the other are left two deep
+water-holes, which even now are formidable for a stranger
+to approach, because the soil, with all its covering of plants
+and bushes and trees, rises and falls beneath the foot like
+a wave at sea. Owing to the dwindling of these lakes, the
+Maina now issues from the ground some distance below
+the settlement, and its upper waters have dried up. The
+lake by the village has become a filthy stinking canal; the
+sandy bottom is covered to a depth of over seven feet by
+mud and refuse of all kinds from the peasants' houses; of
+the White Spring not a trace is left, and the memory of it
+will soon be forgotten.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When my grandfather had settled down at New
+Bagrovo, he set to work, with all his natural activity and
+energy, to grow corn and breed stock. The peasants
+caught the contagion of his enthusiasm and worked so
+hard and steadily that they were soon as well set up and
+provided for as if they had been old inhabitants. After a
+few years, their stackyards took up thrice as much room
+as the village-street; and their drove of stout horses, their
+herds and flocks and pigs, would have done honour to a
+large and prosperous settlement.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After the success of Stepan Mihailovitch, migration to
+Ufa or Orenburg became more fashionable every year.
+Native tribes came streaming from every quarter&mdash;Mordvinians,
+Choovashes, Tatars, and Meshchers, and plenty of
+Russian settlers too&mdash;Crown-tenants from different districts,
+and landowners, large and small. My grandfather
+began to have neighbours. His brother-in-law, Ivan Nyeklyoodoff,
+bought land within twelve <em class="italics">versts</em> of Bagrovo,
+transferred his serfs there, built a wooden church, named
+his estate Nyeklyoodovo, and came to live there with his
+family. This afforded no gratification to my grandfather,
+who had a strong dislike to all his wife's relations&mdash;all
+"Nyeklyoodovdom," as he used to call them. Then a
+landowner called Bakm&eacute;tyeff bought land still closer, about
+ten <em class="italics">versts</em> from Bagrovo, on the upper waters of the
+Sovrusha, which runs to the south-west like the Boogoorooslan.
+On the other side, twelve <em class="italics">versts</em> along the river
+Nasyagai, another settlement was planted, Polibino, which
+now belongs to the Karamzin family. The Nasyagai is a
+larger and finer river than the Boogoorooslan, with more
+water and more fish in it, and birds still breed there much
+more freely. On the road to Polibino, and eight <em class="italics">versts</em>
+from Bagrovo, a number of Mordvinians settled in a large
+village called Noikino, and built a mill on the streamlet of
+Bokla. Close to the mill, the Bokla runs into the Nasyagai,
+which rolls its swift strong current straight to the south-west,
+and is reinforced by the Boogoorooslan not far from
+the town of that name. Then the Nasyagai unites with
+the Great Kinel, and loses thenceforth its sounding and
+significant<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id27" id="id26"><sup>13</sup></a> name.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The latest arrivals were some Mordvinian colonists, a
+detachment from the larger settlement at Mordovsky
+Boogoorooslan, nine <em class="italics">versts</em> from Bagrovo. This smaller
+settlement, called Kivatsky, was within two <em class="italics">versts</em> of my
+grandfather, down the river; and he made a wry face at
+first; for it reminded him of old times in Simbirsk. But
+the result was quite different. They were good-tempered,
+quiet people, who respected my grandfather as much as
+the official in charge of them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Before many years had passed, Stepan Mihailovitch
+had gained the deep respect and love too of the whole
+district. He was a real benefactor to his neighbours, near
+or far, old or new, and especially to the latter, owing to
+their ignorance of the place and lack of supplies, and the
+various difficulties which always befall settlers. Too often
+people start off on this difficult job without due preparation,
+without even providing themselves with bread and
+corn or the means to buy them. My grandfather's full
+granaries were always open to such people. "Take what
+you want, and pay me back next harvest, if you can; and
+if you can't&mdash;well, never mind!"&mdash;with such words as
+these he used to distribute with a generous hand corn seed
+and flour. And more than this: he was so sensible, so
+considerate towards petitioners, and so inflexibly strict in
+the keeping of his word, that he soon became quite an
+oracle in that newly settled corner of the spacious district
+of Orenburg. Not only did he help his neighbours by his
+generosity, but he taught them how to behave. To speak
+the truth was the only key to his favour: a man who had
+once lied to him and deceived him was ill advised if he
+came again to Bagrovo: he would be certain to depart
+with empty hands, and might think himself lucky if he
+came off with a whole skin. My grandfather settled many
+family disputes and smothered many lawsuits at their first
+birth. People travelled from every quarter to seek his
+advice and hear his decision; and both were punctiliously
+followed. I have known grandsons and great-grandsons of
+that generation and heard them speak of Stepan Mihailovitch;
+and the figure of the strict master but kind benefactor
+is still unforgotten. I have often heard striking
+facts told about him by simple people, who shed tears and
+crossed themselves as they ejaculated a prayer for his soul's
+rest. It is not surprising that his peasants loved so excellent
+a master; but he was loved also by his personal
+servants who had often to endure the terrible storms of
+his furious rage. Many of his younger servants spent
+their last days under my roof; and in their old age they
+liked to talk of their late master&mdash;of his strict discipline
+and passionate temper, and also of his goodness and
+justice; and they never spoke of him with dry eyes.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Yet this kind, helpful, and even considerate man was
+subject at times to fearful explosions of anger which utterly
+defaced the image of humanity in him and made him
+capable, for the time, of repulsive and ferocious actions.
+I once saw him in this state when I was a child&mdash;it was
+many years after the time I am writing about&mdash;and the
+fear that I felt has left a lively impression on my mind to
+this day. I seem to see him before me now. He was
+angry with one of his daughters; I believe she had told
+him a lie and persisted in it. It was impossible to recognise
+his former self. He was trembling all over and supported
+on each side by a servant; his face was convulsed, and
+a fierce fire shot from his eyes which were clouded and
+darkened with fury. "Let me get at her!"&mdash;he called
+out in a strangled voice. (So far, my recollection is clear;
+and the rest I have often heard others tell.) My grandmother
+tried to throw herself at his feet, to intercede for
+the culprit; but in an instant her kerchief and cap flew to
+a distance, and Stepan Mihailovitch was dragging his wife
+though she was now old and stout, over the floor by her
+hair. Meantime, not only the offender, but all her sisters,
+and even their brother with his young wife and little son,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id29" id="id28"><sup>14</sup></a>
+had fled out of doors and sought concealment in the wood
+that grew round the house. The rest of them spent the
+whole night there; but the daughter-in-law, fearing that
+her child would catch cold, went back and passed the night
+in a servant's cottage. For a long time my grandfather
+raged at large through the deserted house. At last, when
+he was weary of dragging his wife about by the hair, and
+weary of striking his servants, Mazan and Tanaichonok,
+he dropped upon his bed utterly exhausted and soon fell
+into a deep sleep which lasted till the following morning.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At dawn Stepan Mihailovitch woke up. His face was
+bright and clear, and his voice cheerful as he hailed his
+wife. She hurried in at once from the next room, looking
+as if nothing had happened the day before. "I want my
+tea! Where are the children, and Alexy&eacute;i and his wife?
+I want to see Seryozha"&mdash;thus spoke the madman on his
+waking, and all the family appeared, composed and cheerful,
+in his presence. But there was one exception. His
+daughter-in-law was a woman of strong character herself,
+and no entreaties could induce her to smile so soon upon
+the wild beast of the day before; and her little son kept
+constantly saying, "I won't go to grandfather! I'm
+frightened!" She really did not feel well and excused
+herself on that ground; and she kept her child in her room.
+The family were horrified and expected a renewal of the
+storm. But the wild beast of yesterday had wakened up
+as a human being. He talked playfully over his tea and
+then went himself to visit the invalid. She was really
+unwell and was lying in bed, looking thin and altered. The
+old man sat down beside her, kissed her, said kind things
+to her, and caressed his grandson; then he left the room,
+saying that he would find the day long "without his dear
+daughter-in-law." Half an hour later she entered his
+room, wearing a pretty dress which he used to say especially
+became her, and holding her son by the hand. My
+grandfather welcomed her almost in tears: "Just see!"
+he said fondly; "though she was not well, she got up and
+dressed, regardless of herself, and came to cheer up an old
+man." His wife and daughters bit their lips and looked
+down; for they all disliked his favourite; but she
+answered his affectionate greeting with cheerful respect,
+and looked proudly and triumphantly at her ill-wishers.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But I will say no more of the dark side of my grandfather's
+character. I would rather dwell on his bright
+side and describe one of his good days, which I have often
+and often heard spoken of.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-3 section" id="my-grandfather-on-one-of-his-good-days">
+<h3 class="level-3 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id115">4. <span class="small-caps">My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days</span></a></h3>
+<p class="pfirst">It was the end of June, and the weather was very hot.
+After a stifling night, a fresh breeze set in from the East
+at dawn, the breeze which always flags when the sun grows
+hot. At sunrise my grandfather awoke. It was hot in
+his bedroom; for the room was not large, and, though
+the window with its narrow old-fashioned sash was raised
+as high as it would go, he had curtains of home-made
+muslin round his bed. This precaution was indispensable:
+without it, the wicked mosquitos would have kept him
+awake and devoured him. The winged musicians swarmed
+round the bed, drove their long probosces into the fine
+fabric which protected him, and kept up their monotonous
+serenade all through the night. It sounds absurd, but I
+cannot conceal the fact that I like the shrill high note and
+even the bite of the mosquito; for it reminds me of sleepless
+nights in high summer on the banks of the Boogoorooslan,
+where the bushes grew thick and green and all
+round the nightingales called; and I remember the beating
+heart of youth and that vague feeling, half pleasure and
+half pain, for which I would now give up all that remains
+of the sinking fire of life.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My grandfather woke up, rubbed the sweat off his high
+forehead with a hot hand, put his head out between the
+curtains, and burst out laughing. His two servants,
+Mazan and Tanaichonok, lay stretched on the floor; their
+attitudes might have made any one laugh, and they snored
+lustily. "Confound the rascals! How they snore!" said
+my grandfather, and smiled again. You could never be
+sure about Stepan Mihailovitch. It might have been
+expected that such forcible language would have been
+followed up by a blow in the ribs from the blackthorn staff
+which always stood by his bed, or a kick, or even a salutation
+in the form of a stool. But no: my grandfather had
+laughed on opening his eyes, and he kept up that mood
+throughout the day. He rose quickly, crossed himself
+once or twice, and thrust his bare feet into a pair of old
+rusty leather slippers; then, wearing only his shirt of
+coarse home-made linen&mdash;my grandmother would not give
+him any better&mdash;he went out upon the stoop,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id31" id="id30"><sup>15</sup></a> to enjoy
+the freshness and moisture of the morning all round him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I said just now that Arina Vassilyevna would not give
+her husband finer linen; and the reader will remark with
+justice that this is inconsistent with the relations between
+the two. I am sorry, but I cannot help it. It is really true
+that female persistence triumphed, as it always does, over
+male violence. My grandmother got more than one beating
+over the coarse linen, but she continued to supply him
+with it till at last her husband got used to it. He resorted
+once to extreme measures: he took an axe and chopped
+up all his objectionable shirts on the threshold of his room,
+while my grandmother howled at the sight and implored
+him to beat <em class="italics">her</em> rather than spoil his good clothes. But
+even this device failed: the coarse shirts appeared once
+more, and the victim submitted. I must apologise for
+interrupting my narrative, in order to meet an imaginary
+objection on the part of the reader.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Without troubling any one, he went himself to the store-room,
+fetched a woollen mat, and spread it out on the top
+step of the stoop; then he sat down upon it, meaning to
+follow his regular custom of watching the sun rise. To
+see sunrise gives every man a kind of half-conscious
+pleasure; and my grandfather felt an added satisfaction
+when he looked down over his courtyard, by this time
+sufficiently equipped with all the buildings necessary for
+his farming operations. The court was not, indeed,
+fenced; and the animals, when turned out of the peasants'
+yards, used to pay it passing visits, before they were all
+gathered together and driven to the common pasture. So
+it was on this morning; and the same thing was repeated
+every evening. Some pigs, fresh from the mire, rubbed
+and scratched themselves against the very stoop on which
+my grandfather was sitting, while they feasted with grunts
+of satisfaction on crab-shells and other refuse from the
+table which that unsophisticated household deposited close
+to the steps. Cows and sheep also looked in, and it was
+inevitable that these visitors should leave uncleanly tokens
+behind them. But to this my grandfather did not object
+in the least. On the contrary, he looked with pleasure
+at the fine beasts, taking them as a certain indication that
+his peasants were doing well. The loud cracking of the
+herdsman's long whip soon evicted the trespassers. Now
+the servants began to stir. The stout groom, Spiridon&mdash;known
+even in advanced old age as "little Spirka"&mdash;led
+out, one after another, three colts, two bays and one brown.
+He tied them to a post, rubbed them down, and exercised
+them at the end of a long halter, while my grandfather
+admired their paces and also admired in fancy the stock
+he hoped to raise from them&mdash;a dream which he realised
+with entire success. Then the old housekeeper came forth
+from the cellar in which she slept, and went down to the
+river to wash. First she sighed and groaned, according to
+her invariable custom; then she turned towards the sunrise
+and said a prayer, before she set to work at washing
+and scrubbing plates and dishes. Swallows and martins
+twittered cheerfully as they cut circles in the air, quails
+called loudly in the fields, the song of the larks rained down
+from the sky, the hoarse note of the sitting landrails came
+from the bushes, and the bleat of the snipe from the neighbouring
+marsh, the mocking-birds imitated the nightingales
+with all their might; and forth from behind the hill
+issued the bright sun! Blue smoke rose in columns from
+the peasants' houses and then swayed in the breeze like
+the fluttering flags of a line of ships; and soon the labourers
+were plodding towards the fields.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My grandfather began to feel a desire for cold water to
+wash in and then for his tea. He roused his two servants
+from their ungainly attitudes; and they jumped up in
+a great fright at first, but were soon reassured by his
+good-humoured voice: "Mazan, my washing things! Tanaichonok,
+wake Aksyutka and your mistress, and then tea!"
+There was no need to repeat these orders: clumsy Mazan
+was already flying at top speed to the spring for water,
+carrying a glittering copper basin, while handy Tanaichonok
+woke up Aksyutka, a young but ugly maid; and she,
+while she put straight the kerchief on her head, called her
+mistress, Arina Vassilyevna, now grown old and stout.
+In a few minutes all the household were on their legs, and
+all knew by this time that the old master had got out of
+bed on the right side! A quarter of an hour later, a table
+was standing by the stoop&mdash;the white tablecloth was home-made
+and adorned with a pattern&mdash;a <em class="italics">samovar</em>,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id35" id="id32"><sup>16</sup></a> in the
+shape of a large copper teapot, was hissing on the table,
+and Aksyutka was busy about the tea. Meanwhile Arina
+Vassilyevna was greeting her husband. On some mornings
+it was the etiquette to sigh and look sorrowful; but
+to-day she asked after his health in a loud cheerful voice:
+"How had he slept? What dreams had he had?" Stepan
+Mihailovitch greeted his wife affectionately and called
+her "Arisha"; he never kissed her hand, but sometimes
+gave her his to kiss as a sign of favour. Arina Vassilyevna,
+in her pleasure, looked quite young and pretty; one forgot
+her stout awkward figure. She brought a stool at once
+and sat down on the stoop beside my grandfather, which
+she never ventured to do unless he was in a very good
+humour. "Come, Arisha, let us have a cup of tea together
+before it gets hot," said Stepan Mihailovitch; "it was a
+stifling night, but I slept so sound that I have forgotten all
+my dreams. How did you sleep?" This question was a
+signal mark of favour, and my grandmother replied at
+once that, when Stepan Mihailovitch had a good night, she
+of course had one too, but that Tanyusha<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id36" id="id33"><sup>17</sup></a> was restless all
+night. Tanyusha was the youngest daughter and, as often
+happens, her father's favourite. He was vexed to hear
+this account of her, and ordered that she was not to be
+called but to sleep on till she woke. She had been called
+at the same time as her sisters Alexandra and Elizabeth,
+and was dressed already; but no one ventured to mention
+this fact. She made haste to undress, got back into bed,
+and had the shutters drawn. She could not get to sleep,
+but she lay in the dark for two hours; and her father was
+pleased that Tanyusha had had her sleep out. The only
+son,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id37" id="id34"><sup>18</sup></a> who was now nine, was never wakened early. But
+the two elder daughters appeared immediately; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch gave them his hand to kiss and called them by
+their pet names, Lexanya and Lizanka. They were both
+clever girls, and Alexandra had also inherited her father's
+active mind and violent temper but none of his good
+qualities. My grandmother, a very simple woman, was
+entirely under the thumb of her daughters; and, whenever
+she ventured to play tricks upon Stepan Mihailovitch, it
+was because they had put her up to it; but she was so
+clumsy that she seldom succeeded, and her husband knew
+very well who was at the bottom of it. He knew also that
+his daughters were prepared to deceive him whenever they
+got the chance&mdash;though, for the sake of a quiet life, he let
+them suppose that he was blind to their goings-on. But
+this only lasted while he was in a good temper: as soon as
+he got angry, he stated his view of their conduct in the
+most unsparing and uncomplimentary terms, and sometimes
+even chastised them. But, like true daughters of
+Eve, they were not discouraged. When the fit of anger
+passed and the cloud lifted from their father's brow, they
+started again upon their underhand schemes, and pretty
+often they were successful in carrying them out.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When he had drunk his tea and talked about things in
+general with his womankind, my grandfather got ready
+to drive out. Some time before, he had said to Mazan,
+"My horse!"&mdash;and an old brown gelding was already
+standing by the steps, harnessed to a long car, a very comfortable
+conveyance, with an outer frame-work of netting
+and a plank, covered with felt, to sit on. Spiridon, the
+driver, wore a simple livery: he had bare feet and nothing
+on but his shirt, with a red woollen belt, from which hung
+a key and a copper comb. On a similar occasion on the
+previous day, he had worn no hat; but this had been disapproved
+of, and he now wore some head-gear which he had
+woven out of broad strips of bast.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id39" id="id38"><sup>19</sup></a> My grandfather made
+merry over this "sunbonnet." Then he put on his own
+cap and long coat of unbleached home-made cloth, placed
+beneath him his heavy cloak in case of rain, and took his
+seat on the car. Spiridon also folded his coat and sat upon
+it; it was made of unbleached cloth but dyed bright red
+with madder. Madder grew freely in the fields round
+Bagrovo, and was so much used that the servants about
+the house were called by the neighbours "redbreasts";
+I have heard the nickname myself fifteen years after my
+grandfather's death.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In the fields, Stepan Mihailovitch found everything to
+his mind. He examined the rye-crop; it was now past
+flowering and stood up like a wall, as high as a man; a
+light breeze was blowing, and bluish-purple waves went
+over it, now lighter and now darker in the sunlight; and
+the sight gladdened his heart. He visited the young oats
+and millet and all the spring-sown crops, and then went to
+the fallow, where he ordered his car to be driven backwards
+and forwards over the field. This was his regular way of
+testing the goodness of the work: any spot of ground that
+had not been properly ploughed and harrowed gave the
+light car a jolt; and, when my grandfather was not in a
+good humour, he stuck a twig or a stick in the ground at
+the place, sent for the bailiff if he was not present, and
+settled accounts with him on the spot. But to-day all
+went well: his wheels may have encountered such
+obstacles, but he took no notice of them. His next point
+was the hay-fields, where he admired the tall thick steppe-grass
+which was to fall beneath the scythe before many
+days were past. He paid a visit to the peasants' fields
+also, to see for himself, who had a good crop and who had
+not; and he drove over their fallow to test it. He noticed
+everything and forgot nothing. Passing over an untilled
+strip, he saw some wild strawberries nearly ripe; he stopped
+and, with Mazan's help, picked a large handful of splendid
+big berries, which he took home as a present for his "Arisha."
+In spite of the great heat, he was out till nearly noon.</p>
+<p class="pnext">As soon as my grandfather's car was seen descending
+the hill, dinner was set on the table, and all the family
+stood on the steps to receive him. "Well, Arisha," he
+called out cheerfully, "what splendid crops God is giving
+us this year! Great is His goodness! And here are some
+strawberries for you; they are nearly ripe; the pickers
+must go out to-morrow." This attention was almost too
+much for my grandmother. As he spoke, he walked into
+the house, and the smell of the hot cabbage-soup came to
+meet him from the parlour. "Ah! I see dinner's ready;
+good!" said Stepan Mihailovitch more cheerfully than
+before, and walked straight into the parlour and sat down
+at table, without visiting his own room. I should mention
+that my grandfather had a rule: at whatever hour, early
+or late, he returned from the fields, dinner must be on the
+table, and Heaven help the women, if they did not notice
+him coming and failed to serve the meal in time! There
+were occasions when such neglect gave rise to sad consequences;
+but, on this happy day, everything went without
+a hitch. Behind my grandfather's chair stood a stout lad,
+holding a birch-bough with the leaves on, to drive away the
+flies. The hottest weather will not make a true Russian
+refuse cabbage-soup, and my grandfather supped his with
+a wooden spoon, because silver would have burnt his lips.
+Soup was followed by a fish-salad, made of kippered sturgeon,
+as yellow as wax, and shelled crayfish. All the courses
+were of this light kind, and were washed down with <em class="italics">kvass</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id41" id="id40"><sup>20</sup></a>
+and home-made beer; the drinks were iced and so was the
+salad. There were days when dinner was eaten in terrible
+stillness and silent dread of an explosion; but this was a
+cheerful meal, with much loud talking and laughing. Every
+boy and girl about the place had heard that the master was
+in a cheerful temper, and they all crowded into the parlour
+in hopes of a "piece." He gave them all something good
+to eat; for there was five times as much food on the table
+as the family could eat.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Immediately after dinner he went to lie down. All
+flies were expelled from the bed-curtains, and the curtains
+drawn round him with the ends tucked under the mattress;
+and soon his mighty snoring proclaimed that the master
+was asleep. All the rest went to their rooms to lie down.
+Mazan and Tanaichonok, when they had had their dinner
+and swallowed their share of the remnants from the dining-room
+table, also lay down in the passage, close to the door
+of my grandfather's bedroom. Though they had slept
+before dinner, they went to sleep again at once; but they
+were soon wakened by the heat and the burning rays of the
+sun coming through the windows. They felt a strong
+desire to cool their parched throats with some of their
+master's iced beer; and the bold scamps managed to get
+it in the following way. My grandfather's dressing-gown
+and nightcap were lying on a chair near the half-open door
+of his room. Tanaichonok put them on and sat down on
+the stoop, while Mazan went off to the cellar with a jug and
+wakened the old housekeeper, who like every soul in the
+house was fast asleep. He said his master was awake and
+wanted an iced tankard at once. She was surprised at his
+waking so soon; but Mazan then pointed to the figure in
+the dressing-gown and nightcap sitting on the stoop. The
+beer was drawn at once and ice added; and Mazan went
+quickly back with his prize. The cronies shared the jug
+between them and then replaced the garments. An hour
+later their master awoke in excellent humour, and his first
+words were, "Iced beer!" This frightened the rascals;
+and, when Tanaichonok hurried off to the cellar, the housekeeper
+guessed at once where the previous jug had gone.
+She produced the liquor, but followed the messenger back
+herself, and found the real Simon Pure sitting on the stoop
+and wearing the dressing-gown. The truth came out at
+once; and Mazan and Tanaichonok shaking with fear fell
+at their master's feet. And what do you think my grandfather
+did? He burst out laughing, sent for his wife and
+daughters, and told them the story with loud bursts of
+laughter. The culprits breathed again, and one of them
+even ventured to grin. But Stepan Mihailovitch noticed
+this and very nearly grew angry: he frowned, but the
+composing effect of his good day was so strong that his
+face cleared up, and he said with a significant look, "Well,
+I forgive you this once; but, if it happens again ..."&mdash;there
+was no need to end the sentence.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It is certainly strange that the servants of a man so
+passionate and so violent in his moments of passion should
+dare to be so impudent. But I have often noticed in the
+course of my life that the strictest masters have the most
+venturesome and reckless servants. My grandfather had
+other experiences of a similar kind. This same servant,
+Mazan, was sweeping out his master's room one day and
+preparing to make the bed, when he was suddenly tempted
+by the soft down of the bedding and pillows. He thought
+he would like a little taste of luxury; so down he lay on
+his master's bed and fell asleep. My grandfather himself
+came upon him sound asleep, and only laughed! He did,
+indeed, give the man one good rap with his staff; but that
+was nothing&mdash;he only did it in order to see how frightened
+Mazan would be. Worse tricks than these were played
+upon Stepan Mihailovitch in his time. During his absence
+from home, his cousin and ward, Praskovya Ivanovna
+Bagroff, was given in marriage to a dangerous and disreputable
+man whom he detested; the girl, who was only
+fourteen and a great heiress, was an inmate of Bagrovo and
+very dear to its owner. It is true that the plot was executed
+by the girl's relations on her mother's side; but Arina
+Vassilyevna gave her consent, and her daughters were
+actively engaged in it. But I shall return to my narrative
+for the present and leave this incident to be told
+later.</p>
+<p class="pnext">He woke up at five in the afternoon and drank his iced
+beer. Soon afterwards he wanted his tea, in spite of the
+sultry heat of the day; for he believed that a very hot
+drink makes hot weather more bearable. But first he went
+down to bathe in the cool waters of the river, which flowed
+under the windows of the house. When he came back, the
+whole family were waiting for him at the tea-table&mdash;the
+same table set in the shade, with the same hissing teapot
+and the same Aksyutka. When he had drunk his fill of his
+favourite sudorific beverage, with cream so thick that the
+curd on it was yellow, my grandfather proposed that the
+whole party should make an expedition to the mill. The
+plan was received with joy; and Alexandra and Tatyana,
+who were fond of angling, took fishing-rods with them.
+Two cars were brought round in a minute. Stepan Mihailovitch
+and his wife took their seats on one, and placed
+between them their one boy,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id43" id="id42"><sup>21</sup></a> the precious scion of their
+ancient and noble line; while the other carried the three
+daughters, with a boy to dig for worms on the mill-dam and
+bait their hooks for the young ladies. When they reached
+the mill, a seat was brought out for Arina Vassilyevna, and
+she sat down in the shade of the building, not far from the
+mill-race where her daughters were fishing. Meanwhile
+Elizabeth, the eldest, partly to please her father and partly
+from her own interest in such matters, went with Stepan
+Mihailovitch to inspect the mill and the pounding-machine.
+The little boy either watched his sisters fishing&mdash;he was not
+allowed to fish himself in deep places&mdash;or played beside his
+mother, who never took her eyes off him, in her fear that
+the child would somehow tumble in.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Both sets of millstones were at work, one making
+wheat-flour for the master's table, and the other grinding
+rye for a neighbour; and there was millet under the
+pounding-machine. My grandfather was well acquainted
+with all farming operations: he understood a mill
+thoroughly and explained all the details to his attentive
+and intelligent companion. He saw in a moment any
+defect in the machinery or mistake in the position of the
+stones. One of them he ordered to be lowered half a notch,
+and the rye-meal came out finer, to the great satisfaction
+of its owner. At the other stone, his ear detected at once
+that one of the cogs on the small wheel was getting worn.
+He stopped the current, and Boltuny&oacute;nok,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id46" id="id44"><sup>22</sup></a> the miller,
+jumped down beside the wheel. He looked at it and felt
+it and then said, "You are quite right, <em class="italics">batyushka</em> Stepan
+Mihailovitch! One of the cogs is a little worn." "A
+little you call it!"&mdash;said my grandfather, not at all vexed:
+"but for my coming, the wheel would have snapped this
+very night!" "I am sorry I did not notice it, Stepan
+Mihailovitch." "Well, never mind! Bring a new wheel,
+and take the worn cog off the other; and mind the new cog
+is neither thicker nor thinner than the rest; the whole
+secret lies in that." The new wheel, fitted and tested beforehand,
+was fixed at once and greased with tar; and the
+current was turned on by degrees, also by my grandfather's
+instructions; at once the stone began to hum and grind
+smoothly and evenly, with no stumbling or knocking. The
+visitors went next to the pounding-machine, where my
+grandfather took a handful of millet from the mortar. He
+blew the chaff away and said to the man who had brought
+the grain to the mill, a Mordvinian and an old acquaintance:
+"Have a care, friend Vaska! If you look, every grain is
+pounded already, and, if you go on, you will have less of it."
+Vaska tried it himself and saw that my grandfather was
+right. He said, "Thank you," ducked his head by way of
+bowing, and ran off to stop the current. Their last visit
+was to the poultry-yard, where a large number of ducks and
+geese, hens and turkeys, were looked after by an old woman
+and her little grand-daughter. Everything here was in
+excellent order. As a sign of special favour, my grandfather
+gave both of them his hand to kiss, and ordered that
+the hen-wife should get an extra allowance of 20 lbs. of
+wheat-flour every month to make pies with. Stepan
+Mihailovitch rejoined his wife in good spirits. Everything
+had gone right: his daughter had shown intelligence, the
+mill was working well, and the hen-wife, Tatyana Gorozhana,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id47" id="id45"><sup>23</sup></a>
+was attending to her duties.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The heat had long been abating; coolness came from
+the water and from the approach of evening; a long cloud
+of dust drifted along the road and came nearer the village
+with the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle; the sun
+was losing light and sinking behind the steep hill. Stepan
+Mihailovitch stood on the mill-dam and surveyed the wide
+mirror of the pond as it lay motionless in the frame of
+its sloping banks. A fish jumped from time to time; but
+my grandfather was no fisherman. "Time to go home,
+Arisha," he said at last: "I expect the bailiff is waiting for
+me." Seeing his good humour, his daughters asked leave
+to fish on: they said the fish would take better at sunset,
+and they would walk home in half an hour. Leave was
+given, and the old couple started for home on one of the
+cars, while Elizabeth took her little brother in the other.
+As Stepan Mihailovitch had expected, the bailiff was
+waiting for him by the stoop, and some peasants and their
+wives were there with him; they had got a hint from the
+bailiff, who knew already that his master was in the right
+mood, and now seized the opportunity to state some
+exceptional needs or prefer some exceptional requests.
+Not one of them was disappointed. To one my grandfather
+gave corn, and forgave an old debt which the
+man could have paid; another was allowed to marry
+his son before the winter<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id50" id="id48"><sup>24</sup></a> and to a girl of their own
+choosing; he gave leave to a soldier's wife,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id51" id="id49"><sup>25</sup></a> who was to be
+turned out of the village for misconduct, to go on living
+with her father; and so on. Nor was that all: strong
+home-made spirits were offered to each of them, in a silver
+cup which held more than an ordinary dram. Then my
+grandfather gave his orders to the bailiff, shortly and
+clearly, and went off to his supper which had been standing
+ready some time. The evening meal did not differ much
+from the midday dinner; but the cooler air probably gave
+a keener edge to appetite. It was a custom with Stepan
+Mihailovitch to send his family off to bed and sit up for half
+an hour or so on the stoop, with nothing on but his shirt,
+for the sake of coolness. This day he stayed there longer
+than usual, laughing and jesting with Mazan and Tanaichonok;
+he made them wrestle and fight with their fists,
+and urged them on till they began to hit out in earnest
+and even clutched each other by the hair. He had laughed
+his fill; and now a word of command, and the tone it was
+spoken in, brought them to their senses and parted them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">All the landscape lay before him, still and wonderful,
+enfolded by the short summer night. The glow of sunset
+had not yet disappeared, and would go on till it gave place
+to the glow of dawn. Hour by hour, the depths of the
+vault of heaven grew darker; hour by hour, the stars
+flashed brighter, and the cries of the night birds grew louder,
+as if they were becoming more familiar with man; the clack
+of the mill sounded nearer in the misty damp of the night
+air. My grandfather rose from his stoop, and crossed himself
+once or twice, looking at the starry sky. Then, though the
+heat in his bedroom was stifling, he lay down on the hot
+feather-bed and ordered his curtains to be drawn round him.</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="fragment-ii-mihail-maximovitch-kurolyessoff">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id117">FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">I promised to give a separate account of Mihail Maximovitch
+Kurolyessoff and his marriage with my grandfather's
+cousin, Praskovya Ivanovna Bagroff. This story begins
+about 1760, earlier than the time described in the First
+Fragment of this history, and ends much later. I shall
+now fulfil my promise.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch was the only son of Mihail Bagroff;
+Mihail had a brother Peter, whose only daughter was
+Praskovya Ivanovna. As she was his only cousin and the
+sole female representative of the Bagroff family in that
+generation, my grandfather was much attached to her.
+While still in the cradle she lost her mother, and her father
+died when she was ten. Her mother, one of the Bakt&eacute;yeff
+family, was very rich and left to her daughter 900 serfs,
+a quantity of money, and still more in silver and valuables;
+and her father's death added 300 serfs to her property.
+Praskovya Ivanovna was therefore a rich orphan, and
+would bring a great fortune to her future husband. After
+her father's death she lived at first with her grandmother,
+Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff; then she paid a long visit to Bagrovo;
+and finally Stepan Mihailovitch took her to his house as a
+permanent inmate. He was quite as fond of his orphan
+cousin as of his daughters and was very affectionate to her
+in his own way. But she was too young, too babyish, one
+might say, to appreciate her cousin's love and tenderness,
+which never took the form of spoiling, while, under her
+grandmother's roof, where she had spent some time, she
+had grown accustomed to indulgence. So it is not surprising
+that she grew tired of Bagrovo and wished to go
+back to old Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff. Praskovya Ivanovna,
+though she was not beautiful, had regular features and fine
+intelligent grey eyes; her dark eyebrows, long and rather
+thick, were a sign of her masculine strength of character;
+she was tall and well-made, and looked eighteen when
+she was only fourteen. But, in spite of her physical
+maturity, her mind and feelings were still those of a mere
+child: always lively and merry, she capered and frisked,
+gambolled and sang, from morning till night. She had a
+remarkable voice and was passionately fond of joining with
+the maids in their singing or dancing or swinging; or, when
+nothing of that kind was to be had, she played with her
+dolls all day, invariably accompanying her occupation with
+popular songs of all sorts, of which she knew even then an
+immense number.</p>
+<p class="pnext">A year before Praskovya Ivanovna went to live at
+Bagrovo, Mihail Kurolyessoff, an officer in the Army, came
+on leave to the Government of Simbirsk. He belonged to
+a noble family in the district, and was then twenty-eight
+years old. He was a fine-looking fellow, and many people
+called him handsome; but some said that, in spite of his
+regular features, there was something unpleasing about him;
+and I remember to have heard as a child debates on this
+point between my grandmother and her daughters. Entering
+the Army at fifteen, he had served in a regiment of high
+reputation in those days and had risen to the rank of major.
+He did not often come home on leave, and he had little
+reason to come, because the serfs&mdash;about 150 in all&mdash;who
+formed his property, owned little land and were scattered
+about. As a matter of course, he had received no proper
+education, but he had a ready tongue and wrote in an easy
+correct style. Many of his letters have passed through
+my hands; and they prove clearly that he was a man of
+sense and tact and also firm of purpose and business-like.
+I don't know his exact relationship to our immortal
+Suv&oacute;roff;<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id53" id="id52"><sup>26</sup></a> but I found in the correspondence some letters
+from the great captain, which always begin thus&mdash;</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">"Dear Sir and cousin, Mihail Maximovitch,"</div>
+<div class="line">and end&mdash;</div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">"With all proper respect for you and my worthy
+cousin, Praskovya Ivanovna,</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">"I have the honour to be," etc.</div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">Kurolyessoff was little known in the Government of
+Simbirsk. But "rumour runs all over the earth," and
+perhaps the young officer on leave permitted himself some
+"distractions" as they are called; or perhaps the soldier
+servant whom he brought with him, in spite of his master's
+severity, let something leak out at odd times. Whatever
+the reason, an opinion gradually took shape about him,
+which may be summed up in the following statements&mdash;"Toe
+the line, when you parade before the Major"&mdash;"Mind
+your P's and Q's, when talking to Kurolyessoff"&mdash;"When
+one of his men is caught out, he shows no mercy,
+though he may try to shield him"&mdash;"When he says a
+thing, he means it"&mdash;"He's the very devil when his
+temper's up." People called him "a dark horse" and
+"a rum customer"; but every one admitted his ability
+as a man of business. There were also rumours, probably
+proceeding from the same sources, that the Major had
+certain weaknesses, which, however, he gratified with due
+regard to time and place. But these failings were excused
+by the charitable proverbs&mdash;"A young man must sow his
+wild oats," and "It's no crime in a man to drink," and
+"The man who drinks and keeps his head, Scores two
+points, it must be said." So Kurolyessoff had not a
+positively bad reputation; on the contrary many people
+thought highly of him. Insinuating and courteous in his
+address, and respectful to all persons of rank and position,
+he was a welcome guest in every house. As he was a near
+neighbour of the Bakt&eacute;yeff family, and indeed a distant
+connexion, he soon managed to make his way into their
+good graces; they took a great liking to him and sounded
+his praises everywhere. At first he had no special object,
+but was merely following his invariable rule&mdash;to make
+himself agreeable to persons of rank and wealth; but later,
+when he met in their house Praskovya Ivanovna, lively,
+laughing, and rich, and looking quite old enough to be
+married, he formed a plan of marrying her himself and
+getting her wealth into his hands. With this definite
+object in view, he redoubled his attentions to her grandmother
+and aunt, till the two ladies quite lost their heads
+about him; and at the same time he paid court so cleverly
+to the girl herself, that she soon had a liking for him, as
+she naturally would for a man who agreed to everything
+she said, gave her everything she asked, and spoiled her in
+every possible way. Next he showed his hand to her
+relations: he professed that he had fallen in love with the
+orphan girl, and they believed that he was suffering all a
+passionate lover's pangs, mad with longing, and haunted
+by his darling's image day and night. They approved of
+his plan and took the poor victim of love under their protection.
+The favour and connivance of her relations made
+it easy for him to proceed along his path: he did everything
+he could to entertain and amuse the child&mdash;taking her out
+for drives behind his spirited horses, pushing her in the
+swing and sitting beside her in it himself, singing with her
+the popular songs which he sang very well, giving her many
+trifling presents, and ordering amusing toys for her from
+Moscow.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Kurolyessoff knew, however, that the consent of her
+cousin and guardian was a necessary preliminary to complete
+success, and therefore tried to get into the good graces
+of Stepan Mihailovitch. Under various pretexts and
+provided with introductory letters from Praskovya Ivanovna's
+relations, he paid a visit at Bagrovo; but the visit
+proved a failure. At first sight this may seem strange;
+for some of the young officer's qualities were likely to
+appeal to Stepan Mihailovitch. But my grandfather, as
+well as his quick eye and sound sense, had that instinct,
+peculiar to men who are perfectly honest and straightforward
+themselves, which is instantly conscious of the
+hidden guile and crooked ways even of a complete stranger&mdash;the
+instinct which detects evil under a plausible exterior
+and surmises its future development. Kurolyessoff's
+respectful manner and polite speeches did not take him in
+for a moment: he guessed at once that there was some
+knavery underneath. There were other objections. My
+grandfather's own life was very strict, and the reports of
+the Major's peccadilloes which had casually come to his
+ear, though many people treated them lightly enough,
+filled his honest breast with disgust; and, though he was
+himself capable of furious anger, he hated deliberate
+unkindness and cold cruelty. For all these reasons
+his reception of his guest was cool and dry, though
+Kurolyessoff talked in a sensible practical way on all subjects
+and especially the management of land. Praskovya
+Ivanovna had now come to live with my grandfather;
+and, when the Major began, on the strength of their old
+acquaintance, to pay her compliments which she accepted
+with pleasure, his host's head bent a little to one side, his
+eyebrows met, and he shot a look at his guest which was
+hardly hospitable. Arina Vassilyevna, on the contrary,
+and her daughters, had been charmed straight off by the
+young man's seductions and were quite inclined to say kind
+things to him; but the storm-signals on the face of Stepan
+Mihailovitch quenched their ardour and made them all
+hold their tongues. The guest tried to restore the harmony
+of the party and to resume their agreeable conversation.
+But it was no use: he received short answers from them
+all, and his host was not even quite polite. Though it was
+getting late and an invitation to stay the night would
+have been the natural thing, there was nothing for it but
+to take his leave. "The man is a knave and rotten all
+through," said Stepan Mihailovitch to his family; "but
+perhaps he won't come here again." No voice was raised
+to contradict him; but, behind his back, the women went
+on for a long time praising the dashing young officer; and
+one who liked to listen to his merits and to tell of them
+herself, was the orphan girl with the large fortune.</p>
+<p class="pnext">With the taste of this rebuff in his mouth, Kurolyessoff
+went back and told Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff of his failure. The
+people there knew my grandfather well, and at once
+abandoned all hope that he would give his consent. Long
+consideration brought no solution of the difficulty. The
+bold Major suggested that her grandmother should invite
+the girl on a visit, and that the marriage should take place
+without the consent of Stepan Mihailovitch; but both
+Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff and her daughter, Mme. Kurmysheff,
+were convinced that Stepan Mihailovitch would not let his
+cousin go alone, or, if he did, would be slow about it, and
+the Major's leave was nearly at an end. Then he proposed
+a desperate scheme&mdash;to induce Praskovya Ivanovna to
+elope with him, and to get married in the nearest church;
+but her relations would not hear of such a scandalous
+expedient, and Kurolyessoff went back to his regiment.
+The ways of Providence are past finding out, and we cannot
+judge why it came about that this nefarious scheme was
+crowned with success. Six months later, Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff
+heard one day that Stepan Mihailovitch was called away to
+some distance by very important business and would not
+return for some time. His destination and errand I do not
+know; but it was some distant place, Astrakhan or Moscow,
+and the business was certainly legal, because he took with
+him his man of business. A letter was sent at once to
+Stepan Mihailovitch, begging that the child, during the
+absence of her cousin and guardian, might stay with her
+grandmother. A curt answer was received&mdash;that Parasha
+was very well where she was, and, if they wished to see her,
+they were welcome to visit Bagrovo and stay as long as
+they liked. Stepan Mihailovitch sent this plain answer,
+and gave the strictest injunctions to his always submissive
+wife, that she was to watch Parasha as the apple of her eye
+and never let her out of the house alone; and then he
+started on his journey.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff was constantly sending letters and
+messages to Praskovya Ivanovna and my grandfather's
+womankind; and she sent news of his departure at once
+to Kurolyessoff, adding that the absence would be a long
+one, and asking whether the Major could not come on
+leave, to take a personal share in the promotion of their
+scheme. She herself and her daughter went at once to
+Bagrovo. She had always been on friendly terms with
+Arina Vassilyevna, and now, on discovering that she also
+liked Kurolyessoff, revealed the fact that the young officer
+was passionately in love with Parasha; she launched out into
+praise of the suitor, and said, "There is nothing I wish so
+much as to see the poor little orphan comfortably settled in
+my lifetime; I am sure she will be happy. I feel that I
+have not long to live, and therefore I should like to hurry
+on the business." Arina Vassilyevna, on her side, entirely
+approved of the plan but expressed doubts whether Stepan
+Mihailovitch would consent: "Heaven knows why," she
+said, "but he took a strong dislike to that delightful
+Kurolyessoff." Arina Vassilyevna's elder daughters were
+summoned to a council presided over by Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff
+and her daughter, a strong partisan of the Major's; and it
+was settled that the grandmother, as the girl's nearest
+relation, should manage the affair, without involving Arina
+Vassilyevna and her daughters; it was to appear that they
+knew nothing about it and took no hand in it. I have said
+already that Arina Vassilyevna was a kind-hearted and
+very simple woman; her daughters sympathised entirely
+with Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff, and it is not surprising that she was
+persuaded by them to promote a scheme which was sure to
+provoke the furious rage of Stepan Mihailovitch.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meantime the innocent victim laughed and sang, with
+no suspicion that her fate was being decided. They often
+spoke of Kurolyessoff in her presence, praised him to the
+skies, and assured her that he loved her more than his own
+life, was constantly studying how to please her, and would
+certainly bring her a number of presents from Moscow on
+his next visit. All this she heard with pleasure, and often
+said that she loved Kurolyessoff better than any one in the
+world. While Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff was at Bagrovo, she had
+a letter forwarded to her, in which Kurolyessoff assured her
+that he would come, as soon as he could get leave. Arina
+Vassilyevna promised to say nothing when writing to her
+husband, and also to send Parasha to her grandmother's
+house, in spite of her husband's strict orders to the contrary,
+on the pretext that her nearest relative was dangerously
+ill. When the two ladies left Bagrovo and went home,
+Praskovya Ivanovna cried and asked to go with them;
+the Major was expected soon, and that was an additional
+attraction; but permission was refused, out of respect, it
+was said, to her guardian's strict orders. Kurolyessoff had
+some difficulty in getting leave, and it was two months
+before he arrived. Immediately afterwards a special
+messenger was despatched to Bagrovo, with a letter from
+Mme. Kurmysheff to Arina Vassilyevna; the lady wrote
+that her mother was desperately ill and wished to see her
+grand-daughter and give her her blessing; she therefore
+asked that Parasha might be sent, with an escort. She
+also wrote that Stepan Mihailovitch would certainly have
+sent the child to see the last of her grandmother, and could
+not possibly resent this infraction of his commands. The
+letter was clearly intended to be shown by Arina Vassilyevna,
+in order to protect herself from her husband's
+displeasure. True to her promise and reassured by this
+letter, Arina Vassilyevna made her preparations at once
+and took Parasha herself to the place where the grandmother
+was supposed to be dying; she stayed there a week
+and returned home charmed by the politeness of Kurolyessoff
+and also by some presents which he had brought
+from Moscow for her, and for her daughters as well. Praskovya
+Ivanovna was very happy: her grandmother took
+a sudden turn for the better; that fairy godmother, the
+Major, had brought her a number of presents and toys
+from Moscow and stayed in the house continuously. He
+flattered her in every possible way, and soon took her
+fancy so completely, that, when her grandmother told her
+he wished to marry her, she was charmed. She ran up and
+down through the house like a perfect child, telling every one
+she met that she was going to marry the Major and would
+have capital fun&mdash;driving all day with him behind his fine
+trotters, swinging on a swing of immense height, singing,
+or playing with dolls, not little dolls, but big ones that were
+able to walk and bow. You can judge by this, how far
+the poor little bride realised her position. Fearing that
+reports might reach Stepan Mihailovitch, the plotters
+went to work quickly: they invited the neighbours to a
+formal betrothal, at which the pair exchanged rings and
+kisses, sat side by side at table, and had their healths
+drunk. At first, the bride got tired of the ceremony where
+she had to sit still so long and listen to so many congratulations;
+but, when she was allowed to have her new doll
+from Moscow beside her, she quite cheered up, introducing
+the doll to every one as her daughter, and making it curtsey
+when she did, in acknowledgment of their kind wishes.
+A week later, the marriage took place with all due
+formality; the bride's age was given as seventeen instead
+of fifteen, but no one would have guessed the truth, to
+look at her.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Though Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters knew
+what the end must be, yet the news of the marriage, which
+came sooner than they expected, filled them with horror.
+The scales fell from their eyes, and they now realised what
+they had been about, and that neither the grandmother's
+sham illness nor her letter would serve to cover them from
+the just wrath of Stepan Mihailovitch. Before she heard
+of the marriage, Arina Vassilyevna had written to her
+husband that she had taken the child to her grandmother:
+"It was quite necessary," she wrote, "because the old
+lady was in a dying state. I stayed there a whole week,
+and mercifully the invalid took a good turn; but they
+insisted on keeping Parasha till her grandmother got well.
+I was helpless: I could not take her by force, so I agreed
+against my will and hurried back to our own children, who
+were quite alone at Bagrovo. And now I am afraid that
+you will be angry." In answering, he said she had done
+a foolish thing and told her to go back and fetch Parasha
+home at all costs. Arina Vassilyevna sighed and shed
+tears over this letter, and was puzzled how to act. The
+young couple soon came to pay her a visit. Parasha
+seemed perfectly happy and cheerful, though some of her
+childish gaiety had gone. Her husband seemed happy too,
+and at the same time so composed and sensible that his
+clever arguments had power to lull Arina Vassilyevna's
+fears to rest. He proved to her convincingly that her
+husband's wrath must all fall upon the grandmother:
+"And she," said he, "owing to that dangerous illness&mdash;though
+now, thank God! she is better&mdash;had a perfect right
+not to wait for the consent of Stepan Mihailovitch; she
+knew that he would be slow in giving it, though of course
+he must have given it in time. It was impossible for her
+to delay, owing to her critical condition, and it would have
+been hard for her to die without seeing her orphan grand-daughter
+settled in life; her place could not be filled even
+by a brother, far less by a mere cousin." Many soothing
+assurances of this kind were forthcoming, backed by some
+very handsome presents which were received by the Bagrovo
+ladies with great satisfaction and some sinking of heart.
+Other presents were left, to be given to Stepan Mihailovitch.
+Kurolyessoff advised Arina Vassilyevna not to
+write to her husband till he answered the letter of intimation
+from the young couple; and he assured her that he and
+his wife would write this at once. He did not really dream
+of writing: his sole object was to delay the explosion and
+get time to take root in his new position. Immediately
+after his marriage, he applied for leave to retire from the
+Army, and got it very soon. He then began by paying a
+round of visits with his bride to all the relations and friends
+on both sides. At Simbirsk he began by calling on the
+Governor and neglected no one of any importance who
+could be useful to him. All were enthusiastic in praise of
+the handsome young couple, and they were so popular
+everywhere, that the marriage was soon sanctioned by
+public opinion. Thus several months passed away.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch had had no news from home for
+a long time, and his lawsuit dragged on interminably. He
+was suddenly seized by a longing to see his family again,
+and returned one fine day to Bagrovo. Arina Vassilyevna
+trembled all over when she heard the awful words,
+"The master has come!" Hearing that all were alive
+and well, he entered his house in high spirits, kissed his
+Arisha and daughters and son, and then asked in an easy
+tone, "But where on earth is Parasha<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id55" id="id54"><sup>27</sup></a>?" Encouraged
+by her husband's kind manner, Arina Vassilyevna answered:
+"I don't know for certain where she is; perhaps, with her
+grandmother. Of course you heard long ago, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>,
+that she was married." I shall not describe my grandfather's
+amazement and fury; but his fury became twice
+as hot, when he heard the name of the bridegroom. He
+was proceeding to settle accounts with his wife on the spot,
+when she and all her daughters fell at his feet and showed
+him Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff's letter; thus she had time to convince
+him that she knew nothing about it and had been
+deceived herself. The fury of Stepan Mihailovitch was now
+diverted to Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff; he ordered fresh horses to be
+ready, rested two hours, and then galloped straight off to
+her house. The battle royal that took place between the
+two may be imagined. The old lady stood his first torrent
+of unmeasured abuse without flinching; then she drew
+herself up, grew hot in her turn, and delivered her own
+attack upon my grandfather. "How dare you make this
+furious assault on me," she asked, "as if I was your bond-slave?
+Do you forget that my birth is quite as good as
+yours, and that my late husband held a much higher rank
+than you? I am a nearer relation to Parasha, I am her
+own grandmother, and her guardian as much as you are.
+I arranged for her settlement without waiting for your
+consent, because I was dangerously ill and did not wish to
+leave her dependent upon you. I knew your infernal
+temper; under your roof, the child would have had a taste
+of the stick some day. Kurolyessoff is an excellent match
+for her, and Parasha fell in love with him of herself. Everybody
+likes him and praises him. I know he did not take
+your fancy; but just ask your own family, and you will
+soon find out that they can't say enough in his praise!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">"You lie, you old swindler!" roared my grandfather;
+"you deceived my wife by pretending that you were dying!
+Kurolyessoff has bewitched you and your daughter by the
+power of the devil, and you have sold your grand-daughter
+into his hands!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">This was too much for Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff, and she let out
+in her rage that Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were
+in league with her and had themselves accepted presents at
+different times from Kurolyessoff. This disclosure turned
+the whole force of my grandfather's rage back upon his
+own family. He threatened that he would dissolve the
+marriage on the ground that Parasha was not of age, and
+then started home. On the way he turned aside to visit
+the priest who had performed the ceremony, and called
+him to account. But the priest met his attack very coolly,
+and showed him with no hesitation the certificate of affinity,
+the signatures of the grandmother, the bride, and the
+witnesses, and also the baptismal certificate which alleged
+that Praskovya Ivanovna was seventeen. This was a
+fresh blow to my grandfather, for it deprived him of all
+hope of breaking the hateful marriage; and it increased
+enormously his anger against his wife and daughters. I
+shall not dwell upon his behaviour when he got home: it
+would be too painful and repulsive. Thirty years later, my
+aunts could never speak of that day without trembling. I
+shall only say, that the culprits made a full confession, that
+he sent back all the presents, including those intended for
+himself, to Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff, to be forwarded to the proper
+quarter, that the elder daughters long kept their beds, and
+that my grandmother lost all her hair and went about for
+a whole year with her head bandaged. He sent a message
+to the Kurolyessoffs forbidding them to dare to appear
+before him, and ordered that their names should never be
+mentioned in his house.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Time rolled on, healing wounds whether of mind or
+body, and calming passions. Within a year Arina Vassilyevna's
+head was healed, and the anger in the heart of
+Stepan Mihailovitch had cooled. At first he refused either
+to see or hear of the Kurolyessoffs, and would not even
+write to Praskovya Ivanovna; but, when a year had passed
+and he heard from all quarters good accounts of her way
+of life, and was told that she had suddenly become sensible
+beyond her years, his heart softened and he became anxious
+to see the cousin whom he had loved. He reasoned that
+she, as a perfect child, was less to blame than any of the
+rest, and gave her leave to come, without her husband, to
+Bagrovo; and, as a matter of course, she came at once.
+The reports were true: one year of marriage had wrought
+such a change in Praskovya Ivanovna, that Stepan Mihailovitch
+could hardly believe it. It was puzzling also, that
+she now showed towards her cousin a kind of love and
+gratitude which she had never felt in her girlhood, and was
+still less likely, one would think, to feel after her marriage.
+In his eyes, which filled with tears when they met, did she
+read how much love was concealed under that harsh
+exterior and that arbitrary violence? Had she any dark
+foreboding of the future, or did she dimly realise that here
+was her one support and stay? Or did she feel unconsciously,
+that the rough cousin who had opposed her happiness
+and still disliked her husband, loved her better than
+all the women who had indulged her by falling in with all
+her childish wishes? I cannot answer these questions; but
+all were struck by the change. In her careless childhood
+she had been indifferent to her cousin, thinking little of
+his rights and her duties; and now she had every reason
+to resent his treatment of her grandmother; yet she felt
+to him now as a devoted daughter feels to a tender father
+when both have long known and loved one another. Whatever
+the cause of it, this sudden feeling ended only with
+her life.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But what was the remarkable change that had come over
+so young a woman as Praskovya Ivanovna, after one year
+of married life? The foolish child had turned into a
+sensible but cheerful woman. She frankly confessed that
+they had all behaved badly to Stepan Mihailovitch. For
+herself only she pleaded youth and ignorance, and, for her
+grandmother, her husband, and the rest, their blind devotion
+to her. She did not ask him to pardon the chief criminal
+at once; but she hoped that in time, when he saw her
+happiness and the unwearied care with which her husband
+managed her property and looked after her estates, her
+cousin would forgive the culprit and admit him at Bagrovo.
+My grandfather, though he made no answer at the time,
+was completely conquered by this appeal. He did not
+keep his "clever cousin"&mdash;as he now began to call her&mdash;long
+at his house; he said that her place was now elsewhere,
+and soon sent her back to her husband. At parting,
+he said: "If you are as well satisfied with your
+husband a year hence, and if he behaves as well to you
+as he does now, I shall be reconciled to him." A year
+later, as he knew that Kurolyessoff was behaving well and
+paying the utmost attention to the management of his
+wife's property, and found his cousin, when he saw her,
+looking healthy and happy and cheerful, Stepan Mihailovitch
+told her to bring her husband with her to Bagrovo.
+He received Kurolyessoff cordially, frankly confessed his
+former doubts, and ended by promising to treat him as
+a kinsman and friend, on condition of continued good
+conduct. The guest behaved very cleverly: he was less
+furtive and less insinuating than he used to be, but just as
+respectful, attentive, and tactful. His bearing was clearly
+more confident and self-assured; he was giving the closest
+attention to agricultural problems, on which he asked advice
+from my grandfather&mdash;advice which he took in very quickly
+and followed with remarkable skill. He was connected in
+some distant way with Stepan Mihailovitch, and addressed
+him as "uncle" and treated the rest of the family as
+relations. Even before the scene of reconciliation or
+forgiveness, he had rendered a service of some kind to
+Stepan Mihailovitch; my grandfather was aware of this
+and thanked him for it now; he even gave him a similar
+commission to execute. In fact, the visit passed off very
+well. But, though all the circumstances seemed to speak
+in favour of Kurolyessoff, my grandfather still said:
+"The lad is all right: he is clever and sensible; but
+somehow I don't take to him."</p>
+<p class="pnext">It was in the course of the next year that Stepan
+Mihailovitch made his move to the district of Ufa. For
+three years after his marriage, Kurolyessoff behaved with
+discretion and moderation, or at least concealed his conduct
+with such care that nothing got round. Besides, he was
+constantly moving about and spent little time at home.
+There was only one report, which spread everywhere with
+exaggeration&mdash;that the young landowner was a very strict
+master. During the next two years he did wonders in
+the way of improving his wife's property, and established
+his character for unceasing activity, bold enterprise, and
+steadfast perseverance in the execution of his schemes.
+The property had been mismanaged previously: the land
+had been injured by neglect, and the peasants brought in
+very little income, not because there was no market for
+their grain, but because they were spoilt and lazy, and had
+too little land; and another difficulty was that some of
+them belonged to three different owners&mdash;Mme. Bakt&eacute;yeff
+and her daughter as well as Praskovya Ivanovna. Kurolyessoff
+began by transferring some of the peasants to new
+ground, while he sold the old land at a good profit. He
+bought about 20,000 acres of steppe in the Government of
+Simbirsk (now Sam&aacute;ra) and the district of Stavropolsk&mdash;excellent
+arable land, level and easy to plough, with over
+three feet of black soil. The land lay on the river Berlya,
+which had some coppices on its banks near the source;
+and there was also "Bear Hollow," which was left untouched
+for some time and is now the only forest on the
+property. He settled 350 serfs here. This estate turned
+out highly profitable, because it was only a hundred <em class="italics">versts</em>
+from Sam&aacute;ra and about fifty from a number of ports on
+the Volga. It is well known that the value of an estate
+in our country depends entirely upon the market for grain.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Next, Kurolyessoff went off to the district of Ufa and
+bought from the Bashkirs 60,000 acres. The soil, though
+good, was not as productive as that in Simbirsk, but there
+was a considerable quantity of wood, not only firewood,
+but timber for building. He planted two colonies there,
+one of 450 serfs and the other of 50; and he called the
+larger "Parashino" and the smaller "Ivanovka." As
+the Simbirsk estate was called "Kurolyessovo," each of
+the properties bore one of the names of his wife. Such
+a romantic fancy has always seemed to me curious, considering
+the sort of man that Kurolyessoff turned out to
+be; but some will maintain that these inconsistencies are
+common enough. He also made a seat for himself and his
+wife in the village of Choorassovo, fifty <em class="italics">versts</em> from Simbirsk;
+this was a separate property of 350 serfs which his
+wife had inherited from her mother. He built there a
+splendid mansion, according to the ideas of those days,
+with all the usual appurtenances; it was finely decorated
+and furnished, and painted with frescoes inside and out;
+the chandeliers and bronzes, the silver plate and china,
+were a wonder to behold. The house was situated on the
+slope of a hill, from which more than twenty excellent
+springs came bubbling out. The house and the hill stood
+in the centre of an orchard, very large and productive,
+stocked with apple-trees and cherry-trees of every possible
+sort. The internal arrangements&mdash;the service and cooking,
+the horses and carriages&mdash;were luxurious and substantial.
+There was a constant succession of visitors at Choorassovo,
+either country neighbours, of whom there were a good
+many, or people from Simbirsk; they ate and drank, took
+walks and played cards, sang and talked, and were generally
+noisy and merry. Kurolyessoff dressed his wife up like
+a doll, anticipated all her wishes, and entertained her from
+morning till night, that is, when he happened to be at home.
+In short, after a few years, he had attained such a position
+all round, that good people admired him and bad people
+envied him. Nor did he forget the claims of religion:
+in place of an old tumbledown wooden erection, he built a
+new church of stone and equipped it splendidly; he even
+formed an excellent choir out of the household servants.
+Praskovya Ivanovna was quite contented and happy.
+She gave birth to a daughter in the fourth year of her
+marriage, and to a son a year later, but she soon lost them,
+the girl in infancy, and the boy when he was three. She
+had become so attached to the boy that this loss cost her
+dear. For a whole year her eyes were never dry, her
+excellent constitution was seriously affected, and she had
+no more children. Meanwhile her husband's reputation
+and influence grew by leaps and bounds. It is true that
+his behaviour to the small landowners was arbitrary and
+harsh; yet they, if they did not like him, were exceedingly
+afraid of him; and people of importance thought it only
+to his credit, that he made his inferiors know their proper
+place. His absences from home became more frequent
+and longer, from year to year, especially after the sad year
+in which Praskovya Ivanovna lost her son and would not
+be comforted. It is probable that he grew weary of tears
+and sighs and solitude; for she refused to have any visitors
+for a whole year. But indeed the most cheerful and noisy
+society at Choorassovo was no attraction to Kurolyessoff.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Little by little, certain rumours began to spread abroad
+and gain strength. According to these reports, the Major
+was not merely strict, as was said before, but cruel; in
+the privacy of his estates at Ufa he gave himself up to
+drink and debauchery; he had gathered round him a
+band, with whom he drank and committed excesses of
+every kind; and, worse still, several victims had already
+been killed by him in the fury of his drunken violence.
+The police and magistrates of the district, it was said,
+were all his creatures: he had bribed some with money
+and others with drink and terrorised them all. The small
+landowners and inferior officials went in terror of their
+lives: if any dared to act or speak against him, they were
+seized in broad daylight and imprisoned in cellars or corn-kilns,
+where they were fed on bread and water and suffered
+the pangs of cold and hunger; and some were unmercifully
+flogged with an instrument called a "cat." Kurolyessoff
+had a special fancy for this implement, which was merely
+a leather whip with seven tails and knots at the end of
+each tail. They remained for some time after Kurolyessoff's
+death in a store-room at Parashino, for show, not for use;
+and I saw them there myself; they were burnt by my
+father when he inherited the property. These reports
+were only too well founded: the reality far surpassed the
+timid whisper of rumour. Kurolyessoff's thirst for blood,
+inflamed to madness by strong drink, grew unchecked to
+its full proportions, till it presented one of those horrible
+spectacles at which humanity shudders and turns sick.
+The instinct of the tiger is terrible indeed, when combined
+with the reasoning power of a man.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At last the rumours were changed into certain knowledge;
+and of all the people with whom Praskovya Ivanovna
+lived&mdash;relations, neighbours, and servants, every one
+knew the real truth about Kurolyessoff. When he returned
+to Choorassovo from the scene of his exploits, he
+always showed the same respect to rank, the same friendly
+attention to his equals, the same anxiety to please his wife.
+She had now got over her loss and had recovered health
+and spirits; the house was as full of visitors as it used to
+be, and something was always going on. At Choorassovo,
+Kurolyessoff never struck any of the servants, leaving the
+bailiff and the butler in sole possession of this amusement;
+but they all knew about him and trembled at a mere look.
+Even relations and intimate friends showed some discomfort
+and embarrassment in his company. But Praskovya Ivanovna
+noticed nothing, or, if she did, ascribed it to a quite
+different cause&mdash;the involuntary respect which every one
+felt for her husband's remarkable success as a landowner,
+his splendid establishment, and his general intelligence and
+firmness of purpose. Sensible people who loved Praskovya
+Ivanovna, when they saw her perfectly composed and happy,
+were glad of her ignorance and hoped it might last as long
+as possible. There were, no doubt, some women among
+her dependants and humble neighbours whose tongues
+itched uncommonly, and who felt a strong desire to pay
+the Major out for his contemptuous treatment of them,
+by disclosing the truth; but, apart from the fear they
+could not help feeling, which would probably not have
+deterred them, there was another obstacle which prevented
+the fulfilment of their kind intentions. It was
+simply impossible to bring any tales against her husband
+to Praskovya Ivanovna. She was clever, keen-sighted,
+and determined; and, as soon as she detected any hidden
+innuendo to the detriment of Kurolyessoff, she knitted
+her dark eyebrows and said in her downright way that any
+offence of the kind would be punished by perpetual exclusion
+from her house. As the natural result of such a
+significant warning, nobody ventured to interfere in what
+was not their business. There were two servants in the
+house, a favourite attendant of her late father's and her
+own old nurse, whom she specially favoured, though they
+were not admitted to such close intimacy as old servants
+often were in those days; but they too were powerless. To
+them it was a matter of life and death that their mistress
+should know the real truth about her husband; for they
+had near relations who were personal attendants of Kurolyessoff's
+and were suffering beyond endurance from their
+master's cruelty. At last they determined to tell the whole
+story to their mistress. They chose a time when she was
+alone, and went together to her room; but the old nurse
+had hardly mentioned Kurolyessoff's name, when Praskovya
+Ivanovna flew into a violent passion. She told the
+woman that, if she ever again ventured to open her mouth
+against her master, she would banish her from her presence
+for ever and send her to live at Parashino. Thus all
+possible channels were blocked, and all mouths were
+stopped, that might have informed against the criminal.
+Praskovya Ivanovna loved her husband and trusted him
+absolutely. She knew that people like to meddle with
+what does not concern them, and like to trouble the water,
+that they may catch fish; and she had made up her mind
+at once and laid down an absolute rule, to listen to no
+tales against her husband. It is an excellent rule, and
+indispensable for the preservation of domestic peace. But
+there is no rule that does not admit of exceptions; and
+perhaps, in the present case, the resolute temper and strong
+will of the wife, added to the fact that all the wealth
+belonged to her, might have checked the husband at the
+outset of his career. As a sensible man, he would not have
+cared to deprive himself of all the advantages of a luxurious
+life; he would not have gone to such extremes or given
+such free play to his monstrous passions. It is more likely
+that, like many other men, he would have taken his
+pleasures in moderation and with precaution.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Thus several years went by, during which Kurolyessoff
+gave himself up without restraint to his evil tendencies.
+His degeneration was rapid, and at last he began to commit
+incredible crimes, and always with impunity. I shall not
+describe in detail the kind of life he led on his estates,
+especially at Parashino, and also in the villages of the
+district; the story would be too repulsive. I shall say no
+more than is necessary to convey a true conception of
+this formidable man. During the early years when his
+whole attention was given to organising his wife's estates,
+he deserved to be called the most far-seeing, practical,
+and watchful of agents. To all the infinitely various and
+troublesome business, involved in removing peasants and
+settling them down in distant holdings, he gave his personal
+and unremitting attention. He kept constantly in view
+one object only, the well-being of his dependants. He
+could spend money where it was needed; he saw that it
+came to hand at the right time and in the right quantity;
+he anticipated all the wants and requirements of the
+settlers. He accompanied them himself for a great part
+of their journey, and met them himself at the end of it,
+where they found everything prepared for their reception.
+It is true that he was too severe and even cruel in the
+punishment of culprits; but he was just, and could keep
+his eyes shut at times. From time to time he allowed
+himself a little relaxation, when he disappeared for a day
+or two to amuse himself; but he could throw off the effects
+of his debauchery like water off a duck's back, and come to
+work again with fresh vigour.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So long as he had the burden of his work upon his
+shoulders, it took up all his powers of mind and kept him
+from the fatal passion for drink, which robbed him of his
+senses and removed the curb from his monstrous inhuman
+passions. Work was his salvation; but, when he had got
+both the new estates, Kurolyessovo and Parashino, into
+order, and built manor-houses at both, with a second
+smaller house at Parashino, then came the season of little
+work and much leisure. Drunkenness, with its usual
+consequences, and violence, gained complete mastery over
+him, and developed by degrees into an insatiable thirst for
+human blood and human suffering. Encouraged by the
+passive fear of all around him, he soon ceased to set any
+limit to his arbitrary violence. He chose from among his
+dependants a score of ruffians, fit instruments for his
+purposes, and formed them into a band of robbers. They
+saw that their master bore a charmed life, and believed
+in his power; drunken and debauched themselves, they
+carried out all his insane orders willingly and boldly. If
+any man offended Kurolyessoff by the slightest independence
+in word or action&mdash;if, for example, he failed to turn
+up when invited to one of their drunken revels&mdash;the gang
+set off at once at a sign from their master, seized the culprit
+either secretly or openly wherever they found him, and
+brought him back to Parashino, where he was treated with
+insult and chained up in a cellar underground or flogged by
+their master's orders. Kurolyessoff was a man of taste:
+he liked good horses, and he liked good pictures&mdash;he
+thought them good at least&mdash;to adorn his walls. If
+anything of the kind took his fancy in a neighbour's house
+or in any house where he happened to be, he at once proposed
+an exchange; in case of a refusal, he would sometimes,
+if he was in a good humour, offer money; but, if this also
+was refused, he gave warning that he would take it and
+give nothing for it. And he did actually turn up with his
+gang a short time after, pack up whatever he wanted, and
+carry it off. Complaints were made, and the preliminary
+steps for an inquiry were taken. But Kurolyessoff saw this
+must be stopped at once. He sent a message to the
+district magistrate, that he would flay with the "cat" any
+officer of the law who dared to present himself; and he
+remained master of the situation. Meantime the man who
+had dared to complain was seized and beaten, on his own
+estate and in his own house, with his wife and children
+kneeling round and imploring mercy. It was Kurolyessoff's
+custom to make it up with his victims after a time: sometimes
+he offered them pecuniary compensation, but more
+often he restored peace by terrorising them; in any case,
+the stolen goods remained his lawful property. During
+his carouses he liked to boast that he had taken "that
+pretty thing in the gilt frame" from so-and-so, and that
+inlaid writing-table from some one else; and often these
+very people were sitting at the table, pretending to be
+deaf or plucking up heart to laugh at their own losses.
+There were even worse acts of violence, but these also
+went scot free.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Kurolyessoff had a very powerful constitution: though
+he drank a great deal, it never disabled him but only put
+him on the move and roused a horrible activity in his
+clouded brain and inflamed body. One of his favourite
+amusements was to harness teams of spirited horses to a
+miscellaneous assortment of carriages, to pack the carriages
+with his ragtag and bobtail of men and women, and then
+scour over the fields and through the villages at full gallop,
+with the jingling of bells and the singing and shouting of
+his drunken rabble. He took a stock of liquor with him
+on these occasions and made every one he met, without
+regard to calling or sex or age, drink till they were intoxicated;
+and any one who dared to refuse was first
+flogged, and then tied to a tree or a post, though it might
+be raining or freezing at the time. Of more revolting
+acts of violence I say nothing. One day he was driving
+in this state of mind through a village, and, as he passed
+a threshing-floor, noticed a woman of remarkable beauty.
+"Stop!" he called out. "Petrushka, what do you think
+of that woman?" "She's uncommonly pretty," said
+Petrushka. "Would you like to marry her?" "How
+can I marry another man's wife?" asked Petrushka with
+a grin on his face. "I'll show you how! Seize her, my
+lads, and put her in the carriage beside me!" They did
+so; the woman was taken straight to the parish church,
+and there, though she protested that she had a husband
+living and two children, was married to Petrushka;
+and no complaints were made either in Kurolyessoff's
+lifetime or in that of his widow. When the estate came
+into my father's hands, he restored this woman with
+her husband and children to her former owner; her first
+husband had long been dead. My father also distributed
+various articles of property to their former owners when
+they asked for them; but many of the things had got worn
+out by tossing about in lumber-rooms. It is hard to
+believe that such things could happen in Russia, even
+eighty years ago; but the truth of the narrative it is
+impossible to dispute.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This life of drunken and criminal violence, horrible and
+disgusting enough in itself, led on to worse, till the man's
+natural cruelty became a ferocious thirst for blood. To
+inflict torture became with him a necessity as well as a
+pleasure. On the days when he could not gratify this
+passion, he was depressed and listless, uneasy and even ill;
+and this was why his visits to Choorassovo grew steadily
+rarer and his stay there shorter. But, on his return to the
+solitude of Parashino, he made haste to reward himself for
+his abstinence. He had only to watch the labourers at
+their work, to secure a sufficient number of victims; no
+excuses were accepted, and it is always possible to find
+trifling cases of neglect on the land if you are determined
+to hunt for them. Yet it was the personal servants and
+people about the house who suffered most from his ferocity.
+He seldom flogged a peasant, unless the man had committed
+a serious offence or was personally known to him;
+but his bailiffs and clerks suffered as much at his hands as
+the household servants. He spared no one: every one
+of his favourites had, some time or other, been flogged
+within an inch of his life, and some of them many times.
+It is remarkable that, when Kurolyessoff got violently
+angry, which seldom happened, he did not use violence;
+but, when he had got hold of a man and intended to torture
+him for his own amusement, he would say in a quiet and
+even affectionate tone: "Well, my good friend Grig&oacute;ri
+Kuzmitch,"&mdash;Grishka<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id58" id="id56"><sup>28</sup></a> being his usual name&mdash;"it can't
+be helped; come, and I will settle accounts with you."
+Thus he would speak to his head-groom, who for some
+unknown reason was put to the torture more often than
+others. "Scratch him up a bit with the cat," said the
+master with a smile, and then the torture went on for hours,
+while the master drank tea with brandy in it, smoked his
+pipe, and from time to time passed jests on his victim till
+unconsciousness supervened. Trustworthy witnesses have
+assured me that only one expedient proved successful in
+saving life after such an ordeal: the lacerated body of
+the victim was wrapped up in sheepskins taken warm from
+the animals' backs as soon as they were slaughtered.
+Kurolyessoff would carefully examine his victim; then,
+if content, he would say, "Well, that's enough; take him
+away"&mdash;and then he became cheerful, jocular, and amiable
+for the whole day and sometimes for several days. In order
+to complete the portrait of this monster, I shall quote his
+own words which he repeated more than once among his
+boon-companions: "Don't talk to me of the knout or the
+stick! They kill a man before you mean it. The 'cat'
+is the thing for me: it gives pain without taking life!"
+I have told here only a tithe of what I know, but perhaps
+I have said enough. It is remarkable, as an instance of the
+inexplicable inconsistencies of corrupt human nature, that
+Kurolyessoff, at a time when he had reached the extreme
+limit of debauchery and cruelty, was zealously engaged in
+building a stone church at Parashino. At the time I am
+about to describe, the outside of the church was finished,
+and workmen had been hired for the internal decoration:
+carpenters, carvers, gilders, and <em class="italics">ikon</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id59" id="id57"><sup>29</sup></a>-painters had been at
+work for some months and were occupying all the smaller
+manor-house of Parashino.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Praskovya Ivanovna had now been married fourteen
+years. She noticed something strange about her husband,
+whom for two years she had only seen at long intervals
+for a few days at a time, but she did not even suspect anything
+like the truth. She went on with her easy cheerful
+way of life: in summer she gave great attention to her
+orchard and the water-springs which she left in their
+natural state and liked to clean out with her own hands;
+at other seasons she spent her time with her visitors and
+became a great lover of cards. Suddenly she received, by
+post or special messenger, a letter from an old lady for
+whom she had great respect, a distant relation of her
+husband's. This letter gave a full description of Kurolyessoff's
+life, and ended in this way, that it would be
+sinful not to open the eyes of the mistress of a thousand
+serfs, when they were suffering such monstrous cruelty and
+she could protect them by cancelling the legal authority
+she had given her husband to manage her estates. "Their
+blood cries to heaven," she wrote, "and at this moment
+a servant known to you, Ivan Onufrieff, is dying in consequence
+of cruel maltreatment. You have nothing to
+fear yourself from Kurolyessoff: he will not venture to
+show his face at Choorassovo, and your good neighbours
+and the Governor himself will protect you."</p>
+<p class="pnext">This letter fell like a thunderbolt on Praskovya
+Ivanovna. I have heard her say myself that she was quite
+stunned for some minutes; but she was supported by her
+firm faith in God and the uncommon strength of her will,
+and soon determined on a step from which most brave men
+would have shrunk. She ordered horses to be harnessed,
+saying that she was going to Simbirsk, and then, with one
+maid and a man and the coachman, drove straight to
+Parashino. It was a long journey of 400 <em class="italics">versts</em>, and she had
+plenty of leisure to think over what she was doing. She
+used to say herself that she had formed no plan of action
+whatever; she merely wished to see with her own eyes
+and find out for certain what her husband was doing and
+how he lived. She did not entirely trust the letter from
+his kinswoman, who lived at a distance and might have
+been deceived by false reports; and she did not choose to
+question her old nurse at Choorassovo. The thought of
+danger never entered her head: her husband had always
+been so gentle and respectful with her, that it seemed to
+her quite natural and quite possible to induce him to return
+in her carriage to Choorassovo. She timed herself to arrive
+at Parashino in the evening, left her carriage outside the
+village, and walked unrecognised&mdash;few of the people there
+knew her&mdash;accompanied by her maid and man, to the court
+of the mansion-house. She passed through the back
+entrance, made her way to a wing from which loud sounds
+of singing and laughter were issuing, and opened the door
+with a steady hand.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Fortune, as if on purpose, had brought together everything
+that could reveal at one flash the kind of life her
+husband was leading. More intoxicated than usual, he was
+carousing with his boon-companions. Dressed in a shirt
+of red silk, he held a glass of punch in one hand<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id62" id="id60"><sup>30</sup></a>
+while a tipsy herd of servants, retainers, and country
+women danced and sang before him. Praskovya Ivanovna
+nearly fainted at the sight. She understood all now.
+Unnoticed, because the room was crowded with people,
+she shut the door and left the house. On the steps she
+came face to face with one of Kurolyessoff's servants, not
+a young man, and, fortunately, sober. He recognised his
+mistress and was just calling out, "<em class="italics">Matushka</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id63" id="id61"><sup>31</sup></a> Praskovya
+Ivanovna, is it you?"&mdash;when she put her hand over his
+mouth and led him to the centre of the courtyard. She said
+in an ominous voice, "Is this the way you go on behind
+my back? The days of your feasting and dancing are
+done." The man fell at her feet weeping and said: "<em class="italics">Matushka</em>,
+do you suppose that <em class="italics">we</em> find pleasure in his goings-on,
+that <em class="italics">we</em> are responsible? God himself has brought you
+here." She told him to be silent and take her to see Ivan
+Onufrieff; she had heard that he was still living. She
+found him in a dying state, lying in a cow-byre in the backyard.
+He was too weak to tell her anything; but his
+brother, Alexy&eacute;i, a mere lad, who had been flogged only the
+day before, crawled somehow from his pallet, fell on his
+knees, and told her what had befallen his brother and
+himself and others as well. Praskovya Ivanovna's heart
+swelled with pity and horror. She felt that she also was to
+blame, and she formed a firm resolve to put an end to the
+crimes and atrocities of Kurolyessoff. She thought there
+would be no difficulty. She gave strict orders that her
+presence should be kept secret. Then, as she heard that
+the smaller house, which had been built some years before,
+but, from some caprice of her husband's, never furnished,
+contained one habitable room unoccupied by the workmen,
+she went off, intending to pass the remainder of the night
+there and to speak next morning to her husband when he
+was sober. But the secret of her arrival was not strictly
+kept. The report reached the ear of one of the most
+desperate of Kurolyessoff's gang, and he, moved by devotion
+or by fear, whispered it to his master. Kurolyessoff was
+dumbfounded by the news; it sobered him in a moment;
+he felt uneasy and scented danger ahead. His wife's firm
+and masculine temper had found few opportunities to
+display itself hitherto, but he guessed that it was there.
+Dismissing his band of revellers, he had two buckets of
+cold water poured over his head; and then, braced up
+and invigorated by this expedient, he changed into ordinary
+clothing and went to see if his wife was asleep. He had
+had time to reflect and fix on a line of action. He guessed
+the truth, that Praskovya Ivanovna had received from
+some quarter information as to his way of life, but that she
+was incredulous and had come to Parashino to ascertain
+the truth herself. He knew that her eye had rested for a
+moment on his revels, but he did not know that she had
+seen Onufrieff and that Alexy&eacute;i had told her the whole
+story. He intended to play the repentant sinner, to excuse
+himself as best he could for his riotous debauch, to pour
+oil on the troubled waters by his delicate attentions, and
+to take his wife away as soon as possible from Parashino.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It was morning by now, and the sun had actually risen.
+Kurolyessoff stole on tiptoe to the room occupied by Praskovya
+Ivanovna and softly opened the door. A bed had
+been made for her on the top of a chest, but the sheets were
+still smooth and no one had lain down on them. He looked
+all round the room and saw Praskovya Ivanovna. She
+was kneeling in prayer; there was no <em class="italics">ikon</em> in the room,
+and her eyes, full of tears, were fixed upon the Cross on the
+church, which was just opposite the window and glittered
+in the rays of the rising sun. He remained standing a
+few moments, and then said in a playful voice: "You
+have prayed long enough, my dear! I am delighted to
+see you. What made you think of coming?" Praskovya
+Ivanovna rose from her knees with no sign of confusion;
+she refused her husband's embrace; then, concealing the
+flame of her just anger under a cold determined manner,
+she told him that she knew all and had seen Ivan Onufrieff.
+She expressed in plain terms her aversion to the monster
+whom she could no longer regard as her husband, and she
+passed sentence upon him: he was to return the document
+which gave him authority over her estates, to leave Parashino
+at once, never to appear before her again, and never
+to set foot on any of her lands; if he refused, she would
+petition the Governor of the province, and reveal all his
+crimes; and his fate would be Siberia and penal servitude.
+Kurolyessoff was taken by surprise; he foamed at the
+mouth with rage and anger. "So that is the way you
+talk to me, my beauty! Then I shall change my tune
+too!" roared the infuriated ruffian. "You shall not
+leave Parashino till you sign a document transferring all
+your estates to me; if you refuse, I shall shut you up in a
+cellar and starve you to death." Then he caught up a
+stick from a corner of the room, felled his wife to the floor
+with his first blows, and went on beating her till she lost
+her senses. Next he ordered some of his trusted servants
+to carry their mistress to a stone cellar, which he locked with
+a huge padlock and put the key in his pocket. He was a
+formidable figure when he appeared before the assembled
+household; he had summoned them all, in order to discover
+the culprit who had led his mistress to the cow-byre;
+but the man had already sought safety in flight,
+accompanied by the coachman and manservant who had
+come from Choorassovo. The fugitives were pursued at
+once. Kurolyessoff did no injury to the maid, who had
+refused to desert her mistress: he gave her directions for
+exhorting the prisoner to submission, and then locked her
+up with his own hands in the same cellar. What did
+Kurolyessoff do next? He began to drink and riot more
+furiously than before. But alas! in vain did he swallow
+brandy like water, in vain did his revel rout dance and sing
+before him&mdash;he had turned gloomy and sullen. Yet this
+did not prevent him from working indefatigably for the
+attainment of his purpose. He procured from the local
+town a legal document by which Praskovya Ivanovna
+professed to sell Parashino and Kurolyessovo to one of his
+disreputable friends&mdash;Choorassovo he was kind enough to
+leave to her&mdash;and twice a day he went down to the cellar
+and pressed his wife to sign the paper; he begged pardon
+for his violence in the heat of the moment, promised that
+if she consented she should never see him again, and took
+an oath that he would restore all her property to her by
+his will. But Praskovya Ivanovna, though bruised and
+half-starved and suffering from fever, refused even to
+listen to any compromise whatever. So things went on
+for five days, and God only knows how it would all have
+ended.</p>
+<p class="pnext">All this time my grandfather Stepan Mihailovitch was
+living and prospering on his estate of New Bagrovo,
+which was 120 <em class="italics">versts</em> distant from Parashino. As I have
+mentioned already, he had frankly made it up with Kurolyessoff
+and was satisfied with him in general, though he
+felt no fancy for him. Kurolyessoff, on his side, showed
+great deference to Stepan Mihailovitch and all his family,
+and was ready to perform any services for them. When he
+had planted his colony at Parashino and was engaged in
+organising it, he came every year to Bagrovo and made
+himself very agreeable. He appealed to Stepan Mihailovitch,
+as a man of practical experience in colonising, for
+his advice; he received it gratefully, wrote it all down
+word for word, and really followed it. He even invited
+Stepan Mihailovitch twice to Parashino, to judge of his
+pupil's proficiency; and each time my grandfather
+approved entirely of what he saw; and on his last visit,
+when he had inspected the arable land and all the farming
+arrangements, he said to Kurolyessoff, "You are young,
+friend, but you've got on fast; I can teach you nothing."
+And, as a matter of fact, everything at Parashino was in
+excellent order. Of course the host received the old man
+as if he had been his own father, with all possible deference
+and attention. As years went on, ugly rumours about
+Kurolyessoff found their way to Bagrovo. As my grandfather
+disliked gossip, nothing was said to him at first;
+but the rumours grew steadily. The womankind at
+Bagrovo knew of them; and Arina Vassilyevna ventured
+at last to tell her husband that Kurolyessoff was leading
+a terribly wicked life. He would not believe it. He
+said: "Once you believe what people say, you will soon
+accuse your neighbour of robbing a church! I know what
+the Bakt&eacute;yeff servants were like&mdash;thieves and shirkers,
+to a man! And my cousin's serfs too got spoilt, with no
+master to look after them. It's not surprising if they're
+terrified of honest work and decent order. Friend Mihail
+may have gone to work too fast: what of that? they'll
+learn to bear it. As to his drinking&mdash;if he takes a glass
+after his work, a man's none the worse for that, provided
+he doesn't neglect his business. There <em class="italics">are</em> beastly things
+a man shouldn't do; but there, I fancy, they're lying.
+You women are too fond of listening to gossip." For
+a long time after this, Stepan Mihailovitch heard nothing
+more of the rumours. At last, some Bagroff serfs, who had
+been transferred from the Government of Simbirsk to
+Parashino together with the serfs of the Bakt&eacute;yeff family,
+came to visit their relations at New Bagrovo and told terrible
+stories of their master. Arina Vassilyevna again appealed
+to her husband, and begged that he would himself question
+one of these men who was now at Bagrovo; he was an old
+man with an established character for speaking the truth;
+and Stepan Mihailovitch had known him all his life. My
+grandfather consented. He sent for the man and questioned
+him, and heard a story which made his hair stand on end.
+He could not think what to do, or how to mend matters.
+Praskovya Ivanovna's occasional letters showed that she
+was quite happy and undisturbed; and he concluded that
+she knew nothing of her husband's conduct. In the old
+days he had warned her himself never to listen to tales
+against her husband; and he felt sure that she was following
+his advice only too well. He reflected, that, if she
+learnt the truth, it was doubtful if she could do anything;
+she would distress herself terribly, all to no purpose. It
+was therefore desirable that her eyes should never be
+opened. He could not now interfere; and he thought
+interference useless in the case of such a man. "I hope
+he will break his neck or be tried for a murder; he deserves
+it. No hand but God's can mend a man like that. He
+is not so hard upon his peasants and labourers, and the
+house-servants are a pack of scoundrels; let them suffer
+for their sins! I have no mind to soil my fingers with this
+dirty business." Thus Stepan Mihailovitch reasoned in his
+own way. He broke off all relations with Kurolyessoff,
+however, and ceased to answer his letters. This hint was
+understood, and the correspondence came to an end. But
+to Praskovya Ivanovna, Stepan Mihailovitch began to write
+oftener and more intimately than before.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So matters remained till the morning, when the three
+fugitives from Parashino made their appearance before my
+grandfather as he sat on his stoop. They had spent the
+first day concealed in an inaccessible swamp which joined
+on to the stackyards of Parashino; in the evening they
+learnt from some one in the village exactly what had
+happened, and made their way straight to Bagrovo, considering
+Stepan Mihailovitch as the only possible protector
+and champion of Praskovya Ivanovna. His feelings may
+be imagined when he heard what had happened at Parashino.
+He loved his one cousin not less, perhaps more,
+than his own daughters. The image of Parasha half-killed
+by her ruffian of a husband, of Parasha confined in a cellar
+for three days and perhaps dead already, presented itself
+so vividly to his lively imagination that he sprang up like
+one demented, and rushed down the courtyard and through
+the village, summoning his retainers and labourers in
+accents of frenzy. Those who were not in the cottages
+came running from the fields. When all were assembled,
+they were full of sympathy for their master's passionate
+despair, and cried with one voice that they would go on
+foot, if need be, to the rescue of Praskovya Ivanovna. In
+a short time three cars, drawn by teams of spirited horses
+from the stables of Bagrovo, and carrying a dozen men
+chosen for strength and courage, were galloping along the
+road to Parashino. The party included the fugitives from
+Parashino, and were armed with guns and swords, pikes
+and pitchforks. Later in the day two more cars followed
+to reinforce Stepan Mihailovitch; the men were armed in
+the same way; the horses were the best the peasants could
+produce. By the evening of the second day, the vanguard
+was within seven <em class="italics">versts</em> of Parashino. They fed the jaded
+horses, and in the first light of the summer dawn dashed
+into the wide courtyard and drove straight up to the cellar.
+It was close to the rooms occupied by Kurolyessoff. Stepan
+Mihailovitch jumped out and began to beat his fist against
+the wooden door of the cellar. A voice faintly asked,
+"Who is there?" My grandfather recognised his cousin's
+voice; dropping a tear of joy that he had found her alive,
+and crossing himself, he called out in a loud voice, "Thank
+God! It is your cousin, Stepan Mihailovitch; you are
+safe now!" He sent off the servants from Choorassovo
+to get ready Praskovya Ivanovna's carriage, and posted
+six armed men to defend the gate, while he himself and the
+rest of his men applied axes and crowbars to the cellar-door.
+It gave way in a moment; and Stepan Mihailovitch
+himself carried out Praskovya Ivanovna, placed her
+on a car between himself and her faithful maid, and drove
+unmolested out of the courtyard with all his retainers.
+The sun was rising as they drove past the church, and his
+first beams lit up the Cross on the roof. It was just six
+days since Praskovya Ivanovna had prayed with her eyes
+fixed on that Cross; and now she prayed again and thanked
+God for her deliverance. The carriage caught them up,
+when they were five <em class="italics">versts</em> from Parashino; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch moved his cousin into the carriage and drove
+with her back to Bagrovo.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But I shall be asked, "How did all this happen? did
+no one see it? what had become of Kurolyessoff and his
+trusty retainers? is it possible that he was unaware of
+it or absent at the time?" No: the liberation of Praskovya
+Ivanovna took place before many witnesses; and
+Kurolyessoff was at home and knew what was going on,
+but did not venture to show his face.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The explanation is quite simple. His men had spent
+the whole evening carousing with their master, and some
+of them were so drunk that they could not be roused.
+There was one sober man, a complete abstainer and a
+favourite. He wakened his master with some difficulty,
+and, trembling with fear, told him of the raid of Stepan
+Mihailovitch and the guns pointing straight at the windows.
+"But where are all our fellows?" asked Kurolyessoff.
+"Some are asleep, and others are hiding," said the man;
+but this was not true; for the drunken rabble was mustering
+near the outside steps. Kurolyessoff thought a moment;
+then with a gesture of despair he said, "Let her go, and
+the devil go with her! Lock the door, go to the window,
+and watch what happens." In a few minutes, the man
+cried out, "They are carrying away the mistress!&mdash;They're
+off!"&mdash;"Go to your bed," said his master; then he rolled
+himself up in his blankets and either fell asleep or made a
+pretence of it.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Yes, right has a moral strength before which wrong
+must bend, for all its boldness. Kurolyessoff knew the
+stout heart and fearless courage of Stepan Mihailovitch,
+and he knew that he himself was in the wrong; and
+therefore, in spite of his furious temper and unscrupulous
+impudence, he let his victim go without a struggle.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Tenderly and carefully Stepan Mihailovitch conveyed
+the sufferer, whom he had always loved and who now roused
+in him deep sympathy and a still greater affection. No
+question passed his lips on the journey; and, when he
+brought her in safety to Bagrovo, he forbade his womankind
+to trouble her with inquiries. But in a fortnight
+Praskovya Ivanovna was herself again, thanks to her strong
+constitution and high spirit; and then Stepan Mihailovitch
+determined to cross-examine her. In order to act, he
+must know the real truth, and he never trusted secondhand
+information. She told him the whole truth with
+perfect frankness, but begged that he would keep it from
+his family and that she should be asked no questions by
+any one else. She put herself altogether in his hands;
+but she feared his hot temper and implored him not to
+take vengeance on Kurolyessoff. She said positively that,
+on reflection, she had decided not to bring shame on her
+husband, or to stain the name which she must continue to
+bear throughout her life. She added that she now repented
+of the words which had burst from her lips at her first
+interview with Kurolyessoff at Parashino, and that nothing
+would induce her to make a complaint to the Governor
+against him. Yet she considered it her duty to rescue her
+serfs from his cruelty, and therefore intended to cancel the
+document which gave him authority over her estates. She
+asked Stepan Mihailovitch to take over the management
+himself, and also to write to Kurolyessoff demanding the
+document and stating that, if he refused to give it up, she
+would take legal steps to cancel it. She asked Stepan
+Mihailovitch to express this in plain terms but without any
+abusive epithets; and she offered to sign the letter herself,
+to make it more convincing. I should mention that she
+could hardly read and write her native language. Stepan
+Mihailovitch loved his cousin so well that he bridled his
+rage and assented to her wishes. But he would not hear
+of taking over the management. "No, my dear," he said;
+"I don't care to meddle in other people's affairs, and I
+don't want your relations to be saying that I feather my
+own nest while looking after your multitude of serfs. The
+land will be badly managed in your hands, I don't doubt;
+but you are rich and will have enough. I don't mind
+saying in the letter that I am to take over the management;
+that will give your sweet pet a turn! All the rest you ask
+shall be done."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Strict orders were accordingly issued to the womankind
+to ask no questions of the lady. My grandfather
+wrote the letter to Kurolyessoff with his own hand,
+Praskovya Ivanovna added her signature, and a special
+messenger was despatched with it to Parashino. But,
+while they were considering and wondering and writing
+at Bagrovo, all was already over at Parashino. The messenger
+returned on the fourth day and reported that, by
+God's will, Kurolyessoff had died suddenly and was
+already buried.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch heard the news first. Involuntarily
+he crossed himself and said, "Thank God!" And so said
+all his family: in spite of their former weakness for Kurolyessoff,
+they had long looked on him with horror as a
+criminal and a ruffian. With Praskovya Ivanovna it was
+different. Judging by their own feelings, they all supposed
+she would welcome the news, and told her at once. But,
+to the surprise of every one, she was utterly prostrated by
+it and became ill again; and, when her strength got the
+better of the illness, her depression and wretchedness were
+extreme: for some weeks she wept from morning till night,
+and she grew so thin that Stepan Mihailovitch was alarmed.
+No one could understand the cause of such intense sorrow
+for a husband whom she could not love and who had treated
+her so brutally&mdash;"a disgrace to human nature," as they
+called him. But there was an explanation, and this is it.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Many years later, my mother, who was a great favourite
+with Praskovya Ivanovna, was talking with her of past
+days&mdash;a thing which Praskovya Ivanovna generally avoided&mdash;and
+in the openhearted frankness of their conversation
+she asked: "Please tell me, aunt, why you took on so
+after your husband's death. In your place, I should have
+said a prayer for his soul, and felt quite cheerful." "You
+are a little fool, my dear," answered Praskovya Ivanovna:
+"I had loved him for fourteen years and could not unlearn
+my feeling in one month, even though I had found out what
+he was; and, above all, I grieved for his soul: he had no
+time to repent before he died."</p>
+<p class="pnext">After six weeks, Praskovya Ivanovna's good sense
+mastered her grief to some extent; and she consented, or,
+I should rather say, did not refuse, to travel with all the
+Bagroff family to Parashino, in order to attend a memorial
+service at Kurolyessoff's grave. To the general surprise,
+she dropped no tear at Parashino or during the sad
+ceremony; but one may imagine how much this effort cost
+her, in her condition of sorrow and bodily weakness. By
+her wish, only a few hours were spent at Parashino, and
+she did not enter that part of the house where her husband
+had lived and died.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It is not difficult to guess the cause of Kurolyessoff's
+sudden death. When Stepan Mihailovitch had rescued his
+cousin from the cellar, the people at Parashino all plucked
+up heart, believing that the end of Kurolyessoff's rule had
+come. They all supposed that the owner of Bagrovo, who
+was in the position of a father to their mistress, would turn
+her husband neck and crop out of a place that did not belong
+to him. No one dreamed that their young mistress,
+insulted and beaten and half-starved in an underground
+cellar in her own house, would fail to appeal to the law for
+redress. Every day they expected an irruption from
+Stepan Mihailovitch with the sheriff at his back; but
+week followed week, and no one came. Kurolyessoff was
+as drunken and violent as ever: every one of his retainers
+he flogged till they were half-dead, for having betrayed him,
+not sparing even the sober man who had wakened him on the
+night of the rescue; and he boasted that Praskovya Ivanovna
+had given up to him the title-deeds of her estates.
+It was past the power of human endurance; and the future
+seemed hopeless.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id65" id="id64"><sup>32</sup></a> Two of the scoundrels, who had been
+favourites, and, strangely enough, two who had suffered
+less than the rest from his cruelty, ventured upon a horrible
+crime. They poisoned him with arsenic, putting it into
+a decanter of <em class="italics">kvass</em>, which Kurolyessoff generally emptied
+during the night; and they put in so much, that he was
+dead in two hours. As they had taken no one into their
+confidence, the catastrophe startled and terrified the whole
+household. The servants suspected one another, but the
+real criminals remained unknown for some time. Six
+months later one of them became desperately ill and
+confessed his crime before he died; and his accomplice,
+though the dying man had not betrayed him, made off and
+was never seen again.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The sudden death of Kurolyessoff would certainly have
+been followed by an inquest, but for the presence at Parashino
+of a young clerk called Mihaila Maximitch, who had
+only lately come to the place. By cleverness and good
+management, he contrived to get the affair hushed up. He
+became later Praskovya Ivanovna's man of business and
+the chief agent on all her estates, and enjoyed her full
+confidence. Under the name of "Mihailushka" he was
+known to all and sundry in the Governments of Simbirsk
+and Orenburg. He was a man of remarkable ability;
+though he made a large fortune, he lived discreetly and
+modestly for many years; but, when he received his
+freedom on the death of his mistress and lost his wife to
+whom he was much attached, he took to drinking and died
+in poverty. One of his sons, if I remember rightly, entered
+the official class and was eventually ennobled.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I should not conceal the fact, that forty years later,
+when I became the owner of Parashino, I found the recollection
+of Kurolyessoff's management still fresh among the
+peasants, and they spoke of him with gratitude, because
+they felt every day the advantage of many of his arrangements.
+His cruelty they had forgotten, and they had felt
+it less than his personal attendants; but they remembered
+his power of distinguishing guilt and innocence, the honest
+workman and the shirker; they remembered his perfect
+knowledge of their needs and his constant readiness to
+give them help. The old men smiled as they told me that
+Kurolyessoff used often to say: "Steal and rob as you
+please, if you keep it dark; but, if I catch you, then
+look out!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">When she went back to Bagrovo, Praskovya Ivanovna,
+soothed by the sincere and tender love of her cousin and
+by the assiduous attentions of his womankind (whom she
+did not much like but who expected great favours and
+benefits from her) gradually got over the terrible blow she
+had suffered. Her good health came back, and her peace
+of mind; and at the end of a year she resolved to go back
+to Choorassovo. It was painful to Stepan Mihailovitch to
+part with his favourite: her whole nature appealed to him,
+and he had become thoroughly accustomed to her society.
+Not once in his whole life was he in a rage with Praskovya
+Ivanovna. But he did not try to keep her: on the
+contrary, he pressed her to go as soon as possible. "It's
+no sort of life for you here, my dear," he used to say; "it's
+a dull place, though we have got accustomed to it. You
+are young still"&mdash;she was thirty&mdash;"and rich and used to
+something different. You should go back to Choorassovo,
+and enjoy your fine house and splendid garden and the
+springs. You have plenty of kind neighbours there, rich
+people who live a gay life. It is possible that God will
+send you better fortune in a second venture; you won't
+want for offers." Praskovya Ivanovna put off her departure
+from day to day&mdash;so hard did she find it to part
+from the cousin who had saved her life and been her benefactor
+from her childhood. At last the day was fixed.
+Early on the previous morning, she came out to join
+Stepan Mihailovitch, who was sitting on his stoop and
+thinking sad thoughts. She kissed and embraced him;
+the tears came to her eyes as she said: "I feel all your love
+for me, and I love and respect you like a daughter. God
+sees my gratitude; but I wish that men should see it too.
+Will you let me bequeath to your family all my mother's
+property? What I have from my father will come to your
+son in any case. My relations on my mother's side are
+rich, and you know that they have given me no reason to
+reward them with my wealth. I shall never marry. I
+wish the Bagroff family to be rich. Say yes, my dear
+cousin, and you will comfort me and set my mind at rest."
+She threw herself at his feet and covered with kisses the
+hands with which he was trying to raise her up. "Listen,
+my dear," said Stepan Mihailovitch in a rather stern voice:
+"You don't know me aright. That I should covet what
+does not belong to me, and cut out the rightful heirs to your
+estates&mdash;no! that shall never be, and never shall any one
+be able to say that of Stepan Bagroff! Mind you don't
+ever mention it again. If you do, we shall quarrel; and
+it will be the first time in our lives."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Next day Praskovya Ivanovna left Bagrovo and began
+her own independent life at Choorassovo.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="fragment-iii-the-marriage-of-the-young-bagroff">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id118">FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">Many years passed by and much happened during that
+time&mdash;famine and plague, and the rebellion of Pugatchoff.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id69" id="id66"><sup>33</sup></a>
+The landowners of the Orenburg district scattered before
+the bands of the usurper, and Stepan Mihailovitch also
+made off with his family, first to Sam&aacute;ra, and then down the
+Volga to Saratoff and as far off as Astrakhan. But by
+degrees all disturbances passed over and calmed down and
+were forgotten. Children became boys, boys became men,
+and men came to grey hairs; and among these last was
+Stepan Mihailovitch. He saw this himself, but he hardly
+believed it. He would sometimes allude to the ravages of
+time, but he did so without uneasiness, as if there were no
+personal reference to himself. Yet my grandfather had
+ceased to be his old self: his herculean strength and tireless
+activity had gone for ever. This sometimes surprised him;
+but he went on living precisely in the old way&mdash;eating and
+drinking to his heart's content, and dressing with no regard
+to the weather, though he sometimes suffered for this
+neglect. Little by little, his keen clear eye became clouded
+and his great voice lost its power; his fits of anger were
+rarer, but so were his bright and happy moods. His elder
+daughters had all married, and the oldest had been dead
+some time, leaving a daughter of three years old. Aksinya,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id70" id="id67"><sup>34</sup></a>
+the second, had lost one husband and married again;
+Elizabeth, a clever but arrogant woman, had somehow
+married a General Yerlykin, who was old and poor and given
+to drinking; and Alexandra had found herself a husband
+in Ivan Karatayeff, well-born, young, and rich, but a
+passionate lover of the Bashkirs and their wandering life&mdash;a
+true Bashkir himself in mind and body. The youngest
+daughter, Tanyusha, had not married. The only son<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id71" id="id68"><sup>35</sup></a> was
+now twenty-six, a handsome youth with a complexion of
+lilies and roses: his own father used to say of him, "Put
+a petticoat on him, and he'd be a prettier girl than any of
+his sisters!" Though his wife, Arina Vassilyevna, shed
+bitter tears and would not be comforted, Stepan Mihailovitch
+sent his son into the Army as soon as he was sixteen.
+He served for three years, and, owing to the influence of
+Mihail Kurolyessoff, acted as aide-de-camp for part of the
+time to Suv&oacute;roff. But Suv&oacute;roff left the district of Orenburg
+and was succeeded by a German general (I think his name
+was Treubluth); and he sentenced the young man to a
+severe flogging, from which his entire innocence, if not his
+noble birth, should have protected him. His mother
+nearly died of grief, when she heard it; and even my
+grandfather thought this was going too far. He withdrew
+his son from the Army and got him a place in the law court
+at Ufa, where he earned promotion by long and zealous
+service.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I cannot pass over in silence a strange fact that I have
+noticed: most of the Germans and foreigners in general
+who held posts in the Russian service in those days were
+notorious for their cruelty and love of inflicting corporal
+punishment. The German who punished young Bagroff
+so cruelly was a Lutheran himself, but at the same time a
+great stickler for all the rites and ceremonies of the Russian
+Church. This historic incident in the annals of the Bagroff
+family happened in the following way. The general
+ordered a service to be performed in the regimental chapel
+on the eve of some unimportant saint's-day; he was always
+present himself on these occasions, and all officers were
+expected to attend. It was summer, and the chapel
+windows were open. Suddenly, a voice in the street outside
+struck up a popular song. The general rushed to the
+window: three subalterns were walking along the street,
+and one of them was singing. He ordered them under
+arrest and sentenced each of them to 300 lashes. My
+unfortunate father, who was not singing but merely walking
+with his friends, pleaded his noble birth; but the general
+said with a sneer, "A noble is bound to show special respect
+to divine service"; and then the brute himself looked
+on till the last stripe was inflicted on the innocent youth.
+This took place in a room next the chapel, where the solemn
+singing of the choir could be distinctly heard; and the
+tyrant forbade his victim to cry out, "for fear of disturbing
+divine worship." After his punishment, he was carried off
+unconscious to hospital, where it was found necessary to
+cut off his uniform, owing to the swelling of his tender young
+body. It was two months before his back and shoulders
+healed up. What must it have cost his mother to hear
+such news of her only son whom she simply worshipped!
+My grandfather lodged a complaint in some quarter; and
+his son, who had sent in his papers at once, got his discharge
+from the Army before he left the hospital, and entered the
+Civil Service as an official of the fourteenth or lowest class.
+Eight years had now gone by, and the incident was by this
+time forgotten.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was now living peacefully at Ufa
+and performing his duties there. Twice a year he paid
+a visit to his parents at Bagrovo, 240 <em class="italics">versts</em> away. His
+life was quite uneventful. Quiet, bashful, and unassuming,
+this young heir to a landed estate lived on good terms with
+all the world, till suddenly the modest course of his existence
+became disturbed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">There was a permanent military administration in the
+town of Ufa, and next in authority the Lieutenant-Governor
+was Nikolai Zubin, who resided regularly in the
+town. M. Zubin was an honest and able man, but his
+character was weak. His wife had died, leaving three
+children&mdash;Sonitchka,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id73" id="id72"><sup>36</sup></a> a girl of twelve, and two younger
+boys. He was devoted to his daughter; and it was no
+wonder he should love a child so beautiful and so clever,
+who, in spite of her tender years, soon became her father's
+companion and assisted him in the management of the
+household. Eighteen months after the death of his first
+wife, whom he had loved and sincerely mourned, M. Zubin
+found consolation by falling in love with the daughter of
+M. Rychkoff, a landowner in Orenburg, well-known for
+his descriptions of that country. The marriage soon took
+place; and the young wife, Alexandra, by her intelligence
+and beauty, soon gained entire control over her submissive
+husband. But she was hard and unfeeling, and conceived
+a hatred for her stepdaughter, her father's darling, who
+bade fair to grow up into a beautiful woman. The thing
+is common enough. The name of stepmother has long
+been proverbial for cruelty, and it fitted Mme. Zubin precisely.
+But it was by no means easy to tear Sonitchka
+from her place in her father's heart: she was not a girl
+who could be put down easily, and the contest which followed
+inflamed the stepmother's anger to an extraordinary
+pitch. She swore that this hussy of thirteen, who was the
+idol of her father and all the town, should some day live in
+the maids' room, wear the coarsest clothes, and carry the
+slops out of the children's nursery. She kept her oath to
+the letter: after two or three years, Sonitchka was living
+with the servants and clothed like a scullion, and she
+scrubbed and cleaned the nursery which was now inhabited
+by two half-sisters. But what was the father doing? He
+had once loved her dearly; but now for whole months he
+never saw her; and when he did meet her going about in
+rags, he turned away with a sigh, wiped away a furtive
+tear, and made off as soon as possible. It is the way of
+many elderly men who have married again and are dominated
+by young wives. As I do not know exactly the ways
+and methods by which Mme. Zubin attained her object, I
+shall not speak of them; nor shall I dwell upon the cruelties
+and sufferings inflicted upon the bereaved girl, with her
+sensitive temper and strong will; nothing was spared her,
+not even the most humiliating punishments and beatings
+for imaginary offences. I shall only say, that the stepdaughter
+was not far from suicide, and was only saved
+from it by a miracle. It happened thus. When she had
+decided to put an end to an intolerable existence, the poor
+child wished to say her last prayer before an image of Our
+Lady of Smolensk, the image with which her mother on
+her deathbed had blessed her. She fell on her knees in her
+garret before the <em class="italics">ikon</em>, and, with floods of bitter tears,
+pressed her face on the dirt-stained floor. Suffering
+deprived her of consciousness for some minutes; when she
+recovered and got up, she saw the candle, which she had
+put out the night before, still burning before the image. At
+first she cried out with surprise and involuntary fear; but
+soon she recognised that she had seen a miracle wrought
+by Divine Power. She took courage; she was conscious
+of a strength and composure she had never felt before;
+and she firmly resolved to suffer and endure and live.
+From that day the helpless child wore armour of proof
+against the increasing exasperation of her stepmother:
+whatever she was told to do, she did; whatever was
+inflicted upon her, she bore. Degrading punishment no
+longer forced the tears from her eyes, no longer made her
+turn sick and faint, as it used to do. "Mean slut" had
+long been her title, and "desperate wretch" was now
+added to it. But the measure of God's patience now
+brimmed over, and His thunder pealed: Mme. Zubin, in
+the prime of life and in the pride of her health and beauty,
+died ten days after giving birth to a son. Twenty-four
+hours before the end, knowing that she must die, she was
+eager to take the load off her conscience. Sonitchka was
+suddenly wakened in the night and summoned to her stepmother's
+bedside. The dying woman confessed in the
+presence of witnesses her guilty conduct towards her stepdaughter,
+begged her forgiveness, and conjured her in the
+name of God to be good to the children. The girl forgave
+her and promised to care for the orphans; and she kept
+that promise. Mme. Zubin confessed also to her husband
+that the accusations which had been brought against his
+daughter were all calumnies and falsehoods.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Her death caused a complete reversal of affairs. M.
+Zubin also had a paralytic stroke, and, though he survived
+for some years, never left his bed again. The oppressed
+and ragged Cinderella, whom the servants&mdash;and especially
+those belonging to Mme. Zubin&mdash;had been mean enough
+to humiliate and insult to their heart's content, suddenly
+became the absolute mistress of the household, her sick
+father having put everything under her control. The
+reconciliation between the guilty father and the injured
+daughter was touching and even distressing to the daughter
+and all who saw it. For long, M. Zubin was wrung by
+remorse: his tears flowed day and night, and he repeated
+the same words over and over, "No, Sonitchka, it is impossible
+you should forgive me!" To each one of his acquaintance
+in the town he formally confessed his misconduct
+towards his daughter; and "Sofya Nikolayevna," as she
+was now called, became the object of general respect and
+admiration. Made wise by years of suffering, this girl of
+seventeen developed into a grown woman, a mother to the
+children, and the manager of the household. She even
+discharged public duties; for, owing to her father's illness,
+she received all heads of departments, officials, and private
+citizens; she discussed matters with them, wrote letters
+and official documents, and at last became the real manager
+of the business in her father's office. Sofya Nikolayevna
+nursed her father with anxious care and tenderness; she
+looked after her three brothers and two sisters, and even
+took trouble about the education of the elder children.
+Her own brothers, Sergh&eacute;i and Alexander, were now boys
+of twelve and ten; and she contrived to find teachers for
+them&mdash;a kind old Frenchman called Villemer, whom fortune
+had somehow stranded at Ufa, and a half-educated Little
+Russian who had been exiled to the town for an attempted
+fraud. She availed herself of the opportunity to study
+with her brothers, and worked so hard that she could soon
+understand a French book or conversation and even talk
+French a little herself. Eighteen months later she sent
+her brothers to Moscow for their education. Through a
+certain M. Anitchkoff who lived at Ufa, she had become
+acquainted with his cousin who lived at Moscow, and they
+often corresponded. The well-known writer, Novikoff,
+shared a house at Moscow with this M. Anitchkoff; and
+both friends were so struck by the letters from this young
+lady on the banks of the river By&eacute;laya, that they sent her
+regularly all new and important books in the way of
+Russian literature; and this did much for her mental
+development. This M. Anitchkoff had a special respect
+for her, and considered it an honour to carry out her
+request. He undertook to receive both her brothers and
+place them at a boarding-school connected with Moscow
+University, and performed his undertaking punctiliously.
+The boys got on well at school, but their studies were
+broken off when the summons came for them to enter the
+Guards, in which they had been enrolled while still in the
+cradle.</p>
+<p class="pnext">All clever and educated people who came to Ufa
+hastened to make the acquaintance of Sofya Nikolayevna,
+were attracted by her, and never forgot her. Many of
+these acquaintances became in course of time the intimate
+friends of her children, and the relation was severed only
+by death. I shall name only those of them whom I knew
+myself&mdash;V. Romanovsky, A. Avenarius, Peter Chichagoff,
+Dmitri Myortvavo, and V. Itchansky. Scholars also and
+travellers, attracted by the novelty and beauty of the
+district, invariably made the young lady's acquaintance
+and left written testimony of their admiration for her
+beauty and wit. It is true that her position in society and
+her home helped her, and served, one might say, as a
+pedestal for the statue; but the statue itself was a noble
+figure. I remember especially the verses of Count Manteuffel,
+a traveller; he sent them to Sofya Nikolayevna
+with a most respectful letter in French; and he also sent
+a copy of an immense work in five quarto volumes, by a
+Dr. Buchan,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id75" id="id74"><sup>37</sup></a> which had just been translated from English
+into Russian and made a great sensation in the medical
+world of that day. Buchan's <em class="italics">Domestic Medicine</em> was a
+real treasure to Sofya Nikolayevna: she was able to make
+use of its directions to make up medicines for her father's
+benefit. In his verses Count Manteuffel compared the fair
+lady of Ufa to both Venus and Minerva.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In spite of his enfeebled state, M. Zubin did not resign
+his office for several years. Twice a year he gave a ball;
+he did not appear himself, in order to welcome the ladies,
+but the men went to see him where he lay in his study;
+and the young hostess had to receive the whole town.
+Several times a year, her father insisted on her going out to
+balls in the houses of the leading people, and she yielded
+to his earnest entreaties and put in a short appearance at
+the ball. She wore fine dresses and was an excellent
+dancer in the fashion of the time. When she had gone
+through a Polish minuet and a single country-dance or
+schottische, she went away at once, after flashing through
+the room like a meteor. All who had the right to be so,
+were in love with Sofya Nikolayevna, but they sighed at
+a respectful distance; for this young lady gave none of
+them any encouragement whatever.</p>
+<p class="pnext">And with this peerless creature the son of Stepan
+Mihailovitch fell in love! He could not understand and
+appreciate her fully, but her appearance alone and her
+lively cheerful temper were enough to bewitch a man;
+and bewitched he accordingly was. He saw her first in
+church, and the first sight was enough for his susceptible
+heart. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch&mdash;henceforth we shall give him
+both his names&mdash;soon discovered that the fair lady received
+all officials who visited at her father's house; and, being
+himself an official in the law-court, he began to appear
+regularly in her drawing-room, to pay his respects on high
+days and holidays. He saw her every time, and his
+passion grew steadily. His calls were so regular and so
+prolonged&mdash;though he hardly opened his mouth&mdash;that they
+soon attracted general notice; and it is probable that the
+first person to notice them was the young hostess herself.
+Rapturous looks, flaming cheeks, helpless confusion&mdash;these
+are the symbols by which love has always spoken. A
+frank passion has been an object of ridicule from time
+immemorial, and all Ufa laughed at Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch.
+He was humble and shy and as bashful as a country girl;
+and his only reply to all jests and allusions to the subject
+was to blush the colour of a peony. But Sofya Nikolayevna,
+so cold and even snubbing in her manner to her
+fashionable admirers, was surprisingly indulgent to this
+speechless worshipper. Perhaps she was sorry for this
+young man who had no armour against all the ridicule he
+suffered on her behalf; perhaps she understood that his
+was no idle or passing fancy and that his whole life was at
+stake; anyhow, the severe young beauty not only bowed
+graciously and looked kindly at him, but tried also to
+start conversation; and his timid, incoherent replies and
+agitated voice did not seem to her ridiculous or repulsive.
+I should say, however, that Sofya Nikolayevna, though
+she stood on her dignity with self-assertive people, was
+always kind and condescending to humility and modesty.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Things went on thus for some time. Suddenly, a bold
+thought flashed on the brain of Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch&mdash;the
+thought of getting Sofya Nikolayevna for his wife. At
+first he was frightened by his own ambition, so bold and so
+unlikely to be realised. How could he raise his eyes to
+Sofya Nikolayevna, the chief personage in Ufa, and, in his
+opinion, the cleverest and most beautiful woman in the
+world? He abandoned his intention entirely for a time.
+But by degrees the lady's constant goodwill and attention,
+her friendly glances which seemed to him to hold out some
+encouragement, and, above all, the passion which mastered
+his whole being, recalled the abandoned ideal; and it soon
+grew familiar and became part of his life. There was an
+old lady called Mme. Alakayeff, then living at Ufa to look
+after a lawsuit, who used to visit at the Zubins' house;
+she was distantly related to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch and had
+always taken a great interest in him. He now began to
+visit her oftener, and did his best to please her; and at
+last he confessed his love for a certain person, and his
+intention to seek her hand. His love was the talk of the
+town and therefore no news to Mme. Alakayeff; but his
+intention of marrying her was a surprise. "She won't
+have you," said the old lady, shaking her head; "she's
+too clever, too proud, too highly educated. Plenty of
+people have been in love with her, but not one has ever
+dared to ask the question. You're a handsome lad,
+certainly, well-born and fairly well-off, and you will be
+rich in course of time&mdash;everybody knows that; but then
+you're a plain country fellow, no scholar or man of the
+world, and you're terribly bashful in society." Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch was aware of all this himself; but love had
+entirely confused his brain, and a voice whispered in his
+ear day and night that Sofya Nikolayevna would accept
+him. Though the young man's hopes seemed to her
+unfounded, Mme. Alakayeff consented to go to Sofya
+Nikolayevna's house, where, without making any allusion
+to his wishes, she would turn the conversation on to him
+and take note of all that was said. She started at once,
+and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch remained in the house till she
+should come back. She was absent for some time, and the
+lover became so distressed and despondent that he began
+to cry and then fell asleep, tired out, with his head leaning
+against the window. When the old lady came back, she
+wakened him and said with a cheerful air: "Well, Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch, there is really something in it! When I began
+to speak about you, and was rather hard upon you, Sofya
+Nikolayevna took up the cudgels in earnest on your behalf,
+and ended by saying that she was sure you were very kind
+and modest and gentle, and respectful to your parents;
+and she said that God sent his blessing on such people, and
+they were much better than your pert and forward talkers."
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was so enraptured by this report that
+he hardly knew where he was. Mme. Alakayeff gave him
+time to recover, and then said with decision: "If your
+mind is quite made up about this, I will tell you what you
+had better do. Go home at once, tell the whole story to
+your parents, and ask for their consent and blessing, before
+kind people put their oar in. If they give you one and the
+other, I don't refuse to work in your cause. Only don't
+be in a hurry: begin by getting on the soft side of your
+sisters; your mother won't go against your wishes. Of
+course, your father's consent matters most of all. I know
+him: he is masterful to a degree, but he has good sense;
+have a talk to him when he is in a good humour." Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch did not see the need of all this caution and
+man&oelig;uvring: he said that his parents would be delighted,
+and asked what possible flaw could be found in Sofya
+Nikolayevna. "Two terrible flaws," said the shrewd old
+lady: "she has only twopence to her fortune, and her
+grandfather was a simple sergeant in a Cossack regiment."
+The significance of her words was entirely lost upon Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch, but the old lady was not wrong in her presentiment,
+and her warning came too late.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Within a week Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch got leave of absence.
+He called on Sofya Nikolayevna to say "good-bye," and
+she treated him kindly, wishing him a pleasant journey, and
+hoping he might find his parents in good health and happy
+to see him. Her kind words encouraged him to hope, and
+off he went home. The old people were glad to see him,
+but they were puzzled by the time of his visit and looked
+at him inquiringly. His sisters&mdash;who lived near Bagrovo
+and came there in hot haste on a summons from their
+mother&mdash;kissed their brother and made much of him, but
+kept on smiling for some reason. The youngest sister,
+Tatyana, was his favourite, and he revealed his passion to
+her ears first. Being a rather romantic girl and fonder of
+her brother than the older sisters were, she listened to him
+with sympathy, and at last went so far as to confide to him
+a great secret: the family knew already of his love-affair
+and were opposed to it. It had happened in this way.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Two months before, Ivan Karatayeff had travelled to
+Ufa on business and brought back this piece of news to his
+wife. Alexandra Karatayeff&mdash;I have spoken already of her
+character&mdash;boiled over with rage and indignation. She
+took the lead in the family, and could twist them all,
+except, of course, her father, round her little finger. She
+set one of her brother's servants to spy on his master, and
+made him report to her every detail concerning his love-affair
+and his life at Ufa; and she found a female friend in
+the town, who first rummaged and ferreted about, and then,
+with the help of a discarded attorney's clerk, sent her a long
+letter composed of town talk and servants' gossip. As her
+chief authorities were the servants of the late Mme. Zubin,
+it is easy to guess the kind of portrait which these enemies
+drew of Sofya Nikolayevna.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It is a well-known fact that in the good old days of the
+Empress Catherine&mdash;perhaps it is the case still&mdash;there was
+little love lost between a man's wife and his sisters; and
+the case was worse when the sisters had only one brother,
+because his wife must become the sole and undisputed
+mistress of the household. A great deal of selfishness
+underlies human nature; it often works without our
+knowledge, and no one is exempt from it; honourable and
+kind people, not recognising selfish motives in themselves,
+quite honestly attribute their actions to other and more
+presentable causes; but they deceive themselves and
+others unintentionally. Where there is no kindness of
+heart or refinement of manners, selfishness shows itself
+without any concealment or apology; and so it was with
+the womankind of Stepan Mihailovitch. It was inevitable
+that they should all resent their brother's marriage, irrespective
+of his choice. "Alosha will change towards us
+and love us less than before; his bride will be a cuckoo in
+the nest and push out the birds born there"&mdash;such would
+certainly have been the language of the sisters, even if
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had chosen a bird of their own feather;
+but Sofya Nikolayevna was worse than anything they
+could imagine. Alexandra summoned her sister Elizabeth
+and hurried to Bagrovo, to communicate to her mother
+and sisters&mdash;of course, with suitable embellishments&mdash;all
+the information she had received of her brother's goings
+on. They believed every word she said, and their opinion
+of Sofya Nikolayevna was to the following effect. In the
+first place, the Zubin girl&mdash;this was her regular name in
+the secret meetings of the family council&mdash;was of mean
+birth: her grandfather had been a Ural Cossack, and her
+mother, Vyera Ivanovna Kandalintsoff, had belonged to
+the merchant class; the alliance was therefore a degradation
+to an ancient and noble family. In the second place,
+the Zubin girl was a mere pauper: if her father died or was
+dismissed from his post, she would depend on charity for
+her bread, and all her brothers and sisters would be a stone
+round her husband's neck. Thirdly, the Zubin girl was
+proud and fashionable, a crafty adventuress who was accustomed
+to lord it over the town of Ufa; and she would turn
+up her nose with no ceremony at plain people living in
+the country, however long their pedigree. Fourthly and
+lastly, the Zubin girl was a witch who used magic herbs to
+keep all the men running after her with their tongues
+hanging out; and their poor brother was one of her
+victims; she had scented out his future wealth and his
+easy temper, and had determined to marry into a noble
+family by hook or by crook. Alexandra managed the
+whole affair; her glib and wicked tongue frightened them
+all and soon proved to them, beyond all possibility of doubt,
+that such a marriage was a terrible misfortune for them.
+"Likely enough, she will get round Stepan Mihailovitch
+himself, and then we're all done for; we must leave no
+stone unturned to prevent the marriage." It was clearly
+of the first importance to impress upon Stepan Mihailovitch
+the worst possible opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna;
+but who was to bell the cat? Their conscience was not
+clear, and they dared not go to work openly. If their
+father suspected that they had any concealed purpose, he
+would not believe even the truth in that case; once before,
+when there had been some talk of choosing a daughter-in-law,
+he had seen through their repugnance to the scheme
+and had told them so plainly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">They had recourse therefore to the following stratagem.
+Arina Vassilyevna had a married niece living near; her
+name was Flona Lupenevsky; she was short and stout, a
+notorious fool and gossip, and not averse to strong liquors.
+She was instructed to come to Bagrovo as if on an ordinary
+visit, and to bring in, among other topics, the love-affairs
+of Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch; she was, of course, to represent
+Sofya Nikolayevna in the most unfavourable light. Alexandra
+spent a long time coaching this lady in what she was
+to say and how she was to say it. When she had learnt
+it as well as she could, Mme. Lupenevsky turned up at
+Bagrovo and had dinner there; after dinner, hosts and
+guests slept for three hours and then assembled for tea.
+The master of the house was in good humour and himself
+gave his guest an opening to begin her performance.
+"Come now, Flona," he said, "tell us the news you got
+from the travellers to Ufa"&mdash;her sister, Mme. Kalpinsky,
+had just been there with her husband&mdash;"I warrant they
+brought home a good budget, and you will add as much
+more out of your own head."</p>
+<p class="pnext">"You will always have your joke, dear uncle," said
+the lady; "but they brought plenty of news, and I have
+no need to invent." Then off she started on a string of
+silly gossip, true and untrue, which I shall spare my
+readers. My grandfather pretended to disbelieve her
+throughout, even when she was telling the truth; he
+made fun of her stories, threw her out on purpose, and
+teased her till all the hearers laughed heartily. The stupid
+woman, who had taken a stiff glass on waking to give her
+courage, got vexed at last and said with some heat: "Uncle,
+why do you keep on laughing and believe nothing I say?
+Wait a moment; I have kept one special bit of news for
+the end, and that won't make you laugh, though you can't
+help believing it." The family exchanged glances, and
+my grandfather laughed. "Come, out with it!" he said
+coolly; "I shan't believe it; and, if I don't laugh at it,
+it's because I'm bored by your stories." "O uncle, uncle,"
+she began, "you're quite in the dark about my dear cousin,
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch. He's a perfect wreck: the witch of
+Ufa, the daughter of a great man there, Governor or Commander-in-Chief,
+I don't know which, has used devilish
+arts to fascinate him. She's a perfect beauty, they say,
+and has captivated all the men, young and old; she has
+bewitched them with magic herbs, and they all run after
+her. And my poor cousin, Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, is so bad
+that he can neither eat nor drink nor sleep. He's constantly
+sitting beside her, he can't take his eyes off her, he
+just looks and sighs; and at night he's always walking
+past her house, carrying a gun and a sword and keeping
+guard over her. They say that the Zubin girl is very
+sweet upon him; of course he's handsome and well-born;
+she knows what she's about and means to marry him.
+It's natural enough: she has no money, and her father is
+a Cossack's son who rose from the ranks; though he has
+worked his way up and held great posts, he has put nothing
+by; he has spent every penny on dinners and fine parties
+and dresses for his daughter. The old man is at death's
+door, and there is a swarm of children&mdash;half a dozen of
+them by his two wives. They will all settle on your
+shoulders, uncle, if my cousin marries her; she has no
+portion but the clothes she wears; they have silk to their
+backs but nothing to put in their bellies. And Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch, they say, is changed out of all knowledge: he
+looks terrible; the very servants weep to see him and dare
+not inform you. Believe me, uncle, every single word is
+gospel truth. Question his servants, and they won't deny it."</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this, Arina Vassilyevna began to cry and her
+daughters to rub their eyes. My grandfather was rather
+taken aback, but soon recovered himself. Then he smiled
+and said coolly: "Plenty of lies there, and perhaps a grain
+of truth. I have heard myself that the young lady is
+pretty and clever; and that's all the magic there is about
+it.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id77" id="id76"><sup>38</sup></a> It's little wonder if Alexy&eacute;i's eyes were dazzled. All
+the rest is rubbish. Mlle. Zubin has no idea of marrying
+Alexy&eacute;i; he is no match for her; she will find a better
+man and a more pushing man to marry her. And now,
+that's enough: not a word more on the subject! Let us
+go and drink tea out of doors." As a matter of course,
+neither Mme. Lupenevsky nor any one else dared to refer
+again to the news from Ufa. The visitor departed in the
+evening. After supper, when Arina Vassilyevna and her
+daughters were about to take a silent farewell of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, he stopped them and said: "Well, Arisha,
+what do you think about it? Though that stupid Flona
+added plenty of lies, yet it seems to me there is truth in
+the story too. The boy's letters have been quite different
+of late. The thing needs some looking into. The best
+plan would be to summon Alosha here; we shall learn all
+the truth from him." At this point Alexandra offered to
+send a special messenger to Ufa to find out the truth
+through a relation of her husband's: "She is a very honest
+woman," she said, "and nothing would make her tell a
+lie." Her father agreed not to send for his son till the
+fresh report arrived. Alexandra started at once for her
+own house, which was not more than 30 <em class="italics">versts</em> from
+Bagrovo, and returned in a week, bringing with her the
+letter I have mentioned already, which she had received
+long before from her gossiping female friend at Ufa. This
+letter was shown and read aloud to Stepan Mihailovitch;
+and, though he put little faith in the women as detectives
+and informers, some statements in the letter seemed to
+him probable, and he was displeased. He said positively,
+that, if Mlle. Zubin did wish to marry Alosha, he would
+forbid it, on the ground of her birth. "Write by the next
+post to Alosha," he said, "and tell him to come home."
+A few days passed, and were used by the women to prejudice
+Stepan Mihailovitch as strongly as possible against
+the marriage; and then, as we know already, the young
+man turned up at Bagrovo without having received the
+letter.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch heard the whole of this story from
+Tatyana, and it made him very serious and uneasy. He
+was not by nature strong-willed, and had been brought up
+in blind obedience to his family and his father. In his
+alarm, he did not know what to do. At last he decided to
+speak to his mother. Arina Vassilyevna was devoted to
+her only son; but, as she was accustomed to look on him
+as still a child and convinced that this child had taken a
+fancy to a dangerous toy, she met his avowal of strong
+feeling with the words one would use to a child who begged
+to hold the hot poker; and, when this treatment brought
+the tears to his eyes, she tried to comfort him in the way
+that a child is comforted for the loss of a favourite toy.
+He might say what he pleased, he might try as he pleased
+to refute the slander brought against Sofya Nikolayevna&mdash;his
+mother either did not listen at all or listened without
+attending. Two more days passed by; the young man's
+heart was breaking; though his love and longing for Sofya
+Nikolayevna increased every hour, it is probable that he
+would not easily have plucked up courage to broach the
+subject to his father; but Stepan Mihailovitch took the
+first step. Early one fine morning, he was sitting as usual
+on his stoop, when Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, looking rather pale
+and worn after an almost sleepless night, came out to join
+his father. The old man was in a cheerful mood; he
+greeted his son affectionately, and then, looking attentively
+at his face, he read what was going on within. He gave
+him his hand to kiss, and then said, not in anger but with
+energy: "Listen to me, Alexy&eacute;i! I know the burden on
+your mind, and I see that this fancy has taken a strong
+hold of you. Just tell me the story now, the whole truth
+and nothing but the truth." Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch felt more
+fear than love for his father, and was not in the way of
+speaking to him frankly; but his love for Sofya Nikolayevna
+lent him courage. He threw himself at his father's
+feet and repeated the whole story, omitting no details and
+keeping nothing back. Stepan Mihailovitch listened with
+patience and attention. When one of the family appeared
+in the distance and evidently meant to come and say "good
+morning," he waved his blackthorn staff with a significant
+gesture, and then nobody, not even Aksyutka with the tea,
+dared approach before he summoned them. Though his
+son's story was ill-arranged, confused, long, and unconvincing,
+yet Stepan Mihailovitch with his clear head made
+out the gist of the matter. But unfortunately he did not
+and could not approve of it. Of the romantic side of love
+he had small appreciation, and his masculine pride was
+offended by his son's susceptibility, which seemed to him
+degrading weakness in a man and a sign of worthlessness;
+and yet at the same time he saw that Sofya Nikolayevna
+was not in the least to blame, and that all the evil he had
+heard about her was merely malicious falsehood, due to
+the ill will of his own womankind. After a little reflection,
+he said, with no sign of anger, even affectionately, but
+firmly: "Listen to me, Alexy&eacute;i! You are just at the
+time of life when a pretty girl may easily take a man's
+fancy. In that there is no harm whatever; but I see that
+you have gone too far, and that does not do. I don't
+blame Sofya Nikolayevna in the least; she seems to me a
+very worthy girl; but she's not a good match for you,
+and she won't suit us. In the first place, her nobility dates
+from yesterday, while you are the descendant of an ancient
+and noble line. Then she is accustomed to town life,
+highly educated, and independent; since her stepmother
+died she has ruled a household; and, though poor herself,
+she is used to luxury; but we are plain country people, and
+you know yourself how we live. And you ought to know
+your own character; you're too compliant. But her
+cleverness is the chief objection to her; to marry a wife
+cleverer than one's self is a mistake; she is sure to rule
+her husband; and you are so much in love that you are
+certain to spoil her at first. Well, as your father, I now
+bid you clear your head of this notion. I confess I don't
+believe myself that Sofya Nikolayevna would accept you.
+Choose your shoe of the right size, and it won't pinch your
+foot. We will find out a wife for you here&mdash;some gentle,
+quiet girl, well-born and with some money. Then you can
+give up your office and live here in comfort. You know,
+my boy, we're not rolling in wealth. We get enough to
+eat, but very little money comes in. As to the Kurolyessoff
+legacy, about which people made such a noise, I
+never give it a thought; we can't count on it: Praskovya
+Ivanovna is young enough to marry and have children of
+her own. Now, mind what I say, Alosha: throw all this
+off like water off a duck's back, and don't let me hear again
+of Sofya Nikolayevna." Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave
+his hand graciously to his son, who kissed it as respectfully
+as usual. The old man ordered tea to be served and the
+family to be summoned; he was more than usually cheerful
+and friendly to them all, but Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was
+terribly depressed. No anger on his father's part would
+have produced such an effect; that was soon over and
+was always followed by indulgence and kindness, but the
+old man's quiet determination deprived him of all hope.
+There was a change in his expression, so sudden and complete,
+that his mother was frightened to see it and plied
+him with questions&mdash;"Was he unwell? What had
+happened to him?" His sisters noticed the change also,
+but they were more cunning and held their tongues. None
+of this was lost on Stepan Mihailovitch. He looked
+askance at Arina Vassilyevna and muttered through his
+teeth, "Don't worry the boy!" So they took no more
+notice of him but left him in peace, and the day went on
+with its usual routine.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The conversation with his father made a deep impression
+on Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch; one may say that it crushed
+him. His appetite and sleep failed, he lost interest in
+everything, even his bodily strength was affected. His
+mother shed tears, and even his sisters were uneasy. Next
+day his mother found it difficult to get from him any
+account of the interview with his father. To all inquiries
+he returned the same answer: "My father won't hear of
+it; I am a lost man, and life will soon be over for me."
+And within a week he did really take to his bed; he was
+very weak and often half-conscious; and, though his skin
+was not hot, he was constantly delirious. No one could
+understand what was the matter with him; but it was
+simply a nervous fever. The family were terribly alarmed.
+As there were no doctors in the neighbourhood, they treated
+him with domestic remedies; but he grew steadily worse
+till he was so weak that his death was expected hourly.
+His mother and sisters screamed and tore their hair.
+Stepan Mihailovitch, though he shed no tears and was not
+always sitting by the bedside, probably suffered more than
+any one; he understood perfectly what had caused this
+illness. But youth at last asserted itself, and the turn
+came after exactly six weeks. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch woke
+up to life an absolute child, and life was slow in resuming
+its normal course with him; his convalescence lasted two
+months, and all the past seemed to have been blotted out
+from his memory. Everything that he saw, both indoors
+and out, pleased him as much as if it were new and strange.
+At last he got perfectly well; his face filled out and got
+back the healthy colour which it had lost for more than a
+year; he went out fishing and shooting quails, ate and
+drank heartily, and was in good spirits. His parents felt
+more joy than they could express, and were convinced that
+the illness had expelled all former thoughts and feelings
+from his head and heart. And perhaps this would really
+have been the case if they had taken him away from Ufa,
+kept him a whole year at home, and found a pretty girl for
+him to marry. But their fears were lulled to rest by his
+present condition, and they sent him back to the same
+place and the same duties after six months. This settled
+his fate once for all. The old passion revived and blazed
+up with far greater power. I do not know whether love
+came back to his heart all at once or by degrees; I only
+know that he went seldom at first to the Zubins' house,
+and then oftener, and at last as often as he could. I know
+also that his old friend, Mme. Alakayeff, continued her
+visits to Sofya Nikolayevna, sounding her cautiously as
+to her sentiments and bringing back favourable reports,
+which confirmed her own hope that the proud beauty was
+not indifferent to her humble worshipper. A few months
+after Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had returned to Ufa, a letter from
+him suddenly arrived at Bagrovo, in which he declared to
+his parents, with his usual affection and respect, but also
+with a firmness not characteristic of him, that he loved
+Sofya Nikolayevna more than his own life and could not
+live without her; he had hopes of her accepting him, and
+asked his parents to give him their blessing and their consent
+to the match. This letter was a great surprise and
+shock to the old people. Stepan Mihailovitch knitted his
+brows but did not express his feelings by a single word.
+The family all sat round in perfect silence till he dismissed
+them by a gesture. When he was alone, my grandfather
+sat there a long time, tracing patterns on the floor of his
+room with his blackthorn staff. He soon realised that it
+was a bad business, that they had been mistaken, and that
+no fever would cure the lad of his passion. His impulsive
+and kindly nature shook his resolve and made him inclined
+to give his consent, as may be inferred from what he said
+to his wife. When they were alone together next morning,
+he said: "Well, Arisha, what do you think of it? If we
+refuse, we shall see no more of Alosha than of our own ears.
+He will die of grief, or go off to the wars, or become a monk&mdash;and
+that's the end of the Bagroff family!" But Arina
+Vassilyevna had been primed already by her daughters,
+and she answered, as if her son ran no risk: "As you
+please, Stepan Mihailovitch; your will is mine too. But
+how can you hope they will respect you in future, if they
+resist your positive commands now?" This mean and
+cunning trick was successful: the old man's pride was
+touched, and he resolved to stand firm. He dictated a
+letter, in which he expressed surprise that his son should
+begin the old business over again, and repeated what he
+had already said by word of mouth. In short, the letter
+contained a positive refusal.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Two or three weeks passed, and brought no reply from
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch. Then there came one stormy autumn
+morning, when my grandfather was sitting across his bed
+in his own room; he was wearing his favourite dressing-gown
+of fine camel's hair over a shirt buttoning up at the
+side, and had slippers on his bare feet. Arina Vassilyevna
+was sitting near him with her spinning-wheel, spinning
+goat's down and carefully drawing out the fine long threads
+with which she intended to make cloth&mdash;cloth to provide
+her son with light, warm, comfortable garments. Tanyusha
+was sitting by the window, reading a book. Elizabeth,
+who was on a visit to Bagrovo, was sitting on the bed
+near her father, telling him of her troubles&mdash;her husband's
+poor prospects, and the shifts they had to practise at home
+to make ends meet. The old man listened sadly, with his
+hands on his knees, and his head, now turning white, bent
+down over his breast. Suddenly the door opened; and
+Ivan, a tall, handsome lad, wearing a travelling jacket,
+entered the room with a quick step and delivered a letter
+which he had brought from the post-town 25 <em class="italics">versts</em> away.
+The stir among the party showed that the letter was eagerly
+expected. "From Alosha?" asked the old man quickly
+and uneasily. "From my brother," answered Tanyusha,
+who had gone to meet Ivan, taken the letter quickly from
+him, and looked at the address. "You have lost no time,
+and I thank you. A dram for Ivan! Then go and have
+your dinner and rest." The spirit-case was opened at
+once; Tanyusha took out a long, cut-glass decanter, filled
+a silver cup with brandy, and handed it to Ivan. Ivan
+crossed himself and drank it, then coughed, bowed, and
+left the room. "Read it aloud, Tanyusha," said her
+father; she did his reading and writing for him. She
+placed herself by the window; her father left his bed and
+her mother her spinning-wheel, and all crowded round the
+reader, who had unsealed the letter by this time but dared
+not take a preliminary peep. After a moment's silence,
+the letter was read slowly and audibly. It began with the
+form of address usual in those days&mdash;"Dear and honoured
+Father, and dear and honoured Mother," and then went
+on in this fashion&mdash;</p>
+<p class="pnext">"In answer to my last letter, I had the misfortune to
+receive a refusal of my request, my dearest parents. I
+cannot go against your will; I submit to it, but I cannot
+long drag the burden of my life without my adored Sofya
+Nikolayevna; and therefore a fatal bullet shall ere long
+pierce the head of your unhappy son."<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id79" id="id78"><sup>39</sup></a></p>
+<p class="pnext">The letter produced a powerful effect. My aunts began
+to whimper; my grandmother, who was taken utterly by
+surprise, turned pale, threw out her hands, and flopped
+down on the ground like a corn-sheaf. Even in those
+days fainting-fits were not unknown. Stepan Mihailovitch
+never stirred; but his head bent a little to one side, as it
+used to do when a fit of anger was coming on, and began
+to tremble slightly; and that tremulous motion went on
+from that hour till his death. The daughters rushed to
+their mother's aid and soon brought her back to her senses.
+At once, Arina Vassilyevna threw herself at her husband's
+feet, raising the cry of mourning for the dead; and her
+daughters followed her example. Taking no notice of the
+storm-signals on his brow, and quite forgetting that she
+herself had egged him on to disappoint his son, she cried
+at the top of her voice: "<em class="italics">Batyushka</em> Stepan Mihailovitch!
+have pity and do not be the death of your own child,
+our only son! Give Alosha leave to marry! If anything
+happens to him, I will not live one hour longer!" The old
+man never stirred. At last he said in an unsteady voice:
+"Enough of that howling! Alosha deserves a good whipping.
+But we'll leave it till to-morrow; morning brings good
+counsel. Now go and order dinner to be served." Dinner
+my grandfather regarded as a sedative at every domestic
+crisis. Arina Vassilyevna tried to begin again&mdash;"Mercy!
+Mercy!"&mdash;but Stepan Mihailovitch called out loudly,
+"Leave the room, all of you!"&mdash;and in his voice was audible
+the roar that goes before a storm. The room was cleared instantly,
+and no one ventured near him before the dinner-hour.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It is hard to imagine the thoughts that passed through
+his mind in the interval, the struggle that took place in that
+iron heart between love and prudence, and the final defeat
+of the stubborn spirit; but, when Mazan's voice was heard
+outside the door, announcing dinner, my grandfather came
+out of his room quite composed. His face was rather pale,
+but his wife and daughters, who were standing, each by her
+own chair, till he appeared, could not see the faintest sign
+of anger; on the contrary, he was quieter and more cheerful
+than he had been in the morning, and made a hearty
+meal. Arina Vassilyevna had to harden her heart and suit
+her conversation to his mood; she dared not even sigh,
+far less ask questions; in vain she tried to guess what was
+passing through her husband's mind; the little chestnut-brown
+eyes in her fat face might ask what questions they
+pleased, but the dark-blue eyes of Stepan Mihailovitch, for
+all their frank good-humoured expression, gave no answer.
+After dinner he lay down as usual, and woke in a still more
+cheerful mood, but not a syllable did he utter about his
+son or the letter. Yet it was clear that no wrath was brooding
+in the old man's heart. When he said "good night";
+to his wife after supper, she ventured to say, "Please say
+something about Alosha." He smiled and answered:
+"Did I not say that morning thoughts are best? Go to
+sleep, and God bless you!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">Morning did indeed bring good counsel and kindly
+action. My grandfather got up at four o'clock when Mazan
+was kindling his fire, and his first words were: "Tanaichonok,
+you are to take a letter at once to Ufa for Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch. Get ready immediately, and no one is to
+know your errand or where you are going. Put the young
+brown horse in the shafts, and the roarer abreast of him.
+Take six bushels of oats with you and a loaf of bread. Ask
+the housekeeper for two <em class="italics">roubles</em> in copper for your expenses.
+See that all is ready when my letter is written, and don't
+lose a moment!" When my grandfather demanded haste,
+he always got it. Then he opened the oak desk which
+served him as a writing-table, got writing materials, and
+with some effort&mdash;for ten years past he had written
+nothing but his signature&mdash;he wrote as follows in a stiff,
+old-fashioned hand:&mdash;</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<p class="pfirst">"<span class="small-caps">Dear Son Alexy&eacute;i</span>,</p>
+<p class="pnext">"Your mother, Arina Vassilyevna, and I, give
+you our permission to marry Sofya Nikolayevna Zubin, if
+that be God's will, and we send you our blessing.</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">"Your father,</div>
+<div class="line"></div>
+<div class="inner line-block">
+<div class="line">"<span class="small-caps">Stepan Bagroff</span>."</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">Half an hour later, long before it was light, Tanaichonok
+had reached the top of the long hill and passed the
+stackyard, and was trotting briskly along the road to Ufa.
+At six o'clock Stepan Mihailovitch ordered Aksyutka to
+bring the <em class="italics">samovar</em> but to wake no one in the house. In
+spite of this, the mistress was called and told in confidence
+that Tanaichonok had started very early with a pair of
+horses from the stable; he was carrying a letter from the
+master, but his destination was unknown. She did not
+venture to join her husband at once: she waited an hour
+or so, and appeared when he had finished his tea and was
+chatting with Aksyutka, the maid, who had been plain as
+a child and was now still plainer in middle life. "Well,
+what did they wake you for?" said Stepan Mihailovitch,
+holding out his hand to his wife. "I dare say you had a
+bad night." Arina Vassilyevna kissed his hand respectfully:
+"No," she said, "no one called me, I woke of
+myself; and I had a good night, for I hoped you would be
+kind to our poor boy." He looked attentively at her; but
+her face was accustomed to wear a mask, and he could not
+read her thoughts. "In that case," he said, "I have
+good news for you. I have sent a special messenger to
+Ufa and written to Alexy&eacute;i that he has permission from
+us both to marry Sofya Nikolayevna."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Arina Vassilyevna had been horrified by her son's
+tragic intentions, and had sincerely begged and prayed
+her stern husband to consent to the marriage. Yet, when
+she heard how Stepan Mihailovitch had decided, she felt
+more fear than joy; or rather, she did not dare to feel
+joy, because she feared her daughters. She knew already
+what Elizabeth thought of the letter, and guessed what
+Alexandra would say. For these reasons she received the
+decision, which her husband hoped would delight her,
+rather coldly and strangely; and this did not escape him.
+Elizabeth expressed no satisfaction whatever, but merely
+respectful submission to her father's will; but Tanyusha,
+who took her brother's letter quite seriously, rejoiced with
+all her heart. Elizabeth was not alarmed even at first by
+her brother's threat; she shed tears and interceded for
+him, merely because it would not look well to act differently
+from her mother and youngest sister. She wrote at
+once to Alexandra, who was furious when she heard of the
+decision and came with all speed to Bagrovo. She too
+treated her brother's letter as an empty threat, a trick
+suggested by Sofya Nikolayevna; and the two together
+soon converted their mother and even Tanyusha to this
+belief. But the matter was settled, and open rebellion
+was now out of the question. Stepan Mihailovitch had
+thought that Sofya Nikolayevna would refuse his son;
+but no one else at Bagrovo believed this. But it is time
+now to leave Bagrovo and see what was going on at Ufa.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I will not take upon myself to decide positively whether
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch really intended to shoot himself, if his
+parents were obdurate, or took a hint from some incident
+in a novel and tried to excite their fears by suggesting the
+awful result of their refusal. Judging by the later development
+of his character&mdash;and I knew it well&mdash;I cannot think
+him capable of either course of action. Therefore, as I
+suppose, the young man was not playing a trick in order
+to frighten his parents; on the contrary, he sincerely
+intended to blow out his brains, if he was forbidden to
+marry Sofya Nikolayevna. But at the same time I do not
+think he could ever have brought himself to carry out his
+fatal purpose, although your mild quiet people, who are
+often called faint-hearted, are sometimes more capable of
+desperate actions than men of bold and energetic temperament.
+The idea of suicide was certainly borrowed from
+some novel: it was quite out of keeping with the character
+of Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, his view of life, and the circle of
+ideas in which he had been born and brought up. However
+that may be, when he had launched the fatal letter,
+he became greatly agitated and was soon laid up with
+fever. His friend and confidante, Mme. Alakayeff, knew
+nothing of the letter; she came to see him daily and soon
+perceived that his illness and his love-affair were not enough
+to account for his excessive agitation. She was sitting
+beside him one day, knitting a stocking and talking about
+trifles, in order to amuse the invalid and distract his mind
+from his hopeless passion; he was lying on the sofa, with
+his hands behind his head, looking out of the window.
+Suddenly he turned as white as a sheet. A cart with a
+pair of horses had turned off the street into the courtyard,
+and he recognised the horses and Tanaichonok. He
+sprang to his feet, cried out, "A message from my father,
+from Bagrovo!" and made for the door. Mme. Alakayeff
+seized his arm, and, with the help of a servant, prevented
+him from hurrying to the steps; it was wet and
+cold autumn weather. Meanwhile Tanaichonok came
+quickly into the room and delivered the letter. Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch broke the seal with trembling fingers, read the
+few lines, burst into tears, and fell on his knees before the
+<em class="italics">ikon</em>. Mme. Alakayeff was puzzled until he handed her
+the letter; but, when she had read it, she too shed tears
+of joy. The young man was beside himself with happiness.
+He now confessed the nature of the letter he had
+written to his parents, and she shook her head when she
+heard it. Tanaichonok was called in and closely questioned;
+when he told how he had been sent off, they
+saw that Stepan Mihailovitch had settled the matter by
+himself, without the knowledge of his womankind and
+probably against their wishes.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Mme. Alakayeff was entirely taken by surprise: even
+when she had read the letter over again she could not
+believe her own eyes, because she knew Stepan Mihailovitch
+of old and quite realised the opposition of the
+family. But, when the first excitement of surprise and joy
+was over, the two began to discuss how they should set to
+work. So long as opposition from their own side made
+the marriage seem remote and impossible, they had been
+sanguine as to the feelings of the lady; but now a doubt
+seized on Mme. Alakayeff. When she recalled and examined
+all the favourable signs, she felt that perhaps she
+had attached more importance to them than they deserved;
+and, like a sensible woman, she made haste to moderate
+the young man's confident hopes, prudently calculating
+that, if he were seduced by them, he would find it harder
+to bear the sudden collapse of those radiant dreams. A
+refusal now seemed to her quite possible, and her fears had
+effect upon her companion. Still, she did not back out
+of her promise to help him: on the contrary, she went
+next day and laid his proposal before Sofya Nikolayevna.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Simply, clearly, and with no exaggeration, she described
+the constant and ardent attachment of Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch&mdash;all the town had long known it, and certainly
+Sofya Nikolayevna did; she spoke warmly of the fine
+character of her young relative, his kind heart, his rare
+modesty; she gave true and exact details of his financial
+position and prospects; she told the facts about his family,
+not forgetting to state that he had received by letter
+yesterday his parents' blessing and their full consent to
+seek the hand of a lady so worthy and highly respected as
+Sofya Nikolayevna; she added, that the young man had
+caught a fever in the excitement of waiting for his parents'
+reply, but found it impossible to postpone the decision of
+his fate, and therefore had asked her, as his kinswoman
+and a friend of Sofya Nikolayevna's, to find out whether
+a formal proposal for her hand, laid before her father,
+would be distasteful to her or not.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna had long been accustomed to act
+for herself: without confusion and without any of the
+affectation and prudery expected of women in those days,
+she replied as follows:&mdash;</p>
+<p class="pnext">"I thank Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch for the honour he has
+done me, and you, dear lady, for your interest in the matter.
+I say frankly that I noticed long ago his partiality for me
+and have long expected that he would make me a proposal;
+but I have never decided whether I would accept or reject
+it. His last visit to his parents, the suddenness&mdash;you told
+me this yourself&mdash;of his long and dangerous illness at
+home, and the change in him when he came back to Ufa&mdash;these
+were signs that his parents disapproved of me as a
+daughter-in-law. This, I confess, I did not expect; it
+seemed more natural to fear opposition on the part of my
+father. Later I saw that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had revived
+his former feeling for me; and now I suppose that he has
+been able to induce his father and mother to consent. But
+you must admit yourself, my dear lady, that the matter
+now assumes quite a new aspect. To enter a family where
+one is not welcome, is too great a risk. Certainly, my
+father would not oppose my choice; but can I venture to
+conceal the truth from him? If he were to learn that an
+obscure country squire thought twice before admitting me
+to the honour of alliance with his family, he would consider
+it a degradation, and nothing would induce him to
+consent. I am not in love with Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch: I
+only respect his good qualities and his constant affection,
+and I believe he might make the woman he loved happy.
+Allow me, therefore, to think it over; and also, before I
+speak of this to my father and trouble him in his feeble
+state with such news, I wish to speak myself to Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch. Let him come and see us, when he is well
+enough."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Mme. Alakayeff reported this answer exactly to the
+young man. He did not think it promising, but she disagreed
+with him and tried to sooth his anxiety.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After parting on very friendly terms with her visitor,
+Sofya Nikolayevna sat for a long time alone in her drawing-room,
+and thought hard. Her bright lively eyes were
+clouded; sombre thoughts raced through her brain and
+were reflected on the mirror of her beautiful face. All
+that she had said to Mme. Alakayeff was perfectly true:
+the question, whether she should marry Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+or not, was really not settled. But the proposal had now
+been made, and it was necessary to make the great decision,
+so critical in every woman's life. Sofya Nikolayevna had
+an unusually clear head; in later years, the trials of life
+and her own passionate temperament may have warped
+her judgment, but she was able then to see everything
+exactly in its true light. Her prospects were not bright.
+Her father was a hopeless invalid, and Zanden, their best
+doctor, declared he could not live more than a year. His
+property consisted of two villages near Ufa, Zubkova and
+Kasimofka&mdash;forty serfs in all and a small amount of land;
+he had also scraped together a sum of 10,000 <em class="italics">roubles</em> which
+he intended as a portion for his daughter. To see her
+married was his constant and eager desire; but strange
+things do happen, and Sofya Nikolayevna had never before
+received a formal offer. He would leave behind him six
+orphans, the children of his two marriages, and separate
+guardians would have to be appointed. The three youngest
+would go to their grandmother, Mme. Rychkoff; their
+mother's fortune consisted of a small estate of fifty serfs.
+Sofya Nikolayevna's own brothers were at a boarding-school
+in Moscow; she would be left absolutely alone,
+without even distant relations to take her under their roof.
+In short, she had no where to lay her head. To face
+poverty and want, to live on the charity of strangers and
+in complete dependence upon strangers&mdash;such a fate might
+distress any one; but to a girl who had lived in comfort
+and held a high position in society, a girl proud by nature
+and flattered by general attention and popularity, a girl
+who had experienced all the burden of dependence and
+then all the charm of authority&mdash;such a change might well
+seem intolerable. And here was a young man, good-looking,
+honest, modest, the heir of an ancient line and an only
+son, whose father possessed 180 serfs and who was himself
+to inherit wealth from an aunt; and this young man
+worshipped her and offered her his hand and heart. At
+first sight, hesitation seemed out of the question. But,
+on the other hand, they were ill-matched in mind and
+temperament. No one in the town could believe that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, and
+she realised the justice of public opinion and could not but
+attach importance to it. She was considered a marvel of
+beauty and intelligence: her suitor was certainly pretty in
+a boyish way&mdash;which was no recommendation to Sofya
+Nikolayevna&mdash;but rather simple and stupid, and passed
+with every one for a plain country lad. She was quick and
+enterprising: he was timid and slow. She was educated
+and might almost be called learned, had read much, and
+had a wide range of intellectual interests: he was quite
+ignorant, had read nothing but a few silly novels and a
+song-book, and cared for little beyond snaring quails and
+flying his hawks. She was witty and tactful and shone in
+society: he could not string three words together; clumsy,
+shy, abject, and ridiculous, he could only blush and bow
+and squeeze into a corner or against a door, to escape from
+the talkative and sociable young men whom he positively
+feared, though he was in truth far cleverer than many of
+them. She had a firm, positive, unbending temper: he
+was humble and wanting in energy, easily silenced and
+easily discomfited. Was he the man to support and defend
+his wife in society and in domestic life?</p>
+<p class="pnext">Such were the contradictory thoughts and ideas and
+fancies which swarmed in the young girl's mind, mingling
+and jostling one another. Long after darkness had come
+down, she was still sitting there alone. At last a feeling
+of extreme misery, a terrible certainty that her reason was
+utterly baffled and growing less and less able to solve her
+problem, turned her thoughts to prayer. She hurried to
+her room to beg for the light of reason from on high, and
+fell on her knees before the image of Our Lady of Smolensk,
+who had once before by a miracle lightened her darkness
+and pointed out to her the path of life. For a long
+time she prayed, and her hot tears fell. But by degrees
+she felt a kind of relief, a measure of strength, a power of
+resolve, though she did not know yet what her resolve
+would be; and even this feeling helped her. She went
+downstairs to look at her father in his sleep; then she
+came back to her own room, lay down, and went peacefully
+to sleep. When she woke next morning, she was
+perfectly composed; she reflected for a few minutes, gave
+a thought to her hesitation and perplexity of the night
+before, and then kept quietly to her purpose, which was,
+first to have a conversation with her suitor, and then to
+settle the matter definitely, in accordance with the impression
+left on her mind by their interview.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, wishing to know his fate as soon
+as possible, sent for the doctor and begged to be put on
+his legs without delay. The doctor promised to let him
+out soon and kept his promise for once. Within a week
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, though still pale, thin, and feeble, was
+sitting in Sofya Nikolayevna's drawing-room. Touched
+by the loss of colour and change in his young face, she was
+not quite as outspoken and rigorous as she meant to be.
+In substance she repeated to him what she had said to
+Mme. Alakayeff, but she added two points&mdash;that she would
+not part from her father while he lived, and that she would
+not live in the country. She wished to live in a town, in
+Ufa, for choice, where she was acquainted with many
+worthy and cultivated people, and hoped to enjoy their
+society after her marriage. She ended by saying that she
+would like to see her husband in the public service and
+holding a position in the town, which, if not brilliant,
+should at least secure deference and respect. To all these
+conditions and anticipations of a wife's rights, Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch replied, with abject humility, that her will was
+law to him, and that his happiness would consist in the
+fulfilment of all her wishes. Such an answer no man
+should have given: it proved that his love was not to be
+depended on, and that he could not assure a woman's
+happiness; yet it pleased Sofya Nikolayevna, clever as
+she was. Reluctantly I must confess that love of power
+was one of her ruling passions; and the germs of this
+passion, now that she had been released from the cruel
+oppression of her stepmother, were sprouting actively at
+this time. Love of power did really, though she herself
+did not know it, help her to her decision.</p>
+<p class="pnext">She expressed a wish to see the letter of consent which
+he had received from his parents; and he produced it from
+his pocket. She read it and was convinced that she was
+right in guessing that his wishes had at first been opposed.
+The young man was incapable of dissimulation, and also
+so much in love that he could not resist a kind look or word
+from his idol. So, when Sofya Nikolayevna demanded
+perfect frankness, he made a clean breast of everything;
+and I believe that this frankness finally settled the question
+in his favour. Sofya Nikolayevna was clever, but
+still she was a woman; and she was filled with the idea of
+reshaping and remoulding in her own way this good-tempered
+young man, so modest and sincere and uncorrupted
+by society. How delightful to think of the gradual
+awakening and enlightenment of this Orson! Orson had
+no lack of sense; and feeling, though wrapt in unbroken
+slumber, was there too. Orson would love her still better,
+if that were possible, in gratitude for his transformation.
+This vision took hold of her eager imagination; and she
+parted very graciously from her adorer, promising to talk
+the matter over with her father and communicate the
+result through Mme. Alakayeff. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was
+"swimming in bliss"&mdash;to use an expression of that day.
+That evening Sofya Nikolayevna again had recourse to
+prayer, and prayed for a long time with great mental strain
+and fervour. She was exhausted when she went to sleep;
+and she had a dream which she interpreted, as people
+often do, as a confirmation of her purpose. Men are
+clever enough to interpret anything according to their
+desires. This dream I forget; but I remember that it
+was capable, with much more probability and much less
+forcing, of the opposite interpretation. Next morning
+Sofya Nikolayevna lost no time in telling her father, who
+was now in a very feeble state, of the proposal she had
+received. M. Zubin did not know Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, but
+had somehow come to think of him as a person of no
+importance; and he was not pleased, in spite of his eager
+desire to see his daughter settled before he died. But she
+proved to him, with her usual eagerness and convincing
+eloquence, that it was unwise to show the door to such a
+suitor. She urged all the advantages of the match which
+we know already, and, above all, that, far from parting
+with him, she would continue to live in the same house.
+She painted her helpless condition when it should please
+God to remove her father, till the sick man shed a tear and
+said: "Do as you please, my dear clever child. I consent
+to everything. Bring your future husband to see me soon:
+I wish to become better acquainted with him. And I
+insist on receiving a proposal in writing from his parents."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna then sent a note to Mme. Alakayeff,
+asking Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch to call on her father at a fixed
+hour. He was still "swimming in bliss," which he shared
+only with his old friend and supporter; but he was much
+disconcerted by this invitation which he had never expected
+from such a confirmed invalid. M. Zubin, in the absence
+of the Lieutenant-Governor the most important and
+powerful personage in the whole district of Ufa! M.
+Zubin, whom he had always approached with reverence
+and awe! His name seemed now more formidable than
+ever. What if he frowned on this proposal for his
+daughter's hand from one of the humblest of his subordinates?
+Might he not treat it as insolence, and thunder
+out: "How dared you think of my daughter? Are you
+a fit match for her? Off with him to prison and to judgment!"
+However wild these notions may appear, they
+did really pass through the young man's head; and he
+often told the story afterwards himself. Plucking up his
+spirits and encouraged by Mme. Alakayeff, he put on his
+uniform which hung loosely on his limbs from loss of flesh,
+and set off to wait on the great man. With his three-cornered
+hat under his arm, and clutching his troublesome
+sword in a trembling hand, he entered M. Zubin's study,
+so nervous that he could hardly breathe. M. Zubin, who
+had once been clever, lively, and energetic, now lay on his
+couch hardly able to move and shrunk to a mere skeleton.
+The visitor bowed low and remained standing by the door.
+This in itself was enough to annoy the invalid. "Step
+this way, M. Bagroff, and take a chair near my bed; I am
+too weak to talk loud." Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, with a profusion
+of bows, sat down on the edge of a chair close to the
+bed. "I understand that you seek my daughter's hand,"
+the old man went on. The suitor jumped up, bowed, and
+said that he did in fact venture to seek this happiness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I could report the whole of this interview in detail, as
+I have often heard it fully described by Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+himself; but part of it would be a repetition of what we
+know already, and I am afraid of wearying my readers.
+The important points are these. M. Zubin questioned the
+young man about his family, his means, and his intentions
+with regard to his profession and place of residence; he
+said that Sofya Nikolayevna would have nothing but her
+portion of 10,000 <em class="italics">roubles</em>, two families of serfs as servants,
+and 3000 <em class="italics">roubles</em> in cash for initial expenses; and he
+added: "Though I am quite sure that you, as a dutiful
+son, would not have made such a proposal without the consent
+of your parents, yet they may change their minds;
+and social usage requires that they should write to me
+personally on the subject; and I cannot give you a positive
+answer till I receive a letter to that effect." Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch got up repeatedly, bowed, and sat down again.
+He agreed to everything and promised to write that very
+day to his parents. In half an hour the invalid said that
+he was tired&mdash;which was perfectly true&mdash;and dismissed
+the young man rather drily. The moment he left, Sofya
+Nikolayevna entered her father's study; he was lying
+with closed eyes, and his face expressed weariness and also
+anxiety. Hearing his daughter's approach, he threw an
+imploring glance at her, pressed his hands to his breast,
+and ejaculated: "Is it possible, Sonitchka, that you
+intend to marry him!" But Sofya Nikolayevna had
+anticipated the result of the interview and was prepared
+for an even worse impression. "I warned you, father,"
+she said in a gentle but firm voice, "that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch,
+owing to utter ignorance of society, awkwardness,
+and timidity, was bound to appear to you at first somewhat
+of a simpleton; but I, who have seen him often and
+had long conversations with him, will vouch for it that he
+is no fool and has more sense than most people. I beg you
+to have two more interviews with him; and I am sure you
+will agree with me." M. Zubin looked long at his daughter
+with a keen and penetrating gaze, as if he wished to read
+some secret hidden in her heart; then he sighed heavily
+and consented to do what she asked.</p>
+<p class="pnext">By the next post Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch sent a very affectionate
+and respectful letter to his parents. He thanked
+them for having given him life a second time, and humbly
+begged them to write at once to M. Zubin and request the
+hand of his daughter for their son; he added that this was
+the regular custom, and without such a letter the father
+would not give a positive answer. The fulfilment of this
+simple request gave some trouble to the old people at
+Bagrovo. They were no hands at composition, and, for
+want of previous experience, had no idea how to set about
+it, while they were exceedingly loath to commit themselves
+before the Governor's Deputy and their future relation,
+who was sure to be a skilful man of business and a practised
+writer. It took them a whole week to compose their
+letter; at last it got written somehow and was dispatched
+to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch. It was not a skilful production,
+having none of those polite phrases and expressions of
+affection which are indispensable in such cases.</p>
+<p class="pnext">While waiting for the answer from home, Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch received two more invitations from M. Zubin.
+The second visit did not remove the unfavourable impression
+produced by the first. On the next occasion, however,
+Sofya Nikolayevna was present. Returning from a
+call earlier than usual, she walked into her father's room,
+as if she did not know that her suitor was sitting there.
+Her presence made all the difference. She could make
+him talk and knew what he could talk about, so as to display
+to advantage his natural good sense, high principle,
+and goodness of heart. M. Zubin was obviously pleased:
+he spoke kindly to the young man and invited him to come
+to the house as often as he could. When they were alone,
+the old man embraced his daughter with tears, called her
+by many fond names, and said she was a witch whose
+spells could draw out a man's good qualities, even when
+they were so deeply hidden that no one suspected their
+existence. She too was much pleased; for she had not
+dared to hope that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch would do so much
+to support her favourable opinion and justify the character
+she had given him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The letter containing the formal proposal arrived at
+last, and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch delivered it in person to M.
+Zubin. Alas! without the magic presence and aid of
+Sofya Nikolayevna the suitor failed again to please his
+future father-in-law, who was also far from satisfied with
+the letter. Next day he had a long conversation with his
+daughter, in which he set before her all the disadvantages
+of marrying a man inferior to herself in intelligence,
+education, and force of character; he said that the Bagroff
+family would not take her to their hearts&mdash;they would be
+much more likely to hate her, because coarse and cruel
+ignorance always hates refinement; he warned her not to
+rely on the promises of a lover; for these as a rule are not
+kept after marriage, and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, even if he
+wished, would not have the power to keep them. To all
+this sage advice, drawn directly from the experience of life,
+she had an answer of surprising adroitness; and at the
+same time she depicted in such lively colours the advantages
+of marrying a man who, if he lacked energy and
+refinement, was at least kind-hearted, honourable, loving,
+and no fool, that her father was carried away by her confidence
+and gave his full consent. She clasped her father
+in her arms and kissed his wasted hands; then she gave
+him the <em class="italics">ikon</em> and received his blessing,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id81" id="id80"><sup>40</sup></a> kneeling by his
+bed and weeping. "Father," she cried in her excitement,
+"with God's help, I hope that in a year's time Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch will be a different creature: the reading of
+good books, the society of clever people, and constant
+conversation with his wife&mdash;these will make up for defects
+of education; his bashfulness will pass away, and the
+power to take a place in society will come of itself." "May
+it be so!" he answered. "Now send for the priest. I
+wish that we should pray together for your happiness."</p>
+<p class="pnext">That same evening Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was invited to
+the house, with Mme. Alakayeff and some old friends of
+the Zubins'&mdash;M. Anitchkoff and the Misailoffs; and the
+favourable answer was given. The young man's bliss no
+words can describe: Sofya Nikolayevna, even in extreme
+old age, used to speak of his joy at that moment. He
+threw himself at M. Zubin's feet and kissed his hands,
+cried and sobbed like a child, and nearly fainted from the
+effect of this immense good-fortune which down to the last
+moment had seemed beyond his reach. She too was
+deeply moved by such a frank expression of ardent and
+entire devotion.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The official betrothal came two days later, and all the
+town was invited to the ceremony. There was general
+surprise, because many had disbelieved the reports of the
+engagement. But all sceptics were convinced at last, and
+came to express their congratulations and good wishes.
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was radiant with happiness; he was
+quite unaware of any hidden meaning in congratulations,
+of any mockery in looks and smiles. But Sofya Nikolayevna
+let nothing pass unnoticed: she saw everything
+and heard everything, though, in speaking to her, every one
+was cautious and polite. Though she knew beforehand
+the view society would take of her action, she could not
+help being vexed by this expression of their opinion. But
+no one detected her vexation; for she was cheerful and
+affectionate with every one and especially with her suitor,
+and seemed perfectly happy and content with her choice.
+The pair were soon summoned into M. Zubin's study, and
+the betrothal took place there before a few witnesses.
+While the priest read the prayers, the old man shed tears;
+when the rite was over, he told the bridegroom to kiss the
+bride and embraced them both himself with a great effort;
+then he gazed earnestly at Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch and said,
+"Love her always as you do now; God is giving you such
+a treasure ..." and then he broke down. The engaged
+couple and the witnesses returned to the drawing-room,
+where all the men embraced the bridegroom and kissed
+the bride's hand, while all the ladies embraced the bride
+and had their hands kissed by the bridegroom. When this
+fuss was over, the pair were made to sit on a sofa side by
+side, and exchange kisses again; and then the company,
+holding glasses in their hands, repeated their congratulations
+and good wishes. Anitchkoff acted as host, and
+Mme. Alakayeff as hostess. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, who had
+never in his life drunk anything but water, was forced to
+take a glass of wine, and the unfamiliar stimulant had a
+strong effect upon him, weakened as he was by recent
+illness and constant agitation. He became uncommonly
+lively, laughed and cried, and talked a great deal, to the
+amusement of the company and the mortification of the
+bride. The guests soon grew merry: glass followed glass,
+and a fine supper was served. All ate and drank heartily,
+and at last the party broke up amid noise and merriment.
+The bridegroom's head was beginning to ache; and Mme.
+Alakayeff took him home in her carriage.</p>
+<p class="pnext">M. Zubin felt that he was in great danger and therefore
+wished to have the wedding as soon as possible; but, as
+he also wished his daughter's outfit to be rich and splendid,
+it was necessary to postpone the ceremony for some months.
+Her mother's diamonds and emeralds had to be sent to
+Moscow, to be reset and restrung in the newest fashion;
+silver had to be ordered from Moscow, and some dresses
+and presents; the other dresses, curtains for the state bed,
+and a sumptuous black-brown fur cloak which cost 500
+<em class="italics">roubles</em> then and could not be bought now for 5000&mdash;all
+these were made in Kazan; a quantity of table-linen and
+Holland sheets were also provided. Ten thousand roubles,
+the amount fixed for the dowry, was a great sum in those
+days; and, as many valuable things were provided as well,
+the inventory of the bride's outfit assumed such splendid
+proportions, that when I read it now I can hardly believe
+in the simple life of our ancestors at the end of last
+century.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The first business after the formal betrothal was to send
+complimentary letters to all relations on both sides. One
+of Sofya Nikolayevna's gifts was her remarkable skill in
+letter-writing; and her letter to her future husband's
+parents was such that Stepan Mihailovitch, though no
+letter-writer himself, set a high value on it. First he
+listened to it with great attention; then he took it out of
+Tanyusha's hand, praised the distinct handwriting, and
+read it through twice himself. "Well, she's a clever
+girl," he said, "and I make sure she has a warm heart."
+This enraged the family, but they had the sense to keep
+silent. Alexandra alone could not restrain herself: her
+gooseberry eyes flashed with rage as she said: "She can
+write a fine letter, father, I admit; but all is not gold
+that glitters." The old man scowled at her and said in his
+dangerous voice: "How do you know? You're snarling
+at her already, and you've never even seen her! Take
+care! Keep your tongue from wagging, and don't stir up
+the rest!" All sat as silent as mice, and, of course, hated
+Sofya Nikolayevna worse than ever. Meanwhile Stepan
+Mihailovitch, under the influence of that warm and affectionate
+letter, took the pen himself and wrote as follows,
+in defiance of all established etiquette:&mdash;</p>
+<blockquote><div>
+<blockquote><div>
+<div class="line-block outermost">
+<div class="line">"<span class="small-caps">My dear, precious, sensible Daughter-in-Law to be</span>,</div>
+</div>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">"If you, without seeing us, have learnt to love
+and respect us old people, we feel the same for you. And
+when, by God's blessing, we meet, we shall love you still
+better; and you will be to us as our own daughter, and
+we shall rejoice in the happiness of our son Alexy&eacute;i."</p>
+</div></blockquote>
+<p class="pfirst">On her side, Sofya Nikolayevna valued the old man's
+simple words as they deserved; from what she had heard,
+she had already taken a fancy to him. As she had no
+relations living, the bridegroom had no letters to write;
+but she asked Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch to write a letter of intimation
+to M. Anitchkoff, the friend at Moscow whom she had
+never seen and who had taken her brothers under his care.
+The bridegroom of course gladly consented. Not having
+much confidence in his power to express himself on paper,
+she asked to see the letter before it was sent. When she
+read it, she was horrified! Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, who had
+heard a great deal of M. Anitchkoff as a wit, took it into
+his head to adopt an elaborate style. Therefore he had
+recourse to some novel of the day, and filled two sides with
+phrases which, under other circumstances, would have
+made Sofya Nikolayevna laugh outright; as it was, the
+blood rushed to her face, and then the tears poured from
+her eyes. When she grew calmer, she wondered how she
+was to get out of such an awkward situation. She did
+not wonder long, however. She wrote a rough draft of a
+letter herself, and then said to her betrothed, that, not
+being in the habit of writing to strangers, he had written
+in a way that might not please Anitchkoff; and therefore
+she had written a rough draft, which she asked him to copy
+out and send off. She felt shame and pain, and was hurt
+on his account; her voice shook, and she nearly broke
+down. But he welcomed her suggestion with enthusiasm;
+when she read him the letter, he was charmed with it,
+praised her wonderful skill, and covered her hands with
+kisses. This was the first step in disrespect for her future
+husband, the first step towards realising her dream of
+complete domination over him; and she did not find it
+easy to take.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Knowing that his parents had little money and were
+forced to be chary in spending any, Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+wrote to ask for a very moderate sum; and, to strengthen
+his request, he asked Mme. Alakayeff to write to his
+father, to assure him that the request was reasonable and
+that some expense was inevitable in view of the marriage.
+He asked only 800 <em class="italics">roubles</em>, but Mme. Alakayeff stated the
+necessary sum at 1500. The old people replied that they
+had not got such a sum; they sent him all they had&mdash;300
+<em class="italics">roubles</em>, and suggested that, if the other 500 were
+necessary, he should borrow them; but they promised to
+send him a team of four horses with a coachman and
+postilion, and provisions of all kinds. They did not even
+answer Mme. Alakayeff: so indignant were they with her
+for demanding such a huge sum. It could not be helped:
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch thanked them for their kindness and
+borrowed 500 <em class="italics">roubles</em>; when even this proved insufficient,
+Mme. Alakayeff gave him 500 more, without the knowledge
+of his parents.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meantime, as the engaged couple met more often and
+were together longer, they became more intimate. Sofya
+Nikolayevna for the first time saw her husband as he
+really was, and realised for the first time what a heavy
+task lay before her! She had made no mistake in thinking
+that he possessed natural intelligence, a very kind
+heart, strict principles of honour, and perfect integrity in
+official life; but otherwise she found such a limitation of
+ideas, such a pettiness of interests, such an absence of self-esteem
+and independence, that her courage and firmness
+in the execution of her purpose were more than once
+severely shaken. More than once, in despair, she took the
+engagement-ring off her finger, laid it before the image of
+Our Lady of Smolensk, and prayed with tears that her
+feeble intelligence might be enlightened by divine wisdom.
+As we know already, she was accustomed to act thus at
+each crisis in her life. When she had prayed, she felt
+braver and calmer. Interpreting this feeling as heavenly
+guidance, she would put her ring on again and go back,
+composed and cheerful, to join her lover in the drawing-room.
+Her father felt that he was losing strength daily;
+and she was able to assure him that she was constantly
+discovering fresh merits in her lover, that she was quite
+content and looked forward to happiness in her marriage.
+By this time disease had dulled M. Zubin's perspicacity:
+he not only believed that she was sincere, but was convinced
+himself that his daughter would be happy. "Thank
+God!" he used to say; "now I can die happy."</p>
+<p class="pnext">And now the wedding-day drew near. The bride's
+outfit was all ready. The bridegroom too made his preparations,
+being guided by the advice of Mme. Alakayeff,
+who assumed the entire management of him. The old
+lady, in spite of her shrewdness, was surprised by his profound
+ignorance of the customs of polite society. But for
+her, he would have been guilty of many blunders which
+would have made his bride blush for shame. Thus he
+intended to give her as a birthday-present a kind of cloth
+for a dress which would only have been suitable as a
+present to her maid; and he thought of driving to the
+church in an old shandrydan without springs, which would
+have made all the town laugh; and so on. The things
+were not of importance in themselves; but it would have
+tried Sofya Nikolayevna too hard to see her bridegroom
+the laughing-stock of Ufa society. All such things were
+put right by Mme. Alakayeff, or rather by the bride herself,
+for the two women discussed every point together. Sofya
+Nikolayevna told her lover in time, that he must not think
+of giving her a present for her birthday, because she loathed
+birthday-presents in general. For the wedding, she made
+him buy a new English carriage which had lately been
+ordered from Petersburg by a local landowner; his name
+was Murzahanoff,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id83" id="id82"><sup>41</sup></a> and he had managed to run through
+his fortune in a few months. The price paid for the carriage
+was 350 <em class="italics">roubles</em>; Sofya Nikolayevna bought it herself as
+a present from her father to the bridegroom, and begged
+him not to trouble the dying man by thanking him. And
+the other difficulties were got over in the same fashion.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then the bride and bridegroom wrote, for themselves
+and M. Zubin, to Stepan Mihailovitch and Arina Vassilyevna,
+pressing them to honour the wedding by their
+presence; but the old people, as a matter of course,
+declined the invitation. They had lived so long in their
+country solitude that town and town society seemed to
+them something strange and formidable. None of the
+daughters wished to go either; but Stepan Mihailovitch
+thought this awkward, and desired Elizabeth and Alexandra
+to attend the wedding. The latter was accompanied
+by her husband, Karatayeff; but Yerlykin was
+detained by his duties at Orenburg.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The presence of these uninvited and unexpected guests
+was the cause of much annoyance to Sofya Nikolayevna.
+Her future sisters-in-law were clever and cunning women;
+they were determined to dislike her, and their behaviour
+to her was cold, unfriendly, and even rude. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna knew very well the sort of attitude they were
+likely to adopt, yet she thought it her duty to be friendly
+and even cordial to them at first; but when she saw that
+all her efforts were vain, and that the better she treated
+them the worse they treated her, she retired behind a wall
+of cold civility. But this did not protect her from those
+mean hints and innuendoes which it is impossible not to
+understand and not to resent, though it is awkward to do
+either, because you lay yourself open to the retort&mdash;"If
+the cap fits, wear it!" This odious form of attack, now
+banished to the servants' hall by the advance of refinement,
+was formidable in those days, and much used in the houses
+of rural landowners, many of whom differed little from
+their own servants in their manners and customs. But is
+it true that it has really been banished? Does it not still
+live on among us, concealed under more decent and artistic
+forms?</p>
+<p class="pnext">The good people of Ufa made fun, as might be expected,
+of the country clothes and manners of the two ladies. As
+to Karatayeff, who had now adopted all the Bashkir habits
+and began drinking Bashkir decoctions at eight in the
+morning, when he was first introduced to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+he kissed her hand with a sounding smack three
+times over, and cried out with real Bashkir enthusiasm,
+"My word! what a dazzler brother Alexy&eacute;i has hooked!"
+The coarse jests and compliments of the man were as distressing
+as the malicious sallies of the women; and both
+forced Sofya Nikolayevna to swallow many tears. But
+worse than all was the blindness of Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch:
+he seemed perfectly satisfied with the relations between
+his sisters and his bride, and this was not only a mortification
+for the present but also a peril for the future. These
+venomous creatures, who were staying with their brother,
+began at once to drop their poison into his simple soul, and
+did it so artfully that he did not suspect their man&oelig;uvres.
+Allusions to the young lady's pride, to the poverty which
+she hid under jewels and fine clothes, to her caprices and
+his meek submission to them, were dinned into his ears all
+day long. Much passed unnoticed, but much also went
+straight to the mark and made him thoughtful and vaguely
+uneasy. All their attacks, whether secret or open, were
+accompanied by a pretence of sympathy and sisterly affection.
+"What makes you look so worn, my dear boy?"
+Elizabeth would ask; "Sofya Nikolayevna wears you out
+with all her commissions. You've just got back from the
+other end of the town, tired and hungry, and off you run
+again, without eating a morsel, to dance attendance on her.
+As your sisters, we can't help being sorry for you"; and
+then sham tears, or at least some play with the pocket-handkerchief,
+completed the crafty sentence. Then Alexandra
+would make a furious entry into the conversation.
+"No, my dear, I really cannot stand it! I know you will
+be angry, and perhaps you will cease to love us; but I
+can't help it, I must tell you the truth. You are quite
+changed: you're ashamed of us and have forgotten us
+altogether; your one wish is to mumble that girl's hand;
+your one fear, to get into her black books. You have
+become her lackey, her slave! Then it cuts us to the
+heart to see that old witch, Mme. Alakayeff, ordering you
+about like a servant and making you fetch and carry for
+her; and she's not content with that, but finds fault with
+you and urges you to greater activity." Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+could think of no answer to all this, except that he
+loved his sisters and would continue to do so, and&mdash;it was
+time to go and see Sofya Nikolayevna; whereupon he took
+his hat and hurried off. "Oh, go by all means!" Alexandra
+called after him, "and go quick; or else she will be
+angry and perhaps withhold her hand from your lips!"
+Scenes like this took place again and again and undoubtedly
+left their impression.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna could not help noticing that his
+sisters' visit had brought about a certain change in her
+lover. He seemed depressed, was less exact in keeping
+his engagements, and spent less time with her. The
+reason for this she herself understood very well; and Mme.
+Alakayeff, who had become a very intimate friend and also
+knew all that went on in the Bagroffs' lodgings, did not
+fail to provide her with detailed information. Her impulsive
+nature made her unwilling to let things drag on. She
+reasoned justly, that she ought not to give time for the
+sisters' influence to take root at leisure, that she must open
+her lover's eyes and put the strength of his character and
+affection to a decisive test. If they proved too weak, it
+was better to part before marriage than to unite her fate
+to such a feeble creature, who was, to use her own expression,
+"neither a shield from the sun nor a cloak to keep
+out the rain." She summoned him early one morning
+and ordered that no visitors should be admitted to the
+drawing-room where they were sitting. Then she turned
+to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, who was looking pale and frightened,
+and addressed him as follows:&mdash;</p>
+<p class="pnext">"I wish to have a frank explanation with you and to
+make a clean breast of what I am feeling; and I ask you
+to do the same. Your sisters detest me and did their best
+to rouse your parents against me. That I know from
+yourself. But your love overcame all obstacles: your
+parents gave you their approval, and I resolved to accept
+you and brave the hatred of all your family. I hoped to
+find protection in your love for me and in my endeavour to
+prove to your parents that I don't deserve their displeasure.
+But now I see that I was mistaken. You saw yourself
+how I received your sisters, how friendly I was and how
+hard I tried to please them; and, though their rudeness
+made me draw back, yet I never once failed in politeness to
+them. And what has been the result? It is only a week
+since they came, and you treat me differently already:
+you make me promises and then forget to keep them; you
+spend less time with me; you are depressed and anxious,
+and even less affectionate to me than you used to be.
+Don't defend yourself, or deny it; that would not be
+honourable on your part. I know that you love me still,
+but you are afraid to show it; you fear your sisters, and
+that is why you are depressed and even avoid opportunities
+of being alone with me. You know yourself that all this
+is quite true. Well, then, tell me, how can I hope that your
+love will stand firm? It is a strange kind of love that
+turns coward and hides, because your sisters disapprove of
+your bride, as you knew they did long ago. Suppose your
+parents disapprove of me and turn up their noses at me?
+What then? Then you will really cease to love me. No,
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, honourable men do not behave so to
+the woman they love. The knowledge that your sisters
+disliked me should have made you twice as attentive and
+twice as devoted in their presence; and then they would
+not have dared to utter a syllable; but you have suffered
+them to use insulting language in your presence. I know
+just how they speak to you. From all this I conclude
+that your love is not love at all, but love-making, that I
+cannot rely on you, and that we had better part now than
+be unhappy for life. Consider carefully what I have said;
+I shall give you two days to think it over. Come to the
+house as usual, but I shall not see you alone and shall not
+refer to this interview. After two days, I shall ask for an
+honest answer to these questions: 'Have you sufficient
+firmness to be my defender against your relations and any
+one else who chooses to insult me? Can you shut your
+sisters' mouths and prevent them from uttering in your
+presence a single insulting word or allusion against me?'
+To break her engagement a week before her marriage is a
+great misfortune for any girl; but it is better to bear it
+once for all than to suffer all one's life. You know that I
+am not in love with you, but I was beginning to love you;
+and I believe my love would have been stronger and more
+constant than yours. Now, good-bye! For to-day and
+to-morrow we are strangers."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Long before she ended, Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had been in
+tears, and he tried several times to interrupt; but, before
+he could open his mouth, she had left the room and shut
+the door behind her. It was some time before he recovered
+from this tremendous blow. But at last the terrible
+thought of losing his adored mistress presented itself to
+him with appalling reality, and summoned up that energy
+and vigour of which the mildest and gentlest of men are
+capable, though they cannot keep it up for long. He
+hurried home; and, when his sisters, with no pity for his
+evident disturbance and distress, greeted him with the
+usual malicious jests, he flew into such a rage and attacked
+them with such fury that they were frightened. The
+wrath of a gentle patient man is a formidable thing. Among
+other things he told his sisters that, if they ventured to
+say another insulting word about his bride or about himself,
+he would instantly move to other lodgings, from which, as
+well as from M. Zubin's house, they would be excluded;
+and he would write to his father and tell him the whole
+story. That was enough. Alexandra had a clear recollection
+of her father's warning-"Keep your tongue quiet,
+and don't stir up the rest of the family!" She knew very
+well what a thunder-cloud her brother's complaint would
+call up, and what alarming consequences she might expect.
+Both the sisters fell on their brother's neck and begged forgiveness
+with tears; they solemnly declared that it should
+never happen again; they were really very fond of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, and it was only out of pity for his health and
+fear that he was doing too much that they had ventured
+on these foolish jests. They called on Sofya Nikolayevna
+that same day and paid court to her with the utmost
+servility. The meaning of all this was not lost upon her,
+and she felt she had prevailed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The position of her lover really deserved pity. His
+feelings, which had been calmed and composed to some
+extent by frequent interviews with Sofya Nikolayevna,
+her simple friendly behaviour to him, and the near prospect
+of the marriage, had then been rather alarmed and abashed
+by the sneers of his sisters; and now they flamed up so
+fiercely, that at the present moment he was capable of any
+self-sacrifice, of any desperate action, a true knight-errant!
+His state of mind was clearly reflected on his handsome
+young face during those two endless days. The lovers met
+several times, and Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at his
+face without pain; but she had the firmness to support
+the test she had imposed. The agitation and pity which
+she felt were a surprise to herself. She felt that she did
+really love this simple, modest young man, who was absolutely
+devoted to her and would not have hesitated to put
+an end to his existence if she made up her mind to refuse
+him. At last the two long days were over. Early on the
+third day Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch sat in the drawing-room,
+waiting for his mistress to appear. The door opened softly,
+and in she came, more beautiful, more charming than ever.
+She was smiling, and her eyes expressed such tenderness
+that, when he looked at her and saw her kind hand
+stretched out towards him, the excess of his emotion
+deprived him for an instant of the power of speech. He
+soon recovered, and then, instead of taking her hand, fell
+at her feet and poured forth a torrent of burning heartfelt
+eloquence. She interrupted him and raised him to his
+feet. Then she said: "I see and feel your love, and I
+share it; I believe all your promises; I put my fate in
+your hands without fear." She had never been so affectionate
+to him before, and she used words of tenderness
+which he had never before heard from her lips.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Only five days remained before the marriage. All
+their preparations were complete, and the lovers were free
+to spend most of their time together. For five whole
+months Sofya Nikolayevna had been true to her intention
+of educating her future husband over again. She never
+lost a suitable moment, but did her best to impart those
+ideals which he did not possess, to clear up and develop
+feelings of which he was dimly conscious, and to root out
+the notions which he had derived from his early surroundings.
+She even made him read, and discussed with him
+the books he had read, explaining what puzzled him, filling
+up gaps in his memory, and illustrating fiction from real
+life. But it is probable that she got on faster with her task
+during these five days than in the course of five long
+months; for the recent incident which I have described
+had raised her lover's mind to a higher level of refinement,
+and he was in an unusually receptive and impressionable
+mood. How far the teacher succeeded on the whole in
+impressing her ideas upon the pupil, I cannot venture to
+decide. It is hard to know how much weight to attach to
+the opinions of the two persons concerned; but it is
+certain that in later years they both maintained&mdash;and they
+appealed to the evidence of disinterested persons in confirmation
+of the statement&mdash;that a great change took place
+in Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, and even a complete transformation.
+I am very willing to believe it; but I have a proof
+that his proficiency in social etiquette left something to be
+desired. I know that he made his bride very angry the
+day before the marriage, and that her vehemence left a
+strong and painful impression on his mind. It happened
+in the following way. Two ladies were calling on Sofya
+Nikolayevna when a servant brought in a paper parcel
+and handed it to his mistress, with the explanation that
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had sent it by his coachman and wished
+her at once to make a cap for his sister Alexandra. Her
+lover had left her half an hour before without saying one
+word about this commission, and Sofya Nikolayevna was
+exceedingly annoyed. The ladies, who were of some
+importance, had supposed at first that the parcel contained
+a present from the bridegroom; and now they did
+not try to conceal their amusement. Sofya Nikolayevna
+lost patience: she ordered the parcel to be returned, with
+a message that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had better apply to a
+milliner; it was no doubt a mistake to have brought the
+thing to her. The explanation was quite simple. On
+going home, he had found his sister in a great difficulty,
+because the milliner, who had engaged to make her a cap
+for the wedding, had fallen ill and returned the materials.
+As he had seen with his own eyes the skill with which Sofya
+Nikolayevna could trim hats and caps, he offered to help
+his sister out of her trouble, and told his servant to carry
+the parcel to his bride, with a humble request that she
+would trim a cap for Alexandra. But the servant was
+busy, and, instead of going himself, sent the coachman;
+and the humble request became, in the coachman's mouth,
+an imperious demand. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch hastened back
+to explain matters, and carried with him the same unlucky
+parcel. Sofya Nikolayevna had not yet cooled down,
+when she saw him coming into the room with the odious
+parcel under his arm; and she flared up worse than ever,
+and said many violent and unkind things which she had
+better have left unspoken. The culprit, utterly dumbfounded,
+tried to defend himself, but did it very badly;
+he was seriously hurt by this onslaught. She sent the
+materials for the cap to some milliner she knew of; and
+then, repenting of her violence, she tried to put matters
+right. But, to her surprise, Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch could not
+get over it: he felt that he had been unjustly treated, and
+she had frightened him. He became very depressed, and
+her efforts to calm and cheer him were unsuccessful.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The wedding-day, the 10th of May, 1788, arrived, and
+the bridegroom paid an early visit to his bride. After her
+excitement of the previous day, she was distressed to see
+that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch still wore the same pained expression.
+She felt hurt; for she had always supposed that he
+would be in an ecstasy of joy on the day when he led her
+to the altar; and here he was, looking demure and even
+depressed! She expressed her feelings, and that made
+matters worse. Of course, he assured her that he considered
+himself the happiest man in the world, and so on;
+but the pompous and trivial phrases, which he had repeated
+many a time before and she had heard with satisfaction,
+were now distasteful to her ear, because they
+lacked the fire of inward conviction. They soon parted,
+to meet next in church, where the bridegroom was to be
+in waiting for her at six in the evening.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna was assailed by a terrible misgiving&mdash;would
+she be happy in her marriage? A host of
+dark forebodings passed before her heated imagination.
+She blamed herself for her hot temper and violent language;
+she recognised that the offence was trifling, and that she
+must expect many slips of the kind on her lover's part,
+and must take them calmly. They had happened often
+enough before; but, on this occasion, the unlucky combination
+of circumstances and the presence of the two
+unfriendly visitors had pricked her vanity and irritated
+her natural impetuosity. Conscious that she had frightened
+her lover, she repented of her fault; but at the same time
+she was aware in the depth of her heart that she was quite
+capable of committing the same fault again. And now she
+realised afresh all the difficulty of the tremendous task she
+had undertaken&mdash;the reformation and regeneration of a
+man of twenty-seven. Her whole life&mdash;and it might be
+long&mdash;must be spent with a husband whom she loved
+indeed but could not entirely respect; there would be constant
+collision between utterly different ideas and opposite
+qualities, and they would often misunderstand one another.
+Doubts of success, doubts of her own strength, doubts of
+her power to command the qualities of firmness and calmness
+so foreign to her nature&mdash;these rose before her for the
+first time in their appalling truth, and she shrank back in
+terror. But what could she do? If she broke off the
+marriage at the eleventh hour, what would be the consequences?
+It would be a terrible blow to her dying
+father, who took comfort in the conviction that his daughter
+would be happy in the care of a kind husband; her rivals
+in society and enemies would mock at her; she would be
+the talk of the town and the laughing-stock of the district,
+perhaps even a mark for calumny; and, above all, she
+would kill, literally kill, her devoted lover. And all for
+what? Merely because she was afraid she might lack
+firmness to carry out a purpose which she had deliberately
+formed and which was beginning to take shape with
+triumphant success. "No! that shall never be! God
+will help me; Our Lady of Smolensk will be my intercessor
+and will give me strength to conquer my impetuous
+nature." Thus Sofya Nikolayevna thought, and thus she
+decided. She wept and prayed and regained her stability.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Church of the Assumption was quite close to the
+Zubins' house, and there was then an empty space round
+it. Long before six o'clock, it was surrounded by a crowd
+of curious spectators. The high steps projecting from the
+house into the street were blocked by the carriages of the
+privileged persons who had been invited to escort the bride.
+The bride was dressed, and her little brother, Nikolinka,
+whose birth had cost his mother her life three years before,
+put on the stockings and shoes, according to established
+custom, though of course the maids lent their assistance.
+By six the bride was ready; she received her father's
+blessing and came into the drawing-room. The rich
+bridal-dress lent an added lustre to her beauty. The
+bridegroom, on his way to church, had to pass right under
+the drawing-room windows, and Sofya Nikolayevna saw
+him drive past in the English carriage drawn by the four
+fine horses bred at Bagrovo; he had his head out and was
+looking up at the open windows; she smiled and nodded.
+Next came the bridegroom's sisters with Mme. Alakayeff,
+and all the men who were escorting him to church. She
+did not wish to keep him waiting, and insisted, in spite of
+various hindrances, that they should start at once. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was calm and composed when she entered the
+church; she gave her arm cheerfully and smilingly to the
+bridegroom; but she was vexed to see that his face still
+wore the same sad expression; and it was generally
+remarked that they both looked depressed during the
+ceremony. The church was brilliantly lighted and full of
+people; the cathedral choir did not spare their voices.
+Altogether, it was a dignified and splendid ceremony.
+When the rite was over, the young couple were escorted to
+the Zubins' house by the bridegroom's sisters, the whole
+train of friends and relations on both sides, and all the
+important people of Ufa. Dancing began at once and
+went on till an early but sumptuous supper was served.
+Privileged guests paid a visit to M. Zubin in his study
+and congratulated him on his daughter's marriage.
+The usual festivities took place on the next and following
+days&mdash;balls, dinners, and calls, in fact, the regular routine
+which we see nowadays even in Moscow and Petersburg.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The shade of sadness soon vanished from the faces of
+the young couple. They were perfectly happy. Kind
+people could not look at them without pleasure; and
+every one said, "What a handsome couple!" A week
+later, they prepared for a visit to Bagrovo; the bridegroom's
+sisters had gone back there three days after the
+wedding, and Sofya Nikolayevna had sent by them an
+affectionate letter to the old people.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Startled by their brother's explosion, Elizabeth and
+Alexandra had been cautious of late. They refrained from
+all hints and sneers and grimaces in his presence, and were
+even polite to Sofya Nikolayevna. She, of course, was not
+taken in by this; but their brother entirely believed in the
+sincerity of their devotion to his bride. At the wedding
+and the festivities which followed, they were, naturally,
+somewhat out of place, and therefore hastened their departure.
+On arriving at Bagrovo, they determined to do
+nothing rash and to hide their hostility towards Sofya
+Nikolayevna from their father; but to their mother and
+two sisters they described the marriage and events at Ufa
+in such a way as to fill their minds with a strong prejudice
+against the bride; and they did not forget to mention their
+brother's threats and his fury excited by their attacks upon
+Sofya Nikolayevna. It was agreed to treat her kindly in
+the presence of Stepan Mihailovitch, and to say nothing
+bad about her to him directly; at the same time they were
+to use every opportunity to excite by indirect means his
+displeasure against their enemy. It was a highly delicate
+operation; and Elizabeth and Alexandra could not trust
+it to any hands but their own.</p>
+<p class="pnext">My grandfather questioned them minutely about the
+wedding, the people they had seen there, the health of
+M. Zubin, and so on. They praised everything, but the
+poison under their praises could be smelt and tasted, and
+they failed to deceive their father. By way of a joke, and
+perhaps also for the sake of comparison, he turned to
+Karatayeff and said: "Well, now, friend Ivan, what say
+you of the daughter-in-law? As a man, you are a better
+judge of the point than the women are." Karatayeff,
+disregarding a signal from his wife, burst out with enthusiasm:
+"I do assure you, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>, that such another
+dazzler"&mdash;he always used this phrase of a beautiful
+woman&mdash;"as brother Alexy&eacute;i has bagged is not to be
+found in the whole world. A look from her is as good as
+a shilling. And her cleverness! it's past all telling.
+But there's one thing, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>: she's proud; she
+can't stand a joke. When you try to have a little fun
+with her, she gives you a look that makes you bite off the
+end of your tongue." "I see, my friend, that she made
+short work with your nonsense," said the old man with an
+amused look; then he laughed and added, "Not much
+amiss there, so far." In fact, Stepan Mihailovitch, from
+what he had heard and the bride's letters and Karatayeff's
+description, had formed in his own mind a highly favourable
+opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The expected visit of the young couple produced bustle
+and confusion in the quiet or, one might say, stagnant
+waters of life at Bagrovo. They had to bestir themselves,
+to clean things up, and bring out their best clothes. The
+bride was a fine town lady, poor, perhaps, but accustomed
+to live in luxury; she would be critical and contemptuous&mdash;so
+they all thought, and so they all said, except the
+master of the house. As there were no separate rooms in
+the house unoccupied, Tanyusha had to turn out of her
+bedroom, one corner of which overlooked the garden and
+the clear waters of the Boogoorooslan with its green bushes
+and loud nightingales. Tanyusha was very unwilling to
+move to the bath-house, but there was no other place: all
+her sisters were put up in the house, and Karatayeff and
+Yerlykin slept in the hayloft. The day before the visitors'
+arrival brought their state-bed and bed-hangings and
+curtains for the windows, and with them a man who knew
+how to put everything up properly. Tanyusha's room was
+completely furnished in a few hours. Stepan Mihailovitch
+came to see it and expressed his admiration, but the women
+bit their lips with envy. At last a messenger galloped up
+and announced that the couple had stopped at the village
+of Noikino, eight <em class="italics">versts</em> from Bagrovo; they were to change
+their dress there and would arrive in two hours. This
+caused a general stir. The priest had been summoned
+hours before; but, as he had not yet arrived, Stepan
+Mihailovitch sent a mounted messenger to hasten his steps.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meantime the following scene was taking place in the
+Mordvinian village of Noikino. The travellers were making
+their way along side roads and had always to send a man
+ahead to arrange about fresh horses. The people of
+Noikino had all known Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch from childhood,
+and had a great regard and respect for his father. Every
+one of the six hundred inhabitants of the village, men and
+women, old and young, gathered before the cottage where
+the young people were to make their halt. Sofya Nikolayevna
+had probably never seen people of this tribe close at hand;
+and therefore the dress of the women and the uncommonly
+tall stout girls&mdash;their white shifts embroidered with red
+wool, their black woollen girdles, and the silver coins and
+little bells which hung from their heads over their breasts
+and backs&mdash;was very interesting to her. But, when she
+heard them all break out into joyful greetings and compliments
+and good wishes, childish enough and expressed in
+bad Russian, but coming from the heart, then she both
+laughed and cried. "What a fine wife God has given you,
+Alosha! How glad our father Stepan Mihailovitch will
+be! Good luck! Good luck!" But, when the bride,
+arrayed in her fine city clothes, came out to take her seat
+in the carriage, there was such a roar of enthusiastic
+applause that the horses actually shied. The travellers
+made a present of ten <em class="italics">roubles</em>, to be spent on whisky, to
+the whole village, and went on their way.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The stackyard at Bagrovo was at the top of a hill, and
+now the high carriage was seen emerging from behind it.
+The cry, "They're coming! they're coming!" flew from
+room to room, and house-servants and labourers soon
+gathered in the large courtyard, while the young people
+and children ran to meet the carriage. The master and
+mistress, attended by all their family, came out upon the
+steps. Arina Vassilyevna wore a silk jacket and skirt and
+a silk handkerchief adorned with gold sprigs upon her head;
+Stepan Mihailovitch was clean-shaved and wore an old-fashioned
+frock-coat and a stock round his neck. Husband
+and wife stood on the top step; and he held in his hands an
+ikon representing the Presentation of the Virgin, while she
+carried a loaf of bread and a silver salt-cellar. Their
+daughters and two sons-in-law were grouped round them.
+The carriage drove up to the steps. The young couple got
+out, knelt down before the old people, and received their
+blessing; then they exchanged embraces with each member
+of the family. Hardly had the bride completed this
+ceremony and turned again towards her father-in-law, when
+he caught her by the hand and looked keenly at her eyes
+from which the tears were falling. His own eyes grew wet;
+he clasped her in a tight embrace, kissed her, and said, "I
+thank God. Let us go and thank Him together!" He took
+her by the hand and led her through the crowd of people
+into the parlour. There he made her sit near him; and
+the priest, who was waiting for them with his robes on,
+pronounced the solemn words&mdash;</p>
+<p class="pnext">"We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be
+the Lord."</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="fragment-iv-the-young-couple-at-bagrovo">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id119">FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">Stepan Mihailovitch joined fervently in the prayers, and
+so did his daughter-in-law. When the service was over,
+all kissed the Cross, and the priest sprinkled the young
+pair and the rest of the company with holy water. Then
+the kissing and embracing began over again, with the
+phrases customary on such occasions&mdash;"We beg that you
+will regard us as relations and love us," and so on&mdash;said
+of course by those to whom the bride was still a stranger.
+Stepan Mihailovitch said nothing: he only looked affectionately
+at the tearful eyes and flaming cheeks of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, listened attentively to every word she spoke,
+and noted her every movement. Then he took her by the
+hand and led her to the drawing-room, where he sat down
+on the sofa and made the pair sit near him. Arina
+Vassilyevna seated herself next to her son at the other end of
+the sofa, while her daughters with their husbands sat
+round the central group. It should be said that Stepan
+Mihailovitch never sat in the drawing-room: he entered
+it very seldom and never stayed long. There were only
+two parts of the house which he used&mdash;his own room, and
+the outside stoop, a very simple contrivance of beams and
+boards; there he was thoroughly at home, but in the
+drawing-room he was never quite at his ease. For once he
+put constraint upon himself and carried on a friendly
+conversation with his daughter-in-law. He began by
+asking about her father's health, and expressed sincere
+regret on hearing that he grew weaker daily: "In that
+case, my dear," he said, "I must not keep you too long at
+Bagrovo." It need not be said that the bride was at no
+loss for words: she was not merely polite, but cordial and
+eager to make a good impression. Arina Vassilyevna,
+naturally a very simple woman, took her tone from her
+husband, as far as her intelligence and her dread of disobeying
+her daughters would let her. She was friendly to
+her son's wife and had taken a real liking to her at first
+sight; but the others were silent, and it was not hard to
+guess their feelings from their faces. After half an hour
+the bride whispered to her husband, who rose at once and
+went to the bedroom which had been specially prepared
+for them, near the drawing-room. Stepan Mihailovitch
+looked on with surprise; but the bride's lively talk engaged
+his attention, and he was so much interested by it that he
+was startled when presently the folding doors of the bedroom
+opened and his son came in, holding a large silver
+salver so loaded with presents for the family that it actually
+bent under their weight. Sofya Nikolayevna sprang to her
+feet; she took from the salver and presented to her father-in-law
+a piece of fine English broadcloth, and a waistcoat
+of watered silk, richly laced with gold thread and embroidered
+all over with spangles; and she told him quite
+truly that she had worked it all with her own hands. Stepan
+Mihailovitch looked uneasily at his son standing with the
+salver in his arms, but he accepted the presents graciously
+and kissed his daughter-in-law. Next, Arina Vassilyevna
+was presented with a silk handkerchief covered with gold
+embroidery, to wear over her head, and a complete length
+of excellent China silk, which even then was considered a
+rarity; each sister-in-law received a piece of costly silk,
+and each of their husbands a piece of English broadcloth;
+but these presents were naturally rather less valuable.
+All got up, kissed the hands of the donor, and bowed their
+thanks. Meanwhile the door leading to the parlour was
+cracking with the pressure of curious spectators of both
+sexes, and the well-oiled heads of the maids kept peeping
+timidly out of the bedroom door, which they had to themselves,
+because none of the outdoor servants dared to enter
+the elegant apartment of the young couple. In the parlour
+there was a great noise; for the menservants were prevented
+by the intruders from laying the table, and were unable
+to turn them out. Stepan Mihailovitch guessed what was
+going on; he got up and glanced through the door; one
+look and one quiet word was enough: "Off," he said, and
+the parlour was empty in a moment.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The dinner passed off in the usual fashion. The young
+pair sat side by side between the old couple; there were a
+great many courses, one richer and more indigestible than
+another; the cook Stepan had been lavish with his spice,
+cloves, and pepper, and especially with his butter. The
+bride ate the dainties pressed upon her by Stepan
+Mihailovitch, and prayed that she might not die in the
+night. There was little talking, partly because every
+mouth was otherwise occupied, and also because the party
+were not good at conversation. Indeed they were all
+uncomfortable in their own ways. Yerlykin in his sober
+intervals drank nothing but water, and hardly spoke at all
+at such times, which gained him a reputation for exceptional
+intelligence; and Karatayeff dared not open his
+mouth in the presence of Stepan Mihailovitch except to
+answer a question, and went no further than repeating the
+last words of other people's remarks. If they said: "The
+hay crop will be good, if we get no rain," or "The rye made
+a good start till that sudden frost came"&mdash;Karatayeff
+came in like an echo, "if we get no rain," "till the frost
+came"; and his repetitions were sometimes ill-timed.
+As the hosts had not thought of procuring sparkling wine
+from Ufa, the health of the bride and bridegroom was drunk
+in strawberry wine, three years old and as thick as oil, which
+diffused about the room the delicious perfume of the wild
+strawberry. Mazan, with long boots smelling of tar on his
+feet, and wearing a long coat which made him look like a
+bear dressed up in sacking, handed round the loving-cup;
+it was ornamented with a white pattern and had a dark-blue
+spiral inside its glass stalk. When the young pair had
+to return thanks, Sofya Nikolayevna was not much pleased
+to drink from the cup which had just left Karatayeff's
+greasy lips; but she made no wry faces. Indeed she was
+intending to drain the cup, when her father-in-law stopped
+her: "Don't drink it all, my dear," he said; "the liquor
+is good and sweet but strong; you are not accustomed to
+it, and your little head would ache." She declared that
+such a noble drink could not hurt her, and begged to be
+allowed a little more, till Stepan Mihailovitch allowed her
+one sip from the cup which he held in his hands.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It was clear to all the family that the old man was
+pleased with his daughter-in-law and liked all that she said.
+And she could see this herself, though she had been surprised
+twice over by a shadow of displeasure passing over his face.
+But more than once during the meal she had encountered
+his expressive look, as his eyes rested with satisfaction on
+her. At last the long and solemn dinner came to an end.
+Sofya Nikolayevna, unlike the rest, had found this rustic
+feast very wearisome, but she had done her best to enliven
+it by cheerful conversation. When they rose from table,
+his son and daughters kissed their father's hand, and Sofya
+Nikolayevna tried to do so too, but the old man embraced
+and kissed her instead. It was the second time this had
+happened, and Sofya Nikolayevna, with her natural impulsiveness,
+asked him in a lively affectionate tone: "Why
+do you not give me your hand, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>? I am your
+daughter too, and I wish to kiss your hand out of love and
+respect, like the rest." The old man looked at her keenly
+and attentively; then he said in a kind voice: "I love
+you, my dear, but I am not a priest,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id85" id="id84"><sup>42</sup></a> and no one kisses my
+hand except my own children."</p>
+<p class="pnext">The party went back to the drawing-room and sat down
+where they were before. The maid Aksyutka brought in
+coffee, which was only served on very solemn occasions;
+the old man did not drink it, but all his family were very
+fond of it; they always called it "coff," never "coffee."
+When it was swallowed, Stepan Mihailovitch rose and said:
+"Now it is time to have a good sleep, and the young people
+too would be none the worse of a rest after their journey";
+then he went off to his own room, escorted by his son and
+daughter-in-law. "This is my den, my dear," said the old
+man cheerfully; "sit down and be my guest. As your
+husband knows, it was an exception for me to sit in the
+drawing-room with you all, with this bearing-rein on, as
+well," and he pointed to his stock: "and in future, if
+any one wants my society, I shall welcome them here."
+Then he kissed her, gave his hand to his son to kiss, and let
+them go. When alone, he undressed and lay down, to
+rest from the unusual bodily exertions and mental excitement
+of the day. He was soon sound asleep; and his
+powerful snoring echoed through the house and swayed to
+and fro the curtains which Mazan had drawn round his
+old master.</p>
+<p class="pnext">His example was followed by the rest. Yerlykin and
+Karatayeff went off to the stable to lie down on the haymow;
+both their faces showed that they had done well at
+dinner, and Karatayeff had also drunk too much. The
+daughters assembled in their mother's room which was
+separate from their father's; and now began such a debate
+and discussion, carried on in whispers, that not one of the
+party even lay down to sleep that afternoon. Poor Sofya
+Nikolayevna was their theme, and her sisters-in-law simply
+tore her to pieces; they were enraged beyond all bounds
+by their father's evident partiality for her. But there was
+one kind heart there&mdash;Aksinya, the eldest sister, who was
+now a widow for the second time; she stood up for Sofya
+Nikolayevna and brought down their wrath on her own
+head: they turned her out of the room and banished her
+for the future from their family councils; and to her old
+nickname of "Miss Simplicity," they now added another
+offensive title which she still bore in advanced old age.
+Yet, for all the persecution of her sisters, her kind heart
+never swerved from its devotion to her sister-in-law.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meanwhile the young pair went off to their own fine
+bedroom. With the help of her own maid Parasha, a brisk,
+black-eyed girl, Sofya Nikolayevna unpacked the large
+number of boxes and trunks which the English coach had
+brought from Ufa. Parasha was able already to run
+through a list of outdoor servants and old people among the
+peasants who deserved special notice; and her mistress,
+who had brought with her a goodly store of trifles, fixed the
+present to be given to each, taking account of their age and
+services, and the respect which their owners had for them.
+The husband and wife were not tired and did not think it
+necessary to rest. Sofya Nikolayevna changed into a
+simpler dress, and left Parasha to finish the unpacking and
+arrangement of the bedroom, while she went out with her
+young husband, who was very anxious, in spite of the heat,
+to show her all his favourite haunts&mdash;the beech-wood, the
+island with its lime-trees just coming into leaf, and the
+transparent waters of the river where it made a bend round
+the island. And how delightful it was there at that season,
+when the freshness of spring combines with the warmth of
+summer! Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was passionately in love
+with his adored wife, and time had not yet blunted the edge
+of his happiness; but he was disconcerted to find that she
+was not charmed either by wood or island, and indeed took
+little notice of either. She sat down in the shade on the
+bank of the rapid river, and began at once to speak to her
+husband of his relations. She discussed their reception.
+"I like your father so much," she went on, "and I could
+see at the first glance that he liked me; perhaps your
+mother liked me, but she seemed afraid to show it. Aksinya
+seems the kindest of them, but she is afraid of something
+too. Oh, I understand it all perfectly; I know in what
+quarter the damp wood is smouldering. I did not miss a
+single word or a single glance; I know what I am bound
+to expect. God will judge your sisters, Elizabeth and
+Alexandra!" But Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was hardly listening
+to her words. The fresh shade, the green of the boughs
+bending over the stream, the low ripple of the running water,
+the fish jumping, his adored wife sitting beside him with
+one arm round his waist&mdash;in such surroundings how was
+it possible to find fault or make objections or express
+discontent? How was it possible even to take in what was
+said? And in fact Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch did not take in what
+his young wife was saying to him: he was so happy that
+nothing but silence and oblivion of the world around him
+could serve as a full expression of his intoxicating bliss.
+But Sofya Nikolayevna went on: she said a great deal,
+with warmth and feeling; and then she noticed that her
+husband was not listening and was nearly asleep. She
+sprang up at once, and then followed a scene of conflict
+and mutual misunderstanding, more pronounced than any
+they had ever had before, though there had been premonitory
+symptoms once or twice already. Sofya Nikolayevna
+kept nothing back this time: the tears rushed from her
+eyes as she poured forth a torrent of reproaches for his indifference
+and inattention. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was puzzled
+and distressed: he felt as if he had fallen from the skies or
+awakened from a delightful dream. Thinking to calm his
+wife, he assured her with perfect sincerity, that there was
+nothing wrong at all, that it was all her imagination, and
+that all the family loved her; how could any one help
+loving her, he asked. That he was honestly convinced of
+this was clear as day; and his eyes and face and voice
+all expressed his devoted love to his wife; yet Sofya
+Nikolayevna, for all her cleverness and lively sensibility,
+did not understand her husband, and found in his words only
+a fresh proof of the same indifference and inattention.
+Statements and explanations went on with increasing heat,
+and I do not know how far they would have gone; but
+suddenly Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch caught sight of his sister
+Tatyana's maid crossing the high gangway and hastening
+towards them. He guessed that they were being searched
+for because his father had got up, and told his wife at once
+what he feared. She regained her self-control in a moment,
+caught his arm, and hastened home with him; but he was
+not in good spirits as he walked behind her.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Preparations had been made beforehand at Bagrovo
+to celebrate the day of the young people's arrival by an
+entertainment given to the outdoor servants and all the
+serfs on the estate; and, if serfs from neighbouring estates
+chose to come on foot or on wheels, they were welcome
+too. A quantity of beer had been brewed, and some
+twenty buckets of strong home-made spirits distilled;
+and drinking vessels of all kinds were ready. Before he
+lay down after dinner, Stepan Mihailovitch had asked
+whether many had come from the neighbouring villages.
+When he was told that the whole population, from the old
+men and women to the babies, had assembled, he smiled
+and said, "Well, we shall not stint them; tell the housekeeper
+and steward to have everything ready." He did
+not sleep long, but he woke in even better spirits than
+when he lay down. "Is all ready?" he asked at once,
+and was told that all was ready long ago. The old man
+dressed quickly; instead of his ceremonial frock-coat, he
+put on his familiar dressing-gown of fine camel's hair, and
+went out to the stoop to superintend the entertainment
+in person. On the broad lawn which was not fenced off
+from the road, tables had been put up on trestles, and the
+tables were laden with barrels of beer, casks of whisky, and
+piles of buns to eat with the liquor; these buns, made of
+wheat-flour, were cut in halves. The outdoor servants
+stood in a group apart near the house; a great crowd of
+serfs and their wives stood further off, and beyond them a
+still greater crowd of Mordvinians of both sexes. Stepan
+Mihailovitch threw a hasty glance over the scene, saw that
+all was in order, and went back to his stoop. The family
+had collected round him, and he was just going to ask
+where the young couple were, when they appeared together.
+He greeted his daughter-in-law even more affectionately
+than before, and treated her with no more formality than
+if she had been his own daughter. "Now then, Alosha,"
+he said, "take your wife's arm and lead her round to greet
+the people; they are all anxious to see her and kiss the
+hand of their young mistress. Let us start!" He went
+in front himself; then came Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, leading
+his wife, and last, at a little distance, Arina Vassilyevna
+with her daughters and their husbands. The sisters-in-law,
+except Aksinya, found it hard to restrain their wrath.
+The signs of growing affection on their father's part, his
+mention of Sofya Nikolayevna as "the young mistress,"
+the triumph of this hated intruder, her beauty and pretty
+clothes, her ready easy tongue, her charming respect and
+affection for her father-in-law&mdash;all these things rankled
+in their jealous bosoms. They felt at once that they had
+sunk in importance. "It matters less to us," whispered
+Alexandra; "we are severed branches; but I can't look
+at Tanyusha without crying. She is nothing now in the
+household but Sofya Nikolayevna's maid. And you,
+mother&mdash;no one will respect you any more: the servants
+will all look to her for orders." Her voice shook, and the
+tears gathered in her round rolling eyes. Meanwhile
+Stepan Mihailovitch had got to the outdoor servants and
+was calling the peasants to come nearer: "Why don't you
+all stand together? You all belong to the same family.
+Well," he went on, "here you see your young mistress;
+the young master you know already. When the time
+comes, serve them as faithfully and zealously as you have
+served me and Arina Vassilyevna, and you will earn their
+love and favour." All the people bowed to the ground.
+The bride, unaccustomed to such demonstrations, felt disconcerted,
+not knowing where to go or what to do. Noticing
+this, her father-in-law said: "Don't be frightened! Their
+heads may bend, but they won't come off. Well, my
+friends, first kiss your young mistress's hand, and then
+drink to her health." The people all got up and came
+near Sofya Nikolayevna. She looked round and signed to
+her man Theodore and handy Parasha, who were standing
+at one side, holding the presents. In a moment they
+handed her a large parcel and a well-filled box. It felt
+strange to her to stretch out her hand to be kissed while
+standing motionless as a statue; and she began to kiss
+them all herself. This ceremony was repeated, as each
+received a gift from her hands. But Stepan Mihailovitch
+interfered at this point: he saw that at that rate he would
+not get his tea till supper-time. "My dear," he said,
+"you can't possibly kiss them all once, let alone twice!
+There are too many. The old people are a different
+matter; but it will be enough if they kiss your hand."
+This simplified and shortened the rather tiresome ceremony,
+but even so it lasted a long time. Stepan Mihailovitch
+sometimes spun it out himself, because he could not
+refrain from naming some of the people and praising them
+to her. Many of the old people spoke some simple words
+of love and devotion, some shed tears, and all looked at
+the bride with pleasure and cordiality. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was much moved. "These good people are ready
+to love me, and some love me already," she thought;
+"how have I deserved it?" At last, when young and old
+had kissed her hand and she had kissed some of them, and
+when all had received handsome presents, Stepan Mihailovitch
+took her hand and led her to the crowd of Mordvinians.
+"I am glad to see you, neighbours," he cried in a
+hearty cheerful voice; "and thank you for coming. I ask
+your goodwill for this young lady who is coming to live near
+you. You are welcome to eat and drink what God has
+given us." The Mordvinians showed their pleasure by
+shouting, "Many thanks, Stepan Mihailovitch! Thank
+God, for giving such a wife to your son! You deserve
+such luck for your goodness, Stepan Mihailovitch."</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the drinking began, Stepan Mihailovitch surrounded
+by his family hastened back to his beloved stoop.
+He was conscious that his tea-time was long past: it was
+now past seven, and tea was invariably served at six. The
+long shadow of the house was sloping towards the south,
+and its edges touched the storehouse and stable; the
+<em class="italics">samovar</em> had long been hissing on a large table close to the
+stoop, and Aksyutka was in attendance. While the rest
+sat down round the table, Stepan Mihailovitch stuck to
+his favourite place: he first spread out his invariable
+woollen mat to sit on, and then sat down on the stoop.
+Tatyana, assisted by Aksyutka, poured out tea. Then
+Sofya Nikolayevna asked leave of her father-in-law to sit
+beside him, and he consented with obvious satisfaction.
+She sprang up from the table, carried her half-finished cup
+of tea to the stoop, and sat down beside the old man. He
+caressed her and ordered a mat to be put down for her,
+that she might not spoil her dress. Then they began a
+lively, cheerful talk; but at the tea-table angry looks and
+even whispers were exchanged, in spite of the presence of
+the young husband. He could not help noticing this, and
+his spirits, which had not been high before, fell yet lower.
+Suddenly the old man's loud voice rang out: "Come and
+join us, Alosha; it's livelier over here." Alosha started;
+but the change of place seemed to improve his spirits.
+When tea was over, they remained where they were and
+went on talking till supper, which was served at nine&mdash;an
+hour later than usual. All the time the loud singing and
+hearty laughter of the revellers rang out far and wide as
+the darkness slowly gathered round; but they all departed
+to their own homes as soon as the family had finished
+supper. On saying "good night" Sofya Nikolayevna
+asked her father-in-law to give her his blessing, and the
+old man at once signed her with the Cross and kissed her
+with a father's tenderness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The young couple were escorted to their room by the
+lady of the house and her eldest daughter, who sat there a
+few minutes; and then it was the turn of Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+to escort his mother and sister to rest. Sofya Nikolayevna
+hastily dismissed her maid and sat down by one of
+the open windows fronting the river, which was fringed at
+that point by a thick border of osier and alder. It was a
+lovely night: the freshness from the river and the scent
+of the young leaves came through the open windows,
+together with the trills and calls of the nightingales. But
+Sofya Nikolayevna had something else to think of. As a
+clever woman who knew in advance what awaited her in
+her husband's family, she had naturally formed a plan of
+action beforehand. She had always lived in a town and
+had no conception of the sort of life led by landowners of
+moderate means on their scattered estates in that vast
+country. She had not expected much, but the reality was
+far worse than she had imagined. Nothing was to her taste,
+neither house, nor garden, nor wood, nor island. In the
+neighbourhood of Ufa she had been accustomed to admire
+noble views from the mountainous bank of the river By&eacute;laya;
+and this little village in a hollow, the time-stained
+and weather-beaten wooden house, the pond surrounded
+by swamps, and the unending clack of the mill&mdash;all this
+seemed to her actually repulsive. And the people were no
+better: from her husband's family to the peasants' children,
+she could love none of them. But there was one exception,
+and that was Stepan Mihailovitch. But for him, she
+would have been in despair. She had formed a favourable
+opinion of him from the beginning; then, when she first
+saw him, she was frightened by his rough exterior; but
+she soon read in his intelligent eyes and kindly smile, and
+heard in his voice, that this old man had a tender heart
+which beat kindly to her, that he was ready to love her
+and would love her. Knowing from the first that all her
+hopes depended upon him, she had firmly resolved to gain
+his love by all means; but now she had learnt to love him
+herself, and her deliberate plan coincided with the impulse
+of her heart. In this respect Sofya Nikolayevna was
+satisfied with herself: she saw that she had reached her
+goal at once. But she was distressed by the thought that
+by her impetuosity she had hurt her kind husband. She
+waited impatiently for him, but, as if to spite her, he did
+not return. Had she known where he was, she would have
+hurried off in search of him long ago. She longed to throw
+herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness with tears,
+and to remove the last trace of dissatisfaction from his
+mind by a torrent of loving words and caresses. But
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch still did not return; and the happy
+moment, when she was penitent and loving and filled with
+a passionate desire to atone for her fault, went by to no
+purpose. An impulse soon passes, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+first grew alarmed and then angry at her husband's long
+absence. When he came in at last, looking rather upset
+and distressed, instead of rushing into his arms and begging
+to be forgiven, his wife called out to him in an excited
+and somewhat irritated voice, as soon as he crossed the
+threshold: "Where on earth have you been? Why did
+you leave me alone? I am quite worn out with waiting
+for you two whole hours!" "I sat a quarter of an hour
+or so with my mother and sisters," he answered. "And
+that was time enough for them to complain of me and
+invent calumnies against me, and you believed them!
+Why are you so depressed and sad?" Sofya Nikolayevna's
+face expressed strong emotion, and her beautiful
+eyes filled with tears. The young husband was startled
+and even alarmed; he was beginning to dread her tears.
+"Sonitchka," he said, "calm yourself; no one complained
+of you; why should they, when you have injured
+no one?" This was not quite a true statement. If
+nobody had complained openly or attacked her in plain
+terms, they had implied by hints and allusions that his
+wife was singling out her father-in-law to pay court to,
+with the object of trampling on the rest of the family; but
+they saw through her tricks, and so would her husband
+some day when he found himself under her feet! Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch did not believe these innuendoes; but the feeling
+of sadness, which had never left him since the scene on the
+island, became heavier and lay like lead on his kind heart.
+He only said, "It is no use talking like that," and left the
+room. But, instead of returning at once to his bedroom,
+he spent some time in walking alone up and down the parlour
+which was now dark and empty. Through the seven
+open windows he looked at the Jackdaw Wood sleeping in
+darkness, and at the dark line of trees by the river, the
+scene of his childhood's amusements and occupations;
+and he listened to the sound of the mill, the whistles of the
+nightingales, and the screeching of the owls. Feeling
+somewhat relieved, he went off to the bedroom, entirely
+unconscious of the reception he was to meet there.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Sofya Nikolayevna soon grew calmer: the voice
+of penitence began to speak again in her heart, though not
+with the same force as before; she changed her tone and
+turned to her husband with a genuine feeling of love and
+pity; she caressed him and begged his forgiveness. She
+spoke with unfeigned warmth of her happiness in finding
+that she loved his father, and begged him to be perfectly
+frank with her: frankness, she said, was essential between
+them. Her husband was soothed and comforted; and in
+the fullness of his heart he told her all he had determined
+to keep secret at all costs, lest he should make a quarrel
+between his wife and his sisters. He lay down and went
+to sleep at once, but Sofya Nikolayevna lay awake for
+long, and her brain worked busily. At last she remembered
+that she had to get up early, because she intended
+to join her father-in-law on the stoop at sunrise, long
+before the family assembled; she wished to cheer the old
+man by her presence and to speak her mind to him at
+leisure. At last, with a strong effort, she fell asleep.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna woke with the first rays of the sun.
+Though she had not slept long, she rose fresh and vigorous.
+She dressed quickly, kissed her husband and told him she
+was going to his father and he might sleep on another hour
+or so, and then hurried off. Stepan Mihailovitch, after
+sleeping longer than usual, had just washed himself and
+gone out to the stoop. It was a lovely May morning, with
+all the charm of late spring, fresh and yet deliciously
+warm; all living things sang together for joy, and the long
+morning shadows still hid the coolness and moisture from
+the conquering rays of the sun. The feeling of the morning
+took hold of Sofya Nikolayevna and breathed life into
+her, though she was not accustomed to be moved by
+natural beauty or the charms of the country. Her father-in-law
+was surprised and pleased to see her. Her fresh
+face and shining eyes, her neat hair and pretty dress, made
+it impossible to guess that she had sprung out of bed after
+little sleep and had spent but little time over her toilet
+before she hurried out. Stepan Mihailovitch liked people
+to be lively and quick and clever; and all these requirements
+he was pleased to find in Sofya Nikolayevna. He
+kissed her and said good-humouredly: "What made you
+get up so early? You can't have had your sleep out.
+I'm sure you're not accustomed to rise so early; you will
+have a headache." "No, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>," she replied, embracing
+the old man with genuine tenderness; "I am
+used to early rising. From childhood I have had much
+to do and many cares, with a sick father and a whole
+family to look after. Of late I have been spoilt and have
+lain in bed longer. But I woke early this morning, and
+Alexy&eacute;i told me"&mdash;here the old man frowned&mdash;"that you
+were up already; so I came out here, hoping that you
+would not drive me away but allow me to give you your
+tea." The words were ordinary enough, but they came
+from the heart and were spoken so earnestly that the old
+man was touched. He kissed her forehead and said:
+"Well, in that case, thank you, my dear child. You
+shall give me my tea, and we shall have a leisurely talk
+together." Aksyutka had already set the <em class="italics">samovar</em> on the
+table. Stepan Mihailovitch gave orders that no one else
+should be called, and Sofya Nikolayevna began to arrange
+about the tea. All her actions were as quick and neat as
+if she had done nothing else all her life. The old man was
+pleased, as he watched that young and pretty figure so
+unlike what he was accustomed to, and those busy active
+fingers. The tea was made strong, and served exactly as
+he liked it: that is, the teapot, covered with a napkin, was
+placed on the top of the <em class="italics">samovar</em>; his cup was filled close
+up to the brim; Sofya Nikolayevna handed it without
+spilling a single drop in the saucer; and the fragrant
+beverage was so hot that it burnt his lips. The old man
+took his cup and tasted the tea. With surprise and
+pleasure he said: "I declare you are a witch: you know
+all my tastes and fancies. Well, if you make yourself as
+pleasant to your husband, he will be a happy man." He
+generally drank his tea alone, and the family did not begin
+theirs till he had finished; but this morning, when he
+had got his second cup, he told his daughter-in-law to pour
+one out for herself and drink it sitting beside him. "I
+never drink more than two, but I will take a third cup
+to-day; the tea tastes better somehow," he said in the
+kindest of tones. And indeed, the pleasure which Sofya
+Nikolayevna felt in her occupation was so visible on her
+expressive face that it could not but communicate itself
+to the susceptible nature of Stepan Mihailovitch; and his
+spirits rose unusually high. He made her take a second
+cup and eat a scone, of the kind for which the ovens at
+Bagrovo were long famous. The tea was cleared away,
+and a conversation began, most lively and animated, most
+frank and affectionate. Sofya Nikolayevna gave free
+course to her eager feelings; she talked easily and charmingly;
+her conquest of the old man was complete. In the
+middle of their talk he suddenly asked, "What of your
+husband? Is he asleep?" "Alexy&eacute;i was waking when
+I left him," she said quickly; "but I told him to sleep
+on." The old man frowned severely and was silent.
+After a moment's reflexion, he spoke, not angrily but
+seriously. "Listen to me, my dear little daughter-in-law;
+you are so clever that I can tell you the truth without
+beating about the bush. I don't like to keep a thing on
+my mind. If you take my advice&mdash;well and good; if you
+don't&mdash;well, you are not my daughter and can please
+yourself. I don't like your calling your husband 'Alexy&eacute;i,'
+as his parents might; he has got another name;<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id87" id="id86"><sup>43</sup></a> 'Alexy&eacute;i'
+is a name you might address to a servant. A wife
+must treat her husband with respect if she wishes other
+people to respect him. There was another thing yesterday
+I did not like: you sent him to fetch the presents, and he
+stood there holding the tray like a footman. Then again
+just now, you said you had 'told' him to go to sleep. A
+wife ought not to give orders to her husband; if she does,
+mischief comes of it. That may be the fashion with you
+in the town, but, according to our old-fashioned country
+notions, all that is a great mistake." Sofya Nikolayevna
+listened respectfully, and then she spoke, so frankly and
+feelingly, that every word made its way to the old man's
+heart: "I thank you, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>, for not keeping back
+from me what displeased you. I shall gladly do what you
+wish, and I begin to see myself that I was wrong. I am
+still young, <em class="italics">batyushka</em>, and I have had no one to guide me:
+my own father has not left his bed for six years. I caught
+up that way of addressing my husband from others; but
+it shall never happen again, either in your presence or
+behind your back. <em class="italics">Batyushka</em>," she went on, and the
+large tears welled from her eyes, "I have come to love you
+like a father; treat me always as a daughter: stop me,
+scold me, whenever I do wrong, but forgive me and do not
+keep displeasure in your heart against me. I am young
+and hasty, and I may go wrong at every step. Remember
+that I am a stranger in this house, where nobody knows
+me and I know nobody. Do not you fail me." Then she
+fell on his neck and embraced him like a daughter, kissing
+his breast and even his hands; and the old man's own
+eyes filled with tears. He let her keep hold of his hands
+and said, "Well, that is all right." As we know already,
+Stepan Mihailovitch had a natural sagacity which divined
+the presence of evil and was attracted by goodness; and
+he never made a mistake in either case. He had taken a
+fancy to his daughter-in-law at first sight; and now that
+he understood her and appreciated her, he loved her for
+better and for worse. That love was exposed to many
+trials in later years, and any other man might have
+wavered, but he never wavered in his love for her to his
+last breath.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch soon appeared, and was followed
+by all the family. Her daughters had urged Arina Vassilyevna
+to go out long before, but she did not dare to appear,
+because, when Stepan Mihailovitch gave orders "that no
+one should be called," it was taken to mean that he did not
+wish to see any one. She only came out now because her
+husband had told Mazan to summon all the family. There
+was no trace of tears on Sofya Nikolayevna's face; and
+she greeted the newcomers with more than usual cordiality.
+Nor could one tell from Stepan Mihailovitch that
+anything unusual had happened; but the bride could
+not conceal her high spirits, and the two sisters-in-law
+noticed this at once and guessed the alarming truth pretty
+accurately.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch had settled that the young couple
+were to visit their relations in order of seniority; and it
+was therefore arranged that they should go to Aksinya's
+house next day. Aksinya herself went home that afternoon,
+accompanied by her sister Elizabeth, who was to
+help her in entertaining the guests. The distance was
+only 50 <em class="italics">versts</em>, and the strong Bagrovo horses could go all
+the way without baiting. The start was fixed for six
+o'clock next morning.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch did not in the least conceal his
+feelings towards his daughter-in-law. He kept her beside
+him and talked with her repeatedly, asking questions about
+her family affairs, or making her speak of her life at Ufa;
+and he listened to her with attentive interest, now and
+then giving his opinion in some pithy phrase. She eagerly
+caught up his pertinent remarks; but it was clear that she
+was moved, not by obsequious concurrence with the old
+man's ways of thinking, but by a full comprehension of his
+words and a conviction of their truth. Then in his turn
+he initiated her into the past and present history of her
+new relations; and his whole description was so simple
+and true, so frank and lifelike, that she realised it as few
+could have done, and was charmed by it. Never in her
+life had she met his equal. Her own father was intelligent
+and kind, emotional and unselfish; but at the same time
+he was weak, falling in with the prevailing tone of his
+surroundings, and bearing the stamp of the evasive time-serving
+official who had worked his way up from a clerk's
+stool to the position of Governor's Deputy. Here she saw
+before her an old man of little education and uncouth
+exterior, and report said of him that he was ruthless when
+angry; and yet he was sensible, kind, and honest, and
+inflexible in his clear judgment of right and wrong&mdash;a man
+who was upright in all his actions and truthful in every
+word he spoke. Her quick intellect conceived a noble
+type of manly worth, which set aside her old ideas and
+opened up new possibilities. And what happiness that
+this man was her husband's father! On him depended
+her peace of mind in her husband's family, and perhaps
+even the happiness of her marriage!</p>
+<p class="pnext">Dinner was a much more lively and cheerful affair
+than on the previous day. The bride sat as before
+between her husband and her father-in-law; but Arina
+Vassilyevna now took her usual place opposite Stepan
+Mihailovitch. Immediately after dinner, Aksinya left,
+accompanied by her sister Elizabeth. As the old man was
+lying down to rest as usual, he said, "Well, Arisha, I think
+God has given us a splendid daughter-in-law; it would
+be a sin not to take her to our hearts." "True indeed,
+Stepan Mihailovitch," she answered; "if you approve of
+Sofya Nikolayevna, of course I do." The old man made
+a wry face but said nothing; and she hurried away, fearing
+to make a slip of the tongue, and anxious to report to
+her daughters the remarkable words of Stepan Mihailovitch,
+which must be accepted as law and obeyed, in
+appearance at least, to the letter.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Though she had slept little at night, Sofya Nikolayevna
+could not sleep after dinner. She went out with her
+husband, and they walked, by his wish, to the old beech-wood,
+where the jackdaws built, and down the course of the
+river. There was no repetition of the old disagreements.
+She had been charmed and captivated by her father-in-law,
+and she now tried to convey to her husband the feelings
+of her own eager impressionable mind. As all people
+of her temperament are apt to do, she transferred to her
+handsome young husband some part of the merits she had
+found in his father, and loved him more than ever. He
+listened with surprise and pleasure to the enthusiasm of
+his beautiful wife, and said to himself, "Thank God that
+my father and she have become such friends! There will be
+no further trouble." He kissed her hands, and said that
+he was the happiest man on all the earth, and she a peerless
+goddess before whom all should bow down. He did not
+quite understand his wife nor appreciate her estimate of
+his father, so acute and profound; he only felt, as he had
+always felt, perfectly convinced that Stepan Mihailovitch
+was the kind of man whom all must respect and even fear.
+This time Sofya Nikolayevna found no faults: his feelings
+were her feelings and his language hers: she praised the
+deep river and the beech-wood with all its uneven stumps;
+even of her sisters-in-law she spoke kindly.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When he woke up in the afternoon, Stepan Mihailovitch
+at once summoned all the family. It was a long
+time since he had been seen in such a bright and gentle
+mood: whether it was due to a good sleep or to happy
+feelings, it was clear to every one that the old master was
+satisfied and cheerful beyond his wont. After their
+father's pronouncement, Alexandra and Elizabeth were on
+their guard, while Tanyusha (as she was always called) and
+her mother were very willing to be more friendly and
+conversational. At a sign from his wife Karatayeff began
+with more boldness to echo what was said, even when he
+was not addressed; but his brother-in-law, the General,
+persisted in his gloomy silence and frowned significantly.
+The conversation became unusually brisk and animated.
+The old man expressed a wish to have his tea early, in the
+shade near the stoop, of course; and the privilege of pouring
+it out was conferred on Sofya Nikolayevna exclusively.
+Tanyusha was quite willing to hand over the office. After
+tea Stepan Mihailovitch ordered two cars to be brought
+round, took his daughter-in-law in one, and drove off with
+all his family to the mill. It should be said that a mill
+was a special hobby of my grandfather's, and that he
+understood the working of it thoroughly. The mill itself
+was not much to look at, and the weed grew round it in an
+untidy way; but the stones did their work thoroughly
+well. He liked to show off his mill, and now displayed it
+in detail to his daughter-in-law, taking pleasure in her
+utter ignorance and astonishment, which sometimes turned
+to fear, when he suddenly turned on a strong current of
+water upon all the four wheels, till the machinery began
+to move and swing and rattle, the stones to whirl round,
+creaking and whizzing, and the building, filled with flour-dust,
+to quiver and shake under foot. All this was an entire
+novelty to Sofya Nikolayevna, and she did not like it at
+all, though out of politeness she asked many questions and
+expressed surprise and admiration at everything. He was
+much pleased, and kept her there a long time. When the
+pair went out upon the dam, where Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+and his sisters were fishing, they were hailed with laughter
+by the anglers: they were both covered with flour. Stepan
+Mihailovitch was accustomed to this; besides he had given
+a shake and a brush to his clothes on leaving the mill; but
+Sofya Nikolayevna had no suspicion that she was so completely
+and artistically powdered. When he looked at
+her, her father-in-law himself laughed heartily; and she
+laughed more than any one, and was very merry, regretting
+only that she had no looking-glass to consult, to find out if
+her ball-dress became her. Seeing the anglers intent upon
+their sport, Stepan Mihailovitch next drove his companion
+round the pond and over the bridge; and, after visiting
+the stream higher up, he came back along the dam to the
+place where the anglers were engaged, while Arina Vassilyevna,
+who was very stout, sat on the ground and watched
+them. The whole course of their drive was over bog and
+swamp; it was hardly safe to cross the crazy little bridge,
+and difficult to make way over the dam which was made
+of manure and sank under the wheels. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna found all this distasteful, it was impossible
+for Stepan Mihailovitch to detect her. He saw neither
+mire nor swamp, and he was impervious to the unpleasant
+smell from the stagnant water and the material of the dam.
+He had planned and constructed it all himself, and he
+enjoyed it all. It grew damp at sunset, and all set off for
+home in good spirits. The anglers carried their spoil with
+them, perch and other kinds. The bailiff was waiting for
+his master by the stoop; and orders were given about
+work on the land, while the bride put her dress in order.
+Meanwhile the fish was boiled or fried in sour cream, while
+the largest perch were baked in their skins and scales; and
+all these were pronounced very good at supper.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So the second day passed, and the party broke up
+early, because the young couple had to make an early start
+next morning for their visit. When alone with her mother
+and youngest sister, Alexandra threw off the mask with
+relief and gave full play to her infernal temper and cruel
+tongue. She saw perfectly that all was lost and all her
+forebodings realised: that her father was taken in the
+toils and infatuated with the adventuress, and there was
+nothing to be done now except to dismiss the pair to Ufa
+as soon as possible and devise some scheme in their absence.
+She abused her mother and sister for being too affectionate:
+"But for me," she said, "you would have been taken in
+too by that dressed-up doll, that pauper with a Cossack
+for her grandfather."</p>
+<p class="pnext">At six exactly next morning the young couple started
+in their English coach drawn by six of the fine horses bred
+at Bagrovo. Sofya Nikolayevna was up in time to give
+his tea to her father-in-law; and he embraced her at
+starting, and even signed her with the Cross, because she
+was to be absent for the night. They drove down the
+river and across it, and then uphill to the little town of
+Boogoorooslan. Without a halt our travellers crossed the
+river Great Kinel, and the horses trotted at the rate of
+ten <em class="italics">versts</em> an hour along the rutty road on the flat side of
+the river, where the grass grew tall and thick and there was
+no sign of habitation. It was long since Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+had been across the Kinel; and he was delighted by the
+greenness and fragrance of the steppe. Bustards constantly
+rose off the road, and solitary snipe kept up with
+the carriage, wheeling over it and flying on ahead, or perching
+on the guide-posts and filling the air with their notes.
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was very sorry that he had not taken
+his gun. In those days the steppe was alive with birds of
+every kind, and the sound of their myriad voices was so
+attractive to him, and indeed absorbed his attention so
+completely, that his ears were generally deaf to the lively
+and clever conversation of his wife. She soon noticed this
+and became thoughtful; her high spirits gave place to
+displeasure, and she began to talk to her maid, Parasha,
+who was with them in the coach. After crossing a district
+of high level land, they arrived at their destination exactly
+at noon. The little wooden house, an even greater contrast
+than Bagrovo to the houses of Ufa, stood on the flat
+bank of the Little Kinel, divided from it only by a kitchen-garden
+containing a few sunflowers and young vegetables
+and rows of peeled pea-stakes. I still recall with pleasure
+this unpretending spot, which I first saw ten years after
+this time; and I understand why my father liked it and
+my mother was bound to dislike it. It was a bare empty
+spot, quite flat and fully exposed to the sun, without a bush
+or a tree; the level steppe with its marmot-burrows lay
+all round; and the quiet river flowed by, deep in places
+and overgrown with reeds. It had nothing striking or
+picturesque to attract any one; yet Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+preferred it even to Bagrovo. I don't agree with him, but
+I had a strong liking for that quiet little house on the river-bank,
+the clear stream, the weed swaying in the current,
+the wide stretch of grassy steppe, and the ferry which
+started from close to the door and took you across to a yet
+wilder steppe, where the prairie-grass stretched straight
+southwards to what seemed an illimitable distance.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The hostess, with her two little boys and a daughter
+of two years old, met her guests at the door; her sister
+Elizabeth and her husband were there also. In spite of
+the unpromising aspect of the simple rooms, everything
+was very clean and nice, much more so indeed than at
+Bagrovo. Though "Miss Simplicity," as her sisters called
+her, was a widow with small children, there was a neatness
+and order in the place which showed that it was managed
+entirely by a female hand. I have said already that
+Aksinya was a kind woman and had taken a fancy to her
+sister-in-law; it was therefore very natural that she did
+honour to her guests and received them with cordiality in
+her own house. This had been foreseen at Bagrovo, and
+Elizabeth had been sent on purpose to restrain the excessive
+friendliness of her sister by means of her superior intelligence
+and higher position in society, due to her husband's
+rank. But that simple soul held out against her clever,
+cunning sister: to all her urgent admonitions her answer
+was short and plain: "Do as you please at Bagrovo; you
+may hate and abuse Sofya Nikolayevna, but I like her;
+she has always been polite and kind to me, and therefore I
+intend to make her and my brother happy in my house."
+And she carried out her purpose with sincere affection and
+satisfaction, showing every attention to her sister-in-law
+and pressing her good things on both guests. But the
+proud Elizabeth and even her husband&mdash;though he drank
+so much towards evening that he had to be shut up in an
+empty bath-house&mdash;were much colder and more distant in
+their behaviour than at Bagrovo. Sofya Nikolayevna took
+no notice of them, and was charming to her hostess and the
+children. After dinner the party rested for a little and
+then went out for a walk by the river; they crossed by a
+ferry to the far bank and drank tea there. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was asked to fish, but she declined, saying that she
+hated fishing and was quite happy sitting with her sisters-in-law.
+But Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, much pleased to see how
+well his wife got on with his eldest sister, eagerly accepted
+the proposal and sat till supper-time on the bank, hidden
+in the thick reeds; he landed several of the large bream
+which abounded in the quiet waters of the Kinel. The
+servants used constantly to fish for their own amusement
+and for that of their young masters. The guests determined
+to start next morning at six, and were half inclined
+to depart even earlier, so as not to keep Stepan Mihailovitch
+waiting for his dinner. Their hostess and her sister
+were to wait till the evening, spending a night at Boogoorooslan
+to rest the horses, and reaching Bagrovo the
+following day.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna was still a little vexed with her
+husband. For all her intelligence she could not understand
+how a man who loved her dearly could also love his
+damp Bagrovo, with its stump-strewn woods, unsavoury
+dam, and stagnant pools; how he could gaze with delight
+at the tiresome steppe with its stupid snipe; and, above
+all, how he could desert his wife for hours for the sake of
+a fishing-rod and those bream which smelt so damp and
+disgusting! So she felt almost offended when Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch tried to communicate to her his delight in
+nature and in sport. She was wise enough, however, not
+to start upon explanations or reproofs this time; the
+scene on the island was still fresh in her memory.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The young couple passed a peaceful night in Aksinya's
+own bedroom which she had given up to them; and she
+had done it up for them to the best of her ability, undeterred
+by the caustic remarks of her sister. They left the
+house half an hour earlier than the time originally fixed;
+and nothing particular happened on their way back, except
+that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was not quite so much absorbed
+by the steppe and the snipe, and did not call out quite so
+loud when bustards rose off the road, so that he could
+listen with more attention to his wife and look at her more
+tenderly. They reached Bagrovo before they were expected.
+But preparations were making for dinner, and
+Alexandra had had time to say: "Poor papa will have to
+wait for dinner to-day; but how can you expect town-people
+to get up so early several days running?" The
+old man saw through this perfectly. He astonished them
+all by saying very good-humouredly, "Well, never mind;
+we can wait for our guests." This caused a sensation,
+because Stepan Mihailovitch had never in his life sat down
+to dinner later than twelve o'clock, though sometimes,
+when he felt hungry, he had it earlier, and the slightest
+delay or unpunctuality made him exceedingly angry.
+"You see what Sofya Nikolayevna can do," whispered
+Alexandra to her mother and youngest sister; "if <em class="italics">she</em>
+keeps him waiting, there is no complaint; but if you had
+come back from Nyeklyoodovo late for dinner, you would
+never have heard the end of it, nor should we." The
+malicious whisper was hardly ended when the carriage
+dashed up to the steps; while the tired horses snorted, the
+old man kissed his daughter-in-law and praised her for
+being in time; then his voice rang through the house,
+"Mazan, Tanaichonok, dinner at once!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">The day passed off as before. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch,
+whose affection for his daughter-in-law seemed to
+grow with every hour, ordered the drove of horses to be
+driven in from the steppe. He wished to show it to Sofya
+Nikolayevna, who happened to say that she had never seen
+such a thing and would like to see it. When the animals
+were driven into the yard, the old man took his daughter-in-law
+round himself, pointing out the best brood-mares,
+the yearlings and two-year-olds and young geldings, all
+fat and healthy from the steppe where they grazed together
+all summer. He gave her two fine mares with foals at foot,
+and hoped she would have good fortune with their stock.
+Sofya Nikolayevna was much pleased by the foals, and
+liked to watch them as they started and bounded and then
+nuzzled against their mothers; and she expressed much
+gratitude for the gift. Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave
+strict orders to his head groom, Spirka: "See," he said,
+"that special care is taken of Sofya Nikolayevna's mares;
+and we shall put a special mark on the foals by splitting one
+ear rather lower; and later we must make a brand with
+the young mistress's name on it." Then he turned to her:
+"I wish you were a lover of horses, my dear," he went on;
+"Alexy&eacute;i does not care for them in the least." The old
+man was very fond of them himself, and, though he was
+not rich, by endless trouble he had got together a large
+stud and owned a breed which was the admiration of
+fanciers and good judges. He was pleased by her interest
+in his stud; though her only motive was to please him,
+he believed that she meant what she said, and carried her
+off to see how the carriage-horses, his own and those of
+his guests, were fed; of the latter there were often a large
+number in the stables at Bagrovo.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I am afraid of wearying the reader by such a minute
+description of the young couple's visit, and shall only say
+that the next day, which was the fifth, was spent just like
+the preceding day. According to the order of seniority
+the next formal visit should have been to the Yerlykins;
+but, as their estate was 170 <em class="italics">versts</em> from Bagrovo and much
+nearer Ufa, it was settled to take them on the return
+journey to the town. There was this other reason, that
+General Yerlykin, Elizabeth's silent, gloomy husband,
+having broken out at Aksinya's house, had started on one
+of his regular drinking bouts which generally lasted at
+least a week, so that his wife had been forced to leave him
+with some friends at Boogoorooslan, and give out that he
+was ill. So Alexandra was to receive the next visit, and
+started off home with her husband on the previous day;
+with her father's consent, she invited the oldest and
+youngest of the sisters for the occasion, while Elizabeth
+remained behind, ostensibly to be near her sick husband,
+though her real object was to bring her influence to bear
+on her parents. The Karatayeffs lived about 50 <em class="italics">versts</em> from
+Bagrovo; the distance was the same as to Aksinya's house,
+but the road ran in the opposite direction, due north, and
+passed through woods and hills in the second half of the
+journey. The visitors started after an early lunch. As
+the road was little used and heavy for the horses, they
+halted half-way for two hours in the open field, and reached
+Karatayevka about tea-time. The house was infinitely
+worse than Aksinya's: the small dark windows caught
+the eye at once; the floors were uneven, riddled with rat-holes,
+and so dirty as to defy soap and water. Sofya
+Nikolayevna felt fear and disgust as she entered this
+inhospitable and repulsive dwelling. Alexandra was
+haughty in her reception of them; she was profuse in
+sarcastic apologies of this kind: "We are glad to see our
+guests and bid them welcome; my brother, I know, will
+not be critical, but I doubt if Sofya Nikolayevna will deign
+to enter our poor house after her father's grand mansion
+at Ufa. Of course we are poor people, with no official rank;
+living on our own property, <em class="italics">we</em> have no lucrative salaries
+to maintain us." But Sofya Nikolayevna gave as good as
+she got: she replied that the way people lived depended
+as much on their tastes as on their money, and that it was
+all one to her where her husband's relations lived and how
+they lived. When supper was over, the young couple were
+shown to their bedroom, which was the so-called drawing-room.
+As soon as the candle was out, a great disturbance
+began in the room; the pattering and noise increased, and
+swarms of rats soon assailed them with such boldness that
+the poor bride lay awake all night, shaking with fear and
+disgust. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was forced to light a candle
+and arm himself with a window-prop for the defence of
+the bed, on which the rats kept jumping up as long as it
+was dark. He felt neither fear nor disgust; it was no
+novelty to him; at first he was rather amused by the
+ceaseless activity and bold springs of the repulsive creatures,
+and then he fell asleep, lying across the bed and still
+holding the window-prop. But his wife woke him again
+and again and only fell asleep herself at sunrise, when the
+enemy sought the concealment of his trenches. She got
+up with a headache, but her hostess only laughed at the
+fright the rats had given her, and added that they only
+attacked strangers, and the people of the house were used
+to them. Tanyusha was afraid of rats herself; and she
+and Aksinya could not look unmoved at the signs of suffering
+on their sister-in-law's face. They expressed sympathy
+with her, and Aksinya even scolded Alexandra for not
+taking the ordinary precautions by placing the bed in the
+centre of the room, attaching curtains to it, and tucking
+the ends under the mattress; but the hostess said with
+an angry laugh, "It is a pity they did not bite off her
+nose." "You had better look out!" said her sister;
+"if this gets to our father's ears, you will catch it."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Karatayevka was situated on the slope of a hill, above
+a little spring-fed stream which was dammed up at the end
+of the village and turned a small mill. The position was
+not bad, but the owners and all their ways were so objectionable
+that the place had no attraction for any one. M.
+Karatayeff, who was afraid of Stepan Mihailovitch at
+Bagrovo and of his wife at home, would have liked to pay
+some attentions to Sofya Nikolayevna when his wife was
+out of the room; but he only found courage to ask leave
+from time to time to kiss her hand, and generally added
+that she was the most beautiful creature in the world.
+When he repeated his request, it was refused. His was a
+strange existence. Most of his summer was spent in
+visiting wandering Bashkir tribes, and drinking <em class="italics">koumiss</em>
+every day till he was intoxicated; he spoke the Bashkir
+language like a native; he rode on horseback whole days
+without dismounting, and had become as bow-legged as a
+Bashkir; he had their skill with the bow and could smash
+an egg at long range with the best of them. All the rest
+of the year he spent in a kind of lumber-room warmed by
+a stove, near the house-door; he wore a skin coat, and kept
+the little window always open even in the hardest frosts;
+and there he remained all day with his head stuck out of
+the window, humming Bashkir songs and taking a sip now
+and then of Bashkir mead or some decoction of herbs.
+Why Karatayeff looked out of his window over the empty
+yard with a rough path running across it, what he saw and
+noted there, what thoughts passed through the brain at
+the top of that big body&mdash;these are problems which no
+ingenuity can solve. Sometimes, it is true, his philosophic
+meditations were disturbed: when some plump woman or
+girl appeared from the servants' quarters and walked
+mincingly along the path towards the cattle-shed, then a
+pantomime of nods and signals took place between the
+window and the yard; but soon the fair vision turned out
+of sight and vanished like a ghost, and Karatayeff was left
+staring into empty void.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna was eager to escape from this
+horrible place: after an early dinner, during which the
+horses were already standing at the door, they said "good-bye"
+at once and started. The hostess kissed her sister-in-law
+on both cheeks and on the shoulders, and thanked
+her significantly for her kind visit; and Sofya Nikolayevna,
+just as significantly, thanked the lady for her kind
+hospitality.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When alone with her husband in the carriage, Sofya
+Nikolayevna gave vent to her anger. Aksinya in her
+simplicity had let out accidentally that the hostess had
+purposely taken no precautions against the rats; and the
+bride, though she had refrained from an outburst in her
+enemy's house, was unable any longer to control her
+excitable nature. Forgetting that Alexandra was her
+husband's sister, and that Parasha was in the carriage
+with them, she was lavish in her terms of abuse. Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch, a straightforward and kindly man himself,
+could not believe that there was any intention on the part
+of his sister: attributing what had happened to mere
+carelessness, he was hurt by his wife's violent language
+which was really inexcusable under any provocation. The
+young husband was angry for the first time with his young
+wife: saying that she should be ashamed to speak so, he
+turned from her and was silent. Such was their state of
+mind when they arrived at Mertovshchina, where Mme.
+Myortvavo, a remarkably intelligent old lady, was then
+living with her daughter Katherine who had lately been
+married to Peter Chichagoff. Sofya Nikolayevna was
+warmly attached to both the Chichagoffs. She did not in
+the least expect to find them there, and soon forgot all her
+displeasure in this agreeable surprise; she became very
+lively and cheerful, but no one could fail to notice that
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch remained silent and sad.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Chichagoff's history, and especially his second marriage,
+is quite a romance; and I shall tell it as briefly as I can,
+because we shall often come across this family in future,
+and especially because the life of the young Bagroffs was a
+good deal influenced by this pair. Peter Chichagoff was a
+man of exceptional ability or, I should rather say, exceptional
+acuteness, and had received what was for those days
+an advanced education in many subjects: he knew several
+languages, could draw and understood architecture, and
+wrote both in prose and verse. In his hot youth he fell
+in love at Moscow with a young lady of the Rimsko-Korsakoff
+family, and went so far as to misrepresent his position,
+in order to win her hand. This was discovered after the
+marriage, and he was banished to Ufa. His wife soon
+died. Within a year he consoled himself and fell in love
+with Katherine Myortvavo, who was attracted by his gay
+and amiable temper, his intelligence and acquirements;
+his face was so very plain that it could exercise no attraction.
+She was no longer a girl and had too strong a
+character to be controlled by her mother and brothers:
+they let her marry Chichagoff, and he was pardoned soon
+afterwards but not allowed to leave the Government of Ufa.
+Sofya Nikolayevna liked him for two reasons: because he
+was the husband of her dearest friend, and perhaps still
+more for his own cleverness and wide information. Mme.
+Myortvavo had just settled to leave Ufa and live in the
+country, and the Chichagoffs had come on purpose to help
+her in building a house and a church. After a week's
+experience of her husband's relations, this meeting was a
+spring in the desert to Sofya Nikolayevna; it was like a
+breath of fresh air in which her heart and quick intelligence
+expanded; she talked on with her friends till near
+midnight. But Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch would have sat there
+in silence and solitude, had not the old lady grasped the
+situation and entertained him by her pleasant talk. After
+supper, however, he said "good-night," and went off to
+the bedroom allotted to the visitors; when Sofya Nikolayevna
+came she found him fast asleep. They started for
+Bagrovo early next day without disturbing their hosts.</p>
+<p class="pnext">During their drive Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was still sullen
+and silent. In reply to direct questions from his wife, his
+answers were so cold and short that she gave up speaking
+to him. Her lively and impatient temper resented this
+treatment, but she did not care to clear up matters in
+Parasha's presence, preferring to wait till the after-dinner
+rest when she would be alone with her husband. For the
+present she started a conversation with her maid about
+their life at Ufa, while Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch squeezed into a
+corner of the carriage and either fell asleep or pretended
+to. They reached Bagrovo two hours before dinner.
+Stepan Mihailovitch was obviously pleased to see his
+daughter-in-law again, and even said that he had missed
+her. "My dear," he added; "you really must not stay
+here too long, or I shan't be able to let you go; as it is, I
+shall miss you, likely enough." He made her give him a
+minute account of their expedition. He praised Mme.
+Myortvavo whom he knew well, and said that he would
+send her an invitation next day to come with her daughter
+and son-in-law and dine at Bagrovo; he fixed on the
+following Sunday, which was four days ahead, for the
+entertainment. "You must visit the Kalpinskys and
+Lupenevskys the day after to-morrow," he said; "and
+then you can invite them too for Sunday; and then, three
+days later, you had better be off home to Ufa. Your
+father has never been parted from you before, and must
+miss you terribly; and I am sure, my dear, that you are
+even more anxious to see him, poor suffering old man!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch was not long in finding out that
+something disagreeable had happened on this expedition.
+In the course of conversation, he said, "Well, were the
+Karatayeffs glad to see you?" The answer was of course
+in the affirmative; but Sofya Nikolayevna happened to
+mention that she had been kept awake all night by rats.
+This surprised the old man: he had only been there once,
+long ago, and had heard nothing of the kind. But here
+Arina Vassilyevna unsuspiciously joined in, in spite of the
+warning signs of her daughter Elizabeth; she suffered for
+it afterwards, poor lady, at the hands of her daughters.
+"O yes, yes, <em class="italics">batyushka</em> Stepan Mihailovitch!" she cried;
+"the rats there are perfectly awful! Without bed-curtains,
+it's impossible to get a wink of sleep." "Had
+you no curtains to your bed, then?" asked the old man,
+and there was an ominous change in his voice as he
+spoke. "No," was the only possible answer. "An
+excellent hostess!" he said, and looked at his wife and
+daughter in such a way that a cold shiver ran down their
+backs.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The Karatayeff party had not yet returned, but were
+expected by tea-time. Dinner was not a cheerful meal:
+all were out of spirits, and each had his or her own reasons.
+Arina Vassilyevna and Elizabeth were conscious of the
+approaching storm, and feared that the thunderbolt might
+smite them also. It was long since Stepan Mihailovitch
+had been in a rage, and the prospect was more alarming to
+them because they had become unused to such outbreaks.
+Sofya Nikolayevna noted the frown on her father-in-law's
+face; she did not object to his giving a good fright to his
+daughter, whom she detested as her avowed enemy; but
+she feared she might somehow get involved herself. She
+had no unkind intention in speaking about the rats: she
+never supposed that her father-in-law would take any
+special notice of this circumstance or attach serious importance
+to it. Nevertheless, a stone lay on her heart also:
+she could not determine how to act towards her husband.
+He had been angry with her for the first time, when she
+used insulting language about his sister: was it best to
+wait till he appealed to her voluntarily, or to put an end to
+the uncomfortable situation by begging him to forgive her?
+Her love and her tender caresses might then cause him to
+forget her regrettable impulsiveness. And she certainly
+would have chosen this course; for she was passionately in
+love with her kind young husband. She blamed herself
+severely: she ought to have foreseen everything and been
+prepared for everything. She knew that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+would not hesitate to die for her, but she knew also
+that she ought not to demand of him what he could not
+give&mdash;a tender and constant observation, and a full comprehension
+of all the trifling occurrences that might give
+her pain. And this was hard for her, with her hot blood
+and sensitive nerves, her eager, excitable brain and impressionable
+nature. Such were the poor woman's thoughts
+and feelings as she walked up and down her room waiting
+for her husband; his mother had stopped him on his way
+there after dinner and asked him to come to her bedroom.
+The minutes seemed to her like hours. The thought that
+he was loitering on purpose, fearing a scene and unwilling
+to be alone with her; the thought, that without relieving
+her heart of its many troubles and without a reconciliation
+with her husband, she would see him again in the presence
+of her enemies and must play a part the whole evening&mdash;this
+thought oppressed her heart and threw her into a
+fever. Suddenly the door opened, and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+walked in. There was no hesitation in his movements;
+he was no longer timid and sad, but fearless and even displeased.
+He began at once to reproach her for complaining
+to his father and getting Alexandra into trouble. "They
+are all trembling and crying now, and God only knows
+what will come of it," he said, primed with all that his
+mother and sister had been impressing upon him. "It is
+wrong and a sin on your part to cause trouble and quarrels
+in your husband's family. I told you what my father is
+like when he is angry; and you, knowing this and seeing
+his love for you, took advantage of it!" Sofya Nikolayevna's
+patience snapped instantly, and she fired up at
+once; love was silent, and of pity and contrition not a
+trace was left; and her poor husband discovered that
+Stepan Mihailovitch was not the only person who could
+fly into a passion. An irresistible flood of complaints,
+accusations, and reproaches poured down upon him. He
+was utterly crushed and confounded; he could make no
+defence, and was all but a monster in his own eyes. Soon
+he was kneeling at her feet and begging forgiveness with
+tears. It was not surprising that Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was
+powerless before that volcanic eruption of feeling and
+intelligence, that heartfelt conviction and wonderful power
+of eloquence. A man entirely in the right, a man much
+more resolute than Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, would have pleaded
+guilty before the youth and beauty of a woman whom he
+loved. And Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was certainly not in the
+right.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the storm had calmed down in the bedroom of
+the young couple, it was still brewing at the other end of
+the house, in the smallish room which belonged to Stepan
+Mihailovitch. Sleep had not brought peace to him or
+smoothed the frown from his high forehead. He sat for
+some time across his bed in gloomy silence, and then called
+out, "Mazan!" Mazan had long been lying outside the
+door, breathing heavily according to his wont, and looking
+in through a chink; he had been placed there as a sentry,
+while the family were sitting in the parlour, full of gloomy
+apprehensions. He called out at the top of his voice,
+"What is your pleasure, sir?"&mdash;and hurried into the room.
+"Has my daughter Alexandra arrived? Yes? Then
+bring her here." Alexandra entered on his heels, for on
+such occasions delay was more dangerous than anything.
+"How dared you, Madam," began the old man in the voice
+she knew and dreaded&mdash;"how dared you set rats on your
+brother and his wife?" "I am sorry, father," humbly
+answered Alexandra, while her knees trembled beneath
+her, and fear kept down her own infernal temper. "I
+put my guests on purpose in the drawing-room, and I
+never thought of putting curtains to their bed. I was so
+busy and so glad to see them that it slipped my memory."
+"You were so glad to see them! Do you expect me to
+believe <em class="italics">that</em>? How did you dare to act so to your brother
+and to me? How did you dare to bring shame on your
+father in his old age?" The affair would perhaps have
+gone no further than angry words and loud threats and
+possibly a rap from his fist; but Alexandra, stung by the
+thought that she was suffering on account of Sofya Nikolayevna,
+and hoping that the storm would still blow over,
+forgot that any sort of answer was a new offence. She
+could not resist saying, "I am punished for nothing on her
+account." A fresh and terrible fit of rage seized Stepan
+Mihailovitch, that rage which invariably ended in painful
+and shocking violence. Words of fury were on the point
+of rushing from his lips, when Arina Vassilyevna, with her
+daughters Aksinya and Tanyusha, ran into the room and
+fell at the old man's feet, with tears and cries; they had
+been standing outside the door and had seen what was
+coming. Karatayeff had been standing there with them;
+but he ran out of the house and into the wood, where he
+slashed furiously at the innocent birch-branches with his
+stick, punishing them for the wrong done to his wife. Elizabeth
+did not venture to enter the room, knowing that her
+own conscience was not clear, and that her father was
+quite aware of the part she had played. "<em class="italics">Batyushka</em>
+Stepan Mihailovitch!" cried Arina Vassilyevna, "your
+will is law, you are our master, do what pleases you! Only
+do not shame us and disgrace your family in the sight of
+your daughter-in-law! You will frighten her out of her
+life; all this is new to her." The words seemed to have
+some effect on the old man. He was silent for a moment;
+then he pushed Alexandra from him with his foot, crying,
+"Begone, and don't venture to show yourself till I send
+for you!" No one waited for any further orders: in a
+moment the room was cleared, and all was silence round
+Stepan Mihailovitch; but his blue eyes long remained
+dark and clouded, and his chest rose and fell with his heavy
+breathing, as he restrained his passionate anger which had
+been aroused and not satisfied.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The <em class="italics">samovar</em> had long been hissing on the drawing-room
+table, not in the shade of the stoop, because heavy
+rain had just ceased falling and it was damp out of doors.
+Nature seemed to sympathise with what was passing in
+the house of Bagrovo. Soon after dinner two clouds of
+intense blackness had met in the zenith and long remained
+there motionless, emitting from time to time flashes of
+lightning and shaking the air with peals of thunder. At
+last the rain came down in torrents, the clouds shifted to
+the east, and the setting sun shone out. Fields and woods
+smelt sweeter, refreshed by the rain, and the birds began to
+sing louder; but alas! the storms of human passion are
+not followed by such a calm.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexandra pretended illness, but the other daughters
+came with their mother to the drawing-room; Karatayeff
+also was there, but Yerlykin was still absent from the
+house, on the pretext of ill-health. Stepan Mihailovitch
+had tea in his room and gave orders that he was not to be
+disturbed. The door of the young couple's room was
+locked; after a short delay, tapping was tried and brought
+them out at once. Sofya Nikolayevna looked cheerful,
+and her husband really was more cheerful than before;
+but it was easy to guess from their faces that something
+unusual had been happening in their room. Of what had
+passed in the bedroom of Stepan Mihailovitch, they knew
+nothing. As for Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters,
+they looked like people who had just been pulled out of the
+water or snatched from the fire. It is a pity that there
+was no one to observe the scene; for it is certain that the
+different expressions on the faces of the company would
+have afforded an entertaining spectacle. All attempts to
+keep up a conversation were unsuccessful. The absence
+of the father and of one daughter puzzled Sofya Nikolayevna
+beyond endurance: she invented some pretext for
+going to her own room, where she summoned Parasha and
+got to the bottom of the mystery. They knew all about
+it in the maids' room: not only had Mazan and Tanaichonok
+been listening all the time, but the old lady and
+her daughter were in the habit of keeping nothing back
+from their waiting-women. Thus Parasha was able to
+give her mistress an exact and detailed report. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was much disturbed. She had never expected
+such alarming consequences; she heartily regretted
+having told her father-in-law about the wretched rats;
+and she was sincerely sorry for Alexandra. She went back
+to the drawing-room and asked leave to visit the invalid,
+but was told she was asleep. During her absence, Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch had heard the whole story. After a hasty
+supper they separated to their rooms at ten o'clock. When
+alone with her husband, Sofya Nikolayevna, with much
+agitation and many tears, fell on his neck, and again asked
+his forgiveness with heartfelt penitence, blaming herself
+much more than she really deserved. But he did not
+understand the delicacy of feeling which prompted her
+genuine grief and drew from her tears. He was only sorry
+to see her distress herself about trifles; and he tried to
+console her by saying that all was well that ends well, that
+the family were accustomed to such scenes, that his father
+would wake in a good temper to-morrow and forgive
+Alexandra, and all would go on as well as at first. Only
+he begged her not to have any explanations with any of
+the family, and not to beg pardon, as she wished to do, for
+her unintentional slip; and he advised her not to visit his
+father in the morning but to wait till he sent for her.
+Sofya Nikolayevna understood her husband's character
+better than she had ever done before; and the knowledge
+hurt her deeply. While he slept peacefully all night, she
+never closed an eye.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch was the worse for his fit of anger
+and also disliked the thought that his daughter-in-law
+might have heard of it. His honest nature resented every
+underhand action and deliberate unkindness; and also he
+saw, in what his daughter had done, disregard to his own
+authority and position. He was on the brink of an illness;
+he ate no supper, stayed indoors instead of going to sit on
+the stoop, and, when he should have seen his bailiff, sent
+his orders by a servant. But the benign darkness of night
+which gives light to the eye of our mind, the stillness, and
+then sleep, which calms the passions of men and rains
+down blessings upon them&mdash;all these did their kindly office.
+Early next day he summoned Arina Vassilyevna and gave
+her his instructions to convey to his daughters&mdash;they were
+intended mainly for Alexandra, but in part also for Elizabeth&mdash;that
+Sofya Nikolayevna was not to know of any
+unpleasantness, and they were to behave accordingly. In
+a short time the <em class="italics">samovar</em> was placed on the table, and all
+the family summoned. Arina Vassilyevna fortunately
+had time to send a message by her son to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+begging her to do her best to cheer up the master
+of the house: "He is not quite well," she said, "and in
+low spirits for some reason." In spite of her sleepless
+night and the aching of her own heart, Sofya Nikolayevna
+carried out this request to admiration; all the party, and
+she herself more than any, were anxious that it should be
+done.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna was an astonishing woman! Lively,
+impressionable, and excitable, she could be carried away
+in a moment by impulses of the head or heart, and was
+capable of very sudden and complete transformations of
+behaviour. In later years stupid people accused her of
+insincerity on this ground, but no one else did. It was
+really a kind of artistic power, which enabled her to adapt
+herself instantly to a new atmosphere and a new position,
+and to act absolutely in accordance with her immediate
+purpose; and this purpose, being entirely sincere, acted
+like a spell on others. In this case, she laid herself out to
+calm the agitation of her father-in-law, for whom she had
+conceived a warm affection, and who had championed her
+cause at the cost of his peace of mind and at the risk of his
+health; and she wished to relieve her husband and his
+family, who had been terrified and assailed owing to her
+slip of the tongue. Her imagination and feelings were so
+completely mastered by this purpose that she exercised a
+kind of magical power over the party and soon subdued
+them all by the irresistible spell of her personality. She
+poured out tea herself and handed the cups herself, first to
+her father-in-law and then to the rest; she talked to every
+one so easily and pleasantly and brightly that the old man,
+quite convinced that she had caught no glimpse of the
+skeleton in the cupboard, soon relaxed his features. Of
+him also it was true that his cheerfulness was infectious;
+and, before an hour had passed, all traces of the storm of
+yesterday had disappeared.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Immediately after dinner the young couple started off
+to pay two ceremonial visits&mdash;to Ilarion Kalpinsky and
+his wife Catherine at Nyeklyoodovo, and to our old
+acquaintance Mme. Lupenevsky, who lived within two
+<em class="italics">versts</em> of the Kalpinskys. Kalpinsky was in his own way a
+remarkable man: though he had received no regular
+education, he was very intelligent and well-read; his
+origin was obscure&mdash;it was said that he was of Mordvinian
+descent&mdash;but he had risen to a considerable rank in the
+public service, and had made a marriage of interest with
+the daughter of a country gentleman of good family.
+His present pursuit was farming, and his object to save
+money. He set up for a freethinker; and his few neighbours
+who had heard of Voltaire called him a Voltairian.
+He lived at home without taking any part in the life of
+the family, and reserved to himself complete freedom in
+the gratification of his somewhat Epicurean tastes and
+habits. Though she had heard of him, Sofya Nikolayevna
+had never seen him, because he had only recently
+removed to Orenburg from his public office at Petersburg.
+She was surprised to find in him a man possessed of intelligence
+and culture according to the standards of the time,
+and dressed like a gentleman living in the capital. She
+was pleased with him at first; but he soon began to show
+off before such an attractive visitor, and then his profanity
+and the shameless immorality of his family life made her
+feel a disgust for him which she never afterwards got over.
+His wife was far more intelligent than her sister, Mme.
+Lupenevsky, but not her superior in any other respect.
+The visit lasted for an hour, and was followed by a visit
+to Mme. Lupenevsky. In both houses tea was given to
+the guests and home-made jam, and the meal was seasoned
+with a kind of conversation which horrified Sofya Nikolayevna.
+Both families were invited to dine at Bagrovo on
+the following Sunday. By one of those striking inconsistencies
+in human nature which it is impossible to explain,
+Mme. Lupenevsky fell in love at first sight with
+Sofya Nikolayevna, and used such language to her at
+parting that her guest must needs either blush or laugh
+aloud; nevertheless her words were the expression of
+sincere and even enthusiastic attachment.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The pair reached home an hour before supper-time, and
+were welcomed with unusual cordiality and pleasure by
+Stepan Mihailovitch, whom they found sitting on the
+familiar stoop. He was much amused when he was told
+that Mme. Lupenevsky had conceived such a passion for
+his daughter-in-law, kissing her repeatedly, claiming that
+they were kindred spirits, and lavishing terms of affection
+upon her. Contrary to custom, the whole family went
+out again to the stoop after supper, and spent a long time
+there in cheerful conversation with the master of the
+household, in the cool of the night and under the starry
+sky. Stepan Mihailovitch, though he could not have
+explained why, was fond of the faint colourless light that
+follows the glow of sunset.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The solemn feast on the Sunday was to be something
+beyond what had ever been seen at Bagrovo, but nothing
+special happened on either of the intervening days. Yerlykin
+came back from Boogoorooslan looking yellow and ill,
+as he always did after a drinking-bout. Stepan Mihailovitch
+knew of his son-in-law's unfortunate weakness or
+disease, and tried to cure him by dosing him with unpalatable
+drinks, but without success. When sober, Yerlykin
+had a loathing for alcohol and could not raise a glass of
+wine to his lips without a shudder; but he was seized four
+times a year with a sudden and irresistible craving for
+spirits. If the attempt was made to keep drink from him,
+he became a most pitiable and wretched object, talking
+constantly and weeping, and begging abjectly for the
+poison; and if it was still refused, he became frantic and
+even capable of attempts at suicide. Sofya Nikolayevna,
+who had heard the whole story, was exceedingly sorry for
+him. She spoke kindly to him and tried to make him
+talk to her. But it was no good: the General persisted
+in his sullen silence and gloomy pride. Instead of being
+grateful to her sister-in-law, Elizabeth resented these
+advances to her husband, and expressed her resentment in
+bitter terms. But Stepan Mihailovitch noticed this and
+addressed a stern reproof to his clever daughter, who did
+not love her sister-in-law any the better in consequence.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch twice took his daughter-in-law
+out to see his crops of rye and spring-sown wheat, and
+drove with her to all his favourite water-springs in the
+hills, and the "Sacred Wood" where the trees had been
+protected from the axe by a religious service. The old
+man believed that all these sights were interesting and
+agreeable to her; but in fact she positively disliked them
+all. Her sole support was in the thought that she would
+soon leave Bagrovo and would do her best never to set
+eyes on it again. If any one had told her that she would
+spend most of her life there, grow old there, and even die
+there, she would not have believed it: she would have
+said that death was preferable, and would have meant
+what she said. But whatever God decrees, to that man
+can become accustomed, and that he can endure.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sunday came and the guests began to assemble. Mme.
+Myortvavo came, and the Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys,
+and two old bachelors, the judge and the mayor of Boogoorooslan.
+Another guest was Afrosinya Andr&eacute;yevna
+(her surname, which was never used, I forget), a spare little
+old lady and a great talker; she had a small estate near
+Bagrovo. She was famous for her powers of invention,
+and Stepan Mihailovitch liked at times to listen to her, as
+a grown man sometimes listens with pleasure to a fairy
+tale intended for children.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Afrosinya Andr&eacute;yevna deserves that the reader
+should have at least a bowing acquaintance with her. At
+one time in her life she had spent ten years in Petersburg
+to watch a lawsuit; when she won it, she came back to
+her little estate in the country. She brought back with
+her from Petersburg a store of anecdotes whose extravagance
+made Stepan Mihailovitch laugh till he cried. For
+instance, she used to represent herself as a bosom friend
+of the Empress Catherine, adding by way of explanation
+that two people could not live ten years in the same town
+without being thrown together. "I was in church one
+day"&mdash;she talked this way when she was in the vein&mdash;"the
+people were going out, and the Empress walked past
+me, and I made a low curtsey and ventured to congratulate
+her on the festival; and then Her Majesty was so
+very kind and condescending as to say: 'How are you,
+Afrosinya Andr&eacute;yevna? How is your suit going? Why
+don't you come to see me of an evening and bring your
+knitting with you? We could chat together and pass
+the time pleasantly.' Of course I never missed an evening
+after that. I got to know the people about the court,
+and every one in the palace without a single exception
+knew me and liked me. Suppose a royal footman was
+sent anywhere, to buy something it might be, he never
+failed to look in at my house and tell me all about it. As
+a matter of course, I always offered him a glass of something
+good; I kept a bottle of whisky in the cupboard
+on purpose. I was sitting by my window one evening
+when I saw a royal footman in red uniform, with the coat
+of arms on it, ride past at a gallop; he was soon followed
+by a second and a third. That was too much for me: I
+threw up the window and called out, 'Philip Petrovitch!
+Philip Petrovitch! what are you all galloping for, and
+why don't you pay me a visit?' 'No time! Afrosinya
+Andr&eacute;yevna!' was his answer; 'a terrible thing has
+happened: candles will soon be wanted at the palace, and
+we've run out of them!' 'Stop!' I cried out; 'I have
+5 lbs. of candles laid in; you can come in and take them.'
+Philip Petrovitch was delighted; I carried out the candles
+with my own hands and relieved the people from their
+difficulty. So you see, <em class="italics">batyushka</em> Stepan Mihailovitch,
+they simply couldn't help being fond of me."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch had many traits of character
+peculiar to himself; and this was one&mdash;though he was a
+sworn foe to deliberate lying of every kind, and detested
+the most trifling deception and even the kind of evasion
+which is sometimes quite excusable, yet he liked listening
+to the harmless fabrications and fictions of simple people,
+who were innocently carried away by the vividness of
+their imagination till they actually came to believe in their
+own incredible romancing. He liked talking to Afrosinya
+Andr&eacute;yevna, not only at a merry party, but also when
+they were alone together, if he was in the right mood
+for it; and she spent whole hours in pouring out for his
+benefit the story of her life in Petersburg, which consisted
+entirely of such incidents as that which I have already
+quoted.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But it is time to go back to the guests arriving at Bagrovo.
+The mayor's <em class="italics">kaftan</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id89" id="id88"><sup>44</sup></a> and the judge's uniform were equally
+remarkable; but the best sight of all was Kalpinsky: on
+each side of him stood a female scarecrow in the person
+of his wife and of her sister, while he himself wore an
+embroidered coat of French cut, a pair of watch-chains, a
+number of rings, silk stockings and shoes with gold buckles.
+All the family wore their best bib and tucker, and even
+Stepan Mihailovitch was forced to smarten himself up.
+M. Chichagoff, who had a critical, satirical turn of mind,
+made fun with much effect of the motley assembly and
+especially of his friend Kalpinsky; he was talking all the
+time to his wife and to her inseparable companion, Sofya
+Nikolayevna, who sat together and apart from the rest.
+Sofya Nikolayevna had hard work to keep from laughing:
+she tried not to listen, and begged Chichagoff either to hold
+his tongue or to start a conversation with Stepan Mihailovitch,
+whom he would find worthy of respect. He did so,
+and soon took a great fancy to the old man; and his feeling
+was reciprocated. But Stepan Mihailovitch disliked
+Kalpinsky, both as an upstart and also as an unbeliever
+and loose-liver.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The splendour of the banquet may be imagined. Stepan
+Mihailovitch for once resigned all his favourite dishes&mdash;haggis,
+roast ribs of pork, and porridge made of green rye.
+A <em class="italics">chef</em> had been procured, of special skill in the culinary
+art. Materials of all sorts were provided in abundance&mdash;a
+six-weeks-old calf, a pig fed to monstrous proportions, fat
+sheep, and poultry of all kinds. It was the custom then
+to place all the courses at once on the cloth; and the table
+at Bagrovo could hardly hold them all or support their
+weight. Cold dishes came first&mdash;smoked hams seasoned
+with garlic; next came green cabbage soup and crayfish
+soup, with forcemeat balls and rolls of different kinds;
+then fish-salad on ice, sturgeon kippered and sturgeon
+dried, and a dish heaped mountain-high with crayfish
+tails. Of entr&eacute;es there were only two: salted quails <em class="italics">aux
+choux</em>, and stuffed ducks with a red sauce containing
+raisins, plums, peaches, and apricots. These entr&eacute;es were
+a concession to modern fashion; Stepan Mihailovitch did
+not like them and called them "kickshaws." They were
+followed by a turkey of enormous size and fatness, and a
+hindquarter of veal; the accessories were preserved melons
+and gourds, apple chips, and pickled mushrooms. The
+dinner ended up with round jam-tarts and raised apple
+pies served with thick cream. All this was washed down
+with home-made liquors, home-brewed March beer, iced
+<em class="italics">kvass</em>, and foaming mead.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Such were the meals which our heroic grandfathers
+and grandmothers consumed without leaving out a single
+course, and even managed to digest satisfactorily! But
+they took their time over it, and the meal went on for
+hours. The dishes were solid, substantial affairs, as we
+have seen, and there were plenty of them; and the
+servants also, both those of the house and those whom the
+guests brought with them, had no idea of waiting: they
+bustled about and collided with one another and seemed
+likely at every moment to spill the sauce or the gravy over
+some lady's dress.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The dinner was a cheerful meal. The master of the
+house had Mme. Myortvavo on his right, and on his left
+Chichagoff, who steadily rose in his host's good graces and
+was quite capable, unaided, of enlivening the dullest of
+parties. The young couple were near the head of the table,
+with Mme. Chichagoff and Kalpinsky; the latter, while
+paying constant attentions to the two young women and
+exchanging an occasional jest with Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, ate
+for two all the time, to make up for the voluntary abstinence
+which he practised at home, in his eagerness to save
+money. Yerlykin sat next to Chichagoff; unlike the rest
+of the party, he ate little and drank nothing but cold
+water; he never spoke, but looked gloomy and profound.
+The lady of the house had her daughters and nieces with
+other guests near her at table. The party next adjourned
+to the drawing-room, where there were two tables set out
+with sweetmeats. On one stood a round cabinet of
+Chinese porcelain resting on a round metal stand which
+was gilt and painted in bright colours. The cabinet contained
+a number of closely-fitting trays, each of which
+held a different sort of preserved fruit&mdash;raspberries, strawberries,
+cherries, gooseberries, and blackberries; and there
+were crystallised rose-petals in a small round receptacle
+at the top. This cabinet, which would be considered very
+rare and precious nowadays, was a present sent by the
+bride's father to Stepan Mihailovitch. Small plates were
+set out on the other table, filled with black and white
+currants, apricots, peaches, dates, raisins, nuts of many
+kinds, and almonds in the shell.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch rose from table in such good spirits
+that he did not even wish to lie down and rest. All could
+see&mdash;and indeed he wished it to be seen&mdash;his pride in his
+daughter-in-law and his affection for her; and her love
+and respect for him were as plain to see. During dinner
+he often turned towards her and asked her to do him some
+trifling service&mdash;to hand something, or pour out something.
+"Please help me yourself," he would say, "for
+you and I agree in our tastes"&mdash;or, "Just remind me of
+what I said to you the other day"&mdash;or, "Do repeat what
+you told me yesterday; I seem to have forgotten it."
+After dinner it was the same: he often asked her to give
+some order, or to hand him something, and so on. The
+form of his address was always plain and unpretentious,
+sometimes even unceremonious; but the tone of affection
+in which these appeals were expressed left no doubt in the
+mind of any spectator that he was entirely captivated by
+his daughter-in-law. And she, I need hardly say, replied
+with love and gratitude to every token of the stern old
+man's love for her&mdash;tokens often so slight that many
+would have missed them. Stepan Mihailovitch, who was
+thoroughly enjoying himself, tried to make Mme. Lupenevsky
+talk: pretending ignorance, he asked in a loud voice,
+"Well, Flona, what say you of my daughter-in-law?"
+The lady's enthusiasm had been raised to a higher pitch
+by the ale and strong waters she had been drinking. She
+declared most positively and solemnly that she had fallen
+in love at first sight with Sofya Nikolayevna, and rather
+preferred her to her own daughter, Lizanka; and that
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was the most fortunate of men. "It
+used to be quite another story," said the old man significantly;
+"don't change back again, my dear!" But
+now Sofya Nikolayevna, perhaps from a dislike for this
+topic, strongly urged her father-in-law to go and lie down,
+if only for a short time. He consented, and she went with
+him and drew his curtains with her own hand; he asked
+her to see to the entertainment of the party, and she
+hurried back, pleased and flattered by this commission.
+While some lay down to rest, the others crossed to the
+island and sat on the river-bank in the shade of the trees.
+Sofya Nikolayevna was reminded of the scene that had
+taken place there so recently&mdash;her unreasonable excitement
+and the unjust reproaches which had rankled in the
+mind of her husband. Her heart was full; and, though
+she saw him now, in perfect content and happiness, laughing
+loudly at a story which Kalpinsky was telling, she
+drew him aside, threw her arms round him, and said with
+tears in her eyes, "Forgive me, my dear, and bury in
+oblivion all that happened here on the day we came!"
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had a strong objection to tears; but
+he kissed both her hands and said good-humouredly,
+"How can you recall such a trifle, my darling? You are
+quite wrong to trouble yourself." Then he hurried back
+to hear the end of the story, which was very amusing
+as Kalpinsky told it. Though there was really no cause
+for distress, Sofya Nikolayevna felt a momentary heartache.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The master of the house soon woke and summoned all
+the party to join him by the stoop. Tables and chairs
+were placed in the broad thick shadow cast by the house;
+and the <em class="italics">samovar</em> was soon hissing. Tea was poured out
+by Sofya Nikolayevna; there were rolls and scones and
+cream so thick that it had a golden tinge on it; and for
+all this some at least of the guests still found room. The
+Kalpinskys and Mme. Lupenevsky went off after tea:
+there was positively no room for them to sleep at Bagrovo,
+and they had not far to go, only fifteen <em class="italics">versts</em>. The guests
+from Boogoorooslan also took their leave.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Mme. Myortvavo and her party left early next morning,
+and the Yerlykins after dinner, to prepare for a visit from
+the young couple on their way back to Ufa. The same
+evening Stepan Mihailovitch announced quite frankly that
+the time had come for the rest of the party to disperse:
+he wished to spend the last days alone with his son and
+daughter-in-law, and to enjoy their society without interruption.
+As a matter of course, his wishes were carried
+out. Alexandra said "good-bye" to her sister-in-law as
+graciously as she could, and the sister-in-law said "good-bye"
+to her with unfeigned satisfaction. Her secret wish
+to spend some days without the hateful presence of
+Elizabeth and Alexandra had been divined by Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and she blessed him in her thoughts for his
+power of intuition. Aksinya was quite different; and Sofya
+Nikolayevna parted from her with feelings of gratitude
+and real affection. None of this escaped the old man's
+keen eyes. Tanyusha and her mother caused no constraint,
+partly because they were more good-tempered and
+friendly to their guest, and also because they often withdrew
+and left the others to their own devices.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The three remaining days were spent at Bagrovo in
+perfect peace of mind, untroubled by malevolent observation
+or pretences of affection or venomous innuendoes.
+The strain on Sofya Nikolayevna's nerves was relaxed,
+and she was able to take her bearings with less prejudice
+and study the peculiarities of the little world in which she
+found herself. In spite of their complete unlikeness to
+herself, she could now understand her mother-in-law and
+Tanyusha better, and make allowances for them; she
+could form a cooler judgment of Stepan Mihailovitch, and
+could understand how her husband came to be what he
+was. To some extent she realised that Alexy&eacute;i could not
+be entirely changed, and that the time was distant&mdash;perhaps
+it would never come&mdash;when misunderstandings
+between them would cease. But this last thought passed
+too lightly through her mind; and the old dream, that she
+could educate her husband over again and make a new
+man of him, took fresh hold of her eager imagination.
+What happens to most young wives in the course of life
+was happening now to Sofya Nikolayevna: she found in
+her husband a certain inferiority, certain limitations of
+feeling and perception; and though her love for him was
+none the less passionate on that account, she was beginning
+to feel vaguely dissatisfied with his love for her, because he
+found room in his heart for other things&mdash;the pond and the
+island, the steppe and its population of snipe, the river
+and those horrid fish! A feeling of jealousy, though
+directed to no definite object as yet, was lurking at her
+heart; and she felt a dim presentiment of coming disaster.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch also had been somewhat taken up
+hitherto by constant observation of the feelings and
+actions of his daughters; but now he was more at leisure
+to attend to his daughter-in-law and his son also. For
+all his want of education and rough-and-ready way of
+expressing himself, his natural sagacity and power of
+intuition revealed to him the whole difference of character
+between the two; and he found here matter for serious
+reflexion. Their present love for one another was a
+pleasant sight to him, and he felt happy when he saw Sofya
+Nikolayevna's eyes constantly fixed on her husband and
+her eager desire to please him; but his happiness had a
+shade of fear and of disbelief in the solidity and permanence
+of a state of things in itself so charming. He would
+have liked to speak his mind on the subject, to give them
+some hints or some useful advice; but, whenever he began,
+he could not find the right words for thoughts and feelings
+which he could not make clear even to himself; and he
+went no further than those trivial commonplaces which,
+for all their triviality, have been bequeathed to us by the
+practical wisdom of past generations and are verified by
+our own experience. His failure troubled him, and he
+said so frankly to his daughter-in-law. She was a clever
+woman, yet she failed to understand the thoughts which
+the old man was turning over in his brain, and the feeling
+hidden in his heart. To his son he said: "Your wife is
+very clever and very excitable. Her tongue will probably
+run away with her at times; if so, don't be weak with her:
+stop her at once, and make her see her mistake. Scold her,
+but forgive her at once; if she displeases you, don't be
+sullen or keep up resentment; have it all out with her at
+once. But trust her absolutely; she is as true as steel."
+Again, when he was alone with Sofya Nikolayevna, he said
+to her: "My dear daughter-in-law, God has given you
+many good gifts. I have only one thing to say to you:
+don't give the reins to your impetuous temper. Your
+husband is honest and kind; his temper is mild, and he
+will never willingly hurt your feelings; don't you hurt
+his. Honour him and treat him with respect. If you
+cease to respect your husband, things will go wrong.
+Suppose he says or does something you don't like, then
+say nothing; don't be too exacting, and don't expect
+perfection. I can see you through and through, and
+I love you dearly. For God's sake, don't fill the cup till
+it runs over: anything can be overdone, even a wife's
+devotion to her husband."</p>
+<p class="pnext">The advice was received as always by his son with
+profound respect, and by Sofya Nikolayevna with the
+ardent gratitude of a daughter. There was much talk on
+other subjects&mdash;their future life at Ufa, the husband's
+prospects in his profession, and the means of defraying
+their expenditure. Definite arrangements were made on
+all points, and all parties were satisfied.</p>
+<p class="pnext">And now the day came for their departure. The silk
+curtains in the bedroom were taken down; the muslin
+and satin pillow-cases with broad lace edging were taken
+off the pillows; and all this finery was packed up and
+dispatched to Ufa. Pies of different kinds were baked
+for the travellers. Father Vassili was summoned once
+more, and the prayers for those "travelling by land or by
+water" were said. Fresh horses were to be in readiness
+at Korovino, forty <em class="italics">versts</em> away; to that point they were to
+be taken by the Bagrovo horses, the same fine team of six
+which had conveyed the pair on their ceremonial visits.
+They dined together for the last time; and for the last
+time Stepan Mihailovitch pressed his favourite dishes on
+his daughter-in-law. The carriage was already standing
+at the steps. When the party rose from table, they went
+to the drawing-room and sat there in silence for some
+minutes. Then Stepan Mihailovitch crossed himself and
+rose to his feet; the rest followed his example, said a
+prayer,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id91" id="id90"><sup>45</sup></a> and began their good-byes. All shed tears except
+Stepan Mihailovitch, and even he had hard work to refrain.
+He embraced his daughter-in-law and gave her his blessing;
+then he whispered in her ear, "Mind, I look forward to a
+little grandson." She blushed up to the ears and kissed
+his hands without speaking; and now he did not resist
+her doing so. All the outdoor servants and most of the
+peasants were standing by the steps. Some of them had
+half a mind to come forward and say farewell to their
+young master and mistress; but Stepan Mihailovitch, who
+hated good-byes and parting scenes, called out, "What
+are you up to there? Make your bow, and that will be
+enough!" Sofya Nikolayevna had only time to exchange
+greetings with one or two of the people. They took their
+seats quickly, and the strong horses started off with the
+carriage as if it had been a mere feather. Stepan Mihailovitch
+shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand; for
+some minutes he tried to make out the moving carriage in
+the cloud of dust which followed it; and, when it had
+reached the stackyard at the top of the hill, he went back to
+his own room and lay down to sleep.</p>
+</div>
+<div class="level-2 section" id="fragment-v-life-at-ufa">
+<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref pginternal" href="#id120">FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA</a></h2>
+<p class="pfirst">During the first few minutes Sofya Nikolayevna felt sorry
+for her father-in-law and sad to part with him. The image
+of the old man who had learnt to love her and was suffering
+now from the separation, came vividly before her. But
+before long the easy motion of the carriage, with the fleeting
+glimpses of fields and coppices and the outline of the
+hills along which they were driving, had a soothing effect
+upon her mind; and she began to feel heartily glad that
+she had left Bagrovo. Her joy was too great to be concealed,
+though she realised that her husband would not
+like it. He, she thought, was sadder than he had any
+business to be. Some explanations might possibly have
+followed, but were fortunately prevented by the presence
+of Parasha. The carriage rolled quickly through the
+village of Noikino, where it was saluted by hearty shouts
+from the Mordvinians, and then crossed the river Nasyagai
+by a crazy bridge. They crossed the same river again
+and passed through the village of Polibino, and came at
+last to Korovino, where a fresh team was waiting for their
+arrival; their own horses were to rest there for some hours
+and return to Bagrovo in the evening.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna had provided herself with writing
+materials, and now she wrote a warm letter of thanks to
+her husband's parents. It was intended especially for
+Stepan Mihailovitch; and he understood this perfectly
+and hid the letter in the secret drawer of the modest
+writing-desk which satisfied his needs; and there Sofya
+Nikolayevna came upon her own letter unexpectedly
+eight years afterwards, when the old man was in his grave.
+The horses were put to, good-byes were said to the coachman
+and postilion&mdash;long-legged Tanaichonok was acting
+as postilion on this occasion&mdash;and the pair resumed their
+journey. Fortune was kind at this point to Sofya Nikolayevna:
+it proved impossible to get to the Yerlykins'
+house, and thus she was saved from a most tiresome and
+oppressive visit. A deep river on the way had to be
+crossed, and the bridge had rotted and collapsed. As it
+would take a long time to mend it, the young couple could
+keep straight on towards Ufa. As they got near the town,
+Sofya Nikolayevna could think of nothing but her sick
+father, who had not seen her for more than a fortnight;
+he had been left in the care of servants and must be feeling
+lonely and eager for his daughter's return. The travellers
+took a full hour to cross the river By&eacute;laya in a crazy
+ferry-boat; and the ascent of the steep hill on the other
+side took time. Before it was over, Sofya Nikolayevna was
+very impatient and in great agitation. At last she got to
+the house. In a fever of excitement she hurried to her
+father's room and softly opened the door. He was lying
+in his usual position; and near him, on the very armchair
+which was usually occupied by Sofya Nikolayevna herself,
+his servant Nikolai was sitting.</p>
+<p class="pnext">This man was a Kalmuck, and I must tell something
+of his history. In those distant times it was a common
+practice in the district of Ufa to buy native boys and girls,
+either Kalmucks or Kirghizes, from their parents or relations,
+and to make use of them later as serfs. Forty years
+before the date of my story, M. Zubin had bought two
+Kalmuck boys. He had them baptized, became fond of
+them, and made pets of them. He had them taught to
+read and write; and, when they grew up, they became
+his personal servants. Both of them were intelligent and
+neat-handed and appeared to be very devoted; but, when
+Pugatchoff<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id93" id="id92"><sup>46</sup></a> raised the standard of revolt, they both ran
+off and joined the rebels. One of them soon lost his life;
+but the other, who had been his master's favourite and
+was called Nikolai, now became the favourite of one Chika,
+who was prominent among the rebels and stood high in
+the favour of Pugatchoff himself. It is well known that
+one band of the revolters was encamped for a long time
+near Ufa, on the opposite bank of the river By&eacute;laya.
+Nikolai was in this camp and had by this time been promoted
+to a position of some authority. It was said that
+he was fiercer than any of them and breathed fire and
+slaughter against no one so much as his old master who
+had brought him up. Tradition tells that, whenever the
+rebels were preparing to cross the river and fall upon the
+defenceless town, they saw a great army march out to
+defend the heights on the opposite bank, and an ancient
+warrior at their head, riding on a snow-white horse, and
+holding a spear in one hand and a Cross in the other. The
+cowardly band of outlaws were terrified by this vision and
+desisted from all their attempts; and they had done
+nothing when the news came that Pugatchoff was defeated.
+Of course they scattered at once. The revolt came to an
+end, and the scattered rabble were seized and brought to
+trial. Nikolai, who was one of these, was condemned to
+the gallows. I cannot vouch for the truth of this; but I
+have been assured that, after his trial at Ufa, the noose
+was actually round his neck, when M. Zubin claimed the
+privilege which he possessed as a landholder, pardoned his
+old favourite, and took him home, undertaking to be
+responsible himself for the criminal's behaviour. Nikolai
+seemed penitent and tried by zeal and devotion to atone
+for his crime. By degrees he contrived to get back into
+his master's confidence; and, when Sofya Nikolayevna,
+after her stepmother's death, took over the management
+of the household, she found Nikolai established as butler;
+he had been a favourite with her stepmother, and this now
+became a passport to her father's goodwill. Nikolai had
+been guilty of much insolence to his young mistress during
+her time of humiliation; but he was a very cunning fellow
+and quite realised his present position. He played the part
+of the repentant sinner, throwing all the guilt on the stepmother,
+and blaming himself for the slavish spirit in which
+he had carried out her orders. It would have been quite
+easy for Sofya Nikolayevna to get rid of him for good and
+all; but her youth and generous nature made her believe
+that his repentance was genuine. She pardoned him, and
+actually begged her father to leave him in his old position.
+As time went on, she was sometimes vexed by the way in
+which he settled things without consulting her, and she
+felt doubts about his honesty. She noticed also that his
+intimacy with her father, though concealed from her, was
+closer than she liked. But he was very zealous in his
+attendance upon his sick master, sleeping always in the
+same room, and also found time to do his work as butler
+exceedingly well. She was therefore content with mild
+reproofs, and the man was left free to take root at leisure
+in his double office. When she became engaged, she had
+to see herself to the buying of her wedding-clothes and to
+spend much time with her future husband; and so she was
+less with her father and gave less attention to household
+affairs. Nikolai took full advantage of this opportunity,
+and his power over the old invalid increased daily. Hoping
+soon to get rid of his mistress and to become master of the
+house himself, he grew more insolent and less careful to
+conceal his power. Sofya Nikolayevna sometimes snubbed
+him sharply; she was grieved to see her father's increasing
+dependence on this man and abdication of his own
+authority.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Nikolai had made full use of the few days that preceded
+and followed the marriage, and of her absence for a
+fortnight at Bagrovo: his master, now at death's door,
+was completely under his control. Sofya Nikolayevna
+guessed the true state of affairs as soon as she saw the man
+lying asleep in the armchair; never before had he ventured
+on such a liberty. She gave him a look which sent him in
+some haste and confusion out of the room. Her father
+was by no means as pleased to see her as she expected; he
+made haste to tell her that Nikolai was not to blame: "It
+is at my urgent wish," he said, "that he sometimes takes
+a seat at my bedside." "It is a pity you do that, father,"
+she said; "you will spoil him altogether and be forced to
+turn him off; I know him better than you do." Then,
+without entering upon further explanations, she expressed
+her joy at having found him no worse. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+soon came in, and then the old man, touched by his
+daughter's unfeigned tenderness, his son-in-law's attentive
+behaviour, and the love between husband and wife,
+listened with pleasure to their narrative and thanked
+God with tears for their happiness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna began at once the business of
+instalment. She chose three rooms, quite separate from
+the rest, for their own occupation; and in a few days her
+arrangements were so complete that she could receive her
+own guests without any disturbance to her father. It was
+her intention to arrange as before about the management
+of the house and the attendance on her father, and to
+assign to Nikolai the subordinate part of carrying out her
+instructions; but the man had always hated her, and now
+felt himself strong enough to declare open war against his
+young mistress. While attending to the father more
+zealously than ever, he contrived with extraordinary
+cunning to insult the daughter at every turn; and to
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch he was so insolent that the young man
+lost patience, in spite of his easy and unexacting temper,
+and told his wife that he could not possibly put up with
+the position. For some time Sofya Nikolayevna did not
+trouble her father, hoping by her own influence to keep
+Nikolai within the bounds of reasonable politeness; she
+relied upon his intelligence, and also believed that he knew
+her determined character and would not venture to drive
+her to extremities. But the malicious Asiatic&mdash;this was
+the servants' name for him&mdash;was convinced beforehand
+that he would conquer, and tried to provoke Sofya Nikolayevna
+into some passionate outburst. Long ago he had
+been able to instill into his master the belief that the young
+lady could not endure her father's faithful servant and
+would certainly try to turn him out of the house. The
+invalid was horrified by this prospect, and solemnly declared
+that he would prefer death to such a deprivation.
+Sofya Nikolayevna tried to hint to her father in very gentle
+and affectionate terms that Nikolai forgot himself in his
+behaviour to her husband and neglected to carry out her
+orders; it seemed to be his intention to provoke her to
+anger. But her father became agitated and refused to
+listen: he said that he was perfectly satisfied with Nikolai,
+and begged her not to trouble the butler but to give her
+orders to some other servant. Young and impulsive, and
+accustomed to undisputed authority in her father's house,
+Sofya Nikolayevna found it hard to endure the insulting
+behaviour of an unworthy menial; yet her love for her
+father, and her desire to nurse and comfort him and alleviate
+his sufferings as far as possible, kept her for long from the
+idea of leaving him in that dying state to depend entirely
+upon such a wretch as Nikolai and other servants. She
+controlled her impulsiveness and injured pride; she gave
+her household orders through one of the other servants,
+knowing all the time that all her instructions were altered
+by her enemy at his will and pleasure. She induced her
+father to order that Nikolai should not enter the sick-room
+while she was sitting there. But this arrangement soon
+broke down: under various pretexts, the man constantly
+came into the room; and indeed the invalid himself constantly
+asked for him. This painful situation continued
+for several months.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna arranged her engagements in the
+town in accordance with her own wishes. The people
+whom she liked she often met, either in their houses or
+her own; the rest she seldom saw, and was content to
+exchange formal calls with them. Her husband was
+acquainted already with everybody in the town; but his
+wife's intimate friends now became intimate with him.
+He became popular with them and got on very well in his
+new position&mdash;I mean, in the select society that gathered
+round his wife.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meanwhile, soon after her return to Ufa, Sofya Nikolayevna
+began to feel unpleasant symptoms of a peculiar
+kind, which gave great satisfaction to Stepan Mihailovitch
+when he heard of them. The continuation of his ancient
+line, the descendants of the great Shimon, was a constant
+theme of the old man's thoughts and wishes; it troubled
+his peace of mind and stuck in his head like a nail. On
+receiving the good news from his son, Stepan Mihailovitch
+was full of happy hopes and convinced that the child
+would infallibly be a boy. His family always said that his
+spirits were unusually high at this time. He had prayers
+said in church for his daughter-in-law's health, forgave
+certain sums owed him by neighbours or dependants,
+asked every one to congratulate him, and made them
+drink till they were dizzy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In his excitement and joy, it occurred to him suddenly
+to bestow a mark of his favour upon Aksyutka, the maid
+who poured out tea and coffee, to whom he always showed
+an unaccountable partiality. Aksyutka was a peasant's
+daughter who had lost both parents and was brought to
+the house at Bagrovo when she was seven years old, merely
+to save her from starvation. She was exceedingly ugly&mdash;red-haired
+and freckled, with eyes of no colour in particular;
+she was also bad-tempered and a horrible sloven.
+This does not sound attractive; but Stepan Mihailovitch
+took a great fancy to her, and never did dinner pass without
+his giving or sending to the child something taken from the
+dishes at table. When she grew up, he made her pour out
+his tea in the morning and talked to her for hours at a time.
+She was now a good deal over thirty. One morning, soon
+after the good news came from Ufa, Stepan Mihailovitch
+said to her: "What makes you go about looking like a
+scarecrow? Be off, you stupid creature, and put on your
+best clothes that you wear on holidays. I mean to find
+you a husband." Aksyutka grinned: she thought her
+master was not serious, and answered: "Why, who would
+marry an orphan like me, except perhaps Kirsanka, the
+shepherd?" (Kirsanka, as every one knew, was deformed
+and idiotic.) Stepan Mihailovitch seemed vexed; he went
+on, "If I arrange the marriage, you can have your pick of
+the young men. Go and dress yourself, and come back at
+once." Aksyutka went out surprised and delighted; and
+Stepan Mihailovitch summoned Little Ivan to his presence.
+We have heard something of this man already; he was
+now twenty-four years old, with a complexion of lilies and
+roses, a very fine young fellow, both tall and stout. At
+the time of Pugatchoff's revolt, when the master himself
+took refuge with his family at Astrakhan, Ivan's father
+had been left in charge of the serfs at Bagrovo; and it
+was generally supposed that his death was due to overwork
+and anxiety at that time. He left two sons, both
+called Ivan, and this one was known as Little Ivan, to
+distinguish him from his elder brother, who inherited his
+father's nickname of Weasel. Little Ivan appeared before
+his master, "like a leaf before the grass."<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id95" id="id94"><sup>47</sup></a> Stepan
+Mihailovitch looked at him with admiration, and then
+said in a voice so kind that the lad's heart leaped for
+joy, "Ivan, I mean to give you a wife." "Your will is
+law, <em class="italics">batyushka</em> Stepan Mihailovitch," answered the man,
+devoted body and soul to his master. "Well, go and
+dress yourself in your best, and come back to me in less
+than no time." Ivan flew off to do his master's bidding.
+Aksyutka was the first to reappear; she had smoothed her
+red hair and greased it with oil, and put on her smartest
+jacket and skirt, and her bare feet were hidden in shoes;
+but alas! she was no more beautiful than before. She
+was much excited, and her mouth was constantly expanding
+into a broad grin, which she tried to hide with her
+hand, because she felt ashamed of it. Stepan Mihailovitch
+laughed: "Oh, she's willing enough to take a husband,"
+he said. Back flew Ivan; but the sight of Aksyutka's
+ugly face and fine dress sent a cold shiver down his
+back. "There is your bride," said Stepan Mihailovitch;
+"she is a good servant to me as your father was once.
+You may both count on my protection." His wife
+now came in, and he turned to her and said: "Arisha,
+the bride's clothes are all to be made out of our stuff; I
+shall give her a cow and provide everything to eat and
+drink at the wedding." No one raised any objections,
+and the marriage took place. Aksyutka was charmed
+with her handsome husband, but he detested his repulsive
+wife, who was ten years older than him to boot. She was
+jealous of him all day long, and not without reason; and
+he beat her all day long, with some excuse on his side also;
+for nothing but the stick&mdash;and not even that for long&mdash;could
+shut her mouth and keep her wicked tongue from
+wagging. It was a pity, a great pity: Stepan Mihailovitch
+did a wrong thing when he made others sad because
+he was happy.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Of his happiness I judge partly by tradition but more
+from a letter which he wrote to Sofya Nikolayevna and
+which I have seen myself. We have seen that he was
+capable of strong and deep affection; yet it is hard to
+believe that a man with so little refinement of manner
+could give verbal expression to such tender and delicate
+solicitude as breathed through the whole of this letter.
+He begged her and commanded her to be careful of her
+health, and sent her much advice on the subject. Unfortunately,
+I can only remember a few words of it: "If you
+were living in my house"&mdash;this was one thing the old man
+said&mdash;"I would not suffer the wind to blow on you or a
+grain of dust to settle on your skin."</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna was able to appreciate this affection,
+though she understood that half of it was intended
+for the expected heir; and she promised to carry out
+scrupulously his wishes and instructions. But it was hard
+for her to keep this promise. She was one of those women
+who pay for the joy of motherhood by a constant discomfort
+which is more painful and distressing than any real
+illness; and she suffered in mind also, because her relations
+with her father became daily more humiliating and the
+insolence of Nikolai more unbearable. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch,
+who saw no danger in his wife's constant sufferings, and
+was told that the symptoms were quite natural and would
+soon pass away, though he was sorry for his wife, was not
+excessively put out; and this was another cause of distress
+to Sofya Nikolayevna. He worked hard at his duties
+in the law-court, hoping soon to be promoted. He had
+become accustomed to living with his father-in-law; he
+avoided for the present all contact with Nikolai, and looked
+forward without impatience to a change in their position.
+His wife did not like this either. Things dragged on like
+this, as I have said already, for several months, and it was
+not a happy time for any of them.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Nikolai was not satisfied with this state of things:
+he desired a final solution. Seeing that Sofya Nikolayevna
+was controlling her quick temper and righteous
+indignation, he determined to force her hand. It was
+necessary for his purpose that she should lose patience and
+complain to her father; and he warned the invalid more
+than once that he was constantly expecting Sofya Nikolayevna
+to complain of him and demand his instant dismissal.
+He did not wait for any pretext or opportunity.
+One day, in the presence of other servants, when his young
+mistress was standing close to him at the open door of the
+next room, he began, speaking loud and looking straight
+at her, to use such offensive language of herself and her
+husband that Sofya Nikolayevna was struck dumb for a
+moment by his insolence. But she recovered immediately,
+and without a word to him rushed to her father's
+room, where, choking with wrath and excitement, she
+repeated the insulting words which had been said almost
+to her face by his favourite. Nikolai came in at her heels
+and would not let her finish her story. Feigning tears and
+crossing himself, he solemnly swore, that it was mere
+slander, that he had never said anything of the sort, and
+that it was wicked of Sofya Nikolayevna to ruin an innocent
+man! "You hear what he says, Sonitchka," said the
+invalid in a peevish voice. This was too much for Sofya
+Nikolayevna: stung to the quick, she forgot her magnanimous
+self-restraint and forgot also that she might kill her
+father with fright. She raised her voice with such effect
+that the favourite was forced to leave the room. Then
+she said to her father: "After this insult I cannot live
+under the same roof with Nikolai: you must choose which
+of us is to go, he or I!"&mdash;and then she rushed wildly
+from the room. The old man had a seizure, and Nikolai
+hastened to his aid. The usual remedies were applied
+with success, and then master and man had a long conversation,
+after which Sofya Nikolayevna was summoned to
+the room. "Sonitchka," he said, with all the firmness
+and calmness he could muster, "my weak and suffering
+state makes it impossible for me to part with Nikolai;
+my life depends on him. You must buy another house;
+here is money for the purpose." Sofya Nikolayevna fell
+fainting to the ground and was carried back to her own
+room.</p>
+<p class="pnext">To this had come the tender tie of affection between
+parent and child, a tie which should surely have been
+made doubly strong by the temporary coolness due to the
+stepmother, and then by the father's penitence and the
+daughter's devotion and forgetfulness of all her wrongs.
+And then, when she married, she had chosen her husband
+with this in view, and had stipulated that she should not
+be parted from her father! And now they were to part at
+a time when the doctors declared he would not live another
+month! But in this forecast the doctors were mistaken,
+just as they often are nowadays: he lived on for more
+than a year.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When Sofya Nikolayevna recovered from her swoon
+and her eyes fell on the pale anxious face of Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch,
+she realised that there was one creature on earth
+who loved her: she threw her arms round her husband,
+and floods of tears gave relief to her heart. She told him
+all that had passed between her and her father. The
+narrative revived the smart of her wounded feelings, and
+brought out more clearly the difficulty of her position;
+and she would have despaired, but for the support of her
+kind husband. Though weaker in character and less
+far-sighted than she was, he never ran into extremes and
+never lost presence of mind and power of judgment in the
+trying hours of life. It may seem strange that Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch could give moral support to Sofya Nikolayevna;
+but, for all her exceptional intelligence and apparent
+strength of will, the effect of a sudden shock to her feelings
+was to make her lose courage and become utterly bewildered.
+As an honest chronicler of oral tradition, I am
+bound to add that she was too sensitive to the opinion of
+society and paid it too much deference, in spite of her own
+superiority to the people among whom she lived. What
+would be said by people at Ufa, and especially by the
+ladies who took the lead in society there? What would
+be thought by her husband's family? What, above all,
+would be said by Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard that
+she had left her father? As she asked herself these questions,
+the injury to her pride gave her as much pain as the
+wound to her feelings as a daughter. To her it seemed
+equally terrible that her father should be blamed for
+ingratitude to his daughter, or that she should be blamed
+for failing in affection to a dying father. One or other
+alternative was bound to be chosen; and either he or she
+was bound to be condemned.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch felt deep pity for her as he watched
+these sufferings, and he felt puzzled also. It was no easy
+task to administer consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna: her
+eager fancy painted appalling pictures of disaster, and her
+ready tongue gave them lively expression. She was prepared
+to brush aside every attempt to find an issue from
+the situation, and to trample on every suggestion of a
+settlement. But Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had love to teach
+him, and also that sanity and simplicity of mind which
+was wanting in his wife. He waited till the first irrepressible
+outburst was over, the first outcry of the wounded
+heart; and then he began to speak. The words were
+very ordinary, but they came from a kind, simple heart;
+and if they did not calm Sofya Nikolayevna, they did at
+least by degrees make it possible for her to understand
+what was said. He told her that she had always done
+her duty as a loving daughter, and that she must continue
+to do it by falling in with her father's wishes. It was
+probably no sudden decision: her father might have
+wished for a long time that they should live apart. For a
+sick and dying man it was difficult or even impossible to
+part from the regular attendant who nursed him so faithfully.
+Stepan Mihailovitch must be told the whole truth;
+but to acquaintances it would be enough to say that her
+father had always intended to set up the young couple in
+a house of their own during his lifetime. She would be
+able to visit her father twice a day and attend to him almost
+as much as before. Of course people in the town would
+find out in time the real reason of the separation&mdash;they
+had probably some idea already of the facts&mdash;but they
+would only pity her and abuse Nikolai. "Besides," he
+added, "though your father talked like that, when it
+comes to acting, he may shrink from the separation. Talk
+it over with him, and lay all your case before him." Sofya
+Nikolayevna made no reply: during a long silence her eyes
+rested with a curious, puzzled gaze on her husband. The
+truth of his simple words and his plain way of looking at
+things&mdash;these breathed peace and comfort into her heart.
+His plan seemed to her new and ingenious, and she wondered
+she had never thought of it herself. With a heart full of
+love and gratitude she embraced her husband.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So it was settled that Sofya Nikolayevna should appeal
+to her father to alter his decision and let them stay on in the
+house, at all events until she had entirely recovered from
+her confinement; their household arrangements would be
+quite separate, and all collisions with Nikolai would be
+avoided. In favour of this suggestion, there was one very
+pressing argument&mdash;that, while it was bad for Sofya
+Nikolayevna in her present condition to be jolted over
+the ill-paved streets of the town, no risk to herself would
+prevent her from paying a daily visit to her father. But
+the explanation with her father was unsuccessful. The
+old man told her calmly but firmly that his decision had
+been carefully considered and was no impulse of the
+moment. "My dear Sonitchka," he said, "I knew
+beforehand that after your marriage you could not live
+under the same roof as Nikolai. You are not able to
+judge him coolly, and I don't blame you for it: he sinned
+deeply against you in old days, and, though you forgave
+him, you were unable to forget his conduct. I know that
+he does not behave properly to you even now; but you
+take an exaggerated view of it all." At this point Sofya
+Nikolayevna tried to break in, but he stopped her and said:
+"Wait and hear to the end what I have to say. Let us
+suppose that he is as guilty as you take him to be: that
+makes it all the more impossible for you to live in the
+same house with him; but I cannot face parting from
+him. Have pity on my helpless and suffering condition.
+I am no longer a man, but a lifeless corpse; you know that
+Nikolai has to move me in bed ten times a day; no one
+can take his place. All I ask is peace of mind. Death
+is hovering over me, and every moment I must prepare
+for the change to eternity. I was constantly made
+wretched by the thought that Nikolai was giving offence
+to you. Our parting is inevitable; go, my dear, and live
+in a house of your own. When you come to visit me you
+shall not see the object of your dislike: he will be only too
+glad to keep out of the way. He has gained his object
+and got you out of the house, and now he will be able to
+rob me at his leisure. I know and see it all, but I forgive
+him everything for his unwearied nursing of me day and
+night. What he undergoes in his attendance on me is
+beyond the power of human endurance. Do not distress
+me, but take the money and buy a house for yourselves."</p>
+<p class="pnext">I shall not describe all the phases through which Sofya
+Nikolayevna passed&mdash;her doubts and hesitations, her
+mental conflicts, her tears and sufferings, her ups and downs
+of feeling from day to day. It is enough to say that the
+money was accepted and the house bought, and husband
+and wife were settled there before a fortnight had passed.
+The little house was new and clean, and had never been
+occupied before. Sofya Nikolayevna began with her
+usual ardour to put her house in order and to settle the
+course of their daily life; but her health, much affected
+by her condition, and still more by all the agitation she had
+gone through, soon broke down altogether. She was confined
+to bed for a fortnight, and did not see her father for
+a whole month. Their first interview was a touching and
+pitiful sight. He had grown much weaker; missing his
+daughter and blaming himself for her illness, he had suffered
+much by her absence. Their meeting gave happiness to
+both, but it cost them tears. He was especially grieved
+to see her so terribly thin and so altered in looks; but this
+was due, not so much to grief and illness as to her condition.
+The features of some women look different and
+even ugly during pregnancy; and Sofya Nikolayevna was
+a case in point. In course of time things settled down
+and her relations with her father became easy; Nikolai
+never ventured to appear when she was present. There
+was just one person who could not reconcile himself to the
+thought that she had left a dying father to settle in a
+house of her own; and that was Stepan Mihailovitch.
+She quite anticipated this, and wrote him a very frank
+letter just before she was taken ill, in which she tried to
+explain her father's action and defend it as far as possible.
+She might have saved herself the trouble, for Stepan
+Mihailovitch blamed her and not her father, and said that
+it was her duty to bear without a sign of displeasure all the
+misconduct of "that scoundrel" Nikolai. He wrote to
+his son to reprove him for allowing his wife to abandon
+her father to the hands of servants. But Stepan Mihailovitch
+did not realise, either that the separation was necessary
+to preserve the peace of a dying man, or that a wife
+could act without the permission of her husband. In the
+present case, however, husband and wife were entirely of
+one mind.</p>
+<p class="pnext">To put the finishing touches to the new house and
+modest household arrangements, Sofya Nikolayevna called
+in the assistance of a widow whom she knew, who lived
+in a humble position at Ufa. This was Mme. Cheprunoff,
+a very simple and kind-hearted creature. She owned a
+little house in the suburbs, and a small but productive
+garden, which brought her in a trifle. She had other
+means of maintaining herself and her adored only child,
+a little one-eyed boy called Andrusha: she hawked about
+small wares of different kinds, and even sold cakes in the
+market. But her chief source of income was the sale of
+Bokhara muslin, which she went to Orenburg every year
+to buy. Sofya Nikolayevna was related through her
+mother to this woman; but she had the weakness to conceal
+the relationship, though every one in the town knew
+it. Mme. Cheprunoff was devoted to her brilliant and
+distinguished kinswoman. She used to pay secret visits
+to Sofya Nikolayevna during the time when she was persecuted
+and humiliated by her stepmother; and Sofya
+Nikolayevna, when her time of triumph and influence
+came, became the avowed benefactress of Mme. Cheprunoff.
+When they were alone together, Sofya Nikolayevna
+lavished caresses upon her unselfish and devoted kinswoman;
+but, when other people were present, the one was
+the great lady and the other the poor <em class="italics">prot&eacute;g&eacute;e</em> who sold
+cakes in the streets. This treatment did not offend Mme.
+Cheprunoff: on the contrary, she insisted on it. She
+loved and admired her beautiful cousin with all her heart,
+and looked on her as a superior being, and would never
+have forgiven herself if she had thrown a shadow on the
+brilliant position of Sofya Nikolayevna. The secret was
+revealed, as it had to be, to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch; and he, in
+spite of the ancient lineage which his sisters were always
+dinning into his ears, received this humble friend as his
+wife's worthy kinswoman, and treated her with affection
+and respect all his life; he even tried to kiss the work-worn
+hand of the cake-seller, but she would never allow it.
+He was only prevented by his wife's earnest entreaties
+from speaking of this relationship in his own family and
+in the circle of their acquaintance. This conduct earned
+him the love of the simple-minded woman; and whenever
+there were differences in the household in later years,
+she was his ardent champion and defender. She knew all
+the shops and was a great hand at a bargain; and so, with
+her help, Sofya Nikolayevna did her furnishing quickly
+and well.</p>
+<p class="pnext">When the young Bagroffs bought a house and started
+housekeeping by themselves, there was much talk and
+gossip in the town; and at first many exaggerations and
+inventions were current. But Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch had
+spoken the truth: the real reason came out before long.
+This was due chiefly to Nikolai, who boasted among his
+friends that he had ousted the pettish young lady, and
+took the opportunity to give a lively description of her
+character. So the talk and gossip soon quieted down.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Husband and wife had at last a house entirely to themselves.
+In the morning, Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch drove down
+to his work at the law-courts, dropping his wife at her
+father's house; and on his return he spent some time every
+day with his father-in-law, before taking his wife home.
+A modest dinner awaited them there. To sit alone
+together, at a meal of their own ordering, in their own
+house, was a charming sensation for a time; but nothing is
+a novelty for long, and this charm could not last for ever.
+In spite of her bad health and small means, Sofya Nikolayevna's
+clever hands made her little house as dainty as a
+toy. Taste and care are a substitute for money; and
+many of their visitors thought the furnishing splendid.
+The hardest problem was to arrange about their servants.
+Sofya Nikolayevna had brought two servants as part of
+her portion&mdash;a man named Theodore and a black-eyed
+maid called Parasha; these two were now married to one
+another; and at the same time Annushka, a young
+laundress belonging to Sofya Nikolayevna, was married to
+Yephrem Yevs&eacute;itch, a young servant who had been brought
+from Bagrovo. This man was honest and good-natured
+and much attached to his young mistress, which cannot
+be said of the other servants. She returned his affection,
+and he well deserved it: he was one in a thousand, and his
+devotion to her was proved by his whole life.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Yevs&eacute;itch (as he was always called in the family)
+became later the attendant of her eldest son,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id97" id="id96"><sup>48</sup></a> and watched
+over him like a father. I knew this worthy man well.
+Fifteen years ago I saw him for the last time; he was then
+blind and spending his last days in the Government of
+Penza on an estate belonging to one of the grandsons of
+Stepan Mihailovitch. I spent a whole month there in the
+summer; and every morning I went to fish in a pool where
+the stream of Kakarma falls into the river Niza. The
+cottage where Yevs&eacute;itch was living stood right on the
+bank of this pool; and every day as I came up I saw him
+leaning against the angle of the cottage and facing the
+rising sun. He was bent and decrepit, and his hair had
+turned perfectly white; pressing a long staff to his breast,
+he leaned upon it with the knotted fingers of both hands,
+and turned his sightless eyes towards the sun's rays.
+Though he could not see the light, he could feel its warmth,
+so pleasant in the fresh morning air, and his face expressed
+both pleasure and sadness. His ear was so quick that he
+heard my step at some distance, and he always hailed me
+as an old fisherman might hail a schoolboy, though I was
+then myself over fifty years old. "Ah, it's you, my little
+falcon!"&mdash;he used to call me this when I was a child&mdash;"you're
+late this morning! God send you a full basket!"
+He died two years later in the arms of his son and daughter
+and his wife, who survived him several years.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meantime life at Ufa took a very regular and unvarying
+course. Owing to her state of health and spirits, Sofya
+Nikolayevna paid few visits and only to intimate friends,
+whose small number was made smaller by the absence of
+the Chichagoffs. Autumn was nearly over before those
+dearest of friends returned from the country with Mme.
+Myortvavo. The disordered nerves and consequent low
+spirits of his wife were at first a source of great uneasiness
+to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch. He was completely puzzled: he
+had never in his life met people who were ill without anything
+definite the matter, or sad with no cause for sadness;
+he could make nothing of illness due to some inexplicable
+grief, or grief due to some imaginary or imperceptible
+illness. But he saw that there was no serious danger, and
+his anxiety calmed down by degrees. He was convinced
+that it was all the effect of imagination, which had always
+been his way of accounting for his wife's moods of excitement
+and distress, whenever he found it impossible to
+arrive at any reason within his comprehension. If he
+ceased to be uneasy, he began to be rather bored at times;
+and this was very natural, in spite of his love for his wife
+and pity for her constant suffering. To listen for whole
+hours every day to constant complaints about her condition,
+which was not after all so very exceptional; to hear
+gloomy presentiments, or even prophecies, of the fatal
+results which were sure to follow (and Sofya Nikolayevna,
+thanks to her reading of medical works, was extraordinarily
+ingenious in discovering ominous symptoms); to endure
+her reproaches and constant demands for those trifling
+services which a man can seldom render&mdash;all this was
+wearisome enough. Sofya Nikolayevna saw what he felt,
+and was deeply hurt. If she had found him in general
+incapable of deep feeling and strong passion, she would
+have reconciled herself sooner to her situation. She used
+often to say herself, "A man cannot give you what he has
+not got"; and she would have recognised the truth of the
+saying and submitted to her fate. But the misfortune
+was that she remembered the depth and ardour of her
+husband's passion in the days of his courtship, and believed
+that he might have continued to love her in the same
+fashion, had not something occurred to cool his feelings.
+This unlucky notion by degrees took hold of her imagination,
+and her ingenuity soon discovered many reasons to
+account for this coolness and much evidence of its truth.
+As to reasons&mdash;there was the hostile influence of his family,
+her own ill-health, and, worst of all, her loss of beauty;
+for her looking-glass forced upon her the sad change in her
+appearance. Her proofs were these&mdash;that her husband
+was not disquieted by her danger, took insufficient notice
+of her condition, did not try to cheer and interest her, and,
+above all, found more pleasure in talking to other women.
+And then a passion, which hitherto had lurked unrecognised,
+the torturing passion of jealousy, as keen-sighted as
+it is blind, flashed up like gunpowder in her heart. Every
+day there were scenes&mdash;tears and reproaches, quarrels and
+reconciliations. And all the time Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was
+entirely innocent. To the insinuations of his sisters he
+paid no attention at all; to his father's opinion he attached
+great importance, and that was so favourable to Sofya
+Nikolayevna that she had even risen in her husband's eyes
+in consequence. He was sincerely, if not deeply, distressed
+about her sufferings; and her loss of beauty he
+regarded as temporary, and looked forward with pleasure
+to the time when his young wife would get back her good
+looks. Though the sight of her suffering distressed him,
+he could not sympathise with all her presentiments and
+prognostications which he believed to be quite imaginary.
+He was incapable, as most men would be, of paying her
+the sort of attention she expected. It was really a ticklish
+business to administer consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna
+in her present condition: you were quite likely to put
+your foot in it and make matters worse; it required much
+tact and dexterity, and these were qualities which her
+husband did not possess. If he found more pleasure in
+talking to other women, it was probably because he was
+not afraid that some casual remark might cause annoyance
+and irritation.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at the matter
+in this light. Her view of it was dictated by her nature,
+whose fine qualities were apt to run to extremes. But
+what was to be done, if the nerves of one were tough and
+strong and those of the other sensitive and morbid, if hers
+were jarred by what had no effect upon his? The Chichagoffs
+alone understood the causes of this uncomfortable
+situation; and, though they received no confidences from
+either husband or wife, they took a warm interest in both
+and did much to calm Sofya Nikolayevna's excitement by
+their friendship, their frequent visits, and their rational
+and sensible conversation. Both husband and wife owed
+much to them at this period.</p>
+<p class="pnext">So things went on till the time that Sofya Nikolayevna
+became a mother. Though she was often troubled in
+mind, her health improved during the last two months, and
+she was safely delivered of a daughter. She herself, and
+her husband still more, would have preferred a son; but,
+when the mother pressed the child to her heart, she thought
+no more of any distinction between boy and girl. A
+passion of maternal love filled her heart and mind and
+whole being. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch thanked God for his
+wife's safety, rejoiced at her relief, and soon reconciled
+himself to the fact that his child was a girl.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But at Bagrovo it was quite another story! Stepan
+Mihailovitch was so confident that he was to have a grandson
+to carry on the line of the Bagroffs, that he would not
+believe at first in the birth of a grand-daughter. When at
+last he read through his son's letter with his own eyes and
+was convinced that there was no doubt about it, he was
+seriously annoyed. He put off the entertainment planned
+for his labourers, and refused to write himself to the
+parents; he would only send a message of congratulation
+to the young mother, with instructions that the infant
+was to be christened Praskovya, in compliment to his
+cousin and favourite, Praskovya Ivanovna Kurolyessova.
+His vexation over this disappointment was a touching and
+amusing sight. Even his womankind derived a little secret
+amusement from it. His good sense told him that he had
+no business to be angry with any one, but for a few days he
+could not control his feelings&mdash;so hard was it for him to
+give up the hope, or rather the certainty, that a grandson
+would be born, to continue the famous line of Shimon. In the
+expectation of the happy news, he had kept his family tree
+on his bed, ready any day to enter his grandson's name;
+but now he ordered this document to be hidden out of
+sight. He would not allow his daughter Aksinya to travel
+to Ufa in order to stand godmother to the babe; he said
+impatiently, "Take that journey for a girl's christening?
+Nonsense! If she brings a girl every year, you would have
+travelling enough!" Time did its work, however, and
+the frown, never a formidable frown this time, vanished
+from the brow of Stepan Mihailovitch, as he consoled
+himself with the thought that he might have a grandson
+before a year was out. Then he wrote a kind and playful
+letter to his daughter-in-law, pretending to scold her for
+her mistake and bidding her present him with a grandson
+within a twelvemonth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna was so entirely absorbed by the
+revelation of maternity and by devotion to her child, that
+she did not even notice the signs of the old man's displeasure,
+and was quite unaffected by Aksinya's absence
+from the christening. It proved difficult to keep her in
+bed for nine days after her confinement. She felt so well
+and strong that she could have danced on the fourth day.
+But she had no wish to dance; she wanted to be on her
+feet day and night, attending to her little Parasha. The
+infant was feeble and sickly; the mother's constant distress
+of body and mind had probably affected the child.
+The doctor would not allow her to nurse the child herself.
+Andr&eacute;i Avenarius was the name of this doctor; he was
+a very clever, cultivated, and amiable man, an intimate
+friend of the young people and a daily visitor at their
+house. As soon as possible Sofya Nikolayevna took her
+baby to her father's house, hoping that it would please
+the invalid to see this mite, and that he would find in it
+a resemblance to his first wife. This resemblance was
+probably imaginary; for, in my opinion, it is impossible
+for an infant to be like a grown-up person; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna never failed to assert that her first child was
+the very image of its grandmother. Old M. Zubin was
+approaching the end of his earthly career; both body and
+mind were breaking fast. He looked at the baby with
+little interest, and had hardly strength to sign it with the
+Cross. All he said was, "I congratulate you, Sonitchka."
+Sofya Nikolayevna was distressed by her father's critical
+condition&mdash;it was more than a month since she had seen
+him&mdash;and also by his indifference to her little angel, Parasha.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But soon the young mother forgot all the world around
+her, as she hung over her daughter's cradle. All other
+interests and attachments grew pale in comparison, and
+she surrendered herself with a kind of frenzy to this new
+sensation. No hands but hers might touch the child.
+She handed it herself to the foster-mother and held it at
+the breast, and it was pain to her to watch it drawing life,
+not from its mother, but from a stranger. It is hard to
+believe, but it is true, and Sofya Nikolayevna admitted it
+herself later, that, if the child sucked too long, she used to
+take it away before it was satisfied, and rock it herself in
+her arms or in the cradle, and sing it to sleep. She saw
+nothing of her friends, not even of her dear Mme. Chichagoff.
+Naturally they all thought her eccentric or absurd
+and her chief intimates were vexed by her conduct. She
+paid a hasty visit every day to her father, and returned
+every day with fear in her heart that she would find the
+child ill. She left her husband perfectly free to spend
+his time as he liked. For some days he stopped at home;
+but his wife never stirred from the cradle and took no
+notice of him, except to turn him out of the little nursery,
+because she feared that twice-breathed air might hurt the
+baby. After this, he began to go out alone, till at last he
+went to some party every day; and he began to play
+cards to relieve his boredom. The Ufa ladies were amused
+at the sight of the deserted husband, and some of them
+flirted with him, saying that it was a charity to console
+the widower, and that Sofya Nikolayevna would thank
+them for it when she recovered from her maternal passion
+and reappeared in society. Sofya Nikolayevna did not
+hear of these good Samaritans till later; when she did,
+she was vexed. Mme. Cheprunoff, who came often to the
+house, watched Sofya Nikolayevna with astonishment,
+pity, and displeasure. She was a tender mother herself to
+her little boy with the one eye, but this devotion to one
+object and disregard of everything else seemed to her to
+border on insanity. With groans and sighs she struck her
+fists against her own body&mdash;this was a regular trick of hers&mdash;and
+said that such love was a mortal sin which God
+would punish. Sofya Nikolayevna resented this so much
+that she kept Mme. Cheprunoff out of the nursery in
+future. No one but Dr. Avenarius was admitted there,
+and he came pretty often. The mother was constantly
+discovering symptoms of different diseases in the child;
+for these she began by consulting Buchan's <em class="italics">Domestic
+Medicine</em>, and then, when that did not answer, she called
+in Avenarius. He found it impossible to argue her out of
+her beliefs: all he could do was to prescribe harmless
+medicines. Yet the child was really feeble, and at times
+he was obliged to prescribe for it in real earnest.</p>
+<p class="pnext">It is difficult to say what would have been the upshot
+of all this; but, by the inscrutable designs of Providence,
+a thunderbolt burst over the head of Sofya Nikolayevna:
+her adored child died suddenly. The cause of death was
+uncertain: it may have been too much care, or too much
+medicine, or too feeble a constitution; at any rate, the
+child succumbed, when four months old, to a very slight
+attack of a common childish ailment. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was sitting by the cradle when she saw the infant start and
+a spasm pass over the little face; she caught it up and
+found that it was dead.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna must have had a marvellous constitution
+to support this blow. For some days she knew
+no one and the doctors feared for her reason; there were
+three of them, Avenarius, Zanden, and Klauss; all three
+were much attached to their patient, and one of them was
+always with her. But, by God's blessing and thanks to
+her youth and strength, that terrible time passed by. The
+unhappy mother recovered her senses, and her love for
+her husband, whose own distress was great, asserted itself
+for the time and saved her. On the fourth day she became
+conscious of her surroundings; she recognised Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch, so changed by grief that he was hard to recognise,
+and her bosom friend, Mme. Chichagoff; a terrible
+cry burst from her lips and a healing flood of tears gushed
+from the eyes which had been dry till then. She silently
+embraced her husband and sobbed for long on his breast,
+while he sobbed himself like a child. The danger of
+insanity was past, but the exhaustion of her bodily strength
+was still alarming. For four days and nights she had
+neither eaten nor drunk, and now she could swallow no
+food nor medicine nor even water. Her condition was so
+critical that the doctors did not oppose her wish to make
+her confession and receive the sacraments. The performance
+of this Christian duty was beneficial to the patient:
+she slept for the first time, and, when she woke after two
+hours looking bright and happy, she told her husband
+that she had seen in her sleep a vision of Our Lady of
+Iberia, exactly as she was represented on the <em class="italics">ikon</em> of their
+parish church; and she believed that, if she could put her
+lips to this <em class="italics">ikon</em>, the Mother of God would surely have
+mercy on her. The image was brought from the church,
+and the priest read the service for the Visitation of the Sick.
+When the choir sang, "O mighty Mother of God, look
+down in mercy on my sore bodily suffering!"&mdash;all present
+fell on their knees and repeated the words of the prayer.
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch sobbed aloud; and the sufferer too
+shed tears throughout the service and pressed her lips to
+the image. When it was over, she felt so much relief that
+she was able to drink some water; and from that time she
+began to take food and medicine. Her two dear friends,
+Mme. Chichagoff and Mme. Cheprunoff, were with her
+constantly; she was soon pronounced out of danger, and
+her husband's troubled heart had rest. The doctors set
+to work with fresh zeal to restore her strength, and their
+great anxiety was in a way dangerous to their patient;
+for one of them found traces of consumption, another of
+<em class="italics">marasmus</em>, and the third was apprehensive of an aneurysm.
+But fortunately they were unanimous on one point: the
+patient should go at once to the country, to enjoy pure air
+and, preferably, forest air, and take a course of <em class="italics">koumiss</em>.
+At the beginning of June it was not too late to drink mare's
+milk, as the grass on the steppes was still fresh and in full
+growth.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Stepan Mihailovitch took the news of his grand-daughter's
+death very coolly: he even said, "No reason to
+tear one's hair over <em class="italics">that</em>! There will be plenty more girls."
+But when he heard later of the dangerous illness of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, the old man was much disturbed. When a
+third message came, that she was out of immediate danger
+but very ill, and that the doctors were baffled and prescribed
+a course of <em class="italics">koumiss</em>, he was exceedingly angry with
+the doctors: "Those bunglers murder our bodies," he
+said, "and defile our souls by making us swallow the drink
+of heathens. If a Russian is forbidden by his Church to
+eat horseflesh, then he has no business to drink the milk
+of the unclean animal." Then he added with a heavy sigh
+and a gesture of disgust: "I don't like it at all: her life
+may perhaps be saved, but she will never be right again,
+and there will be no children." Stepan Mihailovitch was
+deeply grieved and remained for a long time in a state of
+depression.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Twenty-nine <em class="italics">versts</em> to the south-west of Ufa, on the
+road to Kazan, where the Uza falls into that noble river,
+the Dyoma, there lay in a rich valley a little Tatar village
+called by the Russians Alkino, surrounded by forests.
+The houses nestled in picturesque disorder at the foot of a
+hill called Bairam-Tau<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id100" id="id98"><sup>49</sup></a> which gave them shelter from the
+north; and another hill, Zein-Tau,<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id101" id="id99"><sup>50</sup></a> rose on the west.
+The Uza, fringed with bushes, flowed to the south-west;
+the forest-glades were fragrant with grasses and flowers;
+and, all round, oaks and limes and maples cleft the air and
+imparted to it an invigorating virtue. To this charming
+spot Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch brought his wife, weak and pale
+and thin, a mere shadow of her old self; Avenarius, their
+friend and doctor, came with them, and they had some
+difficulty in getting the patient to the end of the journey.
+The owner of the village received them with cordial hospitality;
+he had a comfortable house, but Sofya Nikolayevna
+was unwilling to install herself there, and one of the
+outbuildings was cleared out for her occupation. The
+family were only too kind in their attentions to her, so that
+the doctor was obliged to forbid their visits for a time.
+They spoke Russian fairly well, though they professed the
+Mohammedan creed; and, though their dress and habits
+were then partly Russian and partly Tatar, <em class="italics">koumiss</em> was
+their invariable drink from morning till night. For Sofya
+Nikolayevna, the health-giving beverage was prepared
+in a cleanly, civilised manner: the mare's milk was fermented
+in a clean, new wooden bucket and not in the usual
+bag of raw horse-hide. The natives declared that <em class="italics">koumiss</em>
+made in their fashion tasted better, and was more effective;
+but Sofya Nikolayevna felt an unconquerable aversion
+to the horse-hide bag. When the doctor had laid
+down rules for the cure, he went back to Ufa, leaving
+Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, with Parasha and Annushka, in charge
+of the invalid. The air and the <em class="italics">koumiss</em>, of which small
+doses were taken at first; the daily drives with Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch through the forest which surrounded the village&mdash;Yevs&eacute;itch,
+who was now a favourite with Sofya Nikolayevna,
+acted as coachman; the woods, where the patient
+lay for whole hours in the cool shade on a leather mattress
+with pillows, breathing the fragrant air into her lungs,
+listening sometimes to an entertaining book, and often
+sinking into refreshing sleep&mdash;the whole life was so beneficial
+to Sofya Nikolayevna that in a fortnight she was
+able to get up and could walk about. When Avenarius
+came again he was delighted by the effect of the <em class="italics">koumiss</em>,
+and increased the doses; but, as the patient could not
+endure it in large quantities, he thought it necessary to
+prescribe vigorous exercise in the form of riding on horseback.
+For a Russian lady to ride was in those days a
+startling novelty: Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch did not like it, and
+Sofya Nikolayevna herself was shocked by the notion.
+Their host's daughters presented an instructive example,
+for they constantly rode far and wide over the country on
+their Bashkir ponies; but Sofya Nikolayevna turned a
+deaf ear for long to all persuasions, and even to the entreaties
+of her husband, whom the doctor had speedily and
+completely convinced of the necessity of the exercise. At
+last the Chichagoffs came on a visit to Alkino, and Sofya
+Nikolayevna's resistance was overcome by a joint effort.
+What appealed to her most strongly was the example of
+Mme. Chichagoff, who, in the spirit of true friendship,
+sacrificed her own prejudices and began to ride, at first
+alone, and then with the patient. This hard exercise
+required a change of diet; and fat mutton, which Sofya
+Nikolayevna did not like either, was prescribed. Avenarius
+probably took a hint from the habits of the Bashkirs
+and Tatars, who, while moving from place to place
+throughout the summer, drink <em class="italics">koumiss</em> and eat hardly
+anything but fat mutton, not even bread; and they ride
+all day long over the broad steppes, until the prairie grass
+turns from green to grey and veils itself with a soft, silvery
+down. The treatment answered admirably. They sometimes
+rode out in a large party with the sons and daughters
+of their host. There was a potash factory which they
+sometimes visited, about two <em class="italics">versts</em> from Alkino, situated
+in the depth of the forest and on the bank of a stream;
+and Sofya Nikolayevna looked with interest at the iron
+cauldrons full of burning wood-ash, the wooden troughs in
+which the dross was deposited, and the furnaces in which
+the product was refined and converted into porous white
+lumps of the vegetable salt called "potash." She admired
+the rapidity with which the work was carried on, and the
+activity of the Tatars, whose skull-caps were a novelty
+to her, and also the long shirts which came down to their
+feet and yet left them free command of their limbs. In
+general her hosts were very kind, and tried to amuse their
+guest by making the natives sing and dance before her, or
+wrestle, or run races on horseback.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At first Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was always present at these
+expeditions and entertainments; but, when he ceased to
+feel anxious about his wife's health, and saw her surrounded
+by troops of attentive friends, he began by degrees to find
+some time on his hands. Country life and country air, with
+the beauty of that landscape, roused in him a desire for his
+old amusements. He made fishing-lines and began to
+angle for the wily trout in the clear mountain streams round
+Alkino; and he went out sometimes to catch quails with
+a net. Theodore, Parasha's young husband, was a capital
+hand at this sport and could make pipes to decoy the birds.
+With sportsmen in general, netting for quails does not rank
+high; but really I do not know why they despise it. To
+lie on the fragrant meadow grass with your net hanging in
+front of you on the tall stalks; to hear the quails calling
+beside you and at a distance; to imitate their low, sweet
+note on the pipe; to hear the excited birds reply and
+watch them run, or even fly, from all sides towards you;
+to watch their curious antics, and to get excited yourself
+over the success or failure of your strategy&mdash;all this gave
+me much pleasure at one time, and even now I cannot
+recall it with indifference. But it was impossible to make
+this pleasure intelligible to Sofya Nikolayevna.</p>
+<p class="pnext">In two months she was well on the way to recovery:
+her face filled out, and a bright colour began to play again
+upon her cheeks. When Avenarius paid a third visit, he
+was entirely satisfied; and he had a perfect right to
+triumph; for he was the first to prescribe <em class="italics">koumiss</em> and
+directed the treatment himself. He had always been
+attached to his patient; and now that he had succeeded
+in saving her life, he loved her like a daughter.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch sent a weekly bulletin to his father
+at Bagrovo. Stepan Mihailovitch was glad to hear that
+his daughter-in-law was getting better; but of course he
+disbelieved in the healing power of the <em class="italics">koumiss</em>, and was
+very angry about the riding, which they were rash enough
+to mention in writing to him. His wife and daughters
+made use of this opportunity, and the sneering remarks,
+which they let fall on purpose in the course of conversation,
+worked him up to such a pitch that he wrote his son
+a rather offensive letter which gave pain to Sofya Nikolayevna.
+But, when he was convinced that his daughter-in-law
+had quite recovered and had even grown stout,
+pleasing hopes began to stir again in his breast, and he
+grew reconciled in some degree to the <em class="italics">koumiss</em> and the
+riding.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The young Bagroffs returned to Ufa at the beginning
+of autumn. Old M. Zubin was very far gone by that time,
+and his daughter's wonderful recovery produced no sort
+of impression on him. All his earthly business was done,
+and all ties broken; every thread that held him to life
+was severed, and the soul could hardly find shelter in the
+disruption of the body.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The normal course of relations between the young
+couple had been, so to speak, arrested in its development
+by a number of events: first, by the birth of the child and
+the mother's extravagant devotion to it; then, by the
+child's death which nearly deprived the mother of her
+reason and her life; and, finally, by the long course of
+treatment and residence in the Tatar village. In the
+stormy season of her distress and sickness, Sofya Nikolayevna
+had ever before her eyes the genuine love and self-sacrifice
+of her husband. At that time there were none of
+those collisions, which constantly occur at ordinary times
+between ill-matched characters; and, even if there were
+occasions for such misunderstandings, they passed unnoticed.
+When gold is in circulation, small change is of
+little importance. In exceptional circumstances and
+critical moments, nothing but gold passes; but the daily
+expenditure of uneventful life is mainly carried on with
+small change. Now Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, though he was
+not poor in gold, was often hard up for small change.
+When a man, if he sees distress and danger threatening
+the health and life of one whom he loves, himself suffers in
+every fibre of his being; when he forgets sleep and food
+and himself altogether; when the nerves are strung up
+and the moral nature uplifted&mdash;at such times there is no
+room for small exactions, no room for small services and
+attentions. But when the time of tragic events has gone
+by, everything quiets down again; the nerves are relaxed
+and the spirit contracts; the material life of flesh and
+blood asserts itself, in all its triviality; habits resume
+their lost power; and then comes the turn of those exactions
+and demands we spoke of, the turn of small services
+and polite attentions and all the other trifles which make
+up the web of actual ordinary life. Time will again apply
+the test and bring back the necessity of self-sacrifice; but
+meanwhile life runs on without a stop in the ordinary
+groove, and its peace and adornment and pleasure&mdash;what
+we call happiness, in fact&mdash;is made up entirely of trivial
+things, of small change.</p>
+<p class="pnext">For these reasons, when Sofya Nikolayevna began to
+recover and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch ceased to fear for her life
+and health, there began by degrees to reappear, on one
+side, the old exacting temper, and, on the other side, the
+old incapacity to satisfy its demands. Gentle reproaches
+and expostulations had become tiresome to the husband,
+and fierce explosions frightened him. Fear at once
+banished perfect frankness, and loss of frankness between
+husband and wife, especially in the less assertive and
+independent of the two, leads straight to the destruction
+of domestic happiness. After the return to Ufa, this evil
+would probably have grown worse in the trivial, idle
+atmosphere of town life; but Sofya Nikolayevna's father
+was now actually dying, and his sad, suffering condition
+banished all other anxieties and monopolised his daughter's;
+thoughts and feelings. Obedient to the law of her moral
+nature, she gave herself up without reserves to her duty
+as a daughter. Thus the process which was unveiling
+every corner of their domestic life, was again brought to a
+standstill. Sofya Nikolayevna spent her days and nights
+with her father. Nikolai, as before, waited on his sick
+master, nursing him with wonderful devotion and indefatigable
+care; and, as before, he kept out of sight of Sofya;
+Nikolayevna, though he had now the right and the power
+to appear before her with impunity. Touched by his
+behaviour, she had sent for him; a reconciliation took
+place, and she gave him leave to be present with her in
+the sick-room. The dying man, in spite of his apparent
+insensibility to all around him, noticed this change: he
+pressed his daughter's hand in his feeble grasp, and said
+in a hardly audible whisper, "I thank you." Sofya
+Nikolayevna never left her father after this time.</p>
+<p class="pnext">I said that when Stepan Mihailovitch received the good
+news of his daughter-in-law's recovery, fond hopes awoke
+once more in his breast. They were not disappointed:
+before long Sofya Nikolayevna wrote to him herself, that
+she hoped, if God was good to her, to give birth to a son,
+to be the comfort of his old age. At the instant Stepan
+Mihailovitch was overjoyed, but he soon controlled his
+feelings and hid his happiness from his womankind. Perhaps
+it occurred to him that this second child might be a
+daughter, that Sofya Nikolayevna and the doctors between
+them might kill it too with too much love and too much
+medicine, and that the mother might lose her health over
+again; or perhaps Stepan Mihailovitch was like many other
+people, who deliberately prophesy calamities with a secret
+hope that fortune will reverse their prognostications. He
+pretended that he was not in the least glad, and said
+coolly: "No, no! I'm too old a bird to look at <em class="italics">that</em>
+chaff. When the thing happens, it will be time enough to
+believe it and rejoice over it." His family were surprised
+to hear him speak so, and said nothing in reply. But, as
+a matter of fact, the old man for some unknown reason
+became convinced once more in his heart that he would
+have a grandson: he gave instructions again to Father
+Vassili to repeat in church the prayer for "women labouring
+of child"; and he fished out once more the family
+tree from its hiding-place, and kept it always beside him.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Meanwhile M. Zubin's last hour on earth came quietly
+on. He had suffered much for many years; it seemed
+hardly natural that life should linger on in a body which
+had lost all force and motion; and the ending of such a
+bare and pitiful existence could distress no one. Even
+Sofya Nikolayevna had only one prayer&mdash;that her father's
+soul might depart in peace. And there <em class="italics">was</em> peace, and even
+happiness, at the moment of death. The face of the dying
+man lit up suddenly, and this expression remained long
+upon the features, though the eyes were shut and the body
+had grown cold. The funeral was a solemn and splendid
+ceremony. M. Zubin had once been very popular; but
+he had become forgotten by degrees, and sympathy for
+his suffering had become gradually weaker. But now,
+when the news of his death flew round the town, old
+memories revived and evoked a fresh feeling of love and
+pity for him. On the day of his funeral every house was
+empty, and all the population of Ufa lined the streets
+between the Church of the Assumption and the cemetery.
+May he rest in peace! If he had the weakness of human
+nature, he had also its goodness.</p>
+<p class="pnext">After M. Zubin's death, guardians were appointed for
+the children of his two marriages; and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch
+became guardian of his wife's two brothers, who, before
+finishing their education at the Moscow boarding-school,
+were summoned to Petersburg to enter the Guards. I
+forgot to mention that M. Zubin, shortly before his death,
+was successful in obtaining for Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch his
+promotion to a higher office at the law-courts.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna wept and prayed for a long time,
+and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch wept and prayed at her side; but
+those tears and prayers were not painful or violent and had
+no ill effect on the recently restored health of Sofya Nikolayevna.
+Her husband's entreaties and the advice of her
+friends and doctors prevailed with her, and she began to
+take care of herself and to pay due attention to her condition.
+They convinced her that the health and even the
+life of the unborn child depended on the state of her own
+health and spirits. Their arguments were confirmed by
+bitter experience, and she resolutely submitted to all that
+was required of her. When her father-in-law wrote to
+her and expressed in simple words his sympathy with her
+loss and his fear that she might again injure her own health
+by excess of grief, she sent a very reassuring letter in
+reply; and she did in fact attend carefully to her bodily
+health and composure of mind. A regular but not monotonous
+plan of life was laid down. The two doctors,
+Klauss&mdash;who was becoming very intimate with the Bagroffs&mdash;and
+Avenarius, made her go out every day before dinner,
+and sometimes on foot; and each evening they had an
+unceremonious party of pleasant people at home, or went
+out themselves, generally to the Chichagoffs' house. Mme.
+Chichagoff's brothers became great friends of the Bagroffs,
+especially the younger, Dmitri, who asked that, when
+the time came, he might stand godfather. Both brothers
+were well-bred men and well-educated, according to the
+standards of the time; and they came often to the house
+and passed the time there with pleasure. In the Bagroffs'
+house, reading aloud was a favourite occupation. But, as
+no one can read or listen to reading without intervals,
+Sofya Nikolayevna was taught to play cards. Klauss
+took the chief part in initiating her into this science; and,
+whenever the Bagroffs were alone of an evening, he never
+failed to make up their table. Avenarius could not take
+part in this pastime, because he never in his life knew the
+difference between the five and the ace.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Spring set in early that year, but in all its beauty. The
+ice on the By&eacute;laya broke up, and the blocks were carried
+down by the stream; the river broke its banks and spread
+till it was six <em class="italics">versts</em> across. The whole of this expanse
+could be clearly seen from the windows of the Bagroffs'
+little house; their orchard burst into leaf and flower, and
+the fragrance of bird-cherries and apple-blossom filled the
+air. They used this orchard as a drawing-room, and the
+warm weather did good to Sofya Nikolayevna and made
+her stronger.</p>
+<p class="pnext">At this time an event happened at Ufa which caused a
+great sensation there and was especially interesting to the
+young Bagroffs, because the hero of the story was an
+intimate friend of theirs, and, if I am not mistaken, distantly
+related to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch. Sofya Nikolayevna,
+as one would expect from her character, took a lively
+interest in such a romantic affair. A young man, named
+Tim&aacute;sheff, one of the most prominent and richest nobles
+of the district, fell in love with a Tatar girl, the daughter
+of a rich Tatar landowner. Her family, just like the
+Alkins, had altered their way of living to a certain extent
+in conformity with European customs, and they spoke
+Russian well; but they strictly observed the Moslem faith
+in all its purity. The beautiful Salm&eacute; returned the love
+of the handsome Russian officer, who was a captain in the
+regiment stationed near Ufa. As she could not be married
+to a Russian without changing her religion, it was perfectly
+certain that her parents and grown-up brothers would
+never give their consent to such a union. Salm&eacute; struggled
+long against her love, and love burns more fiercely in the
+hearts of women of Asia. At last, as is the rule in such
+cases, Mahomet was defeated, and Salm&eacute; made up her mind
+to elope with her lover, meaning to be baptised first and
+then married. The commander of Tim&aacute;sheff's regiment
+was General Mans&uacute;roff, a universal favourite and the
+kindest of men, who gained distinction afterwards when
+he crossed "The Devil's Bridge" in the Alps with Suv&oacute;roff.
+He had lately married for love himself, and he knew and
+sympathised with Tim&aacute;sheff's enterprise, and promised to
+take the lovers under his protection. One dark, rainy
+night Salm&eacute; sallied forth from her father's house, and
+found Tim&aacute;sheff waiting for her in a wood close by with a
+pair of saddle-horses; they had to gallop about 100 <em class="italics">versts</em>
+to reach Ufa. Salm&eacute; was a skilful rider; every ten or
+fifteen <em class="italics">versts</em> they found fresh horses, guarded by soldiers
+of Tim&aacute;sheff's regiment; he was very popular with his
+men. Thus the fugitives flew along "on the wings of
+love," as a poet of that day would infallibly have said.
+Meanwhile Salm&eacute;'s absence was quickly noticed: her
+passion for Tim&aacute;sheff had long been suspected, and a strict
+watch was kept over her movements. A band of armed
+Tatars assembled instantly, and followed the enraged
+father<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id103" id="id102"><sup>51</sup></a> and brothers in furious pursuit of the lovers,
+uttering fierce shouts and threats of vengeance. They
+took the right track and would probably have captured the
+fugitives&mdash;at any rate blood would have been spilt, because
+a number of soldiers, eagerly interested in the affair, were
+posted at different points along the road&mdash;had not the
+pursuit been delayed by a stratagem. The bridge over a
+deep and dangerous river was broken down behind the
+lovers; and the Tatars were forced to swim across, and thus
+lost some two hours. Even so, the boat which carried
+Tim&aacute;sheff and Salm&eacute; across the By&eacute;laya under the walls
+of Ufa, had hardly reached mid-stream, when the old
+Tatar galloped up to the bank, attended by his sons and
+half of his faithful company; the other half had stopped
+when their horses fell dead under them. A whole regiment
+of Russian soldiers were in possession of all the punts and
+ferry-boats, on the pretence of crossing to the town. The
+unhappy father gnashed his teeth in fury, cursed his
+daughter, and rode off home. Half dead with weariness
+and fear, Salm&eacute; was placed in a carriage and taken to the
+house of Tim&aacute;sheff's mother. The affair now assumed a
+legal and official character: here was a Mahometan woman
+asking of her own free will to be received into the Christian
+Church, and the authorities of the town took her under
+their protection, informed the <em class="italics">mufti</em>, who lived at Ufa and
+was always called "the Tatar bishop," of all that had
+passed, and called upon him to stop the injured family or
+any other Mahometans from all attempts to recover by
+violence a person who had deliberately preferred the
+Christian faith. In a few days the clergy prepared the
+convert to receive the sacraments of baptism and unction.
+The rite was celebrated with great pomp in the Cathedral:
+Salm&eacute; was christened Seraphima, and immediately afterwards,
+without leaving the church, the young lovers were
+married. All Ufa was interested in the affair. The young
+people and all the men naturally stood up for the beautiful
+Salm&eacute;; but the women, some of whom, perhaps, had
+personal reasons for disappointment, judged her conduct
+severely. Very few stretched out the hand of sincere
+friendship to the convert, whom her husband's station
+admitted to the inner circle of Ufa society. The young
+couple had no warmer sympathisers than Sofya Nikolayevna
+and Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch; and they were actively
+assisted by the wife of General Mans&uacute;roff, an amiable
+young woman whose maiden name was Bulg&aacute;koff. Before
+long the Tim&aacute;sheffs had a firm footing in their new sphere.
+The bride's education was taken in hand; she had much
+natural ability, and soon became a success in society,
+where she aroused both sympathy and envy, due in some
+degree to her beauty and the peculiarity of her position.
+Sofya Nikolayevna kept up a steady friendship with
+Seraphima Tim&aacute;sheff till death divided them. To the
+general regret, Mme. Tim&aacute;sheff died of consumption three
+years after her marriage. She left two sons; her husband
+nearly went out of his mind with grief; he left the Army,
+gave up his life to the care of his children, and never
+married again. It was currently reported, though I
+cannot vouch for the truth of the reports, that her illness
+and death were due to secret pining after the kinsfolk she
+had abandoned and remorse for her change of religion.</p>
+<p class="pnext">These events did nothing to arrest the quick flight of
+time. The day came when Sofya Nikolayevna was
+forbidden to go out to parties, or even to take drives in
+the country. In fine weather she walked up and down the
+garden for half an hour twice a day; if it was wet, she
+opened all the doors in the house and followed the same
+routine under cover. It is probable that all this seclusion
+and strict regimen did more harm than good; yet my
+opinion is contradicted by the facts, for Sofya Nikolayevna
+was in perfect health. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch found it necessary
+to let the doctors have their way; for he was constantly
+receiving instructions from his father to watch over
+his wife like the apple of his eye. Her friends also, and
+especially the doctors who felt a strong personal attachment
+for her, kept such a close watch on Sofya Nikolayevna
+that she could neither take a step nor swallow a
+morsel or drink a drop without their permission. As
+Avenarius had to leave the town on some official business,
+it fell on Klauss, who was the other leading lady's doctor
+at Ufa, to undertake the personal supervision of her health.
+Klauss was a German, a very kind man, clever and well-educated,
+but singularly grotesque in his appearance.
+Though he was still of middle age, he wore a bright yellow
+wig; and people asked where he could have got human
+hair of a colour never beheld on any human head; his
+eyebrows also were yellowish, and so were the whites of
+his small brown eyes; but his face, which was round and
+rather small, was as red as burning coal. His habits in
+society were very odd: though he liked kissing the hands
+of ladies, he would never allow himself to be kissed on the
+cheek, maintaining that it was a gross breach of manners
+on the part of a man to permit such a greeting. He had a
+great fondness for small children which he showed in this
+way: he took the child on his knees, placed its hand on the
+palm of his own left hand and stroked it for hours at a time
+with his right hand. His special favourites he constantly
+addressed as "Monster!" or "Turk!"&mdash;and Sofya
+Nikolayevna naturally came in for her share of these
+endearments.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id105" id="id104"><sup>52</sup></a></p>
+<p class="pnext">Owing to his intimacy with the young Bagroffs, Klauss
+knew all about Stepan Mihailovitch&mdash;his eager desire for
+a grandson, and the impatience with which he was awaiting
+the event. As Klauss wrote Russian well, he wrote
+out a forecast, for whose accuracy he vouched, in a distinct
+handwriting for the old man's benefit: he foretold
+that Sofya Nikolayevna would give birth to a son between
+the 15th and 22nd of September. When the forecast was
+sent to Stepan Mihailovitch, "German liar!" was his only
+comment; but in his heart he believed it; for his excitement
+and joy could be seen in his face and heard in every
+word he spoke. About this time, our old acquaintance,
+Afrosinya Andr&eacute;yevna, paid him a visit at Bagrovo. He
+let her see more than others of his main anxiety, that he
+might have another grand-daughter; and she told him
+that, when passing through Moscow, she had gone to
+Trinity Church there, to say her prayers to St. Sergius;
+and there she heard that some well-known lady, the mother
+of several daughters, had taken a vow that if her next child
+was a boy, it should be christened Sergh&eacute;i; and she did
+give birth to a son before the year was out. Stepan Mihailovitch
+said nothing at the time; but he wrote a letter
+himself to his son and daughter-in-law by the next post,
+expressing his desire that they should say prayers in church
+to St. Sergius the Wonder-worker, and take a vow to call
+their child Sergh&eacute;i if it were a boy. In explanation of his
+wish he added: "There has never yet been a Sergh&eacute;i in the
+Bagroff family." These instructions were carried out to
+the letter. Sofya Nikolayevna spared no pains to provide
+everything that a careful mother could think of for her
+expected child; above all, an admirable foster-mother was
+found at Kasimofka, one of the villages that had belonged
+to her father. M&aacute;rya Vassilyevna, a peasant woman, had
+every qualification for her office that one could wish for;
+and she was perfectly willing to undertake the duty, and
+moved to Ufa in good time, bringing her own infant
+with her.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The crisis was now approaching. By this time Sofya
+Nikolayevna was forbidden to walk. Catherine Chichagoff
+was kept to her own house by ill-health, and no other
+visitors were admitted. But Mme. Cheprunoff was constantly
+with her cousin, never leaving her except to see her
+own beloved little boy, Andrusha. Klauss came to breakfast
+every morning, and again for tea, which he drank with
+rum in it, in the evening; then he played cards with
+husband and wife; and, as the stakes were too small to
+buy cards with, the prudent German procured some used
+packs which he brought with him. Reading sometimes
+took the place of cards, and Klauss was present on these
+occasions. Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch, who had gained some
+experience and skill in the art, was the regular reader;
+and sometimes Klauss brought a German book and translated
+it aloud, which gave pleasure to his hearers, especially
+to Sofya Nikolayevna, who wished to get some knowledge,
+if only a smattering, of German literature.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Sofya Nikolayevna had experienced already the absorbing
+and unlimited power of maternal affection, the strongest
+of all our feelings, and she was filled with awe by her
+present condition. She accepted it as a sacred duty to
+maintain mental composure, and so to preserve the health
+of her unborn infant and secure its existence, on which
+depended all her hopes, all her future, and all her life. We
+know Sofya Nikolayevna pretty well already; we know
+how apt she was to be carried away; and therefore we shall
+not be surprised to hear that she gave herself up wholly to
+her feeling for the child she bore. Every hour of the day
+and night was devoted to the task of taking care of herself
+in all possible ways. Her mind and her thoughts were so
+entirely concentrated upon this one object that she noticed
+nothing else and was, apparently, quite satisfied with her
+husband, though it is probable that things happened which
+might have made her dissatisfied. The more Alexy&eacute;i
+Stepanitch got to know his wife, the more she surprised
+him. He was a man singularly unable to appreciate excessive
+display of feeling, or to sympathise with it, from
+whatever object it arose. Thus his wife's power of passionate
+devotion frightened him; he dreaded it, just as he used to
+dread his father's furious fits of anger. Excessive feeling
+always produces an unpleasant impression upon quiet
+unemotional people; they cannot recognise such a state
+of mind to be natural, and regard it as a kind of morbid
+condition which some persons are liable to at times. They
+disbelieve in the permanence of a mental composure which
+may break down at any moment; and they are afraid of
+people with such a temperament. And fear is fatal to
+love, even to a child's love for his parents. In general
+I must say that, in point of mutual understanding and
+sympathy, the relations between Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch and
+his wife, instead of becoming closer, as might have been
+expected, grew less intimate. This may seem strange,
+but it often happens thus in life.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Just at this time Klauss was transferred to an official
+post at Moscow. He had already taken leave of his colleagues
+and all his acquaintance; and he waited on solely
+with a view to Sofya Nikolayevna's confinement, hoping to
+be of service to her in case of necessity. He calculated
+that he might be able to get away on the 17th or 18th of
+September, and hired horses for that date. Hiring was
+necessary, because he intended to break his journey to
+visit a German friend, who lived at some distance from
+the post-road, so that the coach would not serve his purpose.
+The 15th of September passed, but the expected
+event did not take place. Sofya Nikolayevna felt better
+and more enterprising than usual; and it was only the
+pedantry of the doctor, she said, that kept her to the sofa.
+When the 16th, 17th, and 18th had all gone by, the German,
+in spite of his love for Sofya Nikolayevna, got very angry,
+because he had to pay a <em class="italics">rouble</em> a day to the driver he had
+hired&mdash;a terribly high price, according to the ideas of those
+days; and the Bagroffs bantered him about this in a
+friendly way. The reading and card-playing went on
+every evening; and if the doctor won 60 <em class="italics">kopecks</em><a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id107" id="id106"><sup>53</sup></a> from
+his hosts, he was much pleased, and said that his driver
+would not cost him much <em class="italics">that</em> day. The 19th passed off
+with no change. On the 20th, when Klauss came in the
+morning, Sofya Nikolayevna stood at her bedroom door
+and greeted him with a curtsey. He got very angry:
+"Monster!" he said, "you are treating me abominably";
+but he kissed as usual the hand she held out to him. "It
+is too bad, Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch," he went on; "your wife
+is ruining me. Her baby ought to have been born on the
+15th, and here she is, dropping curtseys on the 20th!"
+"Never mind, my dear fellow," said Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch,
+patting him on the shoulder; "you must rob us at cards
+to-night. But the packs are nearly worn out." Klauss
+promised to bring a new pack; he lunched there, and,
+after sitting on till two o'clock, took his leave. He called
+again at six in the evening, punctual to the minute. Finding
+no one in the hall, or parlour, or drawing-room, he
+tried to get into the bedroom, but the door was locked;
+he knocked, and it was opened by Mme. Cheprunoff. The
+doctor went in and stood dumb with astonishment. The
+floor of the room was covered with rugs; green silk curtains
+hung by the windows, and a fine silk canopy over the
+double bed; a candle, shaded by a book, was burning in
+a corner; and in the bed, resting on embroidered pillows
+and wearing a dainty, easy morning wrapper, lay Sofya
+Nikolayevna. Her face looked fresh, and her eyes were
+radiant with happiness. "Congratulate me, my dear
+friend!" she said in a strong, audible voice; "I am the
+happy mother of a son!" The doctor, when he looked
+at her face and heard her voice, took the whole thing to be
+a mystification and a hoax. "Monster! don't try to play
+tricks on so old a bird as I am!" he said. "Better get
+up; I have brought a new pack of cards. It will be a
+present for the baby," he added, coming up to the bed and
+shoving the cards under a pillow. "My dear friend,"
+said Sofya Nikolayevna, "I swear to you I have got a son!
+Look at him; there he is!" And there, resting on a large
+down-pillow trimmed with lace, and wrapped in a pink
+velvet coverlet, he really saw a newborn infant, a strong
+boy; and Alyona Maksimovna, the midwife, was standing
+near the bed.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The doctor flew into a furious rage. He sprang back
+from the bed as if he had burnt himself, and roared out,
+"What! in my absence! after my staying on here for a
+week and losing money every day, you did not send for
+me!" His face turned from red to purple, his wig came
+half off, and his whole stumpy figure looked so ridiculous
+that the lady in the bed burst out laughing. Then the
+midwife tried to soothe him: "<em class="italics">Batyushka</em>," she said, "we
+had no time to think of anything at the moment; then,
+when we had got things straight, we meant to send for
+your Honour, but Sofya Nikolayevna said you would be
+here at once." The worthy man soon recovered from his
+vexation; tears of joy started to his eyes; he caught hold
+of the infant in his practised hands and began to examine
+it by the candle-light, turning it round and feeling it till
+it squalled loudly. Then he thrust a finger into its mouth,
+and, when the infant began to suck lustily, the doctor was
+pleased and called out, "How fine and healthy he is, the
+little Turk!" Sofya Nikolayevna was frightened when
+she saw her priceless treasure so freely handed; and the
+midwife tried to take it from him, fearing it would be
+"overlooked." But Klauss was inexorable: he ran about
+the room, holding the child, and called for a tub of warm
+water with a sponge and some soap, and a binder. Then
+he turned back his sleeves, tied on an apron, threw down
+his wig, and began to wash the babe, talking to it like this:
+"Ah, my little Turk, that stops your crying; you like the
+feel of the warm water!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">Then Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch hurried into the room, almost
+beside himself with joy. He had been dispatching a
+special messenger to carry the good news to Stepan
+Mihailovitch, and writing letters to his parents; and there
+was a separate letter for his sister Aksinya, begging her to
+come as soon as possible and stand godmother to his son.
+Before the doctor had time to dry himself, the happy
+father embraced him till he nearly choked him; he had
+already exchanged greetings with every one in the house,
+and many tears of joy had been shed. And Sofya Nikolayevna&mdash;but,
+what <em class="italics">she</em> felt, I dare not try to express in
+words: her bliss was such as few on earth ever feel and no
+one can feel for long.</p>
+<p class="pnext">The event produced extraordinary rejoicing within the
+house, and even the neighbours shared in it. The intoxication
+of joy was prolonged by liquor; and soon all the
+servants were singing and dancing in the court. Some
+who never drank at other times now took a drop too much;
+and one of these was Yevs&eacute;itch. They found it impossible
+to control him: he was always begging to go to his mistress's
+bedroom to see the little son. At last his wife, with
+Parasha's help, tied him tightly to a heavy bench; and
+even then he went on kicking out his legs, cracking his
+fingers, and attempting to articulate the chorus of a song.</p>
+<p class="pnext">Tired out by his exertions and by joyful excitement,
+Klauss at last sat down in an armchair and much enjoyed
+a cup of tea. He was somewhat too liberal with the rum
+that evening, and felt a buzzing in his head after the third
+cup. So he gave instructions that the baby was to have
+no milk but only syrup of rhubarb till the morning, and
+took leave of his happy host and hostess. He kissed the
+baby's hand, promised to call early the next morning, and
+went off to spend the night at his own house. As he
+passed through the court, he saw the dancing, and the
+sound of singing came from every window of the kitchen
+and servants' quarter. He stood still; and, though he
+was sorry to interfere with the good people's merriment,
+yet he advised them to stop their singing and dancing,
+because their mistress needed rest. To his surprise, they
+all took his hint and lay down at once, intending to sleep.
+As he passed out of the gate he muttered to himself:
+"Well, he's a lucky child! How glad they all are to
+have him!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">And it is really true that this child was born under a
+happy star. His mother, who had suffered constantly
+before her former confinement, had perfect health before
+his birth; his parents lived in peace together during those
+halcyon days; a foster-mother was found for him who
+proved to be more devoted than most real mothers; he
+was the answer to prayers and the object of fond desires,
+and the joy over his coming into the world spread far
+beyond his parents. The very day of his birth, though
+the season was autumn, was warm as summer.</p>
+<p class="pnext">But what happened at Bagrovo, when the good news
+came that God had given a son and heir to Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch?
+This is what happened at Bagrovo. From the
+15th of September, Stepan Mihailovitch counted the days
+and hours, and waited for the special messenger from Ufa.
+The man had been told to gallop day and night with relays
+of horses. This method of travelling was new, and Stepan
+Mihailovitch disapproved of it as a foolish waste of money
+and an unnecessary tax on the country people. He preferred
+to use his own horses; but the importance and
+solemnity of this occasion made him depart from his
+regular practice. Fortune did not keep him in suspense
+too long: on the 22nd of September, when he was sleeping
+after dinner, the messenger arrived, bearing letters and
+the good news. The old man woke from a sound sleep,
+and had hardly had time to stretch himself and clear his
+throat when Mazan rushed into the room and, stammering
+with joyful excitement, got out the words, "A grandson,
+<em class="italics">batyushka</em> Stepan Mihailovitch! Hearty congratulations!"</p>
+<p class="pnext">The first movement of Stepan Mihailovitch was to
+cross himself. Then he sprang out of bed, went barefoot
+to his desk, snatched from it the family tree, took the pen
+from the ink-bottle, drew a line from the circle containing
+the name Alexy&eacute;i, traced a fresh circle at the end of the
+line, and wrote in the centre of the circle, "<span class="small-caps">Sergh&eacute;i</span>."</p>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<p class="pfirst">Farewell! my figures, bright or dark, my people, good
+or bad&mdash;I should rather say, figures that have their bright
+and dark sides, and people who have both virtues and
+vices. You are not great heroes, not imposing personalities;
+you trod your path on earth in silence and obscurity,
+and it is long, very long, since you left it. But you were
+men and women, and your inward and outward life was
+not mere dull prose, but as interesting and instructive to
+us as we and our life in turn will be interesting and instructive
+to our descendants. You were actors in that mighty
+drama which mankind has played on this earth since time
+immemorial; you played your parts as conscientiously as
+others, and you deserve as well to be remembered. By
+the mighty power of the pen and of print, your descendants
+have now been made acquainted with you.<a class="footnote-reference pginternal" href="#id109" id="id108"><sup>54</sup></a> They have
+greeted you with sympathy and recognised you as brothers,
+whenever and however you lived, and whatever clothes you
+wore. May no harsh judgment and no flippant tongue
+ever wrong your memory!</p>
+<p class="center pnext">THE END.</p>
+<div class="vspace" style="height: 5em">
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">PRINTED BY</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">LONDON AND BECCLES</div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="footnotes left level-4 section smaller" id="id110">
+<h4 class="level-4 pfirst section-title title">Footnotes</h4>
+<table class="docutils footnote-group" frame="void" rules="none" summary="fn">
+<colgroup><col class="label"/><col /></colgroup>
+<tbody valign="top">
+<tr class="footnote" id="id2">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id1">[1]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The name is pronounced Aks&#257;koff, not Aks&#259;koff, and his birthplace
+is called by Russians <em class="italics">Oo-f&aacute;</em>, not <em class="italics">Y&eacute;w-fa</em>.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id7">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id4">[2]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">"Father," a title of respect or affection.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id8">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id5">[3]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">100 <em class="italics">dessyatines</em> = 270 acres.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id9">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id6">[4]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A <em class="italics">rouble</em> is worth about 2<em class="italics">s.</em></p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id11">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id10">[5]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Bagroff is a pseudonym for Aksakoff.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id13">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id12">[6]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Bagrovo is a pseudonym for Aksakovo.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id15">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id14">[7]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The earliest Russian chronicles report that the Russian empire was
+founded in the 8th century by certain foreign princes called <em class="italics">Varyags</em>. The
+nationality of these princes has been a subject of endless controversy, some
+historians maintaining that they were Norsemen, others denying it.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id18">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id16">[8]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A <em class="italics">verst</em> is two-thirds of a mile.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id19">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id17">[9]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Pronounce Dy&aacute;w-ma.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id21">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id20">[10]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">June 29.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id23">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id22">[11]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Aksakoff himself.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id25">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id24">[12]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Mare's milk, fermented.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id27">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id26">[13]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Na-sya-gai = "Pursuer."</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id29">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id28">[14]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">I.e.</em> the author, who in childhood was called Seryozha (short for
+Sergh&eacute;i).</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id31">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id30">[15]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This word from S. Africa seems best for an unroofed veranda, such
+as this was.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id35">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id32">[16]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">An urn, with a central receptacle for hot charcoal. In this case, the
+receptacle is inserted where the teapot lid should be.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id36">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id33">[17]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A diminutive form of Tatyana.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id37">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id34">[18]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The author's father, called throughout Alexy&eacute;i; his real name was
+Timof&eacute;i (Timothy). So his mother, whose name was M&aacute;rya (Mary) is
+called Sofya (Sophia).</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id39">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id38">[19]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The inner bark of the lime-tree, used for many purposes in Russia.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id41">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id40">[20]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A drink made of malt and rye.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id43">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id42">[21]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The author's father.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id46">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id44">[22]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A nickname: "Little Chatterer," a diminutive of <em class="italics">bolt&uacute;n</em>.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id47">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id45">[23]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">She had got this nickname ("the town-woman") because she had
+spent part of her youth in some town.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id50">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id48">[24]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">After harvest is the normal time for peasants' marriages.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id51">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id49">[25]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A <em class="italics">soldatka</em> is a woman whose husband is away serving in the Army.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id53">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id52">[26]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A famous general in the reign of Catherine II. and a great popular
+hero.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id55">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id54">[27]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A short form of Praskovya, which itself represents the Greek name
+Paraskeva.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id58">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id56">[28]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A diminutive form of Grig&oacute;ri (Gregory).</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id59">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id57">[29]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">An <em class="italics">ikon</em> is a sacred image, kept in a church or hung on the wall of a
+room.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id62">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id60">[30]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The asterisks apparently imply that the author is unwilling to report
+some details of this orgy.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id63">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id61">[31]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">I.e</em>. mother, a term of affection and respect.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id65">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id64">[32]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">From here to the end of the paragraph was removed by the censor
+from the early editions of the work.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id69">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id66">[33]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Pugatchoff was a Cossack, who raised a formidable rebellion in East
+Russia; taken prisoner by Suv&oacute;roff, he was executed at Moscow in 1775.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id70">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id67">[34]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The popular form of Xenia; the diminutive is Aksyutka.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id71">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id68">[35]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The author's father.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id73">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id72">[36]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">A pet name for Sofya (Sophia). This is the author's mother, whose
+real name was M&aacute;rya.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id75">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id74">[37]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Buchan's <em class="italics">Domestic Medicine</em> was published in 1769; the author died
+in 1805.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id77">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id76">[38]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">In general, my grandfather had little belief in witchcraft. A wizard
+once told him that a gun was charmed and would not go off. He took out
+the shot secretly and fired at the wizard, who got a great fright. But he
+recovered and said that my grandfather himself was "a man of power";
+and this was generally believed, except by Stepan Mihailovitch. (<em class="italics">Author's
+note.</em>)</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id79">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id78">[39]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">I know the letter nearly by heart. It probably still exists among
+the old papers of one of my brothers. Some expressions in it are clearly
+borrowed from the novels which Alexy&eacute;i Stepanitch was fond of reading.
+(<em class="italics">Author's note.</em>)</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id81">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id80">[40]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The sacred image is often held by the person giving the blessing.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id83">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id82">[41]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The Russianised form of an oriental name, Mirza Khan.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id85">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id84">[42]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Devout Russians kiss a priest's hand.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id87">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id86">[43]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">I.e.</em> Stepanitch, son of Stephen, which should be used in public by
+the wife.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id89">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id88">[44]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">The kaftan is a long cloth coat belted in at the waist.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id91">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id90">[45]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">In prayers of this kind, nothing is said aloud: the worshipper turns
+towards the <em class="italics">ikons</em> on the wall and crosses himself.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id93">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id92">[46]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">See note to p. 67 (Transcriber: note 33).</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id95">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id94">[47]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">I.e.</em> "instantly," though why the phrase means this I cannot discover.
+In Russian fairy-tales, a witch regularly summons any one she
+wants with the words, "Stand thou before me, like a leaf before the
+grass!"</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id97">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id96">[48]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst"><em class="italics">I.e.</em> the Author.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id100">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id98">[49]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Hill of Feasting.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id101">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id99">[50]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Hill of Meeting.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id103">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id102">[51]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Another version of the story tells that the mother led the pursuit.
+(<em class="italics">Author's note</em>.)</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id105">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id104">[52]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">Klauss became lecturer on midwifery in the Foundling Hospital at
+Moscow in 1791, and died in 1821 after the conscientious discharge of his
+duties for thirty years. He never left off the yellow wig. He was an
+enthusiastic and well-known numismatist. (<em class="italics">Author's note.</em>)</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id107">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id106">[53]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">1 <em class="italics">rouble</em> = 100 <em class="italics">kopecks</em>.</p>
+</td></tr>
+<tr class="footnote" id="id109">
+<td class="label"><a class="fn-backref pginternal" href="#id108">[54]</a></td><td><p class="first last pfirst">This work first appeared in parts in a Moscow magazine. When they
+were collected in a book, this epilogue was added.</p>
+</td></tr>
+</tbody>
+</table>
+</div>
+<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em">
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost">
+<div class="line"><em class="italics">By SERGE AKSAKOFF</em>.</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">YEARS OF CHILDHOOD</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">By SERGE AKSAKOFF.</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line">Translated, for the first time, from the Russian by J. D. DUFF,</div>
+<div class="line">Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.</div>
+</div>
+<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost">
+<div class="line"><em class="italics">Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net.</em></div>
+</div>
+<hr class="docutils"/>
+<p class="left pfirst">"We are grateful to Mr. Duff for translating for the first time into English
+this remarkable book. 'Years of Childhood' becomes the more fascinating the
+more one reads and thinks about it. Aksakoff read a new and ecstatic meaning
+into things which are banal and tame to most men and women, and the eager eye
+of his mind scanned deep into the lives and loves of the people round about
+him."&mdash;<em class="italics">Morning Post.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"Serge Aksakoff holds a distinct and, one might say, delightful position in
+Russian literature. He placed himself, almost without an effort, in the ranks of
+the great masters of his nation by instinctively obeying the precept that men of
+letters should look in their own hearts and write. One can hardly thank the
+translator sufficiently for this first rendering of the book in any other language
+than Russian."&mdash;<em class="italics">The Times.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"English readers may well be grateful to Mr. J. D. Duff for his translation of
+a very unusual book. He promises us a translation of 'A Family History,' which
+carries on the narrative of Aksakoff's life and gives some account of his family.
+In the original the two make one book, and all who read this first instalment will
+welcome the completion of it."&mdash;<em class="italics">Spectator.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"A book of rare charm."&mdash;<em class="italics">Observer.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"Mr. Duff, with this admirable rendering, has unearthed a treasure for the
+English reader. Let us hope that the other portion of these memoirs will appear
+without delay. For this is Russia herself&mdash;convincingly real and intimate."
+&mdash;<em class="italics">English Review.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"Apart from its great artistic value, Aksakoff's work has the attractiveness
+that belongs to all origins. What Mr. Maurice Baring once said, that the story
+of Aksakoff's memoirs is as vivid and interesting as any novel, is quite true.
+And it is not only true but remarkable; for reminiscences, especially of childhood,
+do not usually have the sort of interest that a novel has, however vivid they may
+be.... The fact is, Aksakoff succeeded in solving perhaps the hardest problem
+in literature,&mdash;the problem of working a child's consciousness as a medium for all
+it is worth. The book has, for us, this advantage over the other major works of
+Russian literature, that it has found in Mr. Duff a translator who is not only a
+scholar, but an artist skilful enough never to force the note for a moment."
+&mdash;<em class="italics">New Statesman.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"A charming Russian book. At this time when so many translations from
+the Russian are appearing, well advised and ill advised, it is good to be able to
+put the hand on one superlatively good book. Here is a refreshment for tired
+eyes and tired souls. It is put into beautiful English, and the book can be read
+aloud with much profit and pleasure."&mdash;<em class="italics">Country Life.</em></p>
+<p class="left pnext">"Of an extraordinary richness and novelty."&mdash;<em class="italics">Westminster Gazette.</em></p>
+<p class="center medium pnext">LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD</p>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Russian Gentleman, by S. T. (Sergei
+Timofeevich) Aksakov, Translated by J. D. Duff
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: A Russian Gentleman
+
+
+Author: S. T. (Sergei Timofeevich) Aksakov
+
+
+
+Release Date: February 6, 2012  [eBook #38781]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Hunter Monroe and the Online Distributed Proofreading
+Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by
+Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)
+
+
+
+Note: Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive. See
+      http://www.archive.org/details/russiangentleman00aksauoft
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      In Footnote 1, [=a] and [)a] are used to denote that the
+      letters have, respectively, a macron and a breve over them
+      in the original book.
+
+
+
+
+
+A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+----
+
+_UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME_
+
+1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 7_s._ 6_d._ net
+A RUSSIAN SCHOOLBOY
+
+1 Vol. Demy 8vo. 10_s._ 6_d._ net
+YEARS OF CHILDHOOD
+
+BY
+SERGE AKSAKOFF
+
+Translated from the Russian by
+J. D. DUFF
+FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
+
+LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD
+
+----
+
+
+A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+by
+
+SERGE AKSAKOFF
+
+Translated from the Russian by J. D. Duff
+
+Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge
+
+SECOND IMPRESSION
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+London
+Edward Arnold
+1917
+
+All rights reserved
+
+
+
+----
+
+TO J. F. D.
+
+----
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
+
+
+Serge Aksakoff,[1] the author of this Russian classic, was born at Ufa,
+in the district of Orenburg, on September 20, 1791. His father held some
+office in the law-court of the town, and his grandfather lived in the
+country as the owner of large estates, to which Aksakoff ultimately
+succeeded. His grandfather had migrated about 1760 from Simbirsk to Ufa,
+where the population consisted mainly of Tatars and a number of Finnish
+tribes--Mordvinians, Choovashes, and others.
+
+ [1] The name is pronounced Aks[=a]koff, not Aks[)a]koff, and his
+     birthplace is called by Russians _Oo-fa_, not _Yew-fa_.
+
+Aksakoff was educated at Kazan, and entered the Civil Service in 1808.
+After serving in many different capacities--he was censor of the Press
+at Moscow for some years--he retired in 1839 and devoted himself
+exclusively to literature. He married in 1816; and his two sons,
+Constantine and Ivan, both played a conspicuous part in the public life
+of Russia. He died at Moscow, after a long and painful illness, on April
+30, 1859.
+
+His high and secure place among Russian writers Aksakoff owes to three
+works--his _Years of Childhood_ and _Recollections_, which are
+autobiography, and his _Family History_, which is here translated under
+the title of _A Russian Gentleman_. This is his most famous work: his
+portrait of his grandfather is his masterpiece, and his descriptions of
+his parents' courtship and marriage are as vivid and minute as his
+pictures of his own early childhood.
+
+He began to write this book soon after his retirement from the public
+service. Portions of it were published in a Moscow magazine in 1846; and
+the whole work appeared, with the addition of a short Epilogue, in 1856.
+He published _Recollections_ in the same volume; and _Years of
+Childhood_--which should have preceded _Recollections_--followed in
+1858, the last year of his life.
+
+_A Russian Gentleman_ seems a suitable title for this book, because the
+whole scene, in which a multitude of characters appear, is entirely
+dominated and permeated by the tremendous personality of Aksakoff's
+grandfather, Stepan Mihailovitch. Plain and rough in his appearance and
+habits, but proud of his long descent; hardly able to read or write, but
+full of natural intelligence; capable of furious anger and extreme
+violence in his anger, but equally capable of steadfast and even
+chivalrous affection; a born leader of men and the very incarnation of
+truth, honour, and honesty--Stepan Mihailovitch is more like a Homeric
+hero than a man of modern times.
+
+The reader, when he reflects that Aksakoff's present narrative ends with
+the day of his own birth, will be inclined to think that the author must
+have had a lively imagination. I therefore translate the sentence with
+which Skabichevsky, a critic of reputation, begins his review of
+Aksakoff's work:--
+
+"Aksakoff's books are remarkable, first of all, on this ground: you will
+find in them no trace of creative or inventive power."
+
+I suppose myself that he derived his information chiefly from his
+mother; but there are certainly scenes in the book which he cannot have
+owed to this source.
+
+This translation has been made from the Moscow edition of 1900. I should
+say here: (1) that I have abridged some of the topographical detail at
+the beginning of the book; (2) that I have dealt freely with the Notes
+which Aksakoff added, sometimes promoting them to the text, and
+sometimes omitting them wholly or in part. I know of two previous
+translations. A German translation, _Russische Familienchronik_, by
+Sergius Raczynski, was published at Leipzig in 1858. This seems to me a
+good translation, and I have found it useful in some difficulties. An
+English translation "by a Russian Lady" was published at Calcutta in
+1871; and there is a copy in the British Museum. I have not seen this;
+but I have heard that it is inadequate, and the first few sentences,
+which were copied out for me, seem to bear this out.
+
+I have completed a translation of Aksakoff's remaining book of
+Memoirs--his _Recollections_ of school and college; and I hope that it
+may be published after a short interval.
+
+    J. D. DUFF.
+
+    _Cambridge._
+    _Jan. 11, 1917._
+
+                                  ----
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
+    FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF
+      1. _The Migration_
+      2. _The Government of Orenburg_
+      3. _Fresh Scenes._
+      4. _My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days_
+    FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF
+    FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF
+    FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO
+    FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA
+
+                                  ----
+
+                          A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT I: STEPAN MIHAILOVITCH BAGROFF
+
+1. _The Migration_
+
+
+When my grandfather lived in the Government of Simbirsk, on the
+ancestral estate granted to his forefathers by the Tsars of Muscovy, he
+felt cramped and confined. Not that there was really want of room; for
+he had arable land and pasture, timber and other necessaries in
+abundance; but the trouble was, that the estate which his
+great-grandfather had held in absolute possession, had ceased to belong
+to one owner. This happened quite simply: for three successive
+generations the family consisted of one son and several daughters; and,
+when some of these daughters were married, their portions took the shape
+of a certain number of serfs and a certain amount of land. Though their
+shares were not large, yet, as the land had never been properly
+surveyed, at this time four intruders asserted their right to share in
+the management of it. To my grandfather, life under these conditions was
+intolerable: there was no patience in his passionate temperament; he
+loved plain dealing and hated complications and wrangles with his kith
+and kin.
+
+For some time past, he had heard frequent reports about the district of
+Ufa--how there was land there without limit for the plough and for
+stock, with an indescribable abundance of game and fish and all the
+fruit of the earth; and how easy it was to acquire whole tracts of land
+for a very trifling sum of money. If tales were true, you had only to
+invite a dozen of the native Bashkir chiefs in certain districts to
+partake of your hospitality; you provided two or three fat sheep, for
+them to kill and dress in their own fashion; you produced a bucket of
+whisky, with several buckets of strong fermented Bashkir mead and a
+barrel of home-made country beer--which proves, by the way, that even in
+old days the Bashkirs were not strict Mahometans--and the rest was as
+simple as A B C. It was said, indeed, that an entertainment of this kind
+might last a week or even a fortnight: it was impossible for Bashkirs to
+do business in a hurry, and every day it was necessary to ask the
+question, "Well, good friend, is it time now to discuss my business?"
+The guests had been eating and drinking, without exaggeration, all day
+and all night; but, if they were not completely satisfied with the
+entertainment, if they had not had enough of their monotonous singing
+and playing on the pipe, and their singular dances in which they stood
+up or crouched down on the same spot of ground, then the greatest of the
+chiefs, clicking his tongue and wagging his head, would answer with much
+dignity and without looking his questioner in the face: "The time has
+not come; bring us another sheep!" The sheep was forthcoming, as a
+matter of course, with fresh supplies of beer and spirits; and the tipsy
+Bashkirs began again to sing and dance, dropping off to sleep wherever
+they felt inclined. But everything in the world has an end; and a day
+came at last when the chief would look his host straight in the face and
+say: "We are obliged to you, _batyushka_,[2] ever so much obliged! And
+now, what is it that you want?" The rest of the transaction followed a
+regular fashion. The customer began with the shrewdness native to your
+true Russian: he assured the Bashkir that he did not want anything at
+all; but, having heard that the Bashkirs were exceedingly kind people,
+he had come to Ufa on purpose to form a friendship with them, and so on.
+Then the conversation would somehow come round to the vast extent of the
+Bashkir territory and the unsatisfactory ways of the present tenants,
+who might pay their rent for a year or two and then pay no more and yet
+continue to live on the land, as if they were its rightful owners; it
+was rash to evict them, and a lawsuit became unavoidable. These remarks,
+which were true enough to the facts, were followed up by an obliging
+offer to relieve the kind Bashkirs of some part of the land which was
+such a burden to them; and in the end whole districts were bought and
+sold for a mere song. The bargain was clinched by a legal document, but
+the amount of land was never stated in it, and could not be, as it had
+never been surveyed. As a rule, the boundaries were settled by landmarks
+of this kind: "from the mouth of such and such a stream as far as the
+dead beech-tree on the wolf-track, and from the dead beech-tree in a
+bee-line to the watershed, and from the watershed to the fox-earths, and
+from the fox-earths to the hollow tree at Soltamratka," and so on. So
+precise and permanent were the boundaries enclosing ten or twenty or
+thirty thousand _dessyatines_[3] of land! And the price of all this
+might be about one hundred _roubles_[4] and presents worth another
+hundred, not including the cost of the entertainments.
+
+ [2] "Father," a title of respect or affection.
+
+ [3] 100 _dessyatines_ = 270 acres.
+
+ [4] A _rouble_ is worth about 2_s._
+
+Stories of this kind had a great attraction for my grandfather. As a man
+of strict integrity, he disapproved of the deception practised on the
+simple Bashkirs; but he considered that the harm lay, not in the
+business itself, but in the method of transacting it, and believed that
+it was possible to deal fairly and yet to buy a great stretch of land at
+a low price. In that case he could migrate with his family and transfer
+half of his serfs to the new estate; and thus he would secure the main
+object of this design. For the fact was, that for some time past he had
+been so much worried by unending disputes over the management of the
+land--disputes between himself and the relations who owned a small part
+of it--that his desire to leave the place where his ancestors had lived
+and he himself was born, had become a fixed idea. There was no other
+means of securing a quiet life; and to him, now that his youth was past,
+a quiet life seemed more desirable than anything else.
+
+So he scraped together several thousand _roubles_, and said good-bye to
+his wife, whom he called Arisha when he was in a good humour and Arina
+when he was not; he kissed his children and gave them his blessing--his
+four young daughters and the infant son who was the single scion and
+sole hope of an ancient and noble family. The daughters he thought of no
+importance: "What's the good of them? They look out of the house, not
+in; if their name is Bagroff[5] to-day, it may be anything on earth
+to-morrow; my hopes rest entirely on my boy, Alexyei"--such were my
+grandfather's parting words, when he started to cross the Volga on his
+way to the district of Ufa.
+
+ [5] Bagroff is a pseudonym for Aksakoff.
+
+But perhaps I had better begin by telling you what sort of a man my
+grandfather was.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch Bagroff--this was his name--was under the middle
+height; but his prominent chest, uncommonly broad shoulders, sinewy
+arms, and wiry muscular frame, gave proof of his extraordinary
+strength. When it happened, in the rough-and-tumble amusements of
+young men, that a number of his brother-officers fastened on him at
+once, he would hurl them from him, as a sturdy oak hurls off the
+rain-drops, when its branches rock in the breeze after a shower. He
+had fair hair and regular features; his eyes were large and dark-blue,
+quick to light up with anger but friendly and kind in his hours of
+composure; his eyebrows were thick and the lines of his mouth pleasant
+to look at. The general expression of his features was singularly
+frank and open: no one could help trusting him; his word or his
+promise was better than any bond, and more sacred than any document
+guaranteed by Church or State. His natural intelligence was clear and
+strong. All landowners of that time were ignorant men, and he had
+received no sort of education; indeed he could hardly read and write
+his native language. But, while serving in the Army, and before he was
+promoted from the ranks, he had mastered the elementary rules of
+arithmetic and the use of the reckoning-board--acquirements of which
+he liked to speak even when he was an old man. It is probable that his
+period of service was not long; for he was only quarter-master of the
+regiment when he retired. But in those days even nobles served for
+long in the ranks or as non-commissioned officers, unless indeed they
+passed through this stage in their cradles, first enrolled as
+sergeants in the Guards and then making a sudden appearance as
+captains in line regiments. Of the career of Stepan Mihailovitch in
+the Army I know little; but I have been told that he was often
+employed in the capture of the highwaymen who infested the Volga, and
+always showed good sense in the formation of his plans and reckless
+courage in their execution; that the outlaws knew him well by sight
+and feared him like fire. On retiring from the Army, he lived for some
+years on his hereditary estate of Bagrovo[6] and became very skilful
+in the management of land. It was not his way to be present from
+morning to night where his labourers were at work, nor did he stand
+like a sentry over the grain, when it was coming in and going out;
+but, when he was on the spot, he looked to some purpose, and, if he
+noticed anything amiss, especially any attempt to deceive him, he
+never failed to visit the offender with a summary form of punishment
+which may rouse the displeasure of my readers. But my grandfather,
+while acting in accordance with the spirit of his age, reasoned in a
+fashion of his own. In his view, to punish a peasant by fines or by
+forced labour on the estate made the man less substantial and
+therefore less useful to his owner; and to separate him from his
+family and banish him to a distant estate was even worse, for a man
+deprived of family ties was sure to go downhill. But to have recourse
+to the police was simply out of the question; that would have been
+considered the depth of disgrace and shame; every voice in the village
+would have been raised to mourn for the offender as if he were dead,
+and he would have considered himself as disgraced and ruined beyond
+redemption. And it must be said for my grandfather, that he was never
+severe except when his anger was hot; when the fit had passed away,
+the offence was forgotten. Advantage was often taken of this:
+sometimes the offender had time to hide, and the storm passed by
+without hurting any one. Before long, his people became so
+satisfactory that none of them gave him any cause to lose his temper.
+
+ [6] Bagrovo is a pseudonym for Aksakovo.
+
+After getting his estate into good order, my grandfather married; his
+bride was Arina Vassilyevna Nyeklyoodoff, a young lady of little fortune
+but, like himself, of ancient descent. This gives me an opportunity to
+explain that his pedigree was my grandfather's foible: he was moderately
+well-to-do, owning only 180 serfs, but his descent, which he traced
+back, by means of Heaven knows what documents, for six hundred years all
+the way to a Varyag[7] prince called Shimon, he valued far more than any
+riches or office in the State. At one time he was much attracted by a
+rich and beautiful girl, but he would not marry her, merely because her
+great-grandfather was not a noble.
+
+ [7] The earliest Russian chronicles report that the Russian empire was
+     founded in the 8th century by certain foreign princes called
+     _Varyags_. The nationality of these princes has been a subject of
+     endless controversy, some historians maintaining that they were
+     Norsemen, others denying it.
+
+After this account of Stepan Mihailovitch, let us go back to the course
+of the narrative.
+
+My grandfather first crossed the Volga by the ferry near Simbirsk, and
+then struck across the steppe on the further side, and travelled on till
+he came to Sergievsk, which stands on a hill at the meeting of two
+rivers and gives a name to the sulphur springs twelve _versts_[8] from
+the town. The deeper he plunged into the district of Ufa, the more he
+was impressed by the spaciousness and fertility of that country. The
+first place where he found trees growing was the district of
+Boogoorooslan; and in the town of that name, perched on a high hill
+above the river, he made a halt, wishing to make inquiries and learn
+more particulars of the lands that were for sale. Of land belonging to
+the Bashkirs there was little left in this district: some of the
+occupiers were tenants of the Crown, whom the Government had settled on
+lands confiscated for rebellion, though later they granted a general
+pardon and restored their territory to the Bashkir owners; part of the
+land had been let to tenants by the Bashkirs themselves; and part had
+been bought up by migrating landowners. Using Boogoorooslan as a centre,
+my grandfather made expeditions to the surrounding districts and spent
+some time in the beautiful country watered by the Ik and the Dyoma.[9]
+It is an enchanting region; and even in his old age Stepan Mihailovitch
+often spoke with enthusiasm of the first impression produced on him by
+the astonishing richness of that soil. But he did not allow himself to
+be carried away. Ascertaining on the spot that any purchaser of Bashkir
+land was quite sure to be involved in endless disputes and lawsuits--for
+it was impossible for the acquirer to make sure either of his own title
+or of the number of the former owners--my grandfather, who feared and
+hated like poison the very name of a lawsuit, resolved to buy no land
+direct from the Bashkirs or without formal legal documents to confirm
+his ownership. Thus he hoped to exclude the possibility of disputes, and
+surely he had reason for such a hope; but things turned out very
+differently, and the last claim was only settled by his youngest
+grandson when he was forty years old.
+
+ [8] A _verst_ is two-thirds of a mile.
+
+ [9] Pronounce Dyaw-ma.
+
+My grandfather returned reluctantly from the banks of the Ik and the
+Dyoma to Boogoorooslan, where he bought land from a Russian lady near
+the river of that name and distant twenty-five _versts_ from the town.
+The river is rapid and deep and never runs dry. For forty _versts_, from
+the town of Boogoorooslan to the Crown settlement of Fair Bank, the
+country on both sides of the river was uninhabited, so that there was
+ample room; and the amenities of the spot were wonderful. The river was
+so transparent that, if you threw in a copper coin, you could see it
+resting on the bottom even in pools fifteen feet deep. In some places
+there was a thick border of trees and bushes--birches, poplars,
+service-trees, guelder-roses, and bird-cherries, where the hop-bines
+trailed their green festoons and hung their straw-coloured clusters from
+tree to tree; in other places, the grass grew tall and strong, with an
+infinite profusion of flowers, including tall Meadow Sweet, Lords' Pride
+(the scarlet Lychnis), Kings' Curls (the Martagon lily), and Cat-grass
+or Valerian. The river flows along a valley varying in breadth and
+bordered on both sides by sloping hills with a steep cliff here and
+there; the slopes were thickly covered with hard-wood trees of all
+sorts. As you got out of the valley, the level steppe spread out before
+you, a black virgin soil over two feet in depth. Along the river and in
+the neighbouring marshes, wild ducks of all kinds, and geese, woodcocks,
+and snipe made their nests and filled the air with their different notes
+and calls; while on the table-land above, where the grass grew thick and
+strong, the music in the air was as rich and quite distinct. Every kind
+of bird that lives in the steppe bred there in multitudes--bustards,
+cranes, and hawks; and on the wooded slopes there were quantities of
+black-game. The river swarmed with every variety of fish that could
+endure its ice-cold water--pike, perch, chub, dace, and even salmon.
+Both steppe and forest were filled beyond belief with wild creatures. In
+a word, the place was, and still is, a paradise for the sportsman.
+
+My grandfather bought about 12,000 acres for 2500 _roubles_. That was a
+large sum in those days, and the price was much higher than was
+generally paid. When he had assured his title by legal documents, he
+went back with a light heart to his expectant family in the Government
+of Simbirsk. There he set to work with fierce energy and made all
+preparations for transferring at once a portion of his serfs to the new
+estate. It was an anxious and troublesome job, because the distance was
+considerable--about 400 _versts_. That same autumn twenty families of
+serfs started for the district of Boogoorooslan, taking with them
+ploughs and harrows with rye for sowing. They chose their ground and set
+to work on the virgin soil. Two thousand acres were lightly ploughed,
+then harrowed, and sown with winter rye; two thousand more were ploughed
+in preparation for the spring sowing; and some cottages were built. When
+this was done, the men travelled back to spend the winter at home. When
+winter was over, twenty more labourers again went forth; and, as the
+spring advanced, they sowed the two thousand acres with spring wheat,
+erected fences round the cottages and byres, and made stoves for the
+cottages out of clay. The second party then returned home. These were
+distinct from the actual settlers, who remained at home, preparing for
+their move and selling off what they did not need--their houses and
+kailyards, stock and corn, and all sorts of odds and ends.
+
+The date fixed was the middle of June, that the colonists might reach
+their destination before St. Peter's Day,[10] when hay-cutting begins.
+The carts were packed with the women and children and old people, and
+awnings of bast bent over them to protect them from the sun and rain;
+the indispensable pots and pans were piled up inside, the cocks and hens
+perched on the top, and the cows tied on behind; and off they started.
+The poor settlers shed bitter tears as they parted for ever with their
+past life, with the church in which they had been christened and
+married, and with the graves of their fathers and grandfathers. Nobody
+likes moving, and a Russian peasant least of all; but to move in those
+days to an unknown land inhabited by unbelievers, where the churches
+were so distant that a man might die without confession and infants
+remain long unchristened, a land of which rumour reported evil as well
+as good--this seemed a terrible ordeal. When the peasants had gone, my
+grandfather started after them. He had taken a vow that, when
+circumstances allowed, he would build a church dedicated to the
+Presentation of Our Lady--it was actually built by his son--and he named
+the new settlement after the festival. But the peasants, whose example
+was followed by their neighbours, called it New Bagrovo, after their
+master and in memory of Old Bagrovo, from which they had come; and to
+this day the formal name is only used in legal documents. No one knows
+the village, with its fine stone church and high manor-house, by any
+other name than Bagrovo. With unremitting care and attention my
+grandfather watched the labour of the people on their own land and on
+his; the hay was mown, the winter rye and spring corn were cut down and
+carried, and the right moment was chosen for each operation. The yield
+of the crops was fabulous. The peasants thought things were not so bad
+after all. By November, cottages were built for them all, and the
+beginning of a house for the owner was run up. All this was not done
+without help from neighbours. In spite of the long distances, they came
+willingly to lend a hand to the new landowner, who proved to be sensible
+and friendly; they ate and drank and turned to with a will, and sang as
+they worked. In that winter my grandfather went to Simbirsk and brought
+back his wife and children with him.
+
+ [10] June 29.
+
+Next year forty more serfs were transferred and set up in their new
+abodes; and this proved an easier job. My grandfather's first operation
+in this year was to build a mill; without it, it had been necessary to
+drive forty _versts_ to get his corn ground. A spot was chosen where the
+river was not deep, the bottom sound, and the banks high and solid. Then
+a dam of earth and brushwood was started from each bank, like a pair of
+hands ready to clasp; next, the dam was wattled with osiers, to make it
+more substantial; and all that remained was to stop the swift strong
+current and force it to fill the basin intended for it. The mill itself,
+with two pairs of millstones, was built beforehand on the lower bank.
+All the machinery was ready and even greased. It was the business of the
+river, when checked in its natural course, to fill the broad dam and
+pour through wooden pipes down upon the great wheel. When all was ready
+and four long oaken piles had been firmly driven into the clay bottom of
+the river, my grandfather invited his neighbours to lend him their
+assistance for two days; and they came, bringing horses and carts,
+spades, forks, and axes. On the first day, great piles of brushwood,
+straw, manure, and fresh-cut sods were heaped up on both banks of the
+Boogoorooslan, while the river continued to pour down its waters at its
+own sweet will. Hardly any one slept that night, and next morning at
+sunrise about a hundred men set to work to dam the stream; they all
+looked solemn and serious, as if they had important business before
+them. They began on both sides at the same moment. With loud cries they
+hurled with sturdy arms faggots of brushwood into the water; part was
+carried down by the stream, but part stuck against the piles and sank
+across the channel. Next came bundles of straw weighted with stones,
+then soil and manure, then more brushwood, followed by more straw and
+manure, and, on the top of all, a thick layer of sods. All this
+accumulation was swallowed up till it rose at last above the surface of
+the water. At once, a dozen strong and active men sprang on to the
+barrier and began to tread it and stamp it down. The operation was
+performed with the utmost speed; and the general excitement was so great
+and the noise so vociferous, that a passer-by, if he had not known the
+reason of it, might have been frightened. But there was no one there to
+be frightened by it: only the uninhabited steppes and dark forests and
+all the region round re-echoed the shouts of the labourers. The voices
+of women and children swelled the chorus; for such an important affair
+aroused interest in every breast, and the noise and excitement were
+universal. The resistance of the river was not overcome at once. For
+long it tore away and carried down brushwood and straw, manure and turf;
+but man at last conquered. The baffled water stopped, as if reflecting;
+then it turned back, and rose till it poured over its banks and
+inundated the fields. By evening the mill-pond had taken shape; or one
+might call it a floating lake, where the banks and all the green grass
+and bushes had disappeared; only the tops of submerged trees, doomed to
+die, stuck up here and there. Next day the mill began to work, and goes
+on working and grinding to this day.
+
+
+2. _The Government of Orenburg_
+
+How wonderful in those days was that region, in its wild and virginal
+richness! It is different now; it is not even what it was when I first
+knew it, when it was still fresh and blooming and undeflowered by hordes
+of settlers from every quarter. It is changed; but it is still beautiful
+and spacious, fertile and infinitely various, the Government of
+Orenburg. The name sounds strange, and the termination "burg" is
+inappropriate enough. But when I first knew that earthly paradise, it
+was still called the "Province of Ufa."
+
+Thirty years ago, one who was born within it[11] expressed in verse his
+fears for the future of the land; and these have been realised in part,
+and the process still goes on. But still hast thou power to charm,
+wondrous land! Bright and clear, like great deep cups, are thy
+lakes--Kandry and Karatabyn. Full of water and full of all manner of
+fish are thy rivers, whether they race down the valleys and rocky gorges
+of the Ural Mountains, or steal softly, glittering like a string of
+jewels, through the prairie-grass of the steppes. Wondrous are these
+rivers of the steppe, formed by the union of countless little streams
+flowing from deep water-holes--streams so tiny that you can hardly see
+the trickle of water in them. And thy rivers that flow swift from
+fountain-heads and run under the shade of trees and bushes are
+transparent and cold as ice even in the heat of summer; and all kinds of
+trout, good to eat and beautiful to see, live there; but they soon die
+out, when man begins to defile with unclean hands the virgin streams of
+their clear cool retreats. Fertile is the black soil of thy corn-land,
+and rich thy pastures; and thy fields are covered in spring with the
+milk-white blossom of the cherry-tree and wild peach, while in summer
+the fragrant strawberries spread over them like a scarlet cloth, and the
+small cherries that turn purple later when they ripen in autumn. Rich is
+the harvest that rewards the peasant, however idle and ignorant, when he
+scratches with his rude ploughshare the surface of thy soil. Fresh and
+green and mighty stand thy forests of all manner of trees; and buzzing
+swarms of wild bees fill their self-chosen nests among the leaves with
+the fragrant honey of the lime blossom. The Ufa marten, with its
+priceless fur, is still to be found in the wooded head-waters of the
+great rivers.
+
+ [11] Aksakoff himself.
+
+The original inhabitants of the land are men of peace, the wandering
+tribes of Bashkirs. Their herds of horses and cattle and flocks of
+sheep, though far smaller than they were once, are still numerous. When
+the fierce storms of winter are over, the Bashkirs crawl forth, thin and
+wasted like flies in winter. With the first warmth and the first
+sprouting of the grass they drive out into the open their half-starved
+herds and flocks, and drag themselves after them, with their wives and
+children. A few weeks change them beyond recognition, both men and
+animals. What were mere skeletons have become spirited and tireless
+horses; and the stallion proudly guards his mares as they graze, and
+keeps both man and beast at a distance. The meagre cattle have grown
+fat, and their udders swell with milk. But for cow's milk the Bashkir
+cares nothing. For the _koumiss_[12] is now in season and already
+fermenting in the bags of horse-hide; and every creature that can drink,
+from the infant in arms to the tottering old man, swallows the
+health-giving beverage, a drink for heroes. And the result is
+marvellous: all the traces of winter and starvation soon disappear, and
+even the troubles of old age; their faces fill out, and pale sunken
+cheeks take on the hue of health. But their deserted villages are a sad
+and even alarming sight. A traveller unfamiliar with the country might
+well start, appalled by the emptiness and deadness of the place. There
+stand the deserted huts with their white chimneys, and the empty
+window-frames look mournfully at him like human faces with no eyes in
+the sockets. He may hear the bark of a half-starved watch-dog, whom his
+master visits and feeds at long intervals, or the mewing of a cat that
+has run wild and finds food for herself; but that is all: not one human
+being remains.
+
+ [12] Mare's milk, fermented.
+
+How varied and picturesque, each in its own way, are the different
+regions of the land--the forests, the steppes, and, more than all, the
+hills, where all metals, even gold, are found along the slopes of the
+Ural ridge! How vast the expanse, from the borders of Vyatka and Perm,
+where the mercury often freezes in winter, to the little town of Guryeff
+on the edge of Astrakhan, where small grapes ripen in the open
+air--grapes whose wine the Cossack trades in and drinks himself for
+coolness in summer and warmth in winter. How noble is the fishing in the
+Urals, unlike any other both in the fish that are caught and in the
+manner of catching them! It only needs a faithful and lively description
+to attract general attention.
+
+But I must ask pardon. I have gone too far in the description of the
+beautiful country where I was born. Now let us go back and observe the
+life and unwearied activity of my grandfather.
+
+
+3. _Fresh Scenes._
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had peace at last. Many a time he thanked God from
+the bottom of his heart, when the move was completed and he found
+elbow-room on the banks of the Boogoorooslan. His spirits rose, and even
+his health was better. No petitions, no complaints, no disputes, no
+disturbance! No tiresome relations, no divided ownership! No thieves to
+fell his trees, no trespassers to trample down his corn and meadows! He
+was undisputed master at last in his own house, and beyond it: he might
+feed sheep, or mow grass, or cut firewood where he pleased without a
+word from any one.
+
+The peasants too soon became accustomed to the new habitation and soon
+grew to love it. And that was but natural. Old Bagrovo had wood, but
+little water; meadow-land was so scarce that it was hard for them to
+find grazing for one horse and one cow apiece; and, though the natural
+soil was good, it had been cropped over and over from time immemorial
+till its fertility was exhausted. The new site gave them wide and
+fertile fields and meadows, never touched till now by ploughshare or
+scythe; it gave them a rapid river with good fresh water, and springs in
+abundance; it gave them a broad pond with fish in it and the river
+running through it; and it gave them a mill at their very doors, whereas
+before they had to travel twenty-five _versts_ to have a load of corn
+ground, and perhaps to wait after all a couple of days till their turn
+came.
+
+It surprises you perhaps that I called Old Bagrovo waterless; and you
+may blame my ancestors for choosing such a spot to settle in. But they
+were not to blame, and things were different in old days. Once on a time
+Old Bagrovo stood on a pretty stream, the Maina, which took its rise
+from the Mossy Lakes three _versts_ distant; and also along the whole
+settlement there stretched a lake, not broad but long and clear, and
+deep in the middle, with a bottom of white sand; and another streamlet,
+called The White Spring, issued from this lake. So it was in former
+times, but it is quite another story now. Tradition tells that the Mossy
+Lakes were once deep round pools surrounded by trees, with ice-cold
+water and treacherous banks, and no one ventured near them except in
+winter, because the banks were said to give way under foot and engulf
+the bold disturber of the water-spirit's solitary reign. But man is the
+sworn foe of Nature, and she can never withstand his treacherous warfare
+against her beauty. Ancient tradition, unsupported by modern instances,
+ceased to be believed. The people steeped their flax on the banks and
+drove their herds there to water; and the Mossy Lakes were polluted by
+degrees, and grew shallow at the edges, and even dried up in places
+where the wood all round was cut. Then a thick scurf formed on the top;
+moss grew over it, and the vein-like roots of water-plants bound it
+together, till it was covered with tussocks and bushes and even
+fir-trees of some size. One of the pools is now entirely covered; of the
+other are left two deep water-holes, which even now are formidable for a
+stranger to approach, because the soil, with all its covering of plants
+and bushes and trees, rises and falls beneath the foot like a wave at
+sea. Owing to the dwindling of these lakes, the Maina now issues from
+the ground some distance below the settlement, and its upper waters have
+dried up. The lake by the village has become a filthy stinking canal;
+the sandy bottom is covered to a depth of over seven feet by mud and
+refuse of all kinds from the peasants' houses; of the White Spring not a
+trace is left, and the memory of it will soon be forgotten.
+
+When my grandfather had settled down at New Bagrovo, he set to work,
+with all his natural activity and energy, to grow corn and breed stock.
+The peasants caught the contagion of his enthusiasm and worked so hard
+and steadily that they were soon as well set up and provided for as if
+they had been old inhabitants. After a few years, their stackyards took
+up thrice as much room as the village-street; and their drove of stout
+horses, their herds and flocks and pigs, would have done honour to a
+large and prosperous settlement.
+
+After the success of Stepan Mihailovitch, migration to Ufa or Orenburg
+became more fashionable every year. Native tribes came streaming from
+every quarter--Mordvinians, Choovashes, Tatars, and Meshchers, and
+plenty of Russian settlers too--Crown-tenants from different districts,
+and landowners, large and small. My grandfather began to have
+neighbours. His brother-in-law, Ivan Nyeklyoodoff, bought land within
+twelve _versts_ of Bagrovo, transferred his serfs there, built a wooden
+church, named his estate Nyeklyoodovo, and came to live there with his
+family. This afforded no gratification to my grandfather, who had a
+strong dislike to all his wife's relations--all "Nyeklyoodovdom," as he
+used to call them. Then a landowner called Bakmetyeff bought land still
+closer, about ten _versts_ from Bagrovo, on the upper waters of the
+Sovrusha, which runs to the south-west like the Boogoorooslan. On the
+other side, twelve _versts_ along the river Nasyagai, another settlement
+was planted, Polibino, which now belongs to the Karamzin family. The
+Nasyagai is a larger and finer river than the Boogoorooslan, with more
+water and more fish in it, and birds still breed there much more freely.
+On the road to Polibino, and eight _versts_ from Bagrovo, a number of
+Mordvinians settled in a large village called Noikino, and built a mill
+on the streamlet of Bokla. Close to the mill, the Bokla runs into the
+Nasyagai, which rolls its swift strong current straight to the
+south-west, and is reinforced by the Boogoorooslan not far from the town
+of that name. Then the Nasyagai unites with the Great Kinel, and loses
+thenceforth its sounding and significant[13] name.
+
+ [13] Na-sya-gai = "Pursuer."
+
+The latest arrivals were some Mordvinian colonists, a detachment from
+the larger settlement at Mordovsky Boogoorooslan, nine _versts_ from
+Bagrovo. This smaller settlement, called Kivatsky, was within two
+_versts_ of my grandfather, down the river; and he made a wry face at
+first; for it reminded him of old times in Simbirsk. But the result was
+quite different. They were good-tempered, quiet people, who respected my
+grandfather as much as the official in charge of them.
+
+Before many years had passed, Stepan Mihailovitch had gained the deep
+respect and love too of the whole district. He was a real benefactor to
+his neighbours, near or far, old or new, and especially to the latter,
+owing to their ignorance of the place and lack of supplies, and the
+various difficulties which always befall settlers. Too often people
+start off on this difficult job without due preparation, without even
+providing themselves with bread and corn or the means to buy them. My
+grandfather's full granaries were always open to such people. "Take what
+you want, and pay me back next harvest, if you can; and if you
+can't--well, never mind!"--with such words as these he used to
+distribute with a generous hand corn seed and flour. And more than this:
+he was so sensible, so considerate towards petitioners, and so
+inflexibly strict in the keeping of his word, that he soon became quite
+an oracle in that newly settled corner of the spacious district of
+Orenburg. Not only did he help his neighbours by his generosity, but he
+taught them how to behave. To speak the truth was the only key to his
+favour: a man who had once lied to him and deceived him was ill advised
+if he came again to Bagrovo: he would be certain to depart with empty
+hands, and might think himself lucky if he came off with a whole skin.
+My grandfather settled many family disputes and smothered many lawsuits
+at their first birth. People travelled from every quarter to seek his
+advice and hear his decision; and both were punctiliously followed. I
+have known grandsons and great-grandsons of that generation and heard
+them speak of Stepan Mihailovitch; and the figure of the strict master
+but kind benefactor is still unforgotten. I have often heard striking
+facts told about him by simple people, who shed tears and crossed
+themselves as they ejaculated a prayer for his soul's rest. It is not
+surprising that his peasants loved so excellent a master; but he was
+loved also by his personal servants who had often to endure the terrible
+storms of his furious rage. Many of his younger servants spent their
+last days under my roof; and in their old age they liked to talk of
+their late master--of his strict discipline and passionate temper, and
+also of his goodness and justice; and they never spoke of him with dry
+eyes.
+
+Yet this kind, helpful, and even considerate man was subject at times to
+fearful explosions of anger which utterly defaced the image of humanity
+in him and made him capable, for the time, of repulsive and ferocious
+actions. I once saw him in this state when I was a child--it was many
+years after the time I am writing about--and the fear that I felt has
+left a lively impression on my mind to this day. I seem to see him
+before me now. He was angry with one of his daughters; I believe she had
+told him a lie and persisted in it. It was impossible to recognise his
+former self. He was trembling all over and supported on each side by a
+servant; his face was convulsed, and a fierce fire shot from his eyes
+which were clouded and darkened with fury. "Let me get at her!"--he
+called out in a strangled voice. (So far, my recollection is clear; and
+the rest I have often heard others tell.) My grandmother tried to throw
+herself at his feet, to intercede for the culprit; but in an instant her
+kerchief and cap flew to a distance, and Stepan Mihailovitch was
+dragging his wife though she was now old and stout, over the floor by
+her hair. Meantime, not only the offender, but all her sisters, and even
+their brother with his young wife and little son,[14] had fled out of
+doors and sought concealment in the wood that grew round the house. The
+rest of them spent the whole night there; but the daughter-in-law,
+fearing that her child would catch cold, went back and passed the night
+in a servant's cottage. For a long time my grandfather raged at large
+through the deserted house. At last, when he was weary of dragging his
+wife about by the hair, and weary of striking his servants, Mazan and
+Tanaichonok, he dropped upon his bed utterly exhausted and soon fell
+into a deep sleep which lasted till the following morning.
+
+ [14] _I.e._ the author, who in childhood was called Seryozha (short for
+      Serghei).
+
+At dawn Stepan Mihailovitch woke up. His face was bright and clear, and
+his voice cheerful as he hailed his wife. She hurried in at once from
+the next room, looking as if nothing had happened the day before. "I
+want my tea! Where are the children, and Alexyei and his wife? I want to
+see Seryozha"--thus spoke the madman on his waking, and all the family
+appeared, composed and cheerful, in his presence. But there was one
+exception. His daughter-in-law was a woman of strong character herself,
+and no entreaties could induce her to smile so soon upon the wild beast
+of the day before; and her little son kept constantly saying, "I won't
+go to grandfather! I'm frightened!" She really did not feel well and
+excused herself on that ground; and she kept her child in her room. The
+family were horrified and expected a renewal of the storm. But the wild
+beast of yesterday had wakened up as a human being. He talked playfully
+over his tea and then went himself to visit the invalid. She was really
+unwell and was lying in bed, looking thin and altered. The old man sat
+down beside her, kissed her, said kind things to her, and caressed his
+grandson; then he left the room, saying that he would find the day long
+"without his dear daughter-in-law." Half an hour later she entered his
+room, wearing a pretty dress which he used to say especially became her,
+and holding her son by the hand. My grandfather welcomed her almost in
+tears: "Just see!" he said fondly; "though she was not well, she got up
+and dressed, regardless of herself, and came to cheer up an old man."
+His wife and daughters bit their lips and looked down; for they all
+disliked his favourite; but she answered his affectionate greeting with
+cheerful respect, and looked proudly and triumphantly at her
+ill-wishers.
+
+But I will say no more of the dark side of my grandfather's character. I
+would rather dwell on his bright side and describe one of his good days,
+which I have often and often heard spoken of.
+
+
+4. _My Grandfather, on one of his Good Days_
+
+It was the end of June, and the weather was very hot. After a stifling
+night, a fresh breeze set in from the East at dawn, the breeze which
+always flags when the sun grows hot. At sunrise my grandfather awoke. It
+was hot in his bedroom; for the room was not large, and, though the
+window with its narrow old-fashioned sash was raised as high as it would
+go, he had curtains of home-made muslin round his bed. This precaution
+was indispensable: without it, the wicked mosquitos would have kept him
+awake and devoured him. The winged musicians swarmed round the bed,
+drove their long probosces into the fine fabric which protected him, and
+kept up their monotonous serenade all through the night. It sounds
+absurd, but I cannot conceal the fact that I like the shrill high note
+and even the bite of the mosquito; for it reminds me of sleepless nights
+in high summer on the banks of the Boogoorooslan, where the bushes grew
+thick and green and all round the nightingales called; and I remember
+the beating heart of youth and that vague feeling, half pleasure and
+half pain, for which I would now give up all that remains of the sinking
+fire of life.
+
+My grandfather woke up, rubbed the sweat off his high forehead with a
+hot hand, put his head out between the curtains, and burst out laughing.
+His two servants, Mazan and Tanaichonok, lay stretched on the floor;
+their attitudes might have made any one laugh, and they snored lustily.
+"Confound the rascals! How they snore!" said my grandfather, and smiled
+again. You could never be sure about Stepan Mihailovitch. It might have
+been expected that such forcible language would have been followed up by
+a blow in the ribs from the blackthorn staff which always stood by his
+bed, or a kick, or even a salutation in the form of a stool. But no: my
+grandfather had laughed on opening his eyes, and he kept up that mood
+throughout the day. He rose quickly, crossed himself once or twice, and
+thrust his bare feet into a pair of old rusty leather slippers; then,
+wearing only his shirt of coarse home-made linen--my grandmother would
+not give him any better--he went out upon the stoop,[15] to enjoy the
+freshness and moisture of the morning all round him.
+
+ [15] This word from S. Africa seems best for an unroofed veranda, such
+      as this was.
+
+I said just now that Arina Vassilyevna would not give her husband finer
+linen; and the reader will remark with justice that this is inconsistent
+with the relations between the two. I am sorry, but I cannot help it. It
+is really true that female persistence triumphed, as it always does,
+over male violence. My grandmother got more than one beating over the
+coarse linen, but she continued to supply him with it till at last her
+husband got used to it. He resorted once to extreme measures: he took an
+axe and chopped up all his objectionable shirts on the threshold of his
+room, while my grandmother howled at the sight and implored him to beat
+_her_ rather than spoil his good clothes. But even this device failed:
+the coarse shirts appeared once more, and the victim submitted. I must
+apologise for interrupting my narrative, in order to meet an imaginary
+objection on the part of the reader.
+
+Without troubling any one, he went himself to the store-room, fetched a
+woollen mat, and spread it out on the top step of the stoop; then he sat
+down upon it, meaning to follow his regular custom of watching the sun
+rise. To see sunrise gives every man a kind of half-conscious pleasure;
+and my grandfather felt an added satisfaction when he looked down over
+his courtyard, by this time sufficiently equipped with all the buildings
+necessary for his farming operations. The court was not, indeed, fenced;
+and the animals, when turned out of the peasants' yards, used to pay it
+passing visits, before they were all gathered together and driven to the
+common pasture. So it was on this morning; and the same thing was
+repeated every evening. Some pigs, fresh from the mire, rubbed and
+scratched themselves against the very stoop on which my grandfather was
+sitting, while they feasted with grunts of satisfaction on crab-shells
+and other refuse from the table which that unsophisticated household
+deposited close to the steps. Cows and sheep also looked in, and it was
+inevitable that these visitors should leave uncleanly tokens behind
+them. But to this my grandfather did not object in the least. On the
+contrary, he looked with pleasure at the fine beasts, taking them as a
+certain indication that his peasants were doing well. The loud cracking
+of the herdsman's long whip soon evicted the trespassers. Now the
+servants began to stir. The stout groom, Spiridon--known even in
+advanced old age as "little Spirka"--led out, one after another, three
+colts, two bays and one brown. He tied them to a post, rubbed them down,
+and exercised them at the end of a long halter, while my grandfather
+admired their paces and also admired in fancy the stock he hoped to
+raise from them--a dream which he realised with entire success. Then the
+old housekeeper came forth from the cellar in which she slept, and went
+down to the river to wash. First she sighed and groaned, according to
+her invariable custom; then she turned towards the sunrise and said a
+prayer, before she set to work at washing and scrubbing plates and
+dishes. Swallows and martins twittered cheerfully as they cut circles in
+the air, quails called loudly in the fields, the song of the larks
+rained down from the sky, the hoarse note of the sitting landrails came
+from the bushes, and the bleat of the snipe from the neighbouring marsh,
+the mocking-birds imitated the nightingales with all their might; and
+forth from behind the hill issued the bright sun! Blue smoke rose in
+columns from the peasants' houses and then swayed in the breeze like the
+fluttering flags of a line of ships; and soon the labourers were
+plodding towards the fields.
+
+My grandfather began to feel a desire for cold water to wash in and then
+for his tea. He roused his two servants from their ungainly attitudes;
+and they jumped up in a great fright at first, but were soon reassured
+by his good-humoured voice: "Mazan, my washing things! Tanaichonok, wake
+Aksyutka and your mistress, and then tea!" There was no need to repeat
+these orders: clumsy Mazan was already flying at top speed to the spring
+for water, carrying a glittering copper basin, while handy Tanaichonok
+woke up Aksyutka, a young but ugly maid; and she, while she put straight
+the kerchief on her head, called her mistress, Arina Vassilyevna, now
+grown old and stout. In a few minutes all the household were on their
+legs, and all knew by this time that the old master had got out of bed
+on the right side! A quarter of an hour later, a table was standing by
+the stoop--the white tablecloth was home-made and adorned with a
+pattern--a _samovar_,[16] in the shape of a large copper teapot, was
+hissing on the table, and Aksyutka was busy about the tea. Meanwhile
+Arina Vassilyevna was greeting her husband. On some mornings it was the
+etiquette to sigh and look sorrowful; but to-day she asked after his
+health in a loud cheerful voice: "How had he slept? What dreams had he
+had?" Stepan Mihailovitch greeted his wife affectionately and called her
+"Arisha"; he never kissed her hand, but sometimes gave her his to kiss
+as a sign of favour. Arina Vassilyevna, in her pleasure, looked quite
+young and pretty; one forgot her stout awkward figure. She brought a
+stool at once and sat down on the stoop beside my grandfather, which she
+never ventured to do unless he was in a very good humour. "Come, Arisha,
+let us have a cup of tea together before it gets hot," said Stepan
+Mihailovitch; "it was a stifling night, but I slept so sound that I have
+forgotten all my dreams. How did you sleep?" This question was a signal
+mark of favour, and my grandmother replied at once that, when Stepan
+Mihailovitch had a good night, she of course had one too, but that
+Tanyusha[17] was restless all night. Tanyusha was the youngest daughter
+and, as often happens, her father's favourite. He was vexed to hear this
+account of her, and ordered that she was not to be called but to sleep
+on till she woke. She had been called at the same time as her sisters
+Alexandra and Elizabeth, and was dressed already; but no one ventured to
+mention this fact. She made haste to undress, got back into bed, and had
+the shutters drawn. She could not get to sleep, but she lay in the dark
+for two hours; and her father was pleased that Tanyusha had had her
+sleep out. The only son,[18] who was now nine, was never wakened early.
+But the two elder daughters appeared immediately; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch gave them his hand to kiss and called them by their pet
+names, Lexanya and Lizanka. They were both clever girls, and Alexandra
+had also inherited her father's active mind and violent temper but none
+of his good qualities. My grandmother, a very simple woman, was entirely
+under the thumb of her daughters; and, whenever she ventured to play
+tricks upon Stepan Mihailovitch, it was because they had put her up to
+it; but she was so clumsy that she seldom succeeded, and her husband
+knew very well who was at the bottom of it. He knew also that his
+daughters were prepared to deceive him whenever they got the
+chance--though, for the sake of a quiet life, he let them suppose that
+he was blind to their goings-on. But this only lasted while he was in a
+good temper: as soon as he got angry, he stated his view of their
+conduct in the most unsparing and uncomplimentary terms, and sometimes
+even chastised them. But, like true daughters of Eve, they were not
+discouraged. When the fit of anger passed and the cloud lifted from
+their father's brow, they started again upon their underhand schemes,
+and pretty often they were successful in carrying them out.
+
+ [16] An urn, with a central receptacle for hot charcoal. In this case,
+      the receptacle is inserted where the teapot lid should be.
+
+ [17] A diminutive form of Tatyana.
+
+ [18] The author's father, called throughout Alexyei; his real name was
+      Timofei (Timothy). So his mother, whose name was Marya (Mary) is
+      called Sofya (Sophia).
+
+When he had drunk his tea and talked about things in general with his
+womankind, my grandfather got ready to drive out. Some time before, he
+had said to Mazan, "My horse!"--and an old brown gelding was already
+standing by the steps, harnessed to a long car, a very comfortable
+conveyance, with an outer frame-work of netting and a plank, covered
+with felt, to sit on. Spiridon, the driver, wore a simple livery: he had
+bare feet and nothing on but his shirt, with a red woollen belt, from
+which hung a key and a copper comb. On a similar occasion on the
+previous day, he had worn no hat; but this had been disapproved of, and
+he now wore some head-gear which he had woven out of broad strips of
+bast.[19] My grandfather made merry over this "sunbonnet." Then he put
+on his own cap and long coat of unbleached home-made cloth, placed
+beneath him his heavy cloak in case of rain, and took his seat on the
+car. Spiridon also folded his coat and sat upon it; it was made of
+unbleached cloth but dyed bright red with madder. Madder grew freely in
+the fields round Bagrovo, and was so much used that the servants about
+the house were called by the neighbours "redbreasts"; I have heard the
+nickname myself fifteen years after my grandfather's death.
+
+ [19] The inner bark of the lime-tree, used for many purposes in Russia.
+
+In the fields, Stepan Mihailovitch found everything to his mind. He
+examined the rye-crop; it was now past flowering and stood up like a
+wall, as high as a man; a light breeze was blowing, and bluish-purple
+waves went over it, now lighter and now darker in the sunlight; and the
+sight gladdened his heart. He visited the young oats and millet and all
+the spring-sown crops, and then went to the fallow, where he ordered his
+car to be driven backwards and forwards over the field. This was his
+regular way of testing the goodness of the work: any spot of ground that
+had not been properly ploughed and harrowed gave the light car a jolt;
+and, when my grandfather was not in a good humour, he stuck a twig or a
+stick in the ground at the place, sent for the bailiff if he was not
+present, and settled accounts with him on the spot. But to-day all went
+well: his wheels may have encountered such obstacles, but he took no
+notice of them. His next point was the hay-fields, where he admired the
+tall thick steppe-grass which was to fall beneath the scythe before many
+days were past. He paid a visit to the peasants' fields also, to see for
+himself, who had a good crop and who had not; and he drove over their
+fallow to test it. He noticed everything and forgot nothing. Passing
+over an untilled strip, he saw some wild strawberries nearly ripe; he
+stopped and, with Mazan's help, picked a large handful of splendid big
+berries, which he took home as a present for his "Arisha." In spite of
+the great heat, he was out till nearly noon.
+
+As soon as my grandfather's car was seen descending the hill, dinner was
+set on the table, and all the family stood on the steps to receive him.
+"Well, Arisha," he called out cheerfully, "what splendid crops God is
+giving us this year! Great is His goodness! And here are some
+strawberries for you; they are nearly ripe; the pickers must go out
+to-morrow." This attention was almost too much for my grandmother. As he
+spoke, he walked into the house, and the smell of the hot cabbage-soup
+came to meet him from the parlour. "Ah! I see dinner's ready; good!"
+said Stepan Mihailovitch more cheerfully than before, and walked
+straight into the parlour and sat down at table, without visiting his
+own room. I should mention that my grandfather had a rule: at whatever
+hour, early or late, he returned from the fields, dinner must be on the
+table, and Heaven help the women, if they did not notice him coming and
+failed to serve the meal in time! There were occasions when such neglect
+gave rise to sad consequences; but, on this happy day, everything went
+without a hitch. Behind my grandfather's chair stood a stout lad,
+holding a birch-bough with the leaves on, to drive away the flies. The
+hottest weather will not make a true Russian refuse cabbage-soup, and my
+grandfather supped his with a wooden spoon, because silver would have
+burnt his lips. Soup was followed by a fish-salad, made of kippered
+sturgeon, as yellow as wax, and shelled crayfish. All the courses were
+of this light kind, and were washed down with _kvass_[20] and home-made
+beer; the drinks were iced and so was the salad. There were days when
+dinner was eaten in terrible stillness and silent dread of an explosion;
+but this was a cheerful meal, with much loud talking and laughing. Every
+boy and girl about the place had heard that the master was in a cheerful
+temper, and they all crowded into the parlour in hopes of a "piece." He
+gave them all something good to eat; for there was five times as much
+food on the table as the family could eat.
+
+ [20] A drink made of malt and rye.
+
+Immediately after dinner he went to lie down. All flies were expelled
+from the bed-curtains, and the curtains drawn round him with the ends
+tucked under the mattress; and soon his mighty snoring proclaimed that
+the master was asleep. All the rest went to their rooms to lie down.
+Mazan and Tanaichonok, when they had had their dinner and swallowed
+their share of the remnants from the dining-room table, also lay down in
+the passage, close to the door of my grandfather's bedroom. Though they
+had slept before dinner, they went to sleep again at once; but they were
+soon wakened by the heat and the burning rays of the sun coming through
+the windows. They felt a strong desire to cool their parched throats
+with some of their master's iced beer; and the bold scamps managed to
+get it in the following way. My grandfather's dressing-gown and nightcap
+were lying on a chair near the half-open door of his room. Tanaichonok
+put them on and sat down on the stoop, while Mazan went off to the
+cellar with a jug and wakened the old housekeeper, who like every soul
+in the house was fast asleep. He said his master was awake and wanted an
+iced tankard at once. She was surprised at his waking so soon; but Mazan
+then pointed to the figure in the dressing-gown and nightcap sitting on
+the stoop. The beer was drawn at once and ice added; and Mazan went
+quickly back with his prize. The cronies shared the jug between them and
+then replaced the garments. An hour later their master awoke in
+excellent humour, and his first words were, "Iced beer!" This frightened
+the rascals; and, when Tanaichonok hurried off to the cellar, the
+housekeeper guessed at once where the previous jug had gone. She
+produced the liquor, but followed the messenger back herself, and found
+the real Simon Pure sitting on the stoop and wearing the dressing-gown.
+The truth came out at once; and Mazan and Tanaichonok shaking with fear
+fell at their master's feet. And what do you think my grandfather did?
+He burst out laughing, sent for his wife and daughters, and told them
+the story with loud bursts of laughter. The culprits breathed again, and
+one of them even ventured to grin. But Stepan Mihailovitch noticed this
+and very nearly grew angry: he frowned, but the composing effect of his
+good day was so strong that his face cleared up, and he said with a
+significant look, "Well, I forgive you this once; but, if it happens
+again ..."--there was no need to end the sentence.
+
+It is certainly strange that the servants of a man so passionate and so
+violent in his moments of passion should dare to be so impudent. But I
+have often noticed in the course of my life that the strictest masters
+have the most venturesome and reckless servants. My grandfather had
+other experiences of a similar kind. This same servant, Mazan, was
+sweeping out his master's room one day and preparing to make the bed,
+when he was suddenly tempted by the soft down of the bedding and
+pillows. He thought he would like a little taste of luxury; so down he
+lay on his master's bed and fell asleep. My grandfather himself came
+upon him sound asleep, and only laughed! He did, indeed, give the man
+one good rap with his staff; but that was nothing--he only did it in
+order to see how frightened Mazan would be. Worse tricks than these were
+played upon Stepan Mihailovitch in his time. During his absence from
+home, his cousin and ward, Praskovya Ivanovna Bagroff, was given in
+marriage to a dangerous and disreputable man whom he detested; the girl,
+who was only fourteen and a great heiress, was an inmate of Bagrovo and
+very dear to its owner. It is true that the plot was executed by the
+girl's relations on her mother's side; but Arina Vassilyevna gave her
+consent, and her daughters were actively engaged in it. But I shall
+return to my narrative for the present and leave this incident to be
+told later.
+
+He woke up at five in the afternoon and drank his iced beer. Soon
+afterwards he wanted his tea, in spite of the sultry heat of the day;
+for he believed that a very hot drink makes hot weather more bearable.
+But first he went down to bathe in the cool waters of the river, which
+flowed under the windows of the house. When he came back, the whole
+family were waiting for him at the tea-table--the same table set in the
+shade, with the same hissing teapot and the same Aksyutka. When he had
+drunk his fill of his favourite sudorific beverage, with cream so thick
+that the curd on it was yellow, my grandfather proposed that the whole
+party should make an expedition to the mill. The plan was received with
+joy; and Alexandra and Tatyana, who were fond of angling, took
+fishing-rods with them. Two cars were brought round in a minute. Stepan
+Mihailovitch and his wife took their seats on one, and placed between
+them their one boy,[21] the precious scion of their ancient and noble
+line; while the other carried the three daughters, with a boy to dig for
+worms on the mill-dam and bait their hooks for the young ladies. When
+they reached the mill, a seat was brought out for Arina Vassilyevna, and
+she sat down in the shade of the building, not far from the mill-race
+where her daughters were fishing. Meanwhile Elizabeth, the eldest,
+partly to please her father and partly from her own interest in such
+matters, went with Stepan Mihailovitch to inspect the mill and the
+pounding-machine. The little boy either watched his sisters fishing--he
+was not allowed to fish himself in deep places--or played beside his
+mother, who never took her eyes off him, in her fear that the child
+would somehow tumble in.
+
+ [21] The author's father.
+
+Both sets of millstones were at work, one making wheat-flour for the
+master's table, and the other grinding rye for a neighbour; and there
+was millet under the pounding-machine. My grandfather was well
+acquainted with all farming operations: he understood a mill thoroughly
+and explained all the details to his attentive and intelligent
+companion. He saw in a moment any defect in the machinery or mistake in
+the position of the stones. One of them he ordered to be lowered half a
+notch, and the rye-meal came out finer, to the great satisfaction of its
+owner. At the other stone, his ear detected at once that one of the cogs
+on the small wheel was getting worn. He stopped the current, and
+Boltunyonok,[22] the miller, jumped down beside the wheel. He looked at
+it and felt it and then said, "You are quite right, _batyushka_ Stepan
+Mihailovitch! One of the cogs is a little worn." "A little you call
+it!"--said my grandfather, not at all vexed: "but for my coming, the
+wheel would have snapped this very night!" "I am sorry I did not notice
+it, Stepan Mihailovitch." "Well, never mind! Bring a new wheel, and take
+the worn cog off the other; and mind the new cog is neither thicker nor
+thinner than the rest; the whole secret lies in that." The new wheel,
+fitted and tested beforehand, was fixed at once and greased with tar;
+and the current was turned on by degrees, also by my grandfather's
+instructions; at once the stone began to hum and grind smoothly and
+evenly, with no stumbling or knocking. The visitors went next to the
+pounding-machine, where my grandfather took a handful of millet from the
+mortar. He blew the chaff away and said to the man who had brought the
+grain to the mill, a Mordvinian and an old acquaintance: "Have a care,
+friend Vaska! If you look, every grain is pounded already, and, if you
+go on, you will have less of it." Vaska tried it himself and saw that my
+grandfather was right. He said, "Thank you," ducked his head by way of
+bowing, and ran off to stop the current. Their last visit was to the
+poultry-yard, where a large number of ducks and geese, hens and turkeys,
+were looked after by an old woman and her little grand-daughter.
+Everything here was in excellent order. As a sign of special favour, my
+grandfather gave both of them his hand to kiss, and ordered that the
+hen-wife should get an extra allowance of 20 lbs. of wheat-flour every
+month to make pies with. Stepan Mihailovitch rejoined his wife in good
+spirits. Everything had gone right: his daughter had shown intelligence,
+the mill was working well, and the hen-wife, Tatyana Gorozhana,[23] was
+attending to her duties.
+
+ [22] A nickname: "Little Chatterer," a diminutive of _boltun_.
+
+ [23] She had got this nickname ("the town-woman") because she had spent
+      part of her youth in some town.
+
+The heat had long been abating; coolness came from the water and from
+the approach of evening; a long cloud of dust drifted along the road and
+came nearer the village with the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle;
+the sun was losing light and sinking behind the steep hill. Stepan
+Mihailovitch stood on the mill-dam and surveyed the wide mirror of the
+pond as it lay motionless in the frame of its sloping banks. A fish
+jumped from time to time; but my grandfather was no fisherman. "Time to
+go home, Arisha," he said at last: "I expect the bailiff is waiting for
+me." Seeing his good humour, his daughters asked leave to fish on: they
+said the fish would take better at sunset, and they would walk home in
+half an hour. Leave was given, and the old couple started for home on
+one of the cars, while Elizabeth took her little brother in the other.
+As Stepan Mihailovitch had expected, the bailiff was waiting for him by
+the stoop, and some peasants and their wives were there with him; they
+had got a hint from the bailiff, who knew already that his master was in
+the right mood, and now seized the opportunity to state some exceptional
+needs or prefer some exceptional requests. Not one of them was
+disappointed. To one my grandfather gave corn, and forgave an old debt
+which the man could have paid; another was allowed to marry his son
+before the winter[24] and to a girl of their own choosing; he gave leave
+to a soldier's wife,[25] who was to be turned out of the village for
+misconduct, to go on living with her father; and so on. Nor was that
+all: strong home-made spirits were offered to each of them, in a silver
+cup which held more than an ordinary dram. Then my grandfather gave his
+orders to the bailiff, shortly and clearly, and went off to his supper
+which had been standing ready some time. The evening meal did not differ
+much from the midday dinner; but the cooler air probably gave a keener
+edge to appetite. It was a custom with Stepan Mihailovitch to send his
+family off to bed and sit up for half an hour or so on the stoop, with
+nothing on but his shirt, for the sake of coolness. This day he stayed
+there longer than usual, laughing and jesting with Mazan and
+Tanaichonok; he made them wrestle and fight with their fists, and urged
+them on till they began to hit out in earnest and even clutched each
+other by the hair. He had laughed his fill; and now a word of command,
+and the tone it was spoken in, brought them to their senses and parted
+them.
+
+All the landscape lay before him, still and wonderful, enfolded by the
+short summer night. The glow of sunset had not yet disappeared, and
+would go on till it gave place to the glow of dawn. Hour by hour, the
+depths of the vault of heaven grew darker; hour by hour, the stars
+flashed brighter, and the cries of the night birds grew louder, as if
+they were becoming more familiar with man; the clack of the mill sounded
+nearer in the misty damp of the night air. My grandfather rose from his
+stoop, and crossed himself once or twice, looking at the starry sky.
+Then, though the heat in his bedroom was stifling, he lay down on the
+hot feather-bed and ordered his curtains to be drawn round him.
+
+ [24] After harvest is the normal time for peasants' marriages.
+
+ [25] A _soldatka_ is a woman whose husband is away serving in the Army.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT II: MIHAIL MAXIMOVITCH KUROLYESSOFF
+
+
+I promised to give a separate account of Mihail Maximovitch Kurolyessoff
+and his marriage with my grandfather's cousin, Praskovya Ivanovna
+Bagroff. This story begins about 1760, earlier than the time described
+in the First Fragment of this history, and ends much later. I shall now
+fulfil my promise.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was the only son of Mihail Bagroff; Mihail had a
+brother Peter, whose only daughter was Praskovya Ivanovna. As she was
+his only cousin and the sole female representative of the Bagroff family
+in that generation, my grandfather was much attached to her. While still
+in the cradle she lost her mother, and her father died when she was ten.
+Her mother, one of the Bakteyeff family, was very rich and left to her
+daughter 900 serfs, a quantity of money, and still more in silver and
+valuables; and her father's death added 300 serfs to her property.
+Praskovya Ivanovna was therefore a rich orphan, and would bring a great
+fortune to her future husband. After her father's death she lived at
+first with her grandmother, Mme. Bakteyeff; then she paid a long visit
+to Bagrovo; and finally Stepan Mihailovitch took her to his house as a
+permanent inmate. He was quite as fond of his orphan cousin as of his
+daughters and was very affectionate to her in his own way. But she was
+too young, too babyish, one might say, to appreciate her cousin's love
+and tenderness, which never took the form of spoiling, while, under her
+grandmother's roof, where she had spent some time, she had grown
+accustomed to indulgence. So it is not surprising that she grew tired of
+Bagrovo and wished to go back to old Mme. Bakteyeff. Praskovya Ivanovna,
+though she was not beautiful, had regular features and fine intelligent
+grey eyes; her dark eyebrows, long and rather thick, were a sign of her
+masculine strength of character; she was tall and well-made, and looked
+eighteen when she was only fourteen. But, in spite of her physical
+maturity, her mind and feelings were still those of a mere child: always
+lively and merry, she capered and frisked, gambolled and sang, from
+morning till night. She had a remarkable voice and was passionately fond
+of joining with the maids in their singing or dancing or swinging; or,
+when nothing of that kind was to be had, she played with her dolls all
+day, invariably accompanying her occupation with popular songs of all
+sorts, of which she knew even then an immense number.
+
+A year before Praskovya Ivanovna went to live at Bagrovo, Mihail
+Kurolyessoff, an officer in the Army, came on leave to the Government of
+Simbirsk. He belonged to a noble family in the district, and was then
+twenty-eight years old. He was a fine-looking fellow, and many people
+called him handsome; but some said that, in spite of his regular
+features, there was something unpleasing about him; and I remember to
+have heard as a child debates on this point between my grandmother and
+her daughters. Entering the Army at fifteen, he had served in a regiment
+of high reputation in those days and had risen to the rank of major. He
+did not often come home on leave, and he had little reason to come,
+because the serfs--about 150 in all--who formed his property, owned
+little land and were scattered about. As a matter of course, he had
+received no proper education, but he had a ready tongue and wrote in an
+easy correct style. Many of his letters have passed through my hands;
+and they prove clearly that he was a man of sense and tact and also firm
+of purpose and business-like. I don't know his exact relationship to our
+immortal Suvoroff;[26] but I found in the correspondence some letters
+from the great captain, which always begin thus--
+
+        "Dear Sir and cousin, Mihail Maximovitch,"
+        and end--
+
+    "With all proper respect for you and my worthy cousin, Praskovya
+    Ivanovna,
+
+        "I have the honour to be," etc.
+
+ [26] A famous general in the reign of Catherine II. and a great popular
+      hero.
+
+Kurolyessoff was little known in the Government of Simbirsk. But "rumour
+runs all over the earth," and perhaps the young officer on leave
+permitted himself some "distractions" as they are called; or perhaps the
+soldier servant whom he brought with him, in spite of his master's
+severity, let something leak out at odd times. Whatever the reason, an
+opinion gradually took shape about him, which may be summed up in the
+following statements--"Toe the line, when you parade before the
+Major"--"Mind your P's and Q's, when talking to Kurolyessoff"--"When one
+of his men is caught out, he shows no mercy, though he may try to shield
+him"--"When he says a thing, he means it"--"He's the very devil when his
+temper's up." People called him "a dark horse" and "a rum customer"; but
+every one admitted his ability as a man of business. There were also
+rumours, probably proceeding from the same sources, that the Major had
+certain weaknesses, which, however, he gratified with due regard to time
+and place. But these failings were excused by the charitable
+proverbs--"A young man must sow his wild oats," and "It's no crime in a
+man to drink," and "The man who drinks and keeps his head, Scores two
+points, it must be said." So Kurolyessoff had not a positively bad
+reputation; on the contrary many people thought highly of him.
+Insinuating and courteous in his address, and respectful to all persons
+of rank and position, he was a welcome guest in every house. As he was a
+near neighbour of the Bakteyeff family, and indeed a distant connexion,
+he soon managed to make his way into their good graces; they took a
+great liking to him and sounded his praises everywhere. At first he had
+no special object, but was merely following his invariable rule--to make
+himself agreeable to persons of rank and wealth; but later, when he met
+in their house Praskovya Ivanovna, lively, laughing, and rich, and
+looking quite old enough to be married, he formed a plan of marrying her
+himself and getting her wealth into his hands. With this definite object
+in view, he redoubled his attentions to her grandmother and aunt, till
+the two ladies quite lost their heads about him; and at the same time he
+paid court so cleverly to the girl herself, that she soon had a liking
+for him, as she naturally would for a man who agreed to everything she
+said, gave her everything she asked, and spoiled her in every possible
+way. Next he showed his hand to her relations: he professed that he had
+fallen in love with the orphan girl, and they believed that he was
+suffering all a passionate lover's pangs, mad with longing, and haunted
+by his darling's image day and night. They approved of his plan and took
+the poor victim of love under their protection. The favour and
+connivance of her relations made it easy for him to proceed along his
+path: he did everything he could to entertain and amuse the
+child--taking her out for drives behind his spirited horses, pushing her
+in the swing and sitting beside her in it himself, singing with her the
+popular songs which he sang very well, giving her many trifling
+presents, and ordering amusing toys for her from Moscow.
+
+Kurolyessoff knew, however, that the consent of her cousin and guardian
+was a necessary preliminary to complete success, and therefore tried to
+get into the good graces of Stepan Mihailovitch. Under various pretexts
+and provided with introductory letters from Praskovya Ivanovna's
+relations, he paid a visit at Bagrovo; but the visit proved a failure.
+At first sight this may seem strange; for some of the young officer's
+qualities were likely to appeal to Stepan Mihailovitch. But my
+grandfather, as well as his quick eye and sound sense, had that
+instinct, peculiar to men who are perfectly honest and straightforward
+themselves, which is instantly conscious of the hidden guile and crooked
+ways even of a complete stranger--the instinct which detects evil under
+a plausible exterior and surmises its future development. Kurolyessoff's
+respectful manner and polite speeches did not take him in for a moment:
+he guessed at once that there was some knavery underneath. There were
+other objections. My grandfather's own life was very strict, and the
+reports of the Major's peccadilloes which had casually come to his ear,
+though many people treated them lightly enough, filled his honest breast
+with disgust; and, though he was himself capable of furious anger, he
+hated deliberate unkindness and cold cruelty. For all these reasons his
+reception of his guest was cool and dry, though Kurolyessoff talked in a
+sensible practical way on all subjects and especially the management of
+land. Praskovya Ivanovna had now come to live with my grandfather; and,
+when the Major began, on the strength of their old acquaintance, to pay
+her compliments which she accepted with pleasure, his host's head bent a
+little to one side, his eyebrows met, and he shot a look at his guest
+which was hardly hospitable. Arina Vassilyevna, on the contrary, and her
+daughters, had been charmed straight off by the young man's seductions
+and were quite inclined to say kind things to him; but the storm-signals
+on the face of Stepan Mihailovitch quenched their ardour and made them
+all hold their tongues. The guest tried to restore the harmony of the
+party and to resume their agreeable conversation. But it was no use: he
+received short answers from them all, and his host was not even quite
+polite. Though it was getting late and an invitation to stay the night
+would have been the natural thing, there was nothing for it but to take
+his leave. "The man is a knave and rotten all through," said Stepan
+Mihailovitch to his family; "but perhaps he won't come here again." No
+voice was raised to contradict him; but, behind his back, the women went
+on for a long time praising the dashing young officer; and one who liked
+to listen to his merits and to tell of them herself, was the orphan girl
+with the large fortune.
+
+With the taste of this rebuff in his mouth, Kurolyessoff went back and
+told Mme. Bakteyeff of his failure. The people there knew my grandfather
+well, and at once abandoned all hope that he would give his consent.
+Long consideration brought no solution of the difficulty. The bold Major
+suggested that her grandmother should invite the girl on a visit, and
+that the marriage should take place without the consent of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; but both Mme. Bakteyeff and her daughter, Mme. Kurmysheff,
+were convinced that Stepan Mihailovitch would not let his cousin go
+alone, or, if he did, would be slow about it, and the Major's leave was
+nearly at an end. Then he proposed a desperate scheme--to induce
+Praskovya Ivanovna to elope with him, and to get married in the nearest
+church; but her relations would not hear of such a scandalous expedient,
+and Kurolyessoff went back to his regiment. The ways of Providence are
+past finding out, and we cannot judge why it came about that this
+nefarious scheme was crowned with success. Six months later, Mme.
+Bakteyeff heard one day that Stepan Mihailovitch was called away to some
+distance by very important business and would not return for some time.
+His destination and errand I do not know; but it was some distant place,
+Astrakhan or Moscow, and the business was certainly legal, because he
+took with him his man of business. A letter was sent at once to Stepan
+Mihailovitch, begging that the child, during the absence of her cousin
+and guardian, might stay with her grandmother. A curt answer was
+received--that Parasha was very well where she was, and, if they wished
+to see her, they were welcome to visit Bagrovo and stay as long as they
+liked. Stepan Mihailovitch sent this plain answer, and gave the
+strictest injunctions to his always submissive wife, that she was to
+watch Parasha as the apple of her eye and never let her out of the house
+alone; and then he started on his journey.
+
+Mme. Bakteyeff was constantly sending letters and messages to Praskovya
+Ivanovna and my grandfather's womankind; and she sent news of his
+departure at once to Kurolyessoff, adding that the absence would be a
+long one, and asking whether the Major could not come on leave, to take
+a personal share in the promotion of their scheme. She herself and her
+daughter went at once to Bagrovo. She had always been on friendly terms
+with Arina Vassilyevna, and now, on discovering that she also liked
+Kurolyessoff, revealed the fact that the young officer was passionately
+in love with Parasha; she launched out into praise of the suitor, and
+said, "There is nothing I wish so much as to see the poor little orphan
+comfortably settled in my lifetime; I am sure she will be happy. I feel
+that I have not long to live, and therefore I should like to hurry on
+the business." Arina Vassilyevna, on her side, entirely approved of the
+plan but expressed doubts whether Stepan Mihailovitch would consent:
+"Heaven knows why," she said, "but he took a strong dislike to that
+delightful Kurolyessoff." Arina Vassilyevna's elder daughters were
+summoned to a council presided over by Mme. Bakteyeff and her daughter,
+a strong partisan of the Major's; and it was settled that the
+grandmother, as the girl's nearest relation, should manage the affair,
+without involving Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters; it was to appear
+that they knew nothing about it and took no hand in it. I have said
+already that Arina Vassilyevna was a kind-hearted and very simple woman;
+her daughters sympathised entirely with Mme. Bakteyeff, and it is not
+surprising that she was persuaded by them to promote a scheme which was
+sure to provoke the furious rage of Stepan Mihailovitch.
+
+Meantime the innocent victim laughed and sang, with no suspicion that
+her fate was being decided. They often spoke of Kurolyessoff in her
+presence, praised him to the skies, and assured her that he loved her
+more than his own life, was constantly studying how to please her, and
+would certainly bring her a number of presents from Moscow on his next
+visit. All this she heard with pleasure, and often said that she loved
+Kurolyessoff better than any one in the world. While Mme. Bakteyeff was
+at Bagrovo, she had a letter forwarded to her, in which Kurolyessoff
+assured her that he would come, as soon as he could get leave. Arina
+Vassilyevna promised to say nothing when writing to her husband, and
+also to send Parasha to her grandmother's house, in spite of her
+husband's strict orders to the contrary, on the pretext that her nearest
+relative was dangerously ill. When the two ladies left Bagrovo and went
+home, Praskovya Ivanovna cried and asked to go with them; the Major was
+expected soon, and that was an additional attraction; but permission was
+refused, out of respect, it was said, to her guardian's strict orders.
+Kurolyessoff had some difficulty in getting leave, and it was two months
+before he arrived. Immediately afterwards a special messenger was
+despatched to Bagrovo, with a letter from Mme. Kurmysheff to Arina
+Vassilyevna; the lady wrote that her mother was desperately ill and
+wished to see her grand-daughter and give her her blessing; she
+therefore asked that Parasha might be sent, with an escort. She also
+wrote that Stepan Mihailovitch would certainly have sent the child to
+see the last of her grandmother, and could not possibly resent this
+infraction of his commands. The letter was clearly intended to be shown
+by Arina Vassilyevna, in order to protect herself from her husband's
+displeasure. True to her promise and reassured by this letter, Arina
+Vassilyevna made her preparations at once and took Parasha herself to
+the place where the grandmother was supposed to be dying; she stayed
+there a week and returned home charmed by the politeness of Kurolyessoff
+and also by some presents which he had brought from Moscow for her, and
+for her daughters as well. Praskovya Ivanovna was very happy: her
+grandmother took a sudden turn for the better; that fairy godmother, the
+Major, had brought her a number of presents and toys from Moscow and
+stayed in the house continuously. He flattered her in every possible
+way, and soon took her fancy so completely, that, when her grandmother
+told her he wished to marry her, she was charmed. She ran up and down
+through the house like a perfect child, telling every one she met that
+she was going to marry the Major and would have capital fun--driving all
+day with him behind his fine trotters, swinging on a swing of immense
+height, singing, or playing with dolls, not little dolls, but big ones
+that were able to walk and bow. You can judge by this, how far the poor
+little bride realised her position. Fearing that reports might reach
+Stepan Mihailovitch, the plotters went to work quickly: they invited the
+neighbours to a formal betrothal, at which the pair exchanged rings and
+kisses, sat side by side at table, and had their healths drunk. At
+first, the bride got tired of the ceremony where she had to sit still so
+long and listen to so many congratulations; but, when she was allowed to
+have her new doll from Moscow beside her, she quite cheered up,
+introducing the doll to every one as her daughter, and making it curtsey
+when she did, in acknowledgment of their kind wishes. A week later, the
+marriage took place with all due formality; the bride's age was given as
+seventeen instead of fifteen, but no one would have guessed the truth,
+to look at her.
+
+Though Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters knew what the end must be,
+yet the news of the marriage, which came sooner than they expected,
+filled them with horror. The scales fell from their eyes, and they now
+realised what they had been about, and that neither the grandmother's
+sham illness nor her letter would serve to cover them from the just
+wrath of Stepan Mihailovitch. Before she heard of the marriage, Arina
+Vassilyevna had written to her husband that she had taken the child to
+her grandmother: "It was quite necessary," she wrote, "because the old
+lady was in a dying state. I stayed there a whole week, and mercifully
+the invalid took a good turn; but they insisted on keeping Parasha till
+her grandmother got well. I was helpless: I could not take her by force,
+so I agreed against my will and hurried back to our own children, who
+were quite alone at Bagrovo. And now I am afraid that you will be
+angry." In answering, he said she had done a foolish thing and told her
+to go back and fetch Parasha home at all costs. Arina Vassilyevna sighed
+and shed tears over this letter, and was puzzled how to act. The young
+couple soon came to pay her a visit. Parasha seemed perfectly happy and
+cheerful, though some of her childish gaiety had gone. Her husband
+seemed happy too, and at the same time so composed and sensible that his
+clever arguments had power to lull Arina Vassilyevna's fears to rest. He
+proved to her convincingly that her husband's wrath must all fall upon
+the grandmother: "And she," said he, "owing to that dangerous
+illness--though now, thank God! she is better--had a perfect right not
+to wait for the consent of Stepan Mihailovitch; she knew that he would
+be slow in giving it, though of course he must have given it in time. It
+was impossible for her to delay, owing to her critical condition, and it
+would have been hard for her to die without seeing her orphan
+grand-daughter settled in life; her place could not be filled even by a
+brother, far less by a mere cousin." Many soothing assurances of this
+kind were forthcoming, backed by some very handsome presents which were
+received by the Bagrovo ladies with great satisfaction and some sinking
+of heart. Other presents were left, to be given to Stepan Mihailovitch.
+Kurolyessoff advised Arina Vassilyevna not to write to her husband till
+he answered the letter of intimation from the young couple; and he
+assured her that he and his wife would write this at once. He did not
+really dream of writing: his sole object was to delay the explosion and
+get time to take root in his new position. Immediately after his
+marriage, he applied for leave to retire from the Army, and got it very
+soon. He then began by paying a round of visits with his bride to all
+the relations and friends on both sides. At Simbirsk he began by calling
+on the Governor and neglected no one of any importance who could be
+useful to him. All were enthusiastic in praise of the handsome young
+couple, and they were so popular everywhere, that the marriage was soon
+sanctioned by public opinion. Thus several months passed away.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had had no news from home for a long time, and his
+lawsuit dragged on interminably. He was suddenly seized by a longing to
+see his family again, and returned one fine day to Bagrovo. Arina
+Vassilyevna trembled all over when she heard the awful words, "The
+master has come!" Hearing that all were alive and well, he entered his
+house in high spirits, kissed his Arisha and daughters and son, and then
+asked in an easy tone, "But where on earth is Parasha[27]?" Encouraged
+by her husband's kind manner, Arina Vassilyevna answered: "I don't know
+for certain where she is; perhaps, with her grandmother. Of course you
+heard long ago, _batyushka_, that she was married." I shall not describe
+my grandfather's amazement and fury; but his fury became twice as hot,
+when he heard the name of the bridegroom. He was proceeding to settle
+accounts with his wife on the spot, when she and all her daughters fell
+at his feet and showed him Mme. Bakteyeff's letter; thus she had time to
+convince him that she knew nothing about it and had been deceived
+herself. The fury of Stepan Mihailovitch was now diverted to Mme.
+Bakteyeff; he ordered fresh horses to be ready, rested two hours, and
+then galloped straight off to her house. The battle royal that took
+place between the two may be imagined. The old lady stood his first
+torrent of unmeasured abuse without flinching; then she drew herself up,
+grew hot in her turn, and delivered her own attack upon my grandfather.
+"How dare you make this furious assault on me," she asked, "as if I was
+your bond-slave? Do you forget that my birth is quite as good as yours,
+and that my late husband held a much higher rank than you? I am a nearer
+relation to Parasha, I am her own grandmother, and her guardian as much
+as you are. I arranged for her settlement without waiting for your
+consent, because I was dangerously ill and did not wish to leave her
+dependent upon you. I knew your infernal temper; under your roof, the
+child would have had a taste of the stick some day. Kurolyessoff is an
+excellent match for her, and Parasha fell in love with him of herself.
+Everybody likes him and praises him. I know he did not take your fancy;
+but just ask your own family, and you will soon find out that they can't
+say enough in his praise!"
+
+ [27] A short form of Praskovya, which itself represents the Greek name
+      Paraskeva.
+
+"You lie, you old swindler!" roared my grandfather; "you deceived my
+wife by pretending that you were dying! Kurolyessoff has bewitched you
+and your daughter by the power of the devil, and you have sold your
+grand-daughter into his hands!"
+
+This was too much for Mme. Bakteyeff, and she let out in her rage that
+Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were in league with her and had
+themselves accepted presents at different times from Kurolyessoff. This
+disclosure turned the whole force of my grandfather's rage back upon his
+own family. He threatened that he would dissolve the marriage on the
+ground that Parasha was not of age, and then started home. On the way he
+turned aside to visit the priest who had performed the ceremony, and
+called him to account. But the priest met his attack very coolly, and
+showed him with no hesitation the certificate of affinity, the
+signatures of the grandmother, the bride, and the witnesses, and also
+the baptismal certificate which alleged that Praskovya Ivanovna was
+seventeen. This was a fresh blow to my grandfather, for it deprived him
+of all hope of breaking the hateful marriage; and it increased
+enormously his anger against his wife and daughters. I shall not dwell
+upon his behaviour when he got home: it would be too painful and
+repulsive. Thirty years later, my aunts could never speak of that day
+without trembling. I shall only say, that the culprits made a full
+confession, that he sent back all the presents, including those intended
+for himself, to Mme. Bakteyeff, to be forwarded to the proper quarter,
+that the elder daughters long kept their beds, and that my grandmother
+lost all her hair and went about for a whole year with her head
+bandaged. He sent a message to the Kurolyessoffs forbidding them to dare
+to appear before him, and ordered that their names should never be
+mentioned in his house.
+
+Time rolled on, healing wounds whether of mind or body, and calming
+passions. Within a year Arina Vassilyevna's head was healed, and the
+anger in the heart of Stepan Mihailovitch had cooled. At first he
+refused either to see or hear of the Kurolyessoffs, and would not even
+write to Praskovya Ivanovna; but, when a year had passed and he heard
+from all quarters good accounts of her way of life, and was told that
+she had suddenly become sensible beyond her years, his heart softened
+and he became anxious to see the cousin whom he had loved. He reasoned
+that she, as a perfect child, was less to blame than any of the rest,
+and gave her leave to come, without her husband, to Bagrovo; and, as a
+matter of course, she came at once. The reports were true: one year of
+marriage had wrought such a change in Praskovya Ivanovna, that Stepan
+Mihailovitch could hardly believe it. It was puzzling also, that she now
+showed towards her cousin a kind of love and gratitude which she had
+never felt in her girlhood, and was still less likely, one would think,
+to feel after her marriage. In his eyes, which filled with tears when
+they met, did she read how much love was concealed under that harsh
+exterior and that arbitrary violence? Had she any dark foreboding of the
+future, or did she dimly realise that here was her one support and stay?
+Or did she feel unconsciously, that the rough cousin who had opposed her
+happiness and still disliked her husband, loved her better than all the
+women who had indulged her by falling in with all her childish wishes? I
+cannot answer these questions; but all were struck by the change. In her
+careless childhood she had been indifferent to her cousin, thinking
+little of his rights and her duties; and now she had every reason to
+resent his treatment of her grandmother; yet she felt to him now as a
+devoted daughter feels to a tender father when both have long known and
+loved one another. Whatever the cause of it, this sudden feeling ended
+only with her life.
+
+But what was the remarkable change that had come over so young a woman
+as Praskovya Ivanovna, after one year of married life? The foolish child
+had turned into a sensible but cheerful woman. She frankly confessed
+that they had all behaved badly to Stepan Mihailovitch. For herself only
+she pleaded youth and ignorance, and, for her grandmother, her husband,
+and the rest, their blind devotion to her. She did not ask him to pardon
+the chief criminal at once; but she hoped that in time, when he saw her
+happiness and the unwearied care with which her husband managed her
+property and looked after her estates, her cousin would forgive the
+culprit and admit him at Bagrovo. My grandfather, though he made no
+answer at the time, was completely conquered by this appeal. He did not
+keep his "clever cousin"--as he now began to call her--long at his
+house; he said that her place was now elsewhere, and soon sent her back
+to her husband. At parting, he said: "If you are as well satisfied with
+your husband a year hence, and if he behaves as well to you as he does
+now, I shall be reconciled to him." A year later, as he knew that
+Kurolyessoff was behaving well and paying the utmost attention to the
+management of his wife's property, and found his cousin, when he saw
+her, looking healthy and happy and cheerful, Stepan Mihailovitch told
+her to bring her husband with her to Bagrovo. He received Kurolyessoff
+cordially, frankly confessed his former doubts, and ended by promising
+to treat him as a kinsman and friend, on condition of continued good
+conduct. The guest behaved very cleverly: he was less furtive and less
+insinuating than he used to be, but just as respectful, attentive, and
+tactful. His bearing was clearly more confident and self-assured; he was
+giving the closest attention to agricultural problems, on which he asked
+advice from my grandfather--advice which he took in very quickly and
+followed with remarkable skill. He was connected in some distant way
+with Stepan Mihailovitch, and addressed him as "uncle" and treated the
+rest of the family as relations. Even before the scene of reconciliation
+or forgiveness, he had rendered a service of some kind to Stepan
+Mihailovitch; my grandfather was aware of this and thanked him for it
+now; he even gave him a similar commission to execute. In fact, the
+visit passed off very well. But, though all the circumstances seemed to
+speak in favour of Kurolyessoff, my grandfather still said: "The lad is
+all right: he is clever and sensible; but somehow I don't take to him."
+
+It was in the course of the next year that Stepan Mihailovitch made his
+move to the district of Ufa. For three years after his marriage,
+Kurolyessoff behaved with discretion and moderation, or at least
+concealed his conduct with such care that nothing got round. Besides, he
+was constantly moving about and spent little time at home. There was
+only one report, which spread everywhere with exaggeration--that the
+young landowner was a very strict master. During the next two years he
+did wonders in the way of improving his wife's property, and established
+his character for unceasing activity, bold enterprise, and steadfast
+perseverance in the execution of his schemes. The property had been
+mismanaged previously: the land had been injured by neglect, and the
+peasants brought in very little income, not because there was no market
+for their grain, but because they were spoilt and lazy, and had too
+little land; and another difficulty was that some of them belonged to
+three different owners--Mme. Bakteyeff and her daughter as well as
+Praskovya Ivanovna. Kurolyessoff began by transferring some of the
+peasants to new ground, while he sold the old land at a good profit. He
+bought about 20,000 acres of steppe in the Government of Simbirsk (now
+Samara) and the district of Stavropolsk--excellent arable land, level
+and easy to plough, with over three feet of black soil. The land lay on
+the river Berlya, which had some coppices on its banks near the source;
+and there was also "Bear Hollow," which was left untouched for some time
+and is now the only forest on the property. He settled 350 serfs here.
+This estate turned out highly profitable, because it was only a hundred
+_versts_ from Samara and about fifty from a number of ports on the
+Volga. It is well known that the value of an estate in our country
+depends entirely upon the market for grain.
+
+Next, Kurolyessoff went off to the district of Ufa and bought from the
+Bashkirs 60,000 acres. The soil, though good, was not as productive as
+that in Simbirsk, but there was a considerable quantity of wood, not
+only firewood, but timber for building. He planted two colonies there,
+one of 450 serfs and the other of 50; and he called the larger
+"Parashino" and the smaller "Ivanovka." As the Simbirsk estate was
+called "Kurolyessovo," each of the properties bore one of the names of
+his wife. Such a romantic fancy has always seemed to me curious,
+considering the sort of man that Kurolyessoff turned out to be; but some
+will maintain that these inconsistencies are common enough. He also made
+a seat for himself and his wife in the village of Choorassovo, fifty
+_versts_ from Simbirsk; this was a separate property of 350 serfs which
+his wife had inherited from her mother. He built there a splendid
+mansion, according to the ideas of those days, with all the usual
+appurtenances; it was finely decorated and furnished, and painted with
+frescoes inside and out; the chandeliers and bronzes, the silver plate
+and china, were a wonder to behold. The house was situated on the slope
+of a hill, from which more than twenty excellent springs came bubbling
+out. The house and the hill stood in the centre of an orchard, very
+large and productive, stocked with apple-trees and cherry-trees of every
+possible sort. The internal arrangements--the service and cooking, the
+horses and carriages--were luxurious and substantial. There was a
+constant succession of visitors at Choorassovo, either country
+neighbours, of whom there were a good many, or people from Simbirsk;
+they ate and drank, took walks and played cards, sang and talked, and
+were generally noisy and merry. Kurolyessoff dressed his wife up like a
+doll, anticipated all her wishes, and entertained her from morning till
+night, that is, when he happened to be at home. In short, after a few
+years, he had attained such a position all round, that good people
+admired him and bad people envied him. Nor did he forget the claims of
+religion: in place of an old tumbledown wooden erection, he built a new
+church of stone and equipped it splendidly; he even formed an excellent
+choir out of the household servants. Praskovya Ivanovna was quite
+contented and happy. She gave birth to a daughter in the fourth year of
+her marriage, and to a son a year later, but she soon lost them, the
+girl in infancy, and the boy when he was three. She had become so
+attached to the boy that this loss cost her dear. For a whole year her
+eyes were never dry, her excellent constitution was seriously affected,
+and she had no more children. Meanwhile her husband's reputation and
+influence grew by leaps and bounds. It is true that his behaviour to the
+small landowners was arbitrary and harsh; yet they, if they did not like
+him, were exceedingly afraid of him; and people of importance thought it
+only to his credit, that he made his inferiors know their proper place.
+His absences from home became more frequent and longer, from year to
+year, especially after the sad year in which Praskovya Ivanovna lost her
+son and would not be comforted. It is probable that he grew weary of
+tears and sighs and solitude; for she refused to have any visitors for a
+whole year. But indeed the most cheerful and noisy society at
+Choorassovo was no attraction to Kurolyessoff.
+
+Little by little, certain rumours began to spread abroad and gain
+strength. According to these reports, the Major was not merely strict,
+as was said before, but cruel; in the privacy of his estates at Ufa he
+gave himself up to drink and debauchery; he had gathered round him a
+band, with whom he drank and committed excesses of every kind; and,
+worse still, several victims had already been killed by him in the fury
+of his drunken violence. The police and magistrates of the district, it
+was said, were all his creatures: he had bribed some with money and
+others with drink and terrorised them all. The small landowners and
+inferior officials went in terror of their lives: if any dared to act or
+speak against him, they were seized in broad daylight and imprisoned in
+cellars or corn-kilns, where they were fed on bread and water and
+suffered the pangs of cold and hunger; and some were unmercifully
+flogged with an instrument called a "cat." Kurolyessoff had a special
+fancy for this implement, which was merely a leather whip with seven
+tails and knots at the end of each tail. They remained for some time
+after Kurolyessoff's death in a store-room at Parashino, for show, not
+for use; and I saw them there myself; they were burnt by my father when
+he inherited the property. These reports were only too well founded: the
+reality far surpassed the timid whisper of rumour. Kurolyessoff's thirst
+for blood, inflamed to madness by strong drink, grew unchecked to its
+full proportions, till it presented one of those horrible spectacles at
+which humanity shudders and turns sick. The instinct of the tiger is
+terrible indeed, when combined with the reasoning power of a man.
+
+At last the rumours were changed into certain knowledge; and of all the
+people with whom Praskovya Ivanovna lived--relations, neighbours, and
+servants, every one knew the real truth about Kurolyessoff. When he
+returned to Choorassovo from the scene of his exploits, he always showed
+the same respect to rank, the same friendly attention to his equals, the
+same anxiety to please his wife. She had now got over her loss and had
+recovered health and spirits; the house was as full of visitors as it
+used to be, and something was always going on. At Choorassovo,
+Kurolyessoff never struck any of the servants, leaving the bailiff and
+the butler in sole possession of this amusement; but they all knew about
+him and trembled at a mere look. Even relations and intimate friends
+showed some discomfort and embarrassment in his company. But Praskovya
+Ivanovna noticed nothing, or, if she did, ascribed it to a quite
+different cause--the involuntary respect which every one felt for her
+husband's remarkable success as a landowner, his splendid establishment,
+and his general intelligence and firmness of purpose. Sensible people
+who loved Praskovya Ivanovna, when they saw her perfectly composed and
+happy, were glad of her ignorance and hoped it might last as long as
+possible. There were, no doubt, some women among her dependants and
+humble neighbours whose tongues itched uncommonly, and who felt a strong
+desire to pay the Major out for his contemptuous treatment of them, by
+disclosing the truth; but, apart from the fear they could not help
+feeling, which would probably not have deterred them, there was another
+obstacle which prevented the fulfilment of their kind intentions. It was
+simply impossible to bring any tales against her husband to Praskovya
+Ivanovna. She was clever, keen-sighted, and determined; and, as soon as
+she detected any hidden innuendo to the detriment of Kurolyessoff, she
+knitted her dark eyebrows and said in her downright way that any offence
+of the kind would be punished by perpetual exclusion from her house. As
+the natural result of such a significant warning, nobody ventured to
+interfere in what was not their business. There were two servants in the
+house, a favourite attendant of her late father's and her own old nurse,
+whom she specially favoured, though they were not admitted to such close
+intimacy as old servants often were in those days; but they too were
+powerless. To them it was a matter of life and death that their mistress
+should know the real truth about her husband; for they had near
+relations who were personal attendants of Kurolyessoff's and were
+suffering beyond endurance from their master's cruelty. At last they
+determined to tell the whole story to their mistress. They chose a time
+when she was alone, and went together to her room; but the old nurse had
+hardly mentioned Kurolyessoff's name, when Praskovya Ivanovna flew into
+a violent passion. She told the woman that, if she ever again ventured
+to open her mouth against her master, she would banish her from her
+presence for ever and send her to live at Parashino. Thus all possible
+channels were blocked, and all mouths were stopped, that might have
+informed against the criminal. Praskovya Ivanovna loved her husband and
+trusted him absolutely. She knew that people like to meddle with what
+does not concern them, and like to trouble the water, that they may
+catch fish; and she had made up her mind at once and laid down an
+absolute rule, to listen to no tales against her husband. It is an
+excellent rule, and indispensable for the preservation of domestic
+peace. But there is no rule that does not admit of exceptions; and
+perhaps, in the present case, the resolute temper and strong will of the
+wife, added to the fact that all the wealth belonged to her, might have
+checked the husband at the outset of his career. As a sensible man, he
+would not have cared to deprive himself of all the advantages of a
+luxurious life; he would not have gone to such extremes or given such
+free play to his monstrous passions. It is more likely that, like many
+other men, he would have taken his pleasures in moderation and with
+precaution.
+
+Thus several years went by, during which Kurolyessoff gave himself up
+without restraint to his evil tendencies. His degeneration was rapid,
+and at last he began to commit incredible crimes, and always with
+impunity. I shall not describe in detail the kind of life he led on his
+estates, especially at Parashino, and also in the villages of the
+district; the story would be too repulsive. I shall say no more than is
+necessary to convey a true conception of this formidable man. During the
+early years when his whole attention was given to organising his wife's
+estates, he deserved to be called the most far-seeing, practical, and
+watchful of agents. To all the infinitely various and troublesome
+business, involved in removing peasants and settling them down in
+distant holdings, he gave his personal and unremitting attention. He
+kept constantly in view one object only, the well-being of his
+dependants. He could spend money where it was needed; he saw that it
+came to hand at the right time and in the right quantity; he anticipated
+all the wants and requirements of the settlers. He accompanied them
+himself for a great part of their journey, and met them himself at the
+end of it, where they found everything prepared for their reception. It
+is true that he was too severe and even cruel in the punishment of
+culprits; but he was just, and could keep his eyes shut at times. From
+time to time he allowed himself a little relaxation, when he disappeared
+for a day or two to amuse himself; but he could throw off the effects of
+his debauchery like water off a duck's back, and come to work again with
+fresh vigour.
+
+So long as he had the burden of his work upon his shoulders, it took up
+all his powers of mind and kept him from the fatal passion for drink,
+which robbed him of his senses and removed the curb from his monstrous
+inhuman passions. Work was his salvation; but, when he had got both the
+new estates, Kurolyessovo and Parashino, into order, and built
+manor-houses at both, with a second smaller house at Parashino, then
+came the season of little work and much leisure. Drunkenness, with its
+usual consequences, and violence, gained complete mastery over him, and
+developed by degrees into an insatiable thirst for human blood and human
+suffering. Encouraged by the passive fear of all around him, he soon
+ceased to set any limit to his arbitrary violence. He chose from among
+his dependants a score of ruffians, fit instruments for his purposes,
+and formed them into a band of robbers. They saw that their master bore
+a charmed life, and believed in his power; drunken and debauched
+themselves, they carried out all his insane orders willingly and boldly.
+If any man offended Kurolyessoff by the slightest independence in word
+or action--if, for example, he failed to turn up when invited to one of
+their drunken revels--the gang set off at once at a sign from their
+master, seized the culprit either secretly or openly wherever they found
+him, and brought him back to Parashino, where he was treated with insult
+and chained up in a cellar underground or flogged by their master's
+orders. Kurolyessoff was a man of taste: he liked good horses, and he
+liked good pictures--he thought them good at least--to adorn his walls.
+If anything of the kind took his fancy in a neighbour's house or in any
+house where he happened to be, he at once proposed an exchange; in case
+of a refusal, he would sometimes, if he was in a good humour, offer
+money; but, if this also was refused, he gave warning that he would take
+it and give nothing for it. And he did actually turn up with his gang a
+short time after, pack up whatever he wanted, and carry it off.
+Complaints were made, and the preliminary steps for an inquiry were
+taken. But Kurolyessoff saw this must be stopped at once. He sent a
+message to the district magistrate, that he would flay with the "cat"
+any officer of the law who dared to present himself; and he remained
+master of the situation. Meantime the man who had dared to complain was
+seized and beaten, on his own estate and in his own house, with his wife
+and children kneeling round and imploring mercy. It was Kurolyessoff's
+custom to make it up with his victims after a time: sometimes he offered
+them pecuniary compensation, but more often he restored peace by
+terrorising them; in any case, the stolen goods remained his lawful
+property. During his carouses he liked to boast that he had taken "that
+pretty thing in the gilt frame" from so-and-so, and that inlaid
+writing-table from some one else; and often these very people were
+sitting at the table, pretending to be deaf or plucking up heart to
+laugh at their own losses. There were even worse acts of violence, but
+these also went scot free.
+
+Kurolyessoff had a very powerful constitution: though he drank a great
+deal, it never disabled him but only put him on the move and roused a
+horrible activity in his clouded brain and inflamed body. One of his
+favourite amusements was to harness teams of spirited horses to a
+miscellaneous assortment of carriages, to pack the carriages with his
+ragtag and bobtail of men and women, and then scour over the fields and
+through the villages at full gallop, with the jingling of bells and the
+singing and shouting of his drunken rabble. He took a stock of liquor
+with him on these occasions and made every one he met, without regard to
+calling or sex or age, drink till they were intoxicated; and any one who
+dared to refuse was first flogged, and then tied to a tree or a post,
+though it might be raining or freezing at the time. Of more revolting
+acts of violence I say nothing. One day he was driving in this state of
+mind through a village, and, as he passed a threshing-floor, noticed a
+woman of remarkable beauty. "Stop!" he called out. "Petrushka, what do
+you think of that woman?" "She's uncommonly pretty," said Petrushka.
+"Would you like to marry her?" "How can I marry another man's wife?"
+asked Petrushka with a grin on his face. "I'll show you how! Seize her,
+my lads, and put her in the carriage beside me!" They did so; the woman
+was taken straight to the parish church, and there, though she protested
+that she had a husband living and two children, was married to
+Petrushka; and no complaints were made either in Kurolyessoff's lifetime
+or in that of his widow. When the estate came into my father's hands, he
+restored this woman with her husband and children to her former owner;
+her first husband had long been dead. My father also distributed various
+articles of property to their former owners when they asked for them;
+but many of the things had got worn out by tossing about in
+lumber-rooms. It is hard to believe that such things could happen in
+Russia, even eighty years ago; but the truth of the narrative it is
+impossible to dispute.
+
+This life of drunken and criminal violence, horrible and disgusting
+enough in itself, led on to worse, till the man's natural cruelty became
+a ferocious thirst for blood. To inflict torture became with him a
+necessity as well as a pleasure. On the days when he could not gratify
+this passion, he was depressed and listless, uneasy and even ill; and
+this was why his visits to Choorassovo grew steadily rarer and his stay
+there shorter. But, on his return to the solitude of Parashino, he made
+haste to reward himself for his abstinence. He had only to watch the
+labourers at their work, to secure a sufficient number of victims; no
+excuses were accepted, and it is always possible to find trifling cases
+of neglect on the land if you are determined to hunt for them. Yet it
+was the personal servants and people about the house who suffered most
+from his ferocity. He seldom flogged a peasant, unless the man had
+committed a serious offence or was personally known to him; but his
+bailiffs and clerks suffered as much at his hands as the household
+servants. He spared no one: every one of his favourites had, some time
+or other, been flogged within an inch of his life, and some of them many
+times. It is remarkable that, when Kurolyessoff got violently angry,
+which seldom happened, he did not use violence; but, when he had got
+hold of a man and intended to torture him for his own amusement, he
+would say in a quiet and even affectionate tone: "Well, my good friend
+Grigori Kuzmitch,"--Grishka[28] being his usual name--"it can't be
+helped; come, and I will settle accounts with you." Thus he would speak
+to his head-groom, who for some unknown reason was put to the torture
+more often than others. "Scratch him up a bit with the cat," said the
+master with a smile, and then the torture went on for hours, while the
+master drank tea with brandy in it, smoked his pipe, and from time to
+time passed jests on his victim till unconsciousness supervened.
+Trustworthy witnesses have assured me that only one expedient proved
+successful in saving life after such an ordeal: the lacerated body of
+the victim was wrapped up in sheepskins taken warm from the animals'
+backs as soon as they were slaughtered. Kurolyessoff would carefully
+examine his victim; then, if content, he would say, "Well, that's
+enough; take him away"--and then he became cheerful, jocular, and
+amiable for the whole day and sometimes for several days. In order to
+complete the portrait of this monster, I shall quote his own words which
+he repeated more than once among his boon-companions: "Don't talk to me
+of the knout or the stick! They kill a man before you mean it. The 'cat'
+is the thing for me: it gives pain without taking life!" I have told
+here only a tithe of what I know, but perhaps I have said enough. It is
+remarkable, as an instance of the inexplicable inconsistencies of
+corrupt human nature, that Kurolyessoff, at a time when he had reached
+the extreme limit of debauchery and cruelty, was zealously engaged in
+building a stone church at Parashino. At the time I am about to
+describe, the outside of the church was finished, and workmen had been
+hired for the internal decoration: carpenters, carvers, gilders, and
+_ikon_[29]-painters had been at work for some months and were occupying
+all the smaller manor-house of Parashino.
+
+ [28] A diminutive form of Grigori (Gregory).
+
+ [29] An _ikon_ is a sacred image, kept in a church or hung on the wall
+      of a room.
+
+Praskovya Ivanovna had now been married fourteen years. She noticed
+something strange about her husband, whom for two years she had only
+seen at long intervals for a few days at a time, but she did not even
+suspect anything like the truth. She went on with her easy cheerful way
+of life: in summer she gave great attention to her orchard and the
+water-springs which she left in their natural state and liked to clean
+out with her own hands; at other seasons she spent her time with her
+visitors and became a great lover of cards. Suddenly she received, by
+post or special messenger, a letter from an old lady for whom she had
+great respect, a distant relation of her husband's. This letter gave a
+full description of Kurolyessoff's life, and ended in this way, that it
+would be sinful not to open the eyes of the mistress of a thousand
+serfs, when they were suffering such monstrous cruelty and she could
+protect them by cancelling the legal authority she had given her husband
+to manage her estates. "Their blood cries to heaven," she wrote, "and at
+this moment a servant known to you, Ivan Onufrieff, is dying in
+consequence of cruel maltreatment. You have nothing to fear yourself
+from Kurolyessoff: he will not venture to show his face at Choorassovo,
+and your good neighbours and the Governor himself will protect you."
+
+This letter fell like a thunderbolt on Praskovya Ivanovna. I have heard
+her say myself that she was quite stunned for some minutes; but she was
+supported by her firm faith in God and the uncommon strength of her
+will, and soon determined on a step from which most brave men would have
+shrunk. She ordered horses to be harnessed, saying that she was going to
+Simbirsk, and then, with one maid and a man and the coachman, drove
+straight to Parashino. It was a long journey of 400 _versts_, and she
+had plenty of leisure to think over what she was doing. She used to say
+herself that she had formed no plan of action whatever; she merely
+wished to see with her own eyes and find out for certain what her
+husband was doing and how he lived. She did not entirely trust the
+letter from his kinswoman, who lived at a distance and might have been
+deceived by false reports; and she did not choose to question her old
+nurse at Choorassovo. The thought of danger never entered her head: her
+husband had always been so gentle and respectful with her, that it
+seemed to her quite natural and quite possible to induce him to return
+in her carriage to Choorassovo. She timed herself to arrive at Parashino
+in the evening, left her carriage outside the village, and walked
+unrecognised--few of the people there knew her--accompanied by her maid
+and man, to the court of the mansion-house. She passed through the back
+entrance, made her way to a wing from which loud sounds of singing and
+laughter were issuing, and opened the door with a steady hand.
+
+Fortune, as if on purpose, had brought together everything that could
+reveal at one flash the kind of life her husband was leading. More
+intoxicated than usual, he was carousing with his boon-companions.
+Dressed in a shirt of red silk, he held a glass of punch in one hand[30]
+while a tipsy herd of servants, retainers, and country women danced and
+sang before him. Praskovya Ivanovna nearly fainted at the sight. She
+understood all now. Unnoticed, because the room was crowded with people,
+she shut the door and left the house. On the steps she came face to face
+with one of Kurolyessoff's servants, not a young man, and, fortunately,
+sober. He recognised his mistress and was just calling out,
+"_Matushka_[31] Praskovya Ivanovna, is it you?"--when she put her hand
+over his mouth and led him to the centre of the courtyard. She said in
+an ominous voice, "Is this the way you go on behind my back? The days of
+your feasting and dancing are done." The man fell at her feet weeping
+and said: "_Matushka_, do you suppose that _we_ find pleasure in his
+goings-on, that _we_ are responsible? God himself has brought you here."
+She told him to be silent and take her to see Ivan Onufrieff; she had
+heard that he was still living. She found him in a dying state, lying in
+a cow-byre in the backyard. He was too weak to tell her anything; but
+his brother, Alexyei, a mere lad, who had been flogged only the day
+before, crawled somehow from his pallet, fell on his knees, and told her
+what had befallen his brother and himself and others as well. Praskovya
+Ivanovna's heart swelled with pity and horror. She felt that she also
+was to blame, and she formed a firm resolve to put an end to the crimes
+and atrocities of Kurolyessoff. She thought there would be no
+difficulty. She gave strict orders that her presence should be kept
+secret. Then, as she heard that the smaller house, which had been built
+some years before, but, from some caprice of her husband's, never
+furnished, contained one habitable room unoccupied by the workmen, she
+went off, intending to pass the remainder of the night there and to
+speak next morning to her husband when he was sober. But the secret of
+her arrival was not strictly kept. The report reached the ear of one of
+the most desperate of Kurolyessoff's gang, and he, moved by devotion or
+by fear, whispered it to his master. Kurolyessoff was dumbfounded by the
+news; it sobered him in a moment; he felt uneasy and scented danger
+ahead. His wife's firm and masculine temper had found few opportunities
+to display itself hitherto, but he guessed that it was there. Dismissing
+his band of revellers, he had two buckets of cold water poured over his
+head; and then, braced up and invigorated by this expedient, he changed
+into ordinary clothing and went to see if his wife was asleep. He had
+had time to reflect and fix on a line of action. He guessed the truth,
+that Praskovya Ivanovna had received from some quarter information as to
+his way of life, but that she was incredulous and had come to Parashino
+to ascertain the truth herself. He knew that her eye had rested for a
+moment on his revels, but he did not know that she had seen Onufrieff
+and that Alexyei had told her the whole story. He intended to play the
+repentant sinner, to excuse himself as best he could for his riotous
+debauch, to pour oil on the troubled waters by his delicate attentions,
+and to take his wife away as soon as possible from Parashino.
+
+ [30] The asterisks apparently imply that the author is unwilling to
+      report some details of this orgy.
+
+ [31] _I.e_. mother, a term of affection and respect.
+
+It was morning by now, and the sun had actually risen. Kurolyessoff
+stole on tiptoe to the room occupied by Praskovya Ivanovna and softly
+opened the door. A bed had been made for her on the top of a chest, but
+the sheets were still smooth and no one had lain down on them. He looked
+all round the room and saw Praskovya Ivanovna. She was kneeling in
+prayer; there was no _ikon_ in the room, and her eyes, full of tears,
+were fixed upon the Cross on the church, which was just opposite the
+window and glittered in the rays of the rising sun. He remained standing
+a few moments, and then said in a playful voice: "You have prayed long
+enough, my dear! I am delighted to see you. What made you think of
+coming?" Praskovya Ivanovna rose from her knees with no sign of
+confusion; she refused her husband's embrace; then, concealing the flame
+of her just anger under a cold determined manner, she told him that she
+knew all and had seen Ivan Onufrieff. She expressed in plain terms her
+aversion to the monster whom she could no longer regard as her husband,
+and she passed sentence upon him: he was to return the document which
+gave him authority over her estates, to leave Parashino at once, never
+to appear before her again, and never to set foot on any of her lands;
+if he refused, she would petition the Governor of the province, and
+reveal all his crimes; and his fate would be Siberia and penal
+servitude. Kurolyessoff was taken by surprise; he foamed at the mouth
+with rage and anger. "So that is the way you talk to me, my beauty! Then
+I shall change my tune too!" roared the infuriated ruffian. "You shall
+not leave Parashino till you sign a document transferring all your
+estates to me; if you refuse, I shall shut you up in a cellar and starve
+you to death." Then he caught up a stick from a corner of the room,
+felled his wife to the floor with his first blows, and went on beating
+her till she lost her senses. Next he ordered some of his trusted
+servants to carry their mistress to a stone cellar, which he locked with
+a huge padlock and put the key in his pocket. He was a formidable figure
+when he appeared before the assembled household; he had summoned them
+all, in order to discover the culprit who had led his mistress to the
+cow-byre; but the man had already sought safety in flight, accompanied
+by the coachman and manservant who had come from Choorassovo. The
+fugitives were pursued at once. Kurolyessoff did no injury to the maid,
+who had refused to desert her mistress: he gave her directions for
+exhorting the prisoner to submission, and then locked her up with his
+own hands in the same cellar. What did Kurolyessoff do next? He began to
+drink and riot more furiously than before. But alas! in vain did he
+swallow brandy like water, in vain did his revel rout dance and sing
+before him--he had turned gloomy and sullen. Yet this did not prevent
+him from working indefatigably for the attainment of his purpose. He
+procured from the local town a legal document by which Praskovya
+Ivanovna professed to sell Parashino and Kurolyessovo to one of his
+disreputable friends--Choorassovo he was kind enough to leave to
+her--and twice a day he went down to the cellar and pressed his wife to
+sign the paper; he begged pardon for his violence in the heat of the
+moment, promised that if she consented she should never see him again,
+and took an oath that he would restore all her property to her by his
+will. But Praskovya Ivanovna, though bruised and half-starved and
+suffering from fever, refused even to listen to any compromise whatever.
+So things went on for five days, and God only knows how it would all
+have ended.
+
+All this time my grandfather Stepan Mihailovitch was living and
+prospering on his estate of New Bagrovo, which was 120 _versts_ distant
+from Parashino. As I have mentioned already, he had frankly made it up
+with Kurolyessoff and was satisfied with him in general, though he felt
+no fancy for him. Kurolyessoff, on his side, showed great deference to
+Stepan Mihailovitch and all his family, and was ready to perform any
+services for them. When he had planted his colony at Parashino and was
+engaged in organising it, he came every year to Bagrovo and made himself
+very agreeable. He appealed to Stepan Mihailovitch, as a man of
+practical experience in colonising, for his advice; he received it
+gratefully, wrote it all down word for word, and really followed it. He
+even invited Stepan Mihailovitch twice to Parashino, to judge of his
+pupil's proficiency; and each time my grandfather approved entirely of
+what he saw; and on his last visit, when he had inspected the arable
+land and all the farming arrangements, he said to Kurolyessoff, "You are
+young, friend, but you've got on fast; I can teach you nothing." And, as
+a matter of fact, everything at Parashino was in excellent order. Of
+course the host received the old man as if he had been his own father,
+with all possible deference and attention. As years went on, ugly
+rumours about Kurolyessoff found their way to Bagrovo. As my grandfather
+disliked gossip, nothing was said to him at first; but the rumours grew
+steadily. The womankind at Bagrovo knew of them; and Arina Vassilyevna
+ventured at last to tell her husband that Kurolyessoff was leading a
+terribly wicked life. He would not believe it. He said: "Once you
+believe what people say, you will soon accuse your neighbour of robbing
+a church! I know what the Bakteyeff servants were like--thieves and
+shirkers, to a man! And my cousin's serfs too got spoilt, with no master
+to look after them. It's not surprising if they're terrified of honest
+work and decent order. Friend Mihail may have gone to work too fast:
+what of that? they'll learn to bear it. As to his drinking--if he takes
+a glass after his work, a man's none the worse for that, provided he
+doesn't neglect his business. There _are_ beastly things a man shouldn't
+do; but there, I fancy, they're lying. You women are too fond of
+listening to gossip." For a long time after this, Stepan Mihailovitch
+heard nothing more of the rumours. At last, some Bagroff serfs, who had
+been transferred from the Government of Simbirsk to Parashino together
+with the serfs of the Bakteyeff family, came to visit their relations at
+New Bagrovo and told terrible stories of their master. Arina Vassilyevna
+again appealed to her husband, and begged that he would himself question
+one of these men who was now at Bagrovo; he was an old man with an
+established character for speaking the truth; and Stepan Mihailovitch
+had known him all his life. My grandfather consented. He sent for the
+man and questioned him, and heard a story which made his hair stand on
+end. He could not think what to do, or how to mend matters. Praskovya
+Ivanovna's occasional letters showed that she was quite happy and
+undisturbed; and he concluded that she knew nothing of her husband's
+conduct. In the old days he had warned her himself never to listen to
+tales against her husband; and he felt sure that she was following his
+advice only too well. He reflected, that, if she learnt the truth, it
+was doubtful if she could do anything; she would distress herself
+terribly, all to no purpose. It was therefore desirable that her eyes
+should never be opened. He could not now interfere; and he thought
+interference useless in the case of such a man. "I hope he will break
+his neck or be tried for a murder; he deserves it. No hand but God's can
+mend a man like that. He is not so hard upon his peasants and labourers,
+and the house-servants are a pack of scoundrels; let them suffer for
+their sins! I have no mind to soil my fingers with this dirty business."
+Thus Stepan Mihailovitch reasoned in his own way. He broke off all
+relations with Kurolyessoff, however, and ceased to answer his letters.
+This hint was understood, and the correspondence came to an end. But to
+Praskovya Ivanovna, Stepan Mihailovitch began to write oftener and more
+intimately than before.
+
+So matters remained till the morning, when the three fugitives from
+Parashino made their appearance before my grandfather as he sat on his
+stoop. They had spent the first day concealed in an inaccessible swamp
+which joined on to the stackyards of Parashino; in the evening they
+learnt from some one in the village exactly what had happened, and made
+their way straight to Bagrovo, considering Stepan Mihailovitch as the
+only possible protector and champion of Praskovya Ivanovna. His feelings
+may be imagined when he heard what had happened at Parashino. He loved
+his one cousin not less, perhaps more, than his own daughters. The image
+of Parasha half-killed by her ruffian of a husband, of Parasha confined
+in a cellar for three days and perhaps dead already, presented itself so
+vividly to his lively imagination that he sprang up like one demented,
+and rushed down the courtyard and through the village, summoning his
+retainers and labourers in accents of frenzy. Those who were not in the
+cottages came running from the fields. When all were assembled, they
+were full of sympathy for their master's passionate despair, and cried
+with one voice that they would go on foot, if need be, to the rescue of
+Praskovya Ivanovna. In a short time three cars, drawn by teams of
+spirited horses from the stables of Bagrovo, and carrying a dozen men
+chosen for strength and courage, were galloping along the road to
+Parashino. The party included the fugitives from Parashino, and were
+armed with guns and swords, pikes and pitchforks. Later in the day two
+more cars followed to reinforce Stepan Mihailovitch; the men were armed
+in the same way; the horses were the best the peasants could produce. By
+the evening of the second day, the vanguard was within seven _versts_ of
+Parashino. They fed the jaded horses, and in the first light of the
+summer dawn dashed into the wide courtyard and drove straight up to the
+cellar. It was close to the rooms occupied by Kurolyessoff. Stepan
+Mihailovitch jumped out and began to beat his fist against the wooden
+door of the cellar. A voice faintly asked, "Who is there?" My
+grandfather recognised his cousin's voice; dropping a tear of joy that
+he had found her alive, and crossing himself, he called out in a loud
+voice, "Thank God! It is your cousin, Stepan Mihailovitch; you are safe
+now!" He sent off the servants from Choorassovo to get ready Praskovya
+Ivanovna's carriage, and posted six armed men to defend the gate, while
+he himself and the rest of his men applied axes and crowbars to the
+cellar-door. It gave way in a moment; and Stepan Mihailovitch himself
+carried out Praskovya Ivanovna, placed her on a car between himself and
+her faithful maid, and drove unmolested out of the courtyard with all
+his retainers. The sun was rising as they drove past the church, and his
+first beams lit up the Cross on the roof. It was just six days since
+Praskovya Ivanovna had prayed with her eyes fixed on that Cross; and now
+she prayed again and thanked God for her deliverance. The carriage
+caught them up, when they were five _versts_ from Parashino; and Stepan
+Mihailovitch moved his cousin into the carriage and drove with her back
+to Bagrovo.
+
+But I shall be asked, "How did all this happen? did no one see it? what
+had become of Kurolyessoff and his trusty retainers? is it possible that
+he was unaware of it or absent at the time?" No: the liberation of
+Praskovya Ivanovna took place before many witnesses; and Kurolyessoff
+was at home and knew what was going on, but did not venture to show his
+face.
+
+The explanation is quite simple. His men had spent the whole evening
+carousing with their master, and some of them were so drunk that they
+could not be roused. There was one sober man, a complete abstainer and a
+favourite. He wakened his master with some difficulty, and, trembling
+with fear, told him of the raid of Stepan Mihailovitch and the guns
+pointing straight at the windows. "But where are all our fellows?" asked
+Kurolyessoff. "Some are asleep, and others are hiding," said the man;
+but this was not true; for the drunken rabble was mustering near the
+outside steps. Kurolyessoff thought a moment; then with a gesture of
+despair he said, "Let her go, and the devil go with her! Lock the door,
+go to the window, and watch what happens." In a few minutes, the man
+cried out, "They are carrying away the mistress!--They're off!"--"Go to
+your bed," said his master; then he rolled himself up in his blankets
+and either fell asleep or made a pretence of it.
+
+Yes, right has a moral strength before which wrong must bend, for all
+its boldness. Kurolyessoff knew the stout heart and fearless courage of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, and he knew that he himself was in the wrong; and
+therefore, in spite of his furious temper and unscrupulous impudence, he
+let his victim go without a struggle.
+
+Tenderly and carefully Stepan Mihailovitch conveyed the sufferer, whom
+he had always loved and who now roused in him deep sympathy and a still
+greater affection. No question passed his lips on the journey; and, when
+he brought her in safety to Bagrovo, he forbade his womankind to trouble
+her with inquiries. But in a fortnight Praskovya Ivanovna was herself
+again, thanks to her strong constitution and high spirit; and then
+Stepan Mihailovitch determined to cross-examine her. In order to act, he
+must know the real truth, and he never trusted secondhand information.
+She told him the whole truth with perfect frankness, but begged that he
+would keep it from his family and that she should be asked no questions
+by any one else. She put herself altogether in his hands; but she feared
+his hot temper and implored him not to take vengeance on Kurolyessoff.
+She said positively that, on reflection, she had decided not to bring
+shame on her husband, or to stain the name which she must continue to
+bear throughout her life. She added that she now repented of the words
+which had burst from her lips at her first interview with Kurolyessoff
+at Parashino, and that nothing would induce her to make a complaint to
+the Governor against him. Yet she considered it her duty to rescue her
+serfs from his cruelty, and therefore intended to cancel the document
+which gave him authority over her estates. She asked Stepan Mihailovitch
+to take over the management himself, and also to write to Kurolyessoff
+demanding the document and stating that, if he refused to give it up,
+she would take legal steps to cancel it. She asked Stepan Mihailovitch
+to express this in plain terms but without any abusive epithets; and she
+offered to sign the letter herself, to make it more convincing. I should
+mention that she could hardly read and write her native language. Stepan
+Mihailovitch loved his cousin so well that he bridled his rage and
+assented to her wishes. But he would not hear of taking over the
+management. "No, my dear," he said; "I don't care to meddle in other
+people's affairs, and I don't want your relations to be saying that I
+feather my own nest while looking after your multitude of serfs. The
+land will be badly managed in your hands, I don't doubt; but you are
+rich and will have enough. I don't mind saying in the letter that I am
+to take over the management; that will give your sweet pet a turn! All
+the rest you ask shall be done."
+
+Strict orders were accordingly issued to the womankind to ask no
+questions of the lady. My grandfather wrote the letter to Kurolyessoff
+with his own hand, Praskovya Ivanovna added her signature, and a special
+messenger was despatched with it to Parashino. But, while they were
+considering and wondering and writing at Bagrovo, all was already over
+at Parashino. The messenger returned on the fourth day and reported
+that, by God's will, Kurolyessoff had died suddenly and was already
+buried.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch heard the news first. Involuntarily he crossed
+himself and said, "Thank God!" And so said all his family: in spite of
+their former weakness for Kurolyessoff, they had long looked on him with
+horror as a criminal and a ruffian. With Praskovya Ivanovna it was
+different. Judging by their own feelings, they all supposed she would
+welcome the news, and told her at once. But, to the surprise of every
+one, she was utterly prostrated by it and became ill again; and, when
+her strength got the better of the illness, her depression and
+wretchedness were extreme: for some weeks she wept from morning till
+night, and she grew so thin that Stepan Mihailovitch was alarmed. No one
+could understand the cause of such intense sorrow for a husband whom she
+could not love and who had treated her so brutally--"a disgrace to human
+nature," as they called him. But there was an explanation, and this is
+it.
+
+Many years later, my mother, who was a great favourite with Praskovya
+Ivanovna, was talking with her of past days--a thing which Praskovya
+Ivanovna generally avoided--and in the openhearted frankness of their
+conversation she asked: "Please tell me, aunt, why you took on so after
+your husband's death. In your place, I should have said a prayer for his
+soul, and felt quite cheerful." "You are a little fool, my dear,"
+answered Praskovya Ivanovna: "I had loved him for fourteen years and
+could not unlearn my feeling in one month, even though I had found out
+what he was; and, above all, I grieved for his soul: he had no time to
+repent before he died."
+
+After six weeks, Praskovya Ivanovna's good sense mastered her grief to
+some extent; and she consented, or, I should rather say, did not refuse,
+to travel with all the Bagroff family to Parashino, in order to attend a
+memorial service at Kurolyessoff's grave. To the general surprise, she
+dropped no tear at Parashino or during the sad ceremony; but one may
+imagine how much this effort cost her, in her condition of sorrow and
+bodily weakness. By her wish, only a few hours were spent at Parashino,
+and she did not enter that part of the house where her husband had lived
+and died.
+
+It is not difficult to guess the cause of Kurolyessoff's sudden death.
+When Stepan Mihailovitch had rescued his cousin from the cellar, the
+people at Parashino all plucked up heart, believing that the end of
+Kurolyessoff's rule had come. They all supposed that the owner of
+Bagrovo, who was in the position of a father to their mistress, would
+turn her husband neck and crop out of a place that did not belong to
+him. No one dreamed that their young mistress, insulted and beaten and
+half-starved in an underground cellar in her own house, would fail to
+appeal to the law for redress. Every day they expected an irruption from
+Stepan Mihailovitch with the sheriff at his back; but week followed
+week, and no one came. Kurolyessoff was as drunken and violent as ever:
+every one of his retainers he flogged till they were half-dead, for
+having betrayed him, not sparing even the sober man who had wakened him
+on the night of the rescue; and he boasted that Praskovya Ivanovna had
+given up to him the title-deeds of her estates. It was past the power of
+human endurance; and the future seemed hopeless.[32] Two of the
+scoundrels, who had been favourites, and, strangely enough, two who had
+suffered less than the rest from his cruelty, ventured upon a horrible
+crime. They poisoned him with arsenic, putting it into a decanter of
+_kvass_, which Kurolyessoff generally emptied during the night; and they
+put in so much, that he was dead in two hours. As they had taken no one
+into their confidence, the catastrophe startled and terrified the whole
+household. The servants suspected one another, but the real criminals
+remained unknown for some time. Six months later one of them became
+desperately ill and confessed his crime before he died; and his
+accomplice, though the dying man had not betrayed him, made off and was
+never seen again.
+
+ [32] From here to the end of the paragraph was removed by the censor
+      from the early editions of the work.
+
+The sudden death of Kurolyessoff would certainly have been followed by
+an inquest, but for the presence at Parashino of a young clerk called
+Mihaila Maximitch, who had only lately come to the place. By cleverness
+and good management, he contrived to get the affair hushed up. He became
+later Praskovya Ivanovna's man of business and the chief agent on all
+her estates, and enjoyed her full confidence. Under the name of
+"Mihailushka" he was known to all and sundry in the Governments of
+Simbirsk and Orenburg. He was a man of remarkable ability; though he
+made a large fortune, he lived discreetly and modestly for many years;
+but, when he received his freedom on the death of his mistress and lost
+his wife to whom he was much attached, he took to drinking and died in
+poverty. One of his sons, if I remember rightly, entered the official
+class and was eventually ennobled.
+
+I should not conceal the fact, that forty years later, when I became the
+owner of Parashino, I found the recollection of Kurolyessoff's
+management still fresh among the peasants, and they spoke of him with
+gratitude, because they felt every day the advantage of many of his
+arrangements. His cruelty they had forgotten, and they had felt it less
+than his personal attendants; but they remembered his power of
+distinguishing guilt and innocence, the honest workman and the shirker;
+they remembered his perfect knowledge of their needs and his constant
+readiness to give them help. The old men smiled as they told me that
+Kurolyessoff used often to say: "Steal and rob as you please, if you
+keep it dark; but, if I catch you, then look out!"
+
+When she went back to Bagrovo, Praskovya Ivanovna, soothed by the
+sincere and tender love of her cousin and by the assiduous attentions of
+his womankind (whom she did not much like but who expected great favours
+and benefits from her) gradually got over the terrible blow she had
+suffered. Her good health came back, and her peace of mind; and at the
+end of a year she resolved to go back to Choorassovo. It was painful to
+Stepan Mihailovitch to part with his favourite: her whole nature
+appealed to him, and he had become thoroughly accustomed to her society.
+Not once in his whole life was he in a rage with Praskovya Ivanovna. But
+he did not try to keep her: on the contrary, he pressed her to go as
+soon as possible. "It's no sort of life for you here, my dear," he used
+to say; "it's a dull place, though we have got accustomed to it. You are
+young still"--she was thirty--"and rich and used to something different.
+You should go back to Choorassovo, and enjoy your fine house and
+splendid garden and the springs. You have plenty of kind neighbours
+there, rich people who live a gay life. It is possible that God will
+send you better fortune in a second venture; you won't want for offers."
+Praskovya Ivanovna put off her departure from day to day--so hard did
+she find it to part from the cousin who had saved her life and been her
+benefactor from her childhood. At last the day was fixed. Early on the
+previous morning, she came out to join Stepan Mihailovitch, who was
+sitting on his stoop and thinking sad thoughts. She kissed and embraced
+him; the tears came to her eyes as she said: "I feel all your love for
+me, and I love and respect you like a daughter. God sees my gratitude;
+but I wish that men should see it too. Will you let me bequeath to your
+family all my mother's property? What I have from my father will come to
+your son in any case. My relations on my mother's side are rich, and you
+know that they have given me no reason to reward them with my wealth. I
+shall never marry. I wish the Bagroff family to be rich. Say yes, my
+dear cousin, and you will comfort me and set my mind at rest." She threw
+herself at his feet and covered with kisses the hands with which he was
+trying to raise her up. "Listen, my dear," said Stepan Mihailovitch in a
+rather stern voice: "You don't know me aright. That I should covet what
+does not belong to me, and cut out the rightful heirs to your
+estates--no! that shall never be, and never shall any one be able to say
+that of Stepan Bagroff! Mind you don't ever mention it again. If you do,
+we shall quarrel; and it will be the first time in our lives."
+
+Next day Praskovya Ivanovna left Bagrovo and began her own independent
+life at Choorassovo.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT III: THE MARRIAGE OF THE YOUNG BAGROFF
+
+
+Many years passed by and much happened during that time--famine and
+plague, and the rebellion of Pugatchoff.[33] The landowners of the
+Orenburg district scattered before the bands of the usurper, and Stepan
+Mihailovitch also made off with his family, first to Samara, and then
+down the Volga to Saratoff and as far off as Astrakhan. But by degrees
+all disturbances passed over and calmed down and were forgotten.
+Children became boys, boys became men, and men came to grey hairs; and
+among these last was Stepan Mihailovitch. He saw this himself, but he
+hardly believed it. He would sometimes allude to the ravages of time,
+but he did so without uneasiness, as if there were no personal reference
+to himself. Yet my grandfather had ceased to be his old self: his
+herculean strength and tireless activity had gone for ever. This
+sometimes surprised him; but he went on living precisely in the old
+way--eating and drinking to his heart's content, and dressing with no
+regard to the weather, though he sometimes suffered for this neglect.
+Little by little, his keen clear eye became clouded and his great voice
+lost its power; his fits of anger were rarer, but so were his bright and
+happy moods. His elder daughters had all married, and the oldest had
+been dead some time, leaving a daughter of three years old. Aksinya,[34]
+the second, had lost one husband and married again; Elizabeth, a clever
+but arrogant woman, had somehow married a General Yerlykin, who was old
+and poor and given to drinking; and Alexandra had found herself a
+husband in Ivan Karatayeff, well-born, young, and rich, but a passionate
+lover of the Bashkirs and their wandering life--a true Bashkir himself
+in mind and body. The youngest daughter, Tanyusha, had not married. The
+only son[35] was now twenty-six, a handsome youth with a complexion of
+lilies and roses: his own father used to say of him, "Put a petticoat on
+him, and he'd be a prettier girl than any of his sisters!" Though his
+wife, Arina Vassilyevna, shed bitter tears and would not be comforted,
+Stepan Mihailovitch sent his son into the Army as soon as he was
+sixteen. He served for three years, and, owing to the influence of
+Mihail Kurolyessoff, acted as aide-de-camp for part of the time to
+Suvoroff. But Suvoroff left the district of Orenburg and was succeeded
+by a German general (I think his name was Treubluth); and he sentenced
+the young man to a severe flogging, from which his entire innocence, if
+not his noble birth, should have protected him. His mother nearly died
+of grief, when she heard it; and even my grandfather thought this was
+going too far. He withdrew his son from the Army and got him a place in
+the law court at Ufa, where he earned promotion by long and zealous
+service.
+
+ [33] Pugatchoff was a Cossack, who raised a formidable rebellion in East
+      Russia; taken prisoner by Suvoroff, he was executed at Moscow in
+      1775.
+
+ [34] The popular form of Xenia; the diminutive is Aksyutka.
+
+ [35] The author's father.
+
+I cannot pass over in silence a strange fact that I have noticed: most
+of the Germans and foreigners in general who held posts in the Russian
+service in those days were notorious for their cruelty and love of
+inflicting corporal punishment. The German who punished young Bagroff so
+cruelly was a Lutheran himself, but at the same time a great stickler
+for all the rites and ceremonies of the Russian Church. This historic
+incident in the annals of the Bagroff family happened in the following
+way. The general ordered a service to be performed in the regimental
+chapel on the eve of some unimportant saint's-day; he was always present
+himself on these occasions, and all officers were expected to attend. It
+was summer, and the chapel windows were open. Suddenly, a voice in the
+street outside struck up a popular song. The general rushed to the
+window: three subalterns were walking along the street, and one of them
+was singing. He ordered them under arrest and sentenced each of them to
+300 lashes. My unfortunate father, who was not singing but merely
+walking with his friends, pleaded his noble birth; but the general said
+with a sneer, "A noble is bound to show special respect to divine
+service"; and then the brute himself looked on till the last stripe was
+inflicted on the innocent youth. This took place in a room next the
+chapel, where the solemn singing of the choir could be distinctly heard;
+and the tyrant forbade his victim to cry out, "for fear of disturbing
+divine worship." After his punishment, he was carried off unconscious to
+hospital, where it was found necessary to cut off his uniform, owing to
+the swelling of his tender young body. It was two months before his back
+and shoulders healed up. What must it have cost his mother to hear such
+news of her only son whom she simply worshipped! My grandfather lodged a
+complaint in some quarter; and his son, who had sent in his papers at
+once, got his discharge from the Army before he left the hospital, and
+entered the Civil Service as an official of the fourteenth or lowest
+class. Eight years had now gone by, and the incident was by this time
+forgotten.
+
+Alexyei Stepanitch was now living peacefully at Ufa and performing his
+duties there. Twice a year he paid a visit to his parents at Bagrovo,
+240 _versts_ away. His life was quite uneventful. Quiet, bashful, and
+unassuming, this young heir to a landed estate lived on good terms with
+all the world, till suddenly the modest course of his existence became
+disturbed.
+
+There was a permanent military administration in the town of Ufa, and
+next in authority the Lieutenant-Governor was Nikolai Zubin, who
+resided regularly in the town. M. Zubin was an honest and able man,
+but his character was weak. His wife had died, leaving three
+children--Sonitchka,[36] a girl of twelve, and two younger boys. He
+was devoted to his daughter; and it was no wonder he should love a
+child so beautiful and so clever, who, in spite of her tender years,
+soon became her father's companion and assisted him in the management
+of the household. Eighteen months after the death of his first wife,
+whom he had loved and sincerely mourned, M. Zubin found consolation by
+falling in love with the daughter of M. Rychkoff, a landowner in
+Orenburg, well-known for his descriptions of that country. The
+marriage soon took place; and the young wife, Alexandra, by her
+intelligence and beauty, soon gained entire control over her
+submissive husband. But she was hard and unfeeling, and conceived a
+hatred for her stepdaughter, her father's darling, who bade fair to
+grow up into a beautiful woman. The thing is common enough. The name
+of stepmother has long been proverbial for cruelty, and it fitted Mme.
+Zubin precisely. But it was by no means easy to tear Sonitchka from
+her place in her father's heart: she was not a girl who could be put
+down easily, and the contest which followed inflamed the stepmother's
+anger to an extraordinary pitch. She swore that this hussy of
+thirteen, who was the idol of her father and all the town, should some
+day live in the maids' room, wear the coarsest clothes, and carry the
+slops out of the children's nursery. She kept her oath to the letter:
+after two or three years, Sonitchka was living with the servants and
+clothed like a scullion, and she scrubbed and cleaned the nursery
+which was now inhabited by two half-sisters. But what was the father
+doing? He had once loved her dearly; but now for whole months he never
+saw her; and when he did meet her going about in rags, he turned away
+with a sigh, wiped away a furtive tear, and made off as soon as
+possible. It is the way of many elderly men who have married again and
+are dominated by young wives. As I do not know exactly the ways and
+methods by which Mme. Zubin attained her object, I shall not speak of
+them; nor shall I dwell upon the cruelties and sufferings inflicted
+upon the bereaved girl, with her sensitive temper and strong will;
+nothing was spared her, not even the most humiliating punishments and
+beatings for imaginary offences. I shall only say, that the
+stepdaughter was not far from suicide, and was only saved from it by a
+miracle. It happened thus. When she had decided to put an end to an
+intolerable existence, the poor child wished to say her last prayer
+before an image of Our Lady of Smolensk, the image with which her
+mother on her deathbed had blessed her. She fell on her knees in her
+garret before the _ikon_, and, with floods of bitter tears, pressed
+her face on the dirt-stained floor. Suffering deprived her of
+consciousness for some minutes; when she recovered and got up, she saw
+the candle, which she had put out the night before, still burning
+before the image. At first she cried out with surprise and involuntary
+fear; but soon she recognised that she had seen a miracle wrought by
+Divine Power. She took courage; she was conscious of a strength and
+composure she had never felt before; and she firmly resolved to suffer
+and endure and live. From that day the helpless child wore armour of
+proof against the increasing exasperation of her stepmother: whatever
+she was told to do, she did; whatever was inflicted upon her, she
+bore. Degrading punishment no longer forced the tears from her eyes,
+no longer made her turn sick and faint, as it used to do. "Mean slut"
+had long been her title, and "desperate wretch" was now added to it.
+But the measure of God's patience now brimmed over, and His thunder
+pealed: Mme. Zubin, in the prime of life and in the pride of her
+health and beauty, died ten days after giving birth to a son.
+Twenty-four hours before the end, knowing that she must die, she was
+eager to take the load off her conscience. Sonitchka was suddenly
+wakened in the night and summoned to her stepmother's bedside. The
+dying woman confessed in the presence of witnesses her guilty conduct
+towards her stepdaughter, begged her forgiveness, and conjured her in
+the name of God to be good to the children. The girl forgave her and
+promised to care for the orphans; and she kept that promise. Mme.
+Zubin confessed also to her husband that the accusations which had
+been brought against his daughter were all calumnies and falsehoods.
+
+ [36] A pet name for Sofya (Sophia). This is the author's mother, whose
+      real name was Marya.
+
+Her death caused a complete reversal of affairs. M. Zubin also had a
+paralytic stroke, and, though he survived for some years, never left his
+bed again. The oppressed and ragged Cinderella, whom the servants--and
+especially those belonging to Mme. Zubin--had been mean enough to
+humiliate and insult to their heart's content, suddenly became the
+absolute mistress of the household, her sick father having put
+everything under her control. The reconciliation between the guilty
+father and the injured daughter was touching and even distressing to the
+daughter and all who saw it. For long, M. Zubin was wrung by remorse:
+his tears flowed day and night, and he repeated the same words over and
+over, "No, Sonitchka, it is impossible you should forgive me!" To each
+one of his acquaintance in the town he formally confessed his misconduct
+towards his daughter; and "Sofya Nikolayevna," as she was now called,
+became the object of general respect and admiration. Made wise by years
+of suffering, this girl of seventeen developed into a grown woman, a
+mother to the children, and the manager of the household. She even
+discharged public duties; for, owing to her father's illness, she
+received all heads of departments, officials, and private citizens; she
+discussed matters with them, wrote letters and official documents, and
+at last became the real manager of the business in her father's office.
+Sofya Nikolayevna nursed her father with anxious care and tenderness;
+she looked after her three brothers and two sisters, and even took
+trouble about the education of the elder children. Her own brothers,
+Serghei and Alexander, were now boys of twelve and ten; and she
+contrived to find teachers for them--a kind old Frenchman called
+Villemer, whom fortune had somehow stranded at Ufa, and a half-educated
+Little Russian who had been exiled to the town for an attempted fraud.
+She availed herself of the opportunity to study with her brothers, and
+worked so hard that she could soon understand a French book or
+conversation and even talk French a little herself. Eighteen months
+later she sent her brothers to Moscow for their education. Through a
+certain M. Anitchkoff who lived at Ufa, she had become acquainted with
+his cousin who lived at Moscow, and they often corresponded. The
+well-known writer, Novikoff, shared a house at Moscow with this M.
+Anitchkoff; and both friends were so struck by the letters from this
+young lady on the banks of the river Byelaya, that they sent her
+regularly all new and important books in the way of Russian literature;
+and this did much for her mental development. This M. Anitchkoff had a
+special respect for her, and considered it an honour to carry out her
+request. He undertook to receive both her brothers and place them at a
+boarding-school connected with Moscow University, and performed his
+undertaking punctiliously. The boys got on well at school, but their
+studies were broken off when the summons came for them to enter the
+Guards, in which they had been enrolled while still in the cradle.
+
+All clever and educated people who came to Ufa hastened to make the
+acquaintance of Sofya Nikolayevna, were attracted by her, and never
+forgot her. Many of these acquaintances became in course of time the
+intimate friends of her children, and the relation was severed only by
+death. I shall name only those of them whom I knew myself--V.
+Romanovsky, A. Avenarius, Peter Chichagoff, Dmitri Myortvavo, and V.
+Itchansky. Scholars also and travellers, attracted by the novelty and
+beauty of the district, invariably made the young lady's acquaintance
+and left written testimony of their admiration for her beauty and wit.
+It is true that her position in society and her home helped her, and
+served, one might say, as a pedestal for the statue; but the statue
+itself was a noble figure. I remember especially the verses of Count
+Manteuffel, a traveller; he sent them to Sofya Nikolayevna with a most
+respectful letter in French; and he also sent a copy of an immense work
+in five quarto volumes, by a Dr. Buchan,[37] which had just been
+translated from English into Russian and made a great sensation in the
+medical world of that day. Buchan's _Domestic Medicine_ was a real
+treasure to Sofya Nikolayevna: she was able to make use of its
+directions to make up medicines for her father's benefit. In his verses
+Count Manteuffel compared the fair lady of Ufa to both Venus and
+Minerva.
+
+ [37] Buchan's _Domestic Medicine_ was published in 1769; the author died
+      in 1805.
+
+In spite of his enfeebled state, M. Zubin did not resign his office for
+several years. Twice a year he gave a ball; he did not appear himself,
+in order to welcome the ladies, but the men went to see him where he lay
+in his study; and the young hostess had to receive the whole town.
+Several times a year, her father insisted on her going out to balls in
+the houses of the leading people, and she yielded to his earnest
+entreaties and put in a short appearance at the ball. She wore fine
+dresses and was an excellent dancer in the fashion of the time. When she
+had gone through a Polish minuet and a single country-dance or
+schottische, she went away at once, after flashing through the room like
+a meteor. All who had the right to be so, were in love with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, but they sighed at a respectful distance; for this young
+lady gave none of them any encouragement whatever.
+
+And with this peerless creature the son of Stepan Mihailovitch fell in
+love! He could not understand and appreciate her fully, but her
+appearance alone and her lively cheerful temper were enough to bewitch a
+man; and bewitched he accordingly was. He saw her first in church, and
+the first sight was enough for his susceptible heart. Alexyei
+Stepanitch--henceforth we shall give him both his names--soon discovered
+that the fair lady received all officials who visited at her father's
+house; and, being himself an official in the law-court, he began to
+appear regularly in her drawing-room, to pay his respects on high days
+and holidays. He saw her every time, and his passion grew steadily. His
+calls were so regular and so prolonged--though he hardly opened his
+mouth--that they soon attracted general notice; and it is probable that
+the first person to notice them was the young hostess herself. Rapturous
+looks, flaming cheeks, helpless confusion--these are the symbols by
+which love has always spoken. A frank passion has been an object of
+ridicule from time immemorial, and all Ufa laughed at Alexyei
+Stepanitch. He was humble and shy and as bashful as a country girl; and
+his only reply to all jests and allusions to the subject was to blush
+the colour of a peony. But Sofya Nikolayevna, so cold and even snubbing
+in her manner to her fashionable admirers, was surprisingly indulgent to
+this speechless worshipper. Perhaps she was sorry for this young man who
+had no armour against all the ridicule he suffered on her behalf;
+perhaps she understood that his was no idle or passing fancy and that
+his whole life was at stake; anyhow, the severe young beauty not only
+bowed graciously and looked kindly at him, but tried also to start
+conversation; and his timid, incoherent replies and agitated voice did
+not seem to her ridiculous or repulsive. I should say, however, that
+Sofya Nikolayevna, though she stood on her dignity with self-assertive
+people, was always kind and condescending to humility and modesty.
+
+Things went on thus for some time. Suddenly, a bold thought flashed on
+the brain of Alexyei Stepanitch--the thought of getting Sofya
+Nikolayevna for his wife. At first he was frightened by his own
+ambition, so bold and so unlikely to be realised. How could he raise his
+eyes to Sofya Nikolayevna, the chief personage in Ufa, and, in his
+opinion, the cleverest and most beautiful woman in the world? He
+abandoned his intention entirely for a time. But by degrees the lady's
+constant goodwill and attention, her friendly glances which seemed to
+him to hold out some encouragement, and, above all, the passion which
+mastered his whole being, recalled the abandoned ideal; and it soon grew
+familiar and became part of his life. There was an old lady called Mme.
+Alakayeff, then living at Ufa to look after a lawsuit, who used to visit
+at the Zubins' house; she was distantly related to Alexyei Stepanitch
+and had always taken a great interest in him. He now began to visit her
+oftener, and did his best to please her; and at last he confessed his
+love for a certain person, and his intention to seek her hand. His love
+was the talk of the town and therefore no news to Mme. Alakayeff; but
+his intention of marrying her was a surprise. "She won't have you," said
+the old lady, shaking her head; "she's too clever, too proud, too highly
+educated. Plenty of people have been in love with her, but not one has
+ever dared to ask the question. You're a handsome lad, certainly,
+well-born and fairly well-off, and you will be rich in course of
+time--everybody knows that; but then you're a plain country fellow, no
+scholar or man of the world, and you're terribly bashful in society."
+Alexyei Stepanitch was aware of all this himself; but love had entirely
+confused his brain, and a voice whispered in his ear day and night that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept him. Though the young man's hopes seemed
+to her unfounded, Mme. Alakayeff consented to go to Sofya Nikolayevna's
+house, where, without making any allusion to his wishes, she would turn
+the conversation on to him and take note of all that was said. She
+started at once, and Alexyei Stepanitch remained in the house till she
+should come back. She was absent for some time, and the lover became so
+distressed and despondent that he began to cry and then fell asleep,
+tired out, with his head leaning against the window. When the old lady
+came back, she wakened him and said with a cheerful air: "Well, Alexyei
+Stepanitch, there is really something in it! When I began to speak about
+you, and was rather hard upon you, Sofya Nikolayevna took up the cudgels
+in earnest on your behalf, and ended by saying that she was sure you
+were very kind and modest and gentle, and respectful to your parents;
+and she said that God sent his blessing on such people, and they were
+much better than your pert and forward talkers." Alexyei Stepanitch was
+so enraptured by this report that he hardly knew where he was. Mme.
+Alakayeff gave him time to recover, and then said with decision: "If
+your mind is quite made up about this, I will tell you what you had
+better do. Go home at once, tell the whole story to your parents, and
+ask for their consent and blessing, before kind people put their oar in.
+If they give you one and the other, I don't refuse to work in your
+cause. Only don't be in a hurry: begin by getting on the soft side of
+your sisters; your mother won't go against your wishes. Of course, your
+father's consent matters most of all. I know him: he is masterful to a
+degree, but he has good sense; have a talk to him when he is in a good
+humour." Alexyei Stepanitch did not see the need of all this caution and
+manoeuvring: he said that his parents would be delighted, and asked what
+possible flaw could be found in Sofya Nikolayevna. "Two terrible flaws,"
+said the shrewd old lady: "she has only twopence to her fortune, and her
+grandfather was a simple sergeant in a Cossack regiment." The
+significance of her words was entirely lost upon Alexyei Stepanitch, but
+the old lady was not wrong in her presentiment, and her warning came too
+late.
+
+Within a week Alexyei Stepanitch got leave of absence. He called on
+Sofya Nikolayevna to say "good-bye," and she treated him kindly, wishing
+him a pleasant journey, and hoping he might find his parents in good
+health and happy to see him. Her kind words encouraged him to hope, and
+off he went home. The old people were glad to see him, but they were
+puzzled by the time of his visit and looked at him inquiringly. His
+sisters--who lived near Bagrovo and came there in hot haste on a summons
+from their mother--kissed their brother and made much of him, but kept
+on smiling for some reason. The youngest sister, Tatyana, was his
+favourite, and he revealed his passion to her ears first. Being a rather
+romantic girl and fonder of her brother than the older sisters were, she
+listened to him with sympathy, and at last went so far as to confide to
+him a great secret: the family knew already of his love-affair and were
+opposed to it. It had happened in this way.
+
+Two months before, Ivan Karatayeff had travelled to Ufa on business and
+brought back this piece of news to his wife. Alexandra Karatayeff--I
+have spoken already of her character--boiled over with rage and
+indignation. She took the lead in the family, and could twist them all,
+except, of course, her father, round her little finger. She set one of
+her brother's servants to spy on his master, and made him report to her
+every detail concerning his love-affair and his life at Ufa; and she
+found a female friend in the town, who first rummaged and ferreted
+about, and then, with the help of a discarded attorney's clerk, sent her
+a long letter composed of town talk and servants' gossip. As her chief
+authorities were the servants of the late Mme. Zubin, it is easy to
+guess the kind of portrait which these enemies drew of Sofya
+Nikolayevna.
+
+It is a well-known fact that in the good old days of the Empress
+Catherine--perhaps it is the case still--there was little love lost
+between a man's wife and his sisters; and the case was worse when the
+sisters had only one brother, because his wife must become the sole and
+undisputed mistress of the household. A great deal of selfishness
+underlies human nature; it often works without our knowledge, and no one
+is exempt from it; honourable and kind people, not recognising selfish
+motives in themselves, quite honestly attribute their actions to other
+and more presentable causes; but they deceive themselves and others
+unintentionally. Where there is no kindness of heart or refinement of
+manners, selfishness shows itself without any concealment or apology;
+and so it was with the womankind of Stepan Mihailovitch. It was
+inevitable that they should all resent their brother's marriage,
+irrespective of his choice. "Alosha will change towards us and love us
+less than before; his bride will be a cuckoo in the nest and push out
+the birds born there"--such would certainly have been the language of
+the sisters, even if Alexyei Stepanitch had chosen a bird of their own
+feather; but Sofya Nikolayevna was worse than anything they could
+imagine. Alexandra summoned her sister Elizabeth and hurried to Bagrovo,
+to communicate to her mother and sisters--of course, with suitable
+embellishments--all the information she had received of her brother's
+goings on. They believed every word she said, and their opinion of Sofya
+Nikolayevna was to the following effect. In the first place, the Zubin
+girl--this was her regular name in the secret meetings of the family
+council--was of mean birth: her grandfather had been a Ural Cossack, and
+her mother, Vyera Ivanovna Kandalintsoff, had belonged to the merchant
+class; the alliance was therefore a degradation to an ancient and noble
+family. In the second place, the Zubin girl was a mere pauper: if her
+father died or was dismissed from his post, she would depend on charity
+for her bread, and all her brothers and sisters would be a stone round
+her husband's neck. Thirdly, the Zubin girl was proud and fashionable, a
+crafty adventuress who was accustomed to lord it over the town of Ufa;
+and she would turn up her nose with no ceremony at plain people living
+in the country, however long their pedigree. Fourthly and lastly, the
+Zubin girl was a witch who used magic herbs to keep all the men running
+after her with their tongues hanging out; and their poor brother was one
+of her victims; she had scented out his future wealth and his easy
+temper, and had determined to marry into a noble family by hook or by
+crook. Alexandra managed the whole affair; her glib and wicked tongue
+frightened them all and soon proved to them, beyond all possibility of
+doubt, that such a marriage was a terrible misfortune for them. "Likely
+enough, she will get round Stepan Mihailovitch himself, and then we're
+all done for; we must leave no stone unturned to prevent the marriage."
+It was clearly of the first importance to impress upon Stepan
+Mihailovitch the worst possible opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna; but who
+was to bell the cat? Their conscience was not clear, and they dared not
+go to work openly. If their father suspected that they had any concealed
+purpose, he would not believe even the truth in that case; once before,
+when there had been some talk of choosing a daughter-in-law, he had seen
+through their repugnance to the scheme and had told them so plainly.
+
+They had recourse therefore to the following stratagem. Arina
+Vassilyevna had a married niece living near; her name was Flona
+Lupenevsky; she was short and stout, a notorious fool and gossip, and
+not averse to strong liquors. She was instructed to come to Bagrovo as
+if on an ordinary visit, and to bring in, among other topics, the
+love-affairs of Alexyei Stepanitch; she was, of course, to represent
+Sofya Nikolayevna in the most unfavourable light. Alexandra spent a long
+time coaching this lady in what she was to say and how she was to say
+it. When she had learnt it as well as she could, Mme. Lupenevsky turned
+up at Bagrovo and had dinner there; after dinner, hosts and guests slept
+for three hours and then assembled for tea. The master of the house was
+in good humour and himself gave his guest an opening to begin her
+performance. "Come now, Flona," he said, "tell us the news you got from
+the travellers to Ufa"--her sister, Mme. Kalpinsky, had just been there
+with her husband--"I warrant they brought home a good budget, and you
+will add as much more out of your own head."
+
+"You will always have your joke, dear uncle," said the lady; "but they
+brought plenty of news, and I have no need to invent." Then off she
+started on a string of silly gossip, true and untrue, which I shall
+spare my readers. My grandfather pretended to disbelieve her throughout,
+even when she was telling the truth; he made fun of her stories, threw
+her out on purpose, and teased her till all the hearers laughed
+heartily. The stupid woman, who had taken a stiff glass on waking to
+give her courage, got vexed at last and said with some heat: "Uncle, why
+do you keep on laughing and believe nothing I say? Wait a moment; I have
+kept one special bit of news for the end, and that won't make you laugh,
+though you can't help believing it." The family exchanged glances, and
+my grandfather laughed. "Come, out with it!" he said coolly; "I shan't
+believe it; and, if I don't laugh at it, it's because I'm bored by your
+stories." "O uncle, uncle," she began, "you're quite in the dark about
+my dear cousin, Alexyei Stepanitch. He's a perfect wreck: the witch of
+Ufa, the daughter of a great man there, Governor or Commander-in-Chief,
+I don't know which, has used devilish arts to fascinate him. She's a
+perfect beauty, they say, and has captivated all the men, young and old;
+she has bewitched them with magic herbs, and they all run after her. And
+my poor cousin, Alexyei Stepanitch, is so bad that he can neither eat
+nor drink nor sleep. He's constantly sitting beside her, he can't take
+his eyes off her, he just looks and sighs; and at night he's always
+walking past her house, carrying a gun and a sword and keeping guard
+over her. They say that the Zubin girl is very sweet upon him; of course
+he's handsome and well-born; she knows what she's about and means to
+marry him. It's natural enough: she has no money, and her father is a
+Cossack's son who rose from the ranks; though he has worked his way up
+and held great posts, he has put nothing by; he has spent every penny on
+dinners and fine parties and dresses for his daughter. The old man is at
+death's door, and there is a swarm of children--half a dozen of them by
+his two wives. They will all settle on your shoulders, uncle, if my
+cousin marries her; she has no portion but the clothes she wears; they
+have silk to their backs but nothing to put in their bellies. And
+Alexyei Stepanitch, they say, is changed out of all knowledge: he looks
+terrible; the very servants weep to see him and dare not inform you.
+Believe me, uncle, every single word is gospel truth. Question his
+servants, and they won't deny it."
+
+At this, Arina Vassilyevna began to cry and her daughters to rub their
+eyes. My grandfather was rather taken aback, but soon recovered himself.
+Then he smiled and said coolly: "Plenty of lies there, and perhaps a
+grain of truth. I have heard myself that the young lady is pretty and
+clever; and that's all the magic there is about it.[38] It's little
+wonder if Alexyei's eyes were dazzled. All the rest is rubbish. Mlle.
+Zubin has no idea of marrying Alexyei; he is no match for her; she will
+find a better man and a more pushing man to marry her. And now, that's
+enough: not a word more on the subject! Let us go and drink tea out of
+doors." As a matter of course, neither Mme. Lupenevsky nor any one else
+dared to refer again to the news from Ufa. The visitor departed in the
+evening. After supper, when Arina Vassilyevna and her daughters were
+about to take a silent farewell of Stepan Mihailovitch, he stopped them
+and said: "Well, Arisha, what do you think about it? Though that stupid
+Flona added plenty of lies, yet it seems to me there is truth in the
+story too. The boy's letters have been quite different of late. The
+thing needs some looking into. The best plan would be to summon Alosha
+here; we shall learn all the truth from him." At this point Alexandra
+offered to send a special messenger to Ufa to find out the truth through
+a relation of her husband's: "She is a very honest woman," she said,
+"and nothing would make her tell a lie." Her father agreed not to send
+for his son till the fresh report arrived. Alexandra started at once for
+her own house, which was not more than 30 _versts_ from Bagrovo, and
+returned in a week, bringing with her the letter I have mentioned
+already, which she had received long before from her gossiping female
+friend at Ufa. This letter was shown and read aloud to Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and, though he put little faith in the women as detectives
+and informers, some statements in the letter seemed to him probable, and
+he was displeased. He said positively, that, if Mlle. Zubin did wish to
+marry Alosha, he would forbid it, on the ground of her birth. "Write by
+the next post to Alosha," he said, "and tell him to come home." A few
+days passed, and were used by the women to prejudice Stepan Mihailovitch
+as strongly as possible against the marriage; and then, as we know
+already, the young man turned up at Bagrovo without having received the
+letter.
+
+ [38] In general, my grandfather had little belief in witchcraft. A
+      wizard once told him that a gun was charmed and would not go off.
+      He took out the shot secretly and fired at the wizard, who got a
+      great fright. But he recovered and said that my grandfather himself
+      was "a man of power"; and this was generally believed, except by
+      Stepan Mihailovitch. (_Author's note._)
+
+Alexyei Stepanitch heard the whole of this story from Tatyana, and it
+made him very serious and uneasy. He was not by nature strong-willed,
+and had been brought up in blind obedience to his family and his father.
+In his alarm, he did not know what to do. At last he decided to speak to
+his mother. Arina Vassilyevna was devoted to her only son; but, as she
+was accustomed to look on him as still a child and convinced that this
+child had taken a fancy to a dangerous toy, she met his avowal of strong
+feeling with the words one would use to a child who begged to hold the
+hot poker; and, when this treatment brought the tears to his eyes, she
+tried to comfort him in the way that a child is comforted for the loss
+of a favourite toy. He might say what he pleased, he might try as he
+pleased to refute the slander brought against Sofya Nikolayevna--his
+mother either did not listen at all or listened without attending. Two
+more days passed by; the young man's heart was breaking; though his love
+and longing for Sofya Nikolayevna increased every hour, it is probable
+that he would not easily have plucked up courage to broach the subject
+to his father; but Stepan Mihailovitch took the first step. Early one
+fine morning, he was sitting as usual on his stoop, when Alexyei
+Stepanitch, looking rather pale and worn after an almost sleepless
+night, came out to join his father. The old man was in a cheerful mood;
+he greeted his son affectionately, and then, looking attentively at his
+face, he read what was going on within. He gave him his hand to kiss,
+and then said, not in anger but with energy: "Listen to me, Alexyei! I
+know the burden on your mind, and I see that this fancy has taken a
+strong hold of you. Just tell me the story now, the whole truth and
+nothing but the truth." Alexyei Stepanitch felt more fear than love for
+his father, and was not in the way of speaking to him frankly; but his
+love for Sofya Nikolayevna lent him courage. He threw himself at his
+father's feet and repeated the whole story, omitting no details and
+keeping nothing back. Stepan Mihailovitch listened with patience and
+attention. When one of the family appeared in the distance and evidently
+meant to come and say "good morning," he waved his blackthorn staff with
+a significant gesture, and then nobody, not even Aksyutka with the tea,
+dared approach before he summoned them. Though his son's story was
+ill-arranged, confused, long, and unconvincing, yet Stepan Mihailovitch
+with his clear head made out the gist of the matter. But unfortunately
+he did not and could not approve of it. Of the romantic side of love he
+had small appreciation, and his masculine pride was offended by his
+son's susceptibility, which seemed to him degrading weakness in a man
+and a sign of worthlessness; and yet at the same time he saw that Sofya
+Nikolayevna was not in the least to blame, and that all the evil he had
+heard about her was merely malicious falsehood, due to the ill will of
+his own womankind. After a little reflection, he said, with no sign of
+anger, even affectionately, but firmly: "Listen to me, Alexyei! You are
+just at the time of life when a pretty girl may easily take a man's
+fancy. In that there is no harm whatever; but I see that you have gone
+too far, and that does not do. I don't blame Sofya Nikolayevna in the
+least; she seems to me a very worthy girl; but she's not a good match
+for you, and she won't suit us. In the first place, her nobility dates
+from yesterday, while you are the descendant of an ancient and noble
+line. Then she is accustomed to town life, highly educated, and
+independent; since her stepmother died she has ruled a household; and,
+though poor herself, she is used to luxury; but we are plain country
+people, and you know yourself how we live. And you ought to know your
+own character; you're too compliant. But her cleverness is the chief
+objection to her; to marry a wife cleverer than one's self is a mistake;
+she is sure to rule her husband; and you are so much in love that you
+are certain to spoil her at first. Well, as your father, I now bid you
+clear your head of this notion. I confess I don't believe myself that
+Sofya Nikolayevna would accept you. Choose your shoe of the right size,
+and it won't pinch your foot. We will find out a wife for you here--some
+gentle, quiet girl, well-born and with some money. Then you can give up
+your office and live here in comfort. You know, my boy, we're not
+rolling in wealth. We get enough to eat, but very little money comes in.
+As to the Kurolyessoff legacy, about which people made such a noise, I
+never give it a thought; we can't count on it: Praskovya Ivanovna is
+young enough to marry and have children of her own. Now, mind what I
+say, Alosha: throw all this off like water off a duck's back, and don't
+let me hear again of Sofya Nikolayevna." Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave
+his hand graciously to his son, who kissed it as respectfully as usual.
+The old man ordered tea to be served and the family to be summoned; he
+was more than usually cheerful and friendly to them all, but Alexyei
+Stepanitch was terribly depressed. No anger on his father's part would
+have produced such an effect; that was soon over and was always followed
+by indulgence and kindness, but the old man's quiet determination
+deprived him of all hope. There was a change in his expression, so
+sudden and complete, that his mother was frightened to see it and plied
+him with questions--"Was he unwell? What had happened to him?" His
+sisters noticed the change also, but they were more cunning and held
+their tongues. None of this was lost on Stepan Mihailovitch. He looked
+askance at Arina Vassilyevna and muttered through his teeth, "Don't
+worry the boy!" So they took no more notice of him but left him in
+peace, and the day went on with its usual routine.
+
+The conversation with his father made a deep impression on Alexyei
+Stepanitch; one may say that it crushed him. His appetite and sleep
+failed, he lost interest in everything, even his bodily strength was
+affected. His mother shed tears, and even his sisters were uneasy. Next
+day his mother found it difficult to get from him any account of the
+interview with his father. To all inquiries he returned the same answer:
+"My father won't hear of it; I am a lost man, and life will soon be over
+for me." And within a week he did really take to his bed; he was very
+weak and often half-conscious; and, though his skin was not hot, he was
+constantly delirious. No one could understand what was the matter with
+him; but it was simply a nervous fever. The family were terribly
+alarmed. As there were no doctors in the neighbourhood, they treated him
+with domestic remedies; but he grew steadily worse till he was so weak
+that his death was expected hourly. His mother and sisters screamed and
+tore their hair. Stepan Mihailovitch, though he shed no tears and was
+not always sitting by the bedside, probably suffered more than any one;
+he understood perfectly what had caused this illness. But youth at last
+asserted itself, and the turn came after exactly six weeks. Alexyei
+Stepanitch woke up to life an absolute child, and life was slow in
+resuming its normal course with him; his convalescence lasted two
+months, and all the past seemed to have been blotted out from his
+memory. Everything that he saw, both indoors and out, pleased him as
+much as if it were new and strange. At last he got perfectly well; his
+face filled out and got back the healthy colour which it had lost for
+more than a year; he went out fishing and shooting quails, ate and drank
+heartily, and was in good spirits. His parents felt more joy than they
+could express, and were convinced that the illness had expelled all
+former thoughts and feelings from his head and heart. And perhaps this
+would really have been the case if they had taken him away from Ufa,
+kept him a whole year at home, and found a pretty girl for him to marry.
+But their fears were lulled to rest by his present condition, and they
+sent him back to the same place and the same duties after six months.
+This settled his fate once for all. The old passion revived and blazed
+up with far greater power. I do not know whether love came back to his
+heart all at once or by degrees; I only know that he went seldom at
+first to the Zubins' house, and then oftener, and at last as often as he
+could. I know also that his old friend, Mme. Alakayeff, continued her
+visits to Sofya Nikolayevna, sounding her cautiously as to her
+sentiments and bringing back favourable reports, which confirmed her own
+hope that the proud beauty was not indifferent to her humble worshipper.
+A few months after Alexyei Stepanitch had returned to Ufa, a letter from
+him suddenly arrived at Bagrovo, in which he declared to his parents,
+with his usual affection and respect, but also with a firmness not
+characteristic of him, that he loved Sofya Nikolayevna more than his own
+life and could not live without her; he had hopes of her accepting him,
+and asked his parents to give him their blessing and their consent to
+the match. This letter was a great surprise and shock to the old people.
+Stepan Mihailovitch knitted his brows but did not express his feelings
+by a single word. The family all sat round in perfect silence till he
+dismissed them by a gesture. When he was alone, my grandfather sat there
+a long time, tracing patterns on the floor of his room with his
+blackthorn staff. He soon realised that it was a bad business, that they
+had been mistaken, and that no fever would cure the lad of his passion.
+His impulsive and kindly nature shook his resolve and made him inclined
+to give his consent, as may be inferred from what he said to his wife.
+When they were alone together next morning, he said: "Well, Arisha, what
+do you think of it? If we refuse, we shall see no more of Alosha than of
+our own ears. He will die of grief, or go off to the wars, or become a
+monk--and that's the end of the Bagroff family!" But Arina Vassilyevna
+had been primed already by her daughters, and she answered, as if her
+son ran no risk: "As you please, Stepan Mihailovitch; your will is mine
+too. But how can you hope they will respect you in future, if they
+resist your positive commands now?" This mean and cunning trick was
+successful: the old man's pride was touched, and he resolved to stand
+firm. He dictated a letter, in which he expressed surprise that his son
+should begin the old business over again, and repeated what he had
+already said by word of mouth. In short, the letter contained a positive
+refusal.
+
+Two or three weeks passed, and brought no reply from Alexyei Stepanitch.
+Then there came one stormy autumn morning, when my grandfather was
+sitting across his bed in his own room; he was wearing his favourite
+dressing-gown of fine camel's hair over a shirt buttoning up at the
+side, and had slippers on his bare feet. Arina Vassilyevna was sitting
+near him with her spinning-wheel, spinning goat's down and carefully
+drawing out the fine long threads with which she intended to make
+cloth--cloth to provide her son with light, warm, comfortable garments.
+Tanyusha was sitting by the window, reading a book. Elizabeth, who was
+on a visit to Bagrovo, was sitting on the bed near her father, telling
+him of her troubles--her husband's poor prospects, and the shifts they
+had to practise at home to make ends meet. The old man listened sadly,
+with his hands on his knees, and his head, now turning white, bent down
+over his breast. Suddenly the door opened; and Ivan, a tall, handsome
+lad, wearing a travelling jacket, entered the room with a quick step and
+delivered a letter which he had brought from the post-town 25 _versts_
+away. The stir among the party showed that the letter was eagerly
+expected. "From Alosha?" asked the old man quickly and uneasily. "From
+my brother," answered Tanyusha, who had gone to meet Ivan, taken the
+letter quickly from him, and looked at the address. "You have lost no
+time, and I thank you. A dram for Ivan! Then go and have your dinner and
+rest." The spirit-case was opened at once; Tanyusha took out a long,
+cut-glass decanter, filled a silver cup with brandy, and handed it to
+Ivan. Ivan crossed himself and drank it, then coughed, bowed, and left
+the room. "Read it aloud, Tanyusha," said her father; she did his
+reading and writing for him. She placed herself by the window; her
+father left his bed and her mother her spinning-wheel, and all crowded
+round the reader, who had unsealed the letter by this time but dared not
+take a preliminary peep. After a moment's silence, the letter was read
+slowly and audibly. It began with the form of address usual in those
+days--"Dear and honoured Father, and dear and honoured Mother," and then
+went on in this fashion--
+
+"In answer to my last letter, I had the misfortune to receive a refusal
+of my request, my dearest parents. I cannot go against your will; I
+submit to it, but I cannot long drag the burden of my life without my
+adored Sofya Nikolayevna; and therefore a fatal bullet shall ere long
+pierce the head of your unhappy son."[39]
+
+ [39] I know the letter nearly by heart. It probably still exists among
+      the old papers of one of my brothers. Some expressions in it are
+      clearly borrowed from the novels which Alexyei Stepanitch was fond
+      of reading. (_Author's note._)
+
+The letter produced a powerful effect. My aunts began to whimper; my
+grandmother, who was taken utterly by surprise, turned pale, threw out
+her hands, and flopped down on the ground like a corn-sheaf. Even in
+those days fainting-fits were not unknown. Stepan Mihailovitch never
+stirred; but his head bent a little to one side, as it used to do when a
+fit of anger was coming on, and began to tremble slightly; and that
+tremulous motion went on from that hour till his death. The daughters
+rushed to their mother's aid and soon brought her back to her senses. At
+once, Arina Vassilyevna threw herself at her husband's feet, raising the
+cry of mourning for the dead; and her daughters followed her example.
+Taking no notice of the storm-signals on his brow, and quite forgetting
+that she herself had egged him on to disappoint his son, she cried at
+the top of her voice: "_Batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch! have pity and do
+not be the death of your own child, our only son! Give Alosha leave to
+marry! If anything happens to him, I will not live one hour longer!" The
+old man never stirred. At last he said in an unsteady voice: "Enough of
+that howling! Alosha deserves a good whipping. But we'll leave it till
+to-morrow; morning brings good counsel. Now go and order dinner to be
+served." Dinner my grandfather regarded as a sedative at every domestic
+crisis. Arina Vassilyevna tried to begin again--"Mercy! Mercy!"--but
+Stepan Mihailovitch called out loudly, "Leave the room, all of
+you!"--and in his voice was audible the roar that goes before a storm.
+The room was cleared instantly, and no one ventured near him before the
+dinner-hour.
+
+It is hard to imagine the thoughts that passed through his mind in the
+interval, the struggle that took place in that iron heart between love
+and prudence, and the final defeat of the stubborn spirit; but, when
+Mazan's voice was heard outside the door, announcing dinner, my
+grandfather came out of his room quite composed. His face was rather
+pale, but his wife and daughters, who were standing, each by her own
+chair, till he appeared, could not see the faintest sign of anger; on
+the contrary, he was quieter and more cheerful than he had been in the
+morning, and made a hearty meal. Arina Vassilyevna had to harden her
+heart and suit her conversation to his mood; she dared not even sigh,
+far less ask questions; in vain she tried to guess what was passing
+through her husband's mind; the little chestnut-brown eyes in her fat
+face might ask what questions they pleased, but the dark-blue eyes of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, for all their frank good-humoured expression, gave
+no answer. After dinner he lay down as usual, and woke in a still more
+cheerful mood, but not a syllable did he utter about his son or the
+letter. Yet it was clear that no wrath was brooding in the old man's
+heart. When he said "good night"; to his wife after supper, she ventured
+to say, "Please say something about Alosha." He smiled and answered:
+"Did I not say that morning thoughts are best? Go to sleep, and God
+bless you!"
+
+Morning did indeed bring good counsel and kindly action. My grandfather
+got up at four o'clock when Mazan was kindling his fire, and his first
+words were: "Tanaichonok, you are to take a letter at once to Ufa for
+Alexyei Stepanitch. Get ready immediately, and no one is to know your
+errand or where you are going. Put the young brown horse in the shafts,
+and the roarer abreast of him. Take six bushels of oats with you and a
+loaf of bread. Ask the housekeeper for two _roubles_ in copper for your
+expenses. See that all is ready when my letter is written, and don't
+lose a moment!" When my grandfather demanded haste, he always got it.
+Then he opened the oak desk which served him as a writing-table, got
+writing materials, and with some effort--for ten years past he had
+written nothing but his signature--he wrote as follows in a stiff,
+old-fashioned hand:--
+
+    "_Dear Son Alexyei_,
+
+    "Your mother, Arina Vassilyevna, and I, give you our permission
+    to marry Sofya Nikolayevna Zubin, if that be God's will, and we
+    send you our blessing.
+
+        "Your father,
+
+          "_Stepan Bagroff_."
+
+Half an hour later, long before it was light, Tanaichonok had reached
+the top of the long hill and passed the stackyard, and was trotting
+briskly along the road to Ufa. At six o'clock Stepan Mihailovitch
+ordered Aksyutka to bring the _samovar_ but to wake no one in the house.
+In spite of this, the mistress was called and told in confidence that
+Tanaichonok had started very early with a pair of horses from the
+stable; he was carrying a letter from the master, but his destination
+was unknown. She did not venture to join her husband at once: she waited
+an hour or so, and appeared when he had finished his tea and was
+chatting with Aksyutka, the maid, who had been plain as a child and was
+now still plainer in middle life. "Well, what did they wake you for?"
+said Stepan Mihailovitch, holding out his hand to his wife. "I dare say
+you had a bad night." Arina Vassilyevna kissed his hand respectfully:
+"No," she said, "no one called me, I woke of myself; and I had a good
+night, for I hoped you would be kind to our poor boy." He looked
+attentively at her; but her face was accustomed to wear a mask, and he
+could not read her thoughts. "In that case," he said, "I have good news
+for you. I have sent a special messenger to Ufa and written to Alexyei
+that he has permission from us both to marry Sofya Nikolayevna."
+
+Arina Vassilyevna had been horrified by her son's tragic intentions, and
+had sincerely begged and prayed her stern husband to consent to the
+marriage. Yet, when she heard how Stepan Mihailovitch had decided, she
+felt more fear than joy; or rather, she did not dare to feel joy,
+because she feared her daughters. She knew already what Elizabeth
+thought of the letter, and guessed what Alexandra would say. For these
+reasons she received the decision, which her husband hoped would delight
+her, rather coldly and strangely; and this did not escape him. Elizabeth
+expressed no satisfaction whatever, but merely respectful submission to
+her father's will; but Tanyusha, who took her brother's letter quite
+seriously, rejoiced with all her heart. Elizabeth was not alarmed even
+at first by her brother's threat; she shed tears and interceded for him,
+merely because it would not look well to act differently from her mother
+and youngest sister. She wrote at once to Alexandra, who was furious
+when she heard of the decision and came with all speed to Bagrovo. She
+too treated her brother's letter as an empty threat, a trick suggested
+by Sofya Nikolayevna; and the two together soon converted their mother
+and even Tanyusha to this belief. But the matter was settled, and open
+rebellion was now out of the question. Stepan Mihailovitch had thought
+that Sofya Nikolayevna would refuse his son; but no one else at Bagrovo
+believed this. But it is time now to leave Bagrovo and see what was
+going on at Ufa.
+
+I will not take upon myself to decide positively whether Alexyei
+Stepanitch really intended to shoot himself, if his parents were
+obdurate, or took a hint from some incident in a novel and tried to
+excite their fears by suggesting the awful result of their refusal.
+Judging by the later development of his character--and I knew it well--I
+cannot think him capable of either course of action. Therefore, as I
+suppose, the young man was not playing a trick in order to frighten his
+parents; on the contrary, he sincerely intended to blow out his brains,
+if he was forbidden to marry Sofya Nikolayevna. But at the same time I
+do not think he could ever have brought himself to carry out his fatal
+purpose, although your mild quiet people, who are often called
+faint-hearted, are sometimes more capable of desperate actions than men
+of bold and energetic temperament. The idea of suicide was certainly
+borrowed from some novel: it was quite out of keeping with the character
+of Alexyei Stepanitch, his view of life, and the circle of ideas in
+which he had been born and brought up. However that may be, when he had
+launched the fatal letter, he became greatly agitated and was soon laid
+up with fever. His friend and confidante, Mme. Alakayeff, knew nothing
+of the letter; she came to see him daily and soon perceived that his
+illness and his love-affair were not enough to account for his excessive
+agitation. She was sitting beside him one day, knitting a stocking and
+talking about trifles, in order to amuse the invalid and distract his
+mind from his hopeless passion; he was lying on the sofa, with his hands
+behind his head, looking out of the window. Suddenly he turned as white
+as a sheet. A cart with a pair of horses had turned off the street into
+the courtyard, and he recognised the horses and Tanaichonok. He sprang
+to his feet, cried out, "A message from my father, from Bagrovo!" and
+made for the door. Mme. Alakayeff seized his arm, and, with the help of
+a servant, prevented him from hurrying to the steps; it was wet and cold
+autumn weather. Meanwhile Tanaichonok came quickly into the room and
+delivered the letter. Alexyei Stepanitch broke the seal with trembling
+fingers, read the few lines, burst into tears, and fell on his knees
+before the _ikon_. Mme. Alakayeff was puzzled until he handed her the
+letter; but, when she had read it, she too shed tears of joy. The young
+man was beside himself with happiness. He now confessed the nature of
+the letter he had written to his parents, and she shook her head when
+she heard it. Tanaichonok was called in and closely questioned; when he
+told how he had been sent off, they saw that Stepan Mihailovitch had
+settled the matter by himself, without the knowledge of his womankind
+and probably against their wishes.
+
+Mme. Alakayeff was entirely taken by surprise: even when she had read
+the letter over again she could not believe her own eyes, because she
+knew Stepan Mihailovitch of old and quite realised the opposition of the
+family. But, when the first excitement of surprise and joy was over, the
+two began to discuss how they should set to work. So long as opposition
+from their own side made the marriage seem remote and impossible, they
+had been sanguine as to the feelings of the lady; but now a doubt seized
+on Mme. Alakayeff. When she recalled and examined all the favourable
+signs, she felt that perhaps she had attached more importance to them
+than they deserved; and, like a sensible woman, she made haste to
+moderate the young man's confident hopes, prudently calculating that, if
+he were seduced by them, he would find it harder to bear the sudden
+collapse of those radiant dreams. A refusal now seemed to her quite
+possible, and her fears had effect upon her companion. Still, she did
+not back out of her promise to help him: on the contrary, she went next
+day and laid his proposal before Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+Simply, clearly, and with no exaggeration, she described the constant
+and ardent attachment of Alexyei Stepanitch--all the town had long known
+it, and certainly Sofya Nikolayevna did; she spoke warmly of the fine
+character of her young relative, his kind heart, his rare modesty; she
+gave true and exact details of his financial position and prospects; she
+told the facts about his family, not forgetting to state that he had
+received by letter yesterday his parents' blessing and their full
+consent to seek the hand of a lady so worthy and highly respected as
+Sofya Nikolayevna; she added, that the young man had caught a fever in
+the excitement of waiting for his parents' reply, but found it
+impossible to postpone the decision of his fate, and therefore had asked
+her, as his kinswoman and a friend of Sofya Nikolayevna's, to find out
+whether a formal proposal for her hand, laid before her father, would be
+distasteful to her or not.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had long been accustomed to act for herself: without
+confusion and without any of the affectation and prudery expected of
+women in those days, she replied as follows:--
+
+"I thank Alexyei Stepanitch for the honour he has done me, and you, dear
+lady, for your interest in the matter. I say frankly that I noticed long
+ago his partiality for me and have long expected that he would make me a
+proposal; but I have never decided whether I would accept or reject it.
+His last visit to his parents, the suddenness--you told me this
+yourself--of his long and dangerous illness at home, and the change in
+him when he came back to Ufa--these were signs that his parents
+disapproved of me as a daughter-in-law. This, I confess, I did not
+expect; it seemed more natural to fear opposition on the part of my
+father. Later I saw that Alexyei Stepanitch had revived his former
+feeling for me; and now I suppose that he has been able to induce his
+father and mother to consent. But you must admit yourself, my dear lady,
+that the matter now assumes quite a new aspect. To enter a family where
+one is not welcome, is too great a risk. Certainly, my father would not
+oppose my choice; but can I venture to conceal the truth from him? If he
+were to learn that an obscure country squire thought twice before
+admitting me to the honour of alliance with his family, he would
+consider it a degradation, and nothing would induce him to consent. I am
+not in love with Alexyei Stepanitch: I only respect his good qualities
+and his constant affection, and I believe he might make the woman he
+loved happy. Allow me, therefore, to think it over; and also, before I
+speak of this to my father and trouble him in his feeble state with such
+news, I wish to speak myself to Alexyei Stepanitch. Let him come and see
+us, when he is well enough."
+
+Mme. Alakayeff reported this answer exactly to the young man. He did not
+think it promising, but she disagreed with him and tried to sooth his
+anxiety.
+
+After parting on very friendly terms with her visitor, Sofya Nikolayevna
+sat for a long time alone in her drawing-room, and thought hard. Her
+bright lively eyes were clouded; sombre thoughts raced through her brain
+and were reflected on the mirror of her beautiful face. All that she had
+said to Mme. Alakayeff was perfectly true: the question, whether she
+should marry Alexyei Stepanitch or not, was really not settled. But the
+proposal had now been made, and it was necessary to make the great
+decision, so critical in every woman's life. Sofya Nikolayevna had an
+unusually clear head; in later years, the trials of life and her own
+passionate temperament may have warped her judgment, but she was able
+then to see everything exactly in its true light. Her prospects were not
+bright. Her father was a hopeless invalid, and Zanden, their best
+doctor, declared he could not live more than a year. His property
+consisted of two villages near Ufa, Zubkova and Kasimofka--forty serfs
+in all and a small amount of land; he had also scraped together a sum of
+10,000 _roubles_ which he intended as a portion for his daughter. To see
+her married was his constant and eager desire; but strange things do
+happen, and Sofya Nikolayevna had never before received a formal offer.
+He would leave behind him six orphans, the children of his two
+marriages, and separate guardians would have to be appointed. The three
+youngest would go to their grandmother, Mme. Rychkoff; their mother's
+fortune consisted of a small estate of fifty serfs. Sofya Nikolayevna's
+own brothers were at a boarding-school in Moscow; she would be left
+absolutely alone, without even distant relations to take her under their
+roof. In short, she had no where to lay her head. To face poverty and
+want, to live on the charity of strangers and in complete dependence
+upon strangers--such a fate might distress any one; but to a girl who
+had lived in comfort and held a high position in society, a girl proud
+by nature and flattered by general attention and popularity, a girl who
+had experienced all the burden of dependence and then all the charm of
+authority--such a change might well seem intolerable. And here was a
+young man, good-looking, honest, modest, the heir of an ancient line and
+an only son, whose father possessed 180 serfs and who was himself to
+inherit wealth from an aunt; and this young man worshipped her and
+offered her his hand and heart. At first sight, hesitation seemed out of
+the question. But, on the other hand, they were ill-matched in mind and
+temperament. No one in the town could believe that Sofya Nikolayevna
+would accept Alexyei Stepanitch, and she realised the justice of public
+opinion and could not but attach importance to it. She was considered a
+marvel of beauty and intelligence: her suitor was certainly pretty in a
+boyish way--which was no recommendation to Sofya Nikolayevna--but rather
+simple and stupid, and passed with every one for a plain country lad.
+She was quick and enterprising: he was timid and slow. She was educated
+and might almost be called learned, had read much, and had a wide range
+of intellectual interests: he was quite ignorant, had read nothing but a
+few silly novels and a song-book, and cared for little beyond snaring
+quails and flying his hawks. She was witty and tactful and shone in
+society: he could not string three words together; clumsy, shy, abject,
+and ridiculous, he could only blush and bow and squeeze into a corner or
+against a door, to escape from the talkative and sociable young men whom
+he positively feared, though he was in truth far cleverer than many of
+them. She had a firm, positive, unbending temper: he was humble and
+wanting in energy, easily silenced and easily discomfited. Was he the
+man to support and defend his wife in society and in domestic life?
+
+Such were the contradictory thoughts and ideas and fancies which swarmed
+in the young girl's mind, mingling and jostling one another. Long after
+darkness had come down, she was still sitting there alone. At last a
+feeling of extreme misery, a terrible certainty that her reason was
+utterly baffled and growing less and less able to solve her problem,
+turned her thoughts to prayer. She hurried to her room to beg for the
+light of reason from on high, and fell on her knees before the image of
+Our Lady of Smolensk, who had once before by a miracle lightened her
+darkness and pointed out to her the path of life. For a long time she
+prayed, and her hot tears fell. But by degrees she felt a kind of
+relief, a measure of strength, a power of resolve, though she did not
+know yet what her resolve would be; and even this feeling helped her.
+She went downstairs to look at her father in his sleep; then she came
+back to her own room, lay down, and went peacefully to sleep. When she
+woke next morning, she was perfectly composed; she reflected for a few
+minutes, gave a thought to her hesitation and perplexity of the night
+before, and then kept quietly to her purpose, which was, first to have a
+conversation with her suitor, and then to settle the matter definitely,
+in accordance with the impression left on her mind by their interview.
+
+Alexyei Stepanitch, wishing to know his fate as soon as possible, sent
+for the doctor and begged to be put on his legs without delay. The
+doctor promised to let him out soon and kept his promise for once.
+Within a week Alexyei Stepanitch, though still pale, thin, and feeble,
+was sitting in Sofya Nikolayevna's drawing-room. Touched by the loss of
+colour and change in his young face, she was not quite as outspoken and
+rigorous as she meant to be. In substance she repeated to him what she
+had said to Mme. Alakayeff, but she added two points--that she would not
+part from her father while he lived, and that she would not live in the
+country. She wished to live in a town, in Ufa, for choice, where she was
+acquainted with many worthy and cultivated people, and hoped to enjoy
+their society after her marriage. She ended by saying that she would
+like to see her husband in the public service and holding a position in
+the town, which, if not brilliant, should at least secure deference and
+respect. To all these conditions and anticipations of a wife's rights,
+Alexyei Stepanitch replied, with abject humility, that her will was law
+to him, and that his happiness would consist in the fulfilment of all
+her wishes. Such an answer no man should have given: it proved that his
+love was not to be depended on, and that he could not assure a woman's
+happiness; yet it pleased Sofya Nikolayevna, clever as she was.
+Reluctantly I must confess that love of power was one of her ruling
+passions; and the germs of this passion, now that she had been released
+from the cruel oppression of her stepmother, were sprouting actively at
+this time. Love of power did really, though she herself did not know it,
+help her to her decision.
+
+She expressed a wish to see the letter of consent which he had received
+from his parents; and he produced it from his pocket. She read it and
+was convinced that she was right in guessing that his wishes had at
+first been opposed. The young man was incapable of dissimulation, and
+also so much in love that he could not resist a kind look or word from
+his idol. So, when Sofya Nikolayevna demanded perfect frankness, he made
+a clean breast of everything; and I believe that this frankness finally
+settled the question in his favour. Sofya Nikolayevna was clever, but
+still she was a woman; and she was filled with the idea of reshaping and
+remoulding in her own way this good-tempered young man, so modest and
+sincere and uncorrupted by society. How delightful to think of the
+gradual awakening and enlightenment of this Orson! Orson had no lack of
+sense; and feeling, though wrapt in unbroken slumber, was there too.
+Orson would love her still better, if that were possible, in gratitude
+for his transformation. This vision took hold of her eager imagination;
+and she parted very graciously from her adorer, promising to talk the
+matter over with her father and communicate the result through Mme.
+Alakayeff. Alexyei Stepanitch was "swimming in bliss"--to use an
+expression of that day. That evening Sofya Nikolayevna again had
+recourse to prayer, and prayed for a long time with great mental strain
+and fervour. She was exhausted when she went to sleep; and she had a
+dream which she interpreted, as people often do, as a confirmation of
+her purpose. Men are clever enough to interpret anything according to
+their desires. This dream I forget; but I remember that it was capable,
+with much more probability and much less forcing, of the opposite
+interpretation. Next morning Sofya Nikolayevna lost no time in telling
+her father, who was now in a very feeble state, of the proposal she had
+received. M. Zubin did not know Alexyei Stepanitch, but had somehow come
+to think of him as a person of no importance; and he was not pleased, in
+spite of his eager desire to see his daughter settled before he died.
+But she proved to him, with her usual eagerness and convincing
+eloquence, that it was unwise to show the door to such a suitor. She
+urged all the advantages of the match which we know already, and, above
+all, that, far from parting with him, she would continue to live in the
+same house. She painted her helpless condition when it should please God
+to remove her father, till the sick man shed a tear and said: "Do as you
+please, my dear clever child. I consent to everything. Bring your future
+husband to see me soon: I wish to become better acquainted with him. And
+I insist on receiving a proposal in writing from his parents."
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna then sent a note to Mme. Alakayeff, asking Alexyei
+Stepanitch to call on her father at a fixed hour. He was still "swimming
+in bliss," which he shared only with his old friend and supporter; but
+he was much disconcerted by this invitation which he had never expected
+from such a confirmed invalid. M. Zubin, in the absence of the
+Lieutenant-Governor the most important and powerful personage in the
+whole district of Ufa! M. Zubin, whom he had always approached with
+reverence and awe! His name seemed now more formidable than ever. What
+if he frowned on this proposal for his daughter's hand from one of the
+humblest of his subordinates? Might he not treat it as insolence, and
+thunder out: "How dared you think of my daughter? Are you a fit match
+for her? Off with him to prison and to judgment!" However wild these
+notions may appear, they did really pass through the young man's head;
+and he often told the story afterwards himself. Plucking up his spirits
+and encouraged by Mme. Alakayeff, he put on his uniform which hung
+loosely on his limbs from loss of flesh, and set off to wait on the
+great man. With his three-cornered hat under his arm, and clutching his
+troublesome sword in a trembling hand, he entered M. Zubin's study, so
+nervous that he could hardly breathe. M. Zubin, who had once been
+clever, lively, and energetic, now lay on his couch hardly able to move
+and shrunk to a mere skeleton. The visitor bowed low and remained
+standing by the door. This in itself was enough to annoy the invalid.
+"Step this way, M. Bagroff, and take a chair near my bed; I am too weak
+to talk loud." Alexyei Stepanitch, with a profusion of bows, sat down on
+the edge of a chair close to the bed. "I understand that you seek my
+daughter's hand," the old man went on. The suitor jumped up, bowed, and
+said that he did in fact venture to seek this happiness.
+
+I could report the whole of this interview in detail, as I have often
+heard it fully described by Alexyei Stepanitch himself; but part of it
+would be a repetition of what we know already, and I am afraid of
+wearying my readers. The important points are these. M. Zubin questioned
+the young man about his family, his means, and his intentions with
+regard to his profession and place of residence; he said that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would have nothing but her portion of 10,000 _roubles_, two
+families of serfs as servants, and 3000 _roubles_ in cash for initial
+expenses; and he added: "Though I am quite sure that you, as a dutiful
+son, would not have made such a proposal without the consent of your
+parents, yet they may change their minds; and social usage requires that
+they should write to me personally on the subject; and I cannot give you
+a positive answer till I receive a letter to that effect." Alexyei
+Stepanitch got up repeatedly, bowed, and sat down again. He agreed to
+everything and promised to write that very day to his parents. In half
+an hour the invalid said that he was tired--which was perfectly
+true--and dismissed the young man rather drily. The moment he left,
+Sofya Nikolayevna entered her father's study; he was lying with closed
+eyes, and his face expressed weariness and also anxiety. Hearing his
+daughter's approach, he threw an imploring glance at her, pressed his
+hands to his breast, and ejaculated: "Is it possible, Sonitchka, that
+you intend to marry him!" But Sofya Nikolayevna had anticipated the
+result of the interview and was prepared for an even worse impression.
+"I warned you, father," she said in a gentle but firm voice, "that
+Alexyei Stepanitch, owing to utter ignorance of society, awkwardness,
+and timidity, was bound to appear to you at first somewhat of a
+simpleton; but I, who have seen him often and had long conversations
+with him, will vouch for it that he is no fool and has more sense than
+most people. I beg you to have two more interviews with him; and I am
+sure you will agree with me." M. Zubin looked long at his daughter with
+a keen and penetrating gaze, as if he wished to read some secret hidden
+in her heart; then he sighed heavily and consented to do what she asked.
+
+By the next post Alexyei Stepanitch sent a very affectionate and
+respectful letter to his parents. He thanked them for having given him
+life a second time, and humbly begged them to write at once to M. Zubin
+and request the hand of his daughter for their son; he added that this
+was the regular custom, and without such a letter the father would not
+give a positive answer. The fulfilment of this simple request gave some
+trouble to the old people at Bagrovo. They were no hands at composition,
+and, for want of previous experience, had no idea how to set about it,
+while they were exceedingly loath to commit themselves before the
+Governor's Deputy and their future relation, who was sure to be a
+skilful man of business and a practised writer. It took them a whole
+week to compose their letter; at last it got written somehow and was
+dispatched to Alexyei Stepanitch. It was not a skilful production,
+having none of those polite phrases and expressions of affection which
+are indispensable in such cases.
+
+While waiting for the answer from home, Alexyei Stepanitch received two
+more invitations from M. Zubin. The second visit did not remove the
+unfavourable impression produced by the first. On the next occasion,
+however, Sofya Nikolayevna was present. Returning from a call earlier
+than usual, she walked into her father's room, as if she did not know
+that her suitor was sitting there. Her presence made all the difference.
+She could make him talk and knew what he could talk about, so as to
+display to advantage his natural good sense, high principle, and
+goodness of heart. M. Zubin was obviously pleased: he spoke kindly to
+the young man and invited him to come to the house as often as he could.
+When they were alone, the old man embraced his daughter with tears,
+called her by many fond names, and said she was a witch whose spells
+could draw out a man's good qualities, even when they were so deeply
+hidden that no one suspected their existence. She too was much pleased;
+for she had not dared to hope that Alexyei Stepanitch would do so much
+to support her favourable opinion and justify the character she had
+given him.
+
+The letter containing the formal proposal arrived at last, and Alexyei
+Stepanitch delivered it in person to M. Zubin. Alas! without the magic
+presence and aid of Sofya Nikolayevna the suitor failed again to please
+his future father-in-law, who was also far from satisfied with the
+letter. Next day he had a long conversation with his daughter, in which
+he set before her all the disadvantages of marrying a man inferior to
+herself in intelligence, education, and force of character; he said that
+the Bagroff family would not take her to their hearts--they would be
+much more likely to hate her, because coarse and cruel ignorance always
+hates refinement; he warned her not to rely on the promises of a lover;
+for these as a rule are not kept after marriage, and Alexyei Stepanitch,
+even if he wished, would not have the power to keep them. To all this
+sage advice, drawn directly from the experience of life, she had an
+answer of surprising adroitness; and at the same time she depicted in
+such lively colours the advantages of marrying a man who, if he lacked
+energy and refinement, was at least kind-hearted, honourable, loving,
+and no fool, that her father was carried away by her confidence and gave
+his full consent. She clasped her father in her arms and kissed his
+wasted hands; then she gave him the _ikon_ and received his
+blessing,[40] kneeling by his bed and weeping. "Father," she cried in
+her excitement, "with God's help, I hope that in a year's time Alexyei
+Stepanitch will be a different creature: the reading of good books, the
+society of clever people, and constant conversation with his wife--these
+will make up for defects of education; his bashfulness will pass away,
+and the power to take a place in society will come of itself." "May it
+be so!" he answered. "Now send for the priest. I wish that we should
+pray together for your happiness."
+
+ [40] The sacred image is often held by the person giving the blessing.
+
+That same evening Alexyei Stepanitch was invited to the house, with Mme.
+Alakayeff and some old friends of the Zubins'--M. Anitchkoff and the
+Misailoffs; and the favourable answer was given. The young man's bliss
+no words can describe: Sofya Nikolayevna, even in extreme old age, used
+to speak of his joy at that moment. He threw himself at M. Zubin's feet
+and kissed his hands, cried and sobbed like a child, and nearly fainted
+from the effect of this immense good-fortune which down to the last
+moment had seemed beyond his reach. She too was deeply moved by such a
+frank expression of ardent and entire devotion.
+
+The official betrothal came two days later, and all the town was invited
+to the ceremony. There was general surprise, because many had
+disbelieved the reports of the engagement. But all sceptics were
+convinced at last, and came to express their congratulations and good
+wishes. Alexyei Stepanitch was radiant with happiness; he was quite
+unaware of any hidden meaning in congratulations, of any mockery in
+looks and smiles. But Sofya Nikolayevna let nothing pass unnoticed: she
+saw everything and heard everything, though, in speaking to her, every
+one was cautious and polite. Though she knew beforehand the view society
+would take of her action, she could not help being vexed by this
+expression of their opinion. But no one detected her vexation; for she
+was cheerful and affectionate with every one and especially with her
+suitor, and seemed perfectly happy and content with her choice. The pair
+were soon summoned into M. Zubin's study, and the betrothal took place
+there before a few witnesses. While the priest read the prayers, the old
+man shed tears; when the rite was over, he told the bridegroom to kiss
+the bride and embraced them both himself with a great effort; then he
+gazed earnestly at Alexyei Stepanitch and said, "Love her always as you
+do now; God is giving you such a treasure ..." and then he broke down.
+The engaged couple and the witnesses returned to the drawing-room, where
+all the men embraced the bridegroom and kissed the bride's hand, while
+all the ladies embraced the bride and had their hands kissed by the
+bridegroom. When this fuss was over, the pair were made to sit on a sofa
+side by side, and exchange kisses again; and then the company, holding
+glasses in their hands, repeated their congratulations and good wishes.
+Anitchkoff acted as host, and Mme. Alakayeff as hostess. Alexyei
+Stepanitch, who had never in his life drunk anything but water, was
+forced to take a glass of wine, and the unfamiliar stimulant had a
+strong effect upon him, weakened as he was by recent illness and
+constant agitation. He became uncommonly lively, laughed and cried, and
+talked a great deal, to the amusement of the company and the
+mortification of the bride. The guests soon grew merry: glass followed
+glass, and a fine supper was served. All ate and drank heartily, and at
+last the party broke up amid noise and merriment. The bridegroom's head
+was beginning to ache; and Mme. Alakayeff took him home in her carriage.
+
+M. Zubin felt that he was in great danger and therefore wished to have
+the wedding as soon as possible; but, as he also wished his daughter's
+outfit to be rich and splendid, it was necessary to postpone the
+ceremony for some months. Her mother's diamonds and emeralds had to be
+sent to Moscow, to be reset and restrung in the newest fashion; silver
+had to be ordered from Moscow, and some dresses and presents; the other
+dresses, curtains for the state bed, and a sumptuous black-brown fur
+cloak which cost 500 _roubles_ then and could not be bought now for
+5000--all these were made in Kazan; a quantity of table-linen and
+Holland sheets were also provided. Ten thousand roubles, the amount
+fixed for the dowry, was a great sum in those days; and, as many
+valuable things were provided as well, the inventory of the bride's
+outfit assumed such splendid proportions, that when I read it now I can
+hardly believe in the simple life of our ancestors at the end of last
+century.
+
+The first business after the formal betrothal was to send complimentary
+letters to all relations on both sides. One of Sofya Nikolayevna's gifts
+was her remarkable skill in letter-writing; and her letter to her future
+husband's parents was such that Stepan Mihailovitch, though no
+letter-writer himself, set a high value on it. First he listened to it
+with great attention; then he took it out of Tanyusha's hand, praised
+the distinct handwriting, and read it through twice himself. "Well,
+she's a clever girl," he said, "and I make sure she has a warm heart."
+This enraged the family, but they had the sense to keep silent.
+Alexandra alone could not restrain herself: her gooseberry eyes flashed
+with rage as she said: "She can write a fine letter, father, I admit;
+but all is not gold that glitters." The old man scowled at her and said
+in his dangerous voice: "How do you know? You're snarling at her
+already, and you've never even seen her! Take care! Keep your tongue
+from wagging, and don't stir up the rest!" All sat as silent as mice,
+and, of course, hated Sofya Nikolayevna worse than ever. Meanwhile
+Stepan Mihailovitch, under the influence of that warm and affectionate
+letter, took the pen himself and wrote as follows, in defiance of all
+established etiquette:--
+
+        "_My dear, precious, sensible Daughter-in-Law to be_,
+
+    "If you, without seeing us, have learnt to love and respect us
+    old people, we feel the same for you. And when, by God's
+    blessing, we meet, we shall love you still better; and you will
+    be to us as our own daughter, and we shall rejoice in the
+    happiness of our son Alexyei."
+
+On her side, Sofya Nikolayevna valued the old man's simple words as they
+deserved; from what she had heard, she had already taken a fancy to him.
+As she had no relations living, the bridegroom had no letters to write;
+but she asked Alexyei Stepanitch to write a letter of intimation to M.
+Anitchkoff, the friend at Moscow whom she had never seen and who had
+taken her brothers under his care. The bridegroom of course gladly
+consented. Not having much confidence in his power to express himself on
+paper, she asked to see the letter before it was sent. When she read it,
+she was horrified! Alexyei Stepanitch, who had heard a great deal of M.
+Anitchkoff as a wit, took it into his head to adopt an elaborate style.
+Therefore he had recourse to some novel of the day, and filled two sides
+with phrases which, under other circumstances, would have made Sofya
+Nikolayevna laugh outright; as it was, the blood rushed to her face, and
+then the tears poured from her eyes. When she grew calmer, she wondered
+how she was to get out of such an awkward situation. She did not wonder
+long, however. She wrote a rough draft of a letter herself, and then
+said to her betrothed, that, not being in the habit of writing to
+strangers, he had written in a way that might not please Anitchkoff; and
+therefore she had written a rough draft, which she asked him to copy out
+and send off. She felt shame and pain, and was hurt on his account; her
+voice shook, and she nearly broke down. But he welcomed her suggestion
+with enthusiasm; when she read him the letter, he was charmed with it,
+praised her wonderful skill, and covered her hands with kisses. This was
+the first step in disrespect for her future husband, the first step
+towards realising her dream of complete domination over him; and she did
+not find it easy to take.
+
+Knowing that his parents had little money and were forced to be chary in
+spending any, Alexyei Stepanitch wrote to ask for a very moderate sum;
+and, to strengthen his request, he asked Mme. Alakayeff to write to his
+father, to assure him that the request was reasonable and that some
+expense was inevitable in view of the marriage. He asked only 800
+_roubles_, but Mme. Alakayeff stated the necessary sum at 1500. The old
+people replied that they had not got such a sum; they sent him all they
+had--300 _roubles_, and suggested that, if the other 500 were necessary,
+he should borrow them; but they promised to send him a team of four
+horses with a coachman and postilion, and provisions of all kinds. They
+did not even answer Mme. Alakayeff: so indignant were they with her for
+demanding such a huge sum. It could not be helped: Alexyei Stepanitch
+thanked them for their kindness and borrowed 500 _roubles_; when even
+this proved insufficient, Mme. Alakayeff gave him 500 more, without the
+knowledge of his parents.
+
+Meantime, as the engaged couple met more often and were together longer,
+they became more intimate. Sofya Nikolayevna for the first time saw her
+husband as he really was, and realised for the first time what a heavy
+task lay before her! She had made no mistake in thinking that he
+possessed natural intelligence, a very kind heart, strict principles of
+honour, and perfect integrity in official life; but otherwise she found
+such a limitation of ideas, such a pettiness of interests, such an
+absence of self-esteem and independence, that her courage and firmness
+in the execution of her purpose were more than once severely shaken.
+More than once, in despair, she took the engagement-ring off her finger,
+laid it before the image of Our Lady of Smolensk, and prayed with tears
+that her feeble intelligence might be enlightened by divine wisdom. As
+we know already, she was accustomed to act thus at each crisis in her
+life. When she had prayed, she felt braver and calmer. Interpreting this
+feeling as heavenly guidance, she would put her ring on again and go
+back, composed and cheerful, to join her lover in the drawing-room. Her
+father felt that he was losing strength daily; and she was able to
+assure him that she was constantly discovering fresh merits in her
+lover, that she was quite content and looked forward to happiness in her
+marriage. By this time disease had dulled M. Zubin's perspicacity: he
+not only believed that she was sincere, but was convinced himself that
+his daughter would be happy. "Thank God!" he used to say; "now I can die
+happy."
+
+And now the wedding-day drew near. The bride's outfit was all ready. The
+bridegroom too made his preparations, being guided by the advice of Mme.
+Alakayeff, who assumed the entire management of him. The old lady, in
+spite of her shrewdness, was surprised by his profound ignorance of the
+customs of polite society. But for her, he would have been guilty of
+many blunders which would have made his bride blush for shame. Thus he
+intended to give her as a birthday-present a kind of cloth for a dress
+which would only have been suitable as a present to her maid; and he
+thought of driving to the church in an old shandrydan without springs,
+which would have made all the town laugh; and so on. The things were not
+of importance in themselves; but it would have tried Sofya Nikolayevna
+too hard to see her bridegroom the laughing-stock of Ufa society. All
+such things were put right by Mme. Alakayeff, or rather by the bride
+herself, for the two women discussed every point together. Sofya
+Nikolayevna told her lover in time, that he must not think of giving her
+a present for her birthday, because she loathed birthday-presents in
+general. For the wedding, she made him buy a new English carriage which
+had lately been ordered from Petersburg by a local landowner; his name
+was Murzahanoff,[41] and he had managed to run through his fortune in a
+few months. The price paid for the carriage was 350 _roubles_; Sofya
+Nikolayevna bought it herself as a present from her father to the
+bridegroom, and begged him not to trouble the dying man by thanking him.
+And the other difficulties were got over in the same fashion.
+
+ [41] The Russianised form of an oriental name, Mirza Khan.
+
+Then the bride and bridegroom wrote, for themselves and M. Zubin, to
+Stepan Mihailovitch and Arina Vassilyevna, pressing them to honour the
+wedding by their presence; but the old people, as a matter of course,
+declined the invitation. They had lived so long in their country
+solitude that town and town society seemed to them something strange and
+formidable. None of the daughters wished to go either; but Stepan
+Mihailovitch thought this awkward, and desired Elizabeth and Alexandra
+to attend the wedding. The latter was accompanied by her husband,
+Karatayeff; but Yerlykin was detained by his duties at Orenburg.
+
+The presence of these uninvited and unexpected guests was the cause of
+much annoyance to Sofya Nikolayevna. Her future sisters-in-law were
+clever and cunning women; they were determined to dislike her, and their
+behaviour to her was cold, unfriendly, and even rude. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna knew very well the sort of attitude they were likely to
+adopt, yet she thought it her duty to be friendly and even cordial to
+them at first; but when she saw that all her efforts were vain, and that
+the better she treated them the worse they treated her, she retired
+behind a wall of cold civility. But this did not protect her from those
+mean hints and innuendoes which it is impossible not to understand and
+not to resent, though it is awkward to do either, because you lay
+yourself open to the retort--"If the cap fits, wear it!" This odious
+form of attack, now banished to the servants' hall by the advance of
+refinement, was formidable in those days, and much used in the houses of
+rural landowners, many of whom differed little from their own servants
+in their manners and customs. But is it true that it has really been
+banished? Does it not still live on among us, concealed under more
+decent and artistic forms?
+
+The good people of Ufa made fun, as might be expected, of the country
+clothes and manners of the two ladies. As to Karatayeff, who had now
+adopted all the Bashkir habits and began drinking Bashkir decoctions at
+eight in the morning, when he was first introduced to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+he kissed her hand with a sounding smack three times over, and cried out
+with real Bashkir enthusiasm, "My word! what a dazzler brother Alexyei
+has hooked!" The coarse jests and compliments of the man were as
+distressing as the malicious sallies of the women; and both forced Sofya
+Nikolayevna to swallow many tears. But worse than all was the blindness
+of Alexyei Stepanitch: he seemed perfectly satisfied with the relations
+between his sisters and his bride, and this was not only a mortification
+for the present but also a peril for the future. These venomous
+creatures, who were staying with their brother, began at once to drop
+their poison into his simple soul, and did it so artfully that he did
+not suspect their manoeuvres. Allusions to the young lady's pride, to
+the poverty which she hid under jewels and fine clothes, to her caprices
+and his meek submission to them, were dinned into his ears all day long.
+Much passed unnoticed, but much also went straight to the mark and made
+him thoughtful and vaguely uneasy. All their attacks, whether secret or
+open, were accompanied by a pretence of sympathy and sisterly affection.
+"What makes you look so worn, my dear boy?" Elizabeth would ask; "Sofya
+Nikolayevna wears you out with all her commissions. You've just got back
+from the other end of the town, tired and hungry, and off you run again,
+without eating a morsel, to dance attendance on her. As your sisters, we
+can't help being sorry for you"; and then sham tears, or at least some
+play with the pocket-handkerchief, completed the crafty sentence. Then
+Alexandra would make a furious entry into the conversation. "No, my
+dear, I really cannot stand it! I know you will be angry, and perhaps
+you will cease to love us; but I can't help it, I must tell you the
+truth. You are quite changed: you're ashamed of us and have forgotten us
+altogether; your one wish is to mumble that girl's hand; your one fear,
+to get into her black books. You have become her lackey, her slave! Then
+it cuts us to the heart to see that old witch, Mme. Alakayeff, ordering
+you about like a servant and making you fetch and carry for her; and
+she's not content with that, but finds fault with you and urges you to
+greater activity." Alexyei Stepanitch could think of no answer to all
+this, except that he loved his sisters and would continue to do so,
+and--it was time to go and see Sofya Nikolayevna; whereupon he took his
+hat and hurried off. "Oh, go by all means!" Alexandra called after him,
+"and go quick; or else she will be angry and perhaps withhold her hand
+from your lips!" Scenes like this took place again and again and
+undoubtedly left their impression.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna could not help noticing that his sisters' visit had
+brought about a certain change in her lover. He seemed depressed, was
+less exact in keeping his engagements, and spent less time with her. The
+reason for this she herself understood very well; and Mme. Alakayeff,
+who had become a very intimate friend and also knew all that went on in
+the Bagroffs' lodgings, did not fail to provide her with detailed
+information. Her impulsive nature made her unwilling to let things drag
+on. She reasoned justly, that she ought not to give time for the
+sisters' influence to take root at leisure, that she must open her
+lover's eyes and put the strength of his character and affection to a
+decisive test. If they proved too weak, it was better to part before
+marriage than to unite her fate to such a feeble creature, who was, to
+use her own expression, "neither a shield from the sun nor a cloak to
+keep out the rain." She summoned him early one morning and ordered that
+no visitors should be admitted to the drawing-room where they were
+sitting. Then she turned to Alexyei Stepanitch, who was looking pale and
+frightened, and addressed him as follows:--
+
+"I wish to have a frank explanation with you and to make a clean breast
+of what I am feeling; and I ask you to do the same. Your sisters detest
+me and did their best to rouse your parents against me. That I know from
+yourself. But your love overcame all obstacles: your parents gave you
+their approval, and I resolved to accept you and brave the hatred of all
+your family. I hoped to find protection in your love for me and in my
+endeavour to prove to your parents that I don't deserve their
+displeasure. But now I see that I was mistaken. You saw yourself how I
+received your sisters, how friendly I was and how hard I tried to please
+them; and, though their rudeness made me draw back, yet I never once
+failed in politeness to them. And what has been the result? It is only a
+week since they came, and you treat me differently already: you make me
+promises and then forget to keep them; you spend less time with me; you
+are depressed and anxious, and even less affectionate to me than you
+used to be. Don't defend yourself, or deny it; that would not be
+honourable on your part. I know that you love me still, but you are
+afraid to show it; you fear your sisters, and that is why you are
+depressed and even avoid opportunities of being alone with me. You know
+yourself that all this is quite true. Well, then, tell me, how can I
+hope that your love will stand firm? It is a strange kind of love that
+turns coward and hides, because your sisters disapprove of your bride,
+as you knew they did long ago. Suppose your parents disapprove of me and
+turn up their noses at me? What then? Then you will really cease to love
+me. No, Alexyei Stepanitch, honourable men do not behave so to the woman
+they love. The knowledge that your sisters disliked me should have made
+you twice as attentive and twice as devoted in their presence; and then
+they would not have dared to utter a syllable; but you have suffered
+them to use insulting language in your presence. I know just how they
+speak to you. From all this I conclude that your love is not love at
+all, but love-making, that I cannot rely on you, and that we had better
+part now than be unhappy for life. Consider carefully what I have said;
+I shall give you two days to think it over. Come to the house as usual,
+but I shall not see you alone and shall not refer to this interview.
+After two days, I shall ask for an honest answer to these questions:
+'Have you sufficient firmness to be my defender against your relations
+and any one else who chooses to insult me? Can you shut your sisters'
+mouths and prevent them from uttering in your presence a single
+insulting word or allusion against me?' To break her engagement a week
+before her marriage is a great misfortune for any girl; but it is better
+to bear it once for all than to suffer all one's life. You know that I
+am not in love with you, but I was beginning to love you; and I believe
+my love would have been stronger and more constant than yours. Now,
+good-bye! For to-day and to-morrow we are strangers."
+
+Long before she ended, Alexyei Stepanitch had been in tears, and he
+tried several times to interrupt; but, before he could open his mouth,
+she had left the room and shut the door behind her. It was some time
+before he recovered from this tremendous blow. But at last the terrible
+thought of losing his adored mistress presented itself to him with
+appalling reality, and summoned up that energy and vigour of which the
+mildest and gentlest of men are capable, though they cannot keep it up
+for long. He hurried home; and, when his sisters, with no pity for his
+evident disturbance and distress, greeted him with the usual malicious
+jests, he flew into such a rage and attacked them with such fury that
+they were frightened. The wrath of a gentle patient man is a formidable
+thing. Among other things he told his sisters that, if they ventured to
+say another insulting word about his bride or about himself, he would
+instantly move to other lodgings, from which, as well as from M. Zubin's
+house, they would be excluded; and he would write to his father and tell
+him the whole story. That was enough. Alexandra had a clear recollection
+of her father's warning-"Keep your tongue quiet, and don't stir up the
+rest of the family!" She knew very well what a thunder-cloud her
+brother's complaint would call up, and what alarming consequences she
+might expect. Both the sisters fell on their brother's neck and begged
+forgiveness with tears; they solemnly declared that it should never
+happen again; they were really very fond of Sofya Nikolayevna, and it
+was only out of pity for his health and fear that he was doing too much
+that they had ventured on these foolish jests. They called on Sofya
+Nikolayevna that same day and paid court to her with the utmost
+servility. The meaning of all this was not lost upon her, and she felt
+she had prevailed.
+
+The position of her lover really deserved pity. His feelings, which had
+been calmed and composed to some extent by frequent interviews with
+Sofya Nikolayevna, her simple friendly behaviour to him, and the near
+prospect of the marriage, had then been rather alarmed and abashed by
+the sneers of his sisters; and now they flamed up so fiercely, that at
+the present moment he was capable of any self-sacrifice, of any
+desperate action, a true knight-errant! His state of mind was clearly
+reflected on his handsome young face during those two endless days. The
+lovers met several times, and Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at his
+face without pain; but she had the firmness to support the test she had
+imposed. The agitation and pity which she felt were a surprise to
+herself. She felt that she did really love this simple, modest young
+man, who was absolutely devoted to her and would not have hesitated to
+put an end to his existence if she made up her mind to refuse him. At
+last the two long days were over. Early on the third day Alexyei
+Stepanitch sat in the drawing-room, waiting for his mistress to appear.
+The door opened softly, and in she came, more beautiful, more charming
+than ever. She was smiling, and her eyes expressed such tenderness that,
+when he looked at her and saw her kind hand stretched out towards him,
+the excess of his emotion deprived him for an instant of the power of
+speech. He soon recovered, and then, instead of taking her hand, fell at
+her feet and poured forth a torrent of burning heartfelt eloquence. She
+interrupted him and raised him to his feet. Then she said: "I see and
+feel your love, and I share it; I believe all your promises; I put my
+fate in your hands without fear." She had never been so affectionate to
+him before, and she used words of tenderness which he had never before
+heard from her lips.
+
+Only five days remained before the marriage. All their preparations were
+complete, and the lovers were free to spend most of their time together.
+For five whole months Sofya Nikolayevna had been true to her intention
+of educating her future husband over again. She never lost a suitable
+moment, but did her best to impart those ideals which he did not
+possess, to clear up and develop feelings of which he was dimly
+conscious, and to root out the notions which he had derived from his
+early surroundings. She even made him read, and discussed with him the
+books he had read, explaining what puzzled him, filling up gaps in his
+memory, and illustrating fiction from real life. But it is probable that
+she got on faster with her task during these five days than in the
+course of five long months; for the recent incident which I have
+described had raised her lover's mind to a higher level of refinement,
+and he was in an unusually receptive and impressionable mood. How far
+the teacher succeeded on the whole in impressing her ideas upon the
+pupil, I cannot venture to decide. It is hard to know how much weight to
+attach to the opinions of the two persons concerned; but it is certain
+that in later years they both maintained--and they appealed to the
+evidence of disinterested persons in confirmation of the statement--that
+a great change took place in Alexyei Stepanitch, and even a complete
+transformation. I am very willing to believe it; but I have a proof that
+his proficiency in social etiquette left something to be desired. I know
+that he made his bride very angry the day before the marriage, and that
+her vehemence left a strong and painful impression on his mind. It
+happened in the following way. Two ladies were calling on Sofya
+Nikolayevna when a servant brought in a paper parcel and handed it to
+his mistress, with the explanation that Alexyei Stepanitch had sent it
+by his coachman and wished her at once to make a cap for his sister
+Alexandra. Her lover had left her half an hour before without saying one
+word about this commission, and Sofya Nikolayevna was exceedingly
+annoyed. The ladies, who were of some importance, had supposed at first
+that the parcel contained a present from the bridegroom; and now they
+did not try to conceal their amusement. Sofya Nikolayevna lost patience:
+she ordered the parcel to be returned, with a message that Alexyei
+Stepanitch had better apply to a milliner; it was no doubt a mistake to
+have brought the thing to her. The explanation was quite simple. On
+going home, he had found his sister in a great difficulty, because the
+milliner, who had engaged to make her a cap for the wedding, had fallen
+ill and returned the materials. As he had seen with his own eyes the
+skill with which Sofya Nikolayevna could trim hats and caps, he offered
+to help his sister out of her trouble, and told his servant to carry the
+parcel to his bride, with a humble request that she would trim a cap for
+Alexandra. But the servant was busy, and, instead of going himself, sent
+the coachman; and the humble request became, in the coachman's mouth, an
+imperious demand. Alexyei Stepanitch hastened back to explain matters,
+and carried with him the same unlucky parcel. Sofya Nikolayevna had not
+yet cooled down, when she saw him coming into the room with the odious
+parcel under his arm; and she flared up worse than ever, and said many
+violent and unkind things which she had better have left unspoken. The
+culprit, utterly dumbfounded, tried to defend himself, but did it very
+badly; he was seriously hurt by this onslaught. She sent the materials
+for the cap to some milliner she knew of; and then, repenting of her
+violence, she tried to put matters right. But, to her surprise, Alexyei
+Stepanitch could not get over it: he felt that he had been unjustly
+treated, and she had frightened him. He became very depressed, and her
+efforts to calm and cheer him were unsuccessful.
+
+The wedding-day, the 10th of May, 1788, arrived, and the bridegroom paid
+an early visit to his bride. After her excitement of the previous day,
+she was distressed to see that Alexyei Stepanitch still wore the same
+pained expression. She felt hurt; for she had always supposed that he
+would be in an ecstasy of joy on the day when he led her to the altar;
+and here he was, looking demure and even depressed! She expressed her
+feelings, and that made matters worse. Of course, he assured her that he
+considered himself the happiest man in the world, and so on; but the
+pompous and trivial phrases, which he had repeated many a time before
+and she had heard with satisfaction, were now distasteful to her ear,
+because they lacked the fire of inward conviction. They soon parted, to
+meet next in church, where the bridegroom was to be in waiting for her
+at six in the evening.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was assailed by a terrible misgiving--would she be
+happy in her marriage? A host of dark forebodings passed before her
+heated imagination. She blamed herself for her hot temper and violent
+language; she recognised that the offence was trifling, and that she
+must expect many slips of the kind on her lover's part, and must take
+them calmly. They had happened often enough before; but, on this
+occasion, the unlucky combination of circumstances and the presence of
+the two unfriendly visitors had pricked her vanity and irritated her
+natural impetuosity. Conscious that she had frightened her lover, she
+repented of her fault; but at the same time she was aware in the depth
+of her heart that she was quite capable of committing the same fault
+again. And now she realised afresh all the difficulty of the tremendous
+task she had undertaken--the reformation and regeneration of a man of
+twenty-seven. Her whole life--and it might be long--must be spent with a
+husband whom she loved indeed but could not entirely respect; there
+would be constant collision between utterly different ideas and opposite
+qualities, and they would often misunderstand one another. Doubts of
+success, doubts of her own strength, doubts of her power to command the
+qualities of firmness and calmness so foreign to her nature--these rose
+before her for the first time in their appalling truth, and she shrank
+back in terror. But what could she do? If she broke off the marriage at
+the eleventh hour, what would be the consequences? It would be a
+terrible blow to her dying father, who took comfort in the conviction
+that his daughter would be happy in the care of a kind husband; her
+rivals in society and enemies would mock at her; she would be the talk
+of the town and the laughing-stock of the district, perhaps even a mark
+for calumny; and, above all, she would kill, literally kill, her devoted
+lover. And all for what? Merely because she was afraid she might lack
+firmness to carry out a purpose which she had deliberately formed and
+which was beginning to take shape with triumphant success. "No! that
+shall never be! God will help me; Our Lady of Smolensk will be my
+intercessor and will give me strength to conquer my impetuous nature."
+Thus Sofya Nikolayevna thought, and thus she decided. She wept and
+prayed and regained her stability.
+
+The Church of the Assumption was quite close to the Zubins' house, and
+there was then an empty space round it. Long before six o'clock, it was
+surrounded by a crowd of curious spectators. The high steps projecting
+from the house into the street were blocked by the carriages of the
+privileged persons who had been invited to escort the bride. The bride
+was dressed, and her little brother, Nikolinka, whose birth had cost his
+mother her life three years before, put on the stockings and shoes,
+according to established custom, though of course the maids lent their
+assistance. By six the bride was ready; she received her father's
+blessing and came into the drawing-room. The rich bridal-dress lent an
+added lustre to her beauty. The bridegroom, on his way to church, had to
+pass right under the drawing-room windows, and Sofya Nikolayevna saw him
+drive past in the English carriage drawn by the four fine horses bred at
+Bagrovo; he had his head out and was looking up at the open windows; she
+smiled and nodded. Next came the bridegroom's sisters with Mme.
+Alakayeff, and all the men who were escorting him to church. She did not
+wish to keep him waiting, and insisted, in spite of various hindrances,
+that they should start at once. Sofya Nikolayevna was calm and composed
+when she entered the church; she gave her arm cheerfully and smilingly
+to the bridegroom; but she was vexed to see that his face still wore the
+same sad expression; and it was generally remarked that they both looked
+depressed during the ceremony. The church was brilliantly lighted and
+full of people; the cathedral choir did not spare their voices.
+Altogether, it was a dignified and splendid ceremony. When the rite was
+over, the young couple were escorted to the Zubins' house by the
+bridegroom's sisters, the whole train of friends and relations on both
+sides, and all the important people of Ufa. Dancing began at once and
+went on till an early but sumptuous supper was served. Privileged guests
+paid a visit to M. Zubin in his study and congratulated him on his
+daughter's marriage. The usual festivities took place on the next and
+following days--balls, dinners, and calls, in fact, the regular routine
+which we see nowadays even in Moscow and Petersburg.
+
+The shade of sadness soon vanished from the faces of the young couple.
+They were perfectly happy. Kind people could not look at them without
+pleasure; and every one said, "What a handsome couple!" A week later,
+they prepared for a visit to Bagrovo; the bridegroom's sisters had gone
+back there three days after the wedding, and Sofya Nikolayevna had sent
+by them an affectionate letter to the old people.
+
+Startled by their brother's explosion, Elizabeth and Alexandra had been
+cautious of late. They refrained from all hints and sneers and grimaces
+in his presence, and were even polite to Sofya Nikolayevna. She, of
+course, was not taken in by this; but their brother entirely believed in
+the sincerity of their devotion to his bride. At the wedding and the
+festivities which followed, they were, naturally, somewhat out of place,
+and therefore hastened their departure. On arriving at Bagrovo, they
+determined to do nothing rash and to hide their hostility towards Sofya
+Nikolayevna from their father; but to their mother and two sisters they
+described the marriage and events at Ufa in such a way as to fill their
+minds with a strong prejudice against the bride; and they did not forget
+to mention their brother's threats and his fury excited by their attacks
+upon Sofya Nikolayevna. It was agreed to treat her kindly in the
+presence of Stepan Mihailovitch, and to say nothing bad about her to him
+directly; at the same time they were to use every opportunity to excite
+by indirect means his displeasure against their enemy. It was a highly
+delicate operation; and Elizabeth and Alexandra could not trust it to
+any hands but their own.
+
+My grandfather questioned them minutely about the wedding, the people
+they had seen there, the health of M. Zubin, and so on. They praised
+everything, but the poison under their praises could be smelt and
+tasted, and they failed to deceive their father. By way of a joke, and
+perhaps also for the sake of comparison, he turned to Karatayeff and
+said: "Well, now, friend Ivan, what say you of the daughter-in-law? As a
+man, you are a better judge of the point than the women are."
+Karatayeff, disregarding a signal from his wife, burst out with
+enthusiasm: "I do assure you, _batyushka_, that such another
+dazzler"--he always used this phrase of a beautiful woman--"as brother
+Alexyei has bagged is not to be found in the whole world. A look from
+her is as good as a shilling. And her cleverness! it's past all telling.
+But there's one thing, _batyushka_: she's proud; she can't stand a joke.
+When you try to have a little fun with her, she gives you a look that
+makes you bite off the end of your tongue." "I see, my friend, that she
+made short work with your nonsense," said the old man with an amused
+look; then he laughed and added, "Not much amiss there, so far." In
+fact, Stepan Mihailovitch, from what he had heard and the bride's
+letters and Karatayeff's description, had formed in his own mind a
+highly favourable opinion of Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+The expected visit of the young couple produced bustle and confusion in
+the quiet or, one might say, stagnant waters of life at Bagrovo. They
+had to bestir themselves, to clean things up, and bring out their best
+clothes. The bride was a fine town lady, poor, perhaps, but accustomed
+to live in luxury; she would be critical and contemptuous--so they all
+thought, and so they all said, except the master of the house. As there
+were no separate rooms in the house unoccupied, Tanyusha had to turn out
+of her bedroom, one corner of which overlooked the garden and the clear
+waters of the Boogoorooslan with its green bushes and loud nightingales.
+Tanyusha was very unwilling to move to the bath-house, but there was no
+other place: all her sisters were put up in the house, and Karatayeff
+and Yerlykin slept in the hayloft. The day before the visitors' arrival
+brought their state-bed and bed-hangings and curtains for the windows,
+and with them a man who knew how to put everything up properly.
+Tanyusha's room was completely furnished in a few hours. Stepan
+Mihailovitch came to see it and expressed his admiration, but the women
+bit their lips with envy. At last a messenger galloped up and announced
+that the couple had stopped at the village of Noikino, eight _versts_
+from Bagrovo; they were to change their dress there and would arrive in
+two hours. This caused a general stir. The priest had been summoned
+hours before; but, as he had not yet arrived, Stepan Mihailovitch sent a
+mounted messenger to hasten his steps.
+
+Meantime the following scene was taking place in the Mordvinian village
+of Noikino. The travellers were making their way along side roads and
+had always to send a man ahead to arrange about fresh horses. The people
+of Noikino had all known Alexyei Stepanitch from childhood, and had a
+great regard and respect for his father. Every one of the six hundred
+inhabitants of the village, men and women, old and young, gathered
+before the cottage where the young people were to make their halt. Sofya
+Nikolayevna had probably never seen people of this tribe close at hand;
+and therefore the dress of the women and the uncommonly tall stout
+girls--their white shifts embroidered with red wool, their black woollen
+girdles, and the silver coins and little bells which hung from their
+heads over their breasts and backs--was very interesting to her. But,
+when she heard them all break out into joyful greetings and compliments
+and good wishes, childish enough and expressed in bad Russian, but
+coming from the heart, then she both laughed and cried. "What a fine
+wife God has given you, Alosha! How glad our father Stepan Mihailovitch
+will be! Good luck! Good luck!" But, when the bride, arrayed in her fine
+city clothes, came out to take her seat in the carriage, there was such
+a roar of enthusiastic applause that the horses actually shied. The
+travellers made a present of ten _roubles_, to be spent on whisky, to
+the whole village, and went on their way.
+
+The stackyard at Bagrovo was at the top of a hill, and now the high
+carriage was seen emerging from behind it. The cry, "They're coming!
+they're coming!" flew from room to room, and house-servants and
+labourers soon gathered in the large courtyard, while the young people
+and children ran to meet the carriage. The master and mistress, attended
+by all their family, came out upon the steps. Arina Vassilyevna wore a
+silk jacket and skirt and a silk handkerchief adorned with gold sprigs
+upon her head; Stepan Mihailovitch was clean-shaved and wore an
+old-fashioned frock-coat and a stock round his neck. Husband and wife
+stood on the top step; and he held in his hands an ikon representing the
+Presentation of the Virgin, while she carried a loaf of bread and a
+silver salt-cellar. Their daughters and two sons-in-law were grouped
+round them. The carriage drove up to the steps. The young couple got
+out, knelt down before the old people, and received their blessing; then
+they exchanged embraces with each member of the family. Hardly had the
+bride completed this ceremony and turned again towards her
+father-in-law, when he caught her by the hand and looked keenly at her
+eyes from which the tears were falling. His own eyes grew wet; he
+clasped her in a tight embrace, kissed her, and said, "I thank God. Let
+us go and thank Him together!" He took her by the hand and led her
+through the crowd of people into the parlour. There he made her sit near
+him; and the priest, who was waiting for them with his robes on,
+pronounced the solemn words--
+
+"We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord."
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT IV: THE YOUNG COUPLE AT BAGROVO
+
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch joined fervently in the prayers, and so did his
+daughter-in-law. When the service was over, all kissed the Cross, and
+the priest sprinkled the young pair and the rest of the company with
+holy water. Then the kissing and embracing began over again, with the
+phrases customary on such occasions--"We beg that you will regard us as
+relations and love us," and so on--said of course by those to whom the
+bride was still a stranger. Stepan Mihailovitch said nothing: he only
+looked affectionately at the tearful eyes and flaming cheeks of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, listened attentively to every word she spoke, and noted her
+every movement. Then he took her by the hand and led her to the
+drawing-room, where he sat down on the sofa and made the pair sit near
+him. Arina Vassilyevna seated herself next to her son at the other end
+of the sofa, while her daughters with their husbands sat round the
+central group. It should be said that Stepan Mihailovitch never sat in
+the drawing-room: he entered it very seldom and never stayed long. There
+were only two parts of the house which he used--his own room, and the
+outside stoop, a very simple contrivance of beams and boards; there he
+was thoroughly at home, but in the drawing-room he was never quite at
+his ease. For once he put constraint upon himself and carried on a
+friendly conversation with his daughter-in-law. He began by asking about
+her father's health, and expressed sincere regret on hearing that he
+grew weaker daily: "In that case, my dear," he said, "I must not keep
+you too long at Bagrovo." It need not be said that the bride was at no
+loss for words: she was not merely polite, but cordial and eager to make
+a good impression. Arina Vassilyevna, naturally a very simple woman,
+took her tone from her husband, as far as her intelligence and her dread
+of disobeying her daughters would let her. She was friendly to her son's
+wife and had taken a real liking to her at first sight; but the others
+were silent, and it was not hard to guess their feelings from their
+faces. After half an hour the bride whispered to her husband, who rose
+at once and went to the bedroom which had been specially prepared for
+them, near the drawing-room. Stepan Mihailovitch looked on with
+surprise; but the bride's lively talk engaged his attention, and he was
+so much interested by it that he was startled when presently the folding
+doors of the bedroom opened and his son came in, holding a large silver
+salver so loaded with presents for the family that it actually bent
+under their weight. Sofya Nikolayevna sprang to her feet; she took from
+the salver and presented to her father-in-law a piece of fine English
+broadcloth, and a waistcoat of watered silk, richly laced with gold
+thread and embroidered all over with spangles; and she told him quite
+truly that she had worked it all with her own hands. Stepan Mihailovitch
+looked uneasily at his son standing with the salver in his arms, but he
+accepted the presents graciously and kissed his daughter-in-law. Next,
+Arina Vassilyevna was presented with a silk handkerchief covered with
+gold embroidery, to wear over her head, and a complete length of
+excellent China silk, which even then was considered a rarity; each
+sister-in-law received a piece of costly silk, and each of their
+husbands a piece of English broadcloth; but these presents were
+naturally rather less valuable. All got up, kissed the hands of the
+donor, and bowed their thanks. Meanwhile the door leading to the parlour
+was cracking with the pressure of curious spectators of both sexes, and
+the well-oiled heads of the maids kept peeping timidly out of the
+bedroom door, which they had to themselves, because none of the outdoor
+servants dared to enter the elegant apartment of the young couple. In
+the parlour there was a great noise; for the menservants were prevented
+by the intruders from laying the table, and were unable to turn them
+out. Stepan Mihailovitch guessed what was going on; he got up and
+glanced through the door; one look and one quiet word was enough: "Off,"
+he said, and the parlour was empty in a moment.
+
+The dinner passed off in the usual fashion. The young pair sat side by
+side between the old couple; there were a great many courses, one richer
+and more indigestible than another; the cook Stepan had been lavish with
+his spice, cloves, and pepper, and especially with his butter. The bride
+ate the dainties pressed upon her by Stepan Mihailovitch, and prayed
+that she might not die in the night. There was little talking, partly
+because every mouth was otherwise occupied, and also because the party
+were not good at conversation. Indeed they were all uncomfortable in
+their own ways. Yerlykin in his sober intervals drank nothing but water,
+and hardly spoke at all at such times, which gained him a reputation for
+exceptional intelligence; and Karatayeff dared not open his mouth in the
+presence of Stepan Mihailovitch except to answer a question, and went no
+further than repeating the last words of other people's remarks. If they
+said: "The hay crop will be good, if we get no rain," or "The rye made a
+good start till that sudden frost came"--Karatayeff came in like an
+echo, "if we get no rain," "till the frost came"; and his repetitions
+were sometimes ill-timed. As the hosts had not thought of procuring
+sparkling wine from Ufa, the health of the bride and bridegroom was
+drunk in strawberry wine, three years old and as thick as oil, which
+diffused about the room the delicious perfume of the wild strawberry.
+Mazan, with long boots smelling of tar on his feet, and wearing a long
+coat which made him look like a bear dressed up in sacking, handed round
+the loving-cup; it was ornamented with a white pattern and had a
+dark-blue spiral inside its glass stalk. When the young pair had to
+return thanks, Sofya Nikolayevna was not much pleased to drink from the
+cup which had just left Karatayeff's greasy lips; but she made no wry
+faces. Indeed she was intending to drain the cup, when her father-in-law
+stopped her: "Don't drink it all, my dear," he said; "the liquor is good
+and sweet but strong; you are not accustomed to it, and your little head
+would ache." She declared that such a noble drink could not hurt her,
+and begged to be allowed a little more, till Stepan Mihailovitch allowed
+her one sip from the cup which he held in his hands.
+
+It was clear to all the family that the old man was pleased with his
+daughter-in-law and liked all that she said. And she could see this
+herself, though she had been surprised twice over by a shadow of
+displeasure passing over his face. But more than once during the meal
+she had encountered his expressive look, as his eyes rested with
+satisfaction on her. At last the long and solemn dinner came to an end.
+Sofya Nikolayevna, unlike the rest, had found this rustic feast very
+wearisome, but she had done her best to enliven it by cheerful
+conversation. When they rose from table, his son and daughters kissed
+their father's hand, and Sofya Nikolayevna tried to do so too, but the
+old man embraced and kissed her instead. It was the second time this had
+happened, and Sofya Nikolayevna, with her natural impulsiveness, asked
+him in a lively affectionate tone: "Why do you not give me your hand,
+_batyushka_? I am your daughter too, and I wish to kiss your hand out of
+love and respect, like the rest." The old man looked at her keenly and
+attentively; then he said in a kind voice: "I love you, my dear, but I
+am not a priest,[42] and no one kisses my hand except my own children."
+
+ [42] Devout Russians kiss a priest's hand.
+
+The party went back to the drawing-room and sat down where they were
+before. The maid Aksyutka brought in coffee, which was only served on
+very solemn occasions; the old man did not drink it, but all his family
+were very fond of it; they always called it "coff," never "coffee." When
+it was swallowed, Stepan Mihailovitch rose and said: "Now it is time to
+have a good sleep, and the young people too would be none the worse of a
+rest after their journey"; then he went off to his own room, escorted by
+his son and daughter-in-law. "This is my den, my dear," said the old man
+cheerfully; "sit down and be my guest. As your husband knows, it was an
+exception for me to sit in the drawing-room with you all, with this
+bearing-rein on, as well," and he pointed to his stock: "and in future,
+if any one wants my society, I shall welcome them here." Then he kissed
+her, gave his hand to his son to kiss, and let them go. When alone, he
+undressed and lay down, to rest from the unusual bodily exertions and
+mental excitement of the day. He was soon sound asleep; and his powerful
+snoring echoed through the house and swayed to and fro the curtains
+which Mazan had drawn round his old master.
+
+His example was followed by the rest. Yerlykin and Karatayeff went off
+to the stable to lie down on the haymow; both their faces showed that
+they had done well at dinner, and Karatayeff had also drunk too much.
+The daughters assembled in their mother's room which was separate from
+their father's; and now began such a debate and discussion, carried on
+in whispers, that not one of the party even lay down to sleep that
+afternoon. Poor Sofya Nikolayevna was their theme, and her
+sisters-in-law simply tore her to pieces; they were enraged beyond all
+bounds by their father's evident partiality for her. But there was one
+kind heart there--Aksinya, the eldest sister, who was now a widow for
+the second time; she stood up for Sofya Nikolayevna and brought down
+their wrath on her own head: they turned her out of the room and
+banished her for the future from their family councils; and to her old
+nickname of "Miss Simplicity," they now added another offensive title
+which she still bore in advanced old age. Yet, for all the persecution
+of her sisters, her kind heart never swerved from its devotion to her
+sister-in-law.
+
+Meanwhile the young pair went off to their own fine bedroom. With the
+help of her own maid Parasha, a brisk, black-eyed girl, Sofya
+Nikolayevna unpacked the large number of boxes and trunks which the
+English coach had brought from Ufa. Parasha was able already to run
+through a list of outdoor servants and old people among the peasants who
+deserved special notice; and her mistress, who had brought with her a
+goodly store of trifles, fixed the present to be given to each, taking
+account of their age and services, and the respect which their owners
+had for them. The husband and wife were not tired and did not think it
+necessary to rest. Sofya Nikolayevna changed into a simpler dress, and
+left Parasha to finish the unpacking and arrangement of the bedroom,
+while she went out with her young husband, who was very anxious, in
+spite of the heat, to show her all his favourite haunts--the beech-wood,
+the island with its lime-trees just coming into leaf, and the
+transparent waters of the river where it made a bend round the island.
+And how delightful it was there at that season, when the freshness of
+spring combines with the warmth of summer! Alexyei Stepanitch was
+passionately in love with his adored wife, and time had not yet blunted
+the edge of his happiness; but he was disconcerted to find that she was
+not charmed either by wood or island, and indeed took little notice of
+either. She sat down in the shade on the bank of the rapid river, and
+began at once to speak to her husband of his relations. She discussed
+their reception. "I like your father so much," she went on, "and I could
+see at the first glance that he liked me; perhaps your mother liked me,
+but she seemed afraid to show it. Aksinya seems the kindest of them, but
+she is afraid of something too. Oh, I understand it all perfectly; I
+know in what quarter the damp wood is smouldering. I did not miss a
+single word or a single glance; I know what I am bound to expect. God
+will judge your sisters, Elizabeth and Alexandra!" But Alexyei
+Stepanitch was hardly listening to her words. The fresh shade, the green
+of the boughs bending over the stream, the low ripple of the running
+water, the fish jumping, his adored wife sitting beside him with one arm
+round his waist--in such surroundings how was it possible to find fault
+or make objections or express discontent? How was it possible even to
+take in what was said? And in fact Alexyei Stepanitch did not take in
+what his young wife was saying to him: he was so happy that nothing but
+silence and oblivion of the world around him could serve as a full
+expression of his intoxicating bliss. But Sofya Nikolayevna went on: she
+said a great deal, with warmth and feeling; and then she noticed that
+her husband was not listening and was nearly asleep. She sprang up at
+once, and then followed a scene of conflict and mutual misunderstanding,
+more pronounced than any they had ever had before, though there had been
+premonitory symptoms once or twice already. Sofya Nikolayevna kept
+nothing back this time: the tears rushed from her eyes as she poured
+forth a torrent of reproaches for his indifference and inattention.
+Alexyei Stepanitch was puzzled and distressed: he felt as if he had
+fallen from the skies or awakened from a delightful dream. Thinking to
+calm his wife, he assured her with perfect sincerity, that there was
+nothing wrong at all, that it was all her imagination, and that all the
+family loved her; how could any one help loving her, he asked. That he
+was honestly convinced of this was clear as day; and his eyes and face
+and voice all expressed his devoted love to his wife; yet Sofya
+Nikolayevna, for all her cleverness and lively sensibility, did not
+understand her husband, and found in his words only a fresh proof of the
+same indifference and inattention. Statements and explanations went on
+with increasing heat, and I do not know how far they would have gone;
+but suddenly Alexyei Stepanitch caught sight of his sister Tatyana's
+maid crossing the high gangway and hastening towards them. He guessed
+that they were being searched for because his father had got up, and
+told his wife at once what he feared. She regained her self-control in a
+moment, caught his arm, and hastened home with him; but he was not in
+good spirits as he walked behind her.
+
+Preparations had been made beforehand at Bagrovo to celebrate the day of
+the young people's arrival by an entertainment given to the outdoor
+servants and all the serfs on the estate; and, if serfs from
+neighbouring estates chose to come on foot or on wheels, they were
+welcome too. A quantity of beer had been brewed, and some twenty buckets
+of strong home-made spirits distilled; and drinking vessels of all kinds
+were ready. Before he lay down after dinner, Stepan Mihailovitch had
+asked whether many had come from the neighbouring villages. When he was
+told that the whole population, from the old men and women to the
+babies, had assembled, he smiled and said, "Well, we shall not stint
+them; tell the housekeeper and steward to have everything ready." He did
+not sleep long, but he woke in even better spirits than when he lay
+down. "Is all ready?" he asked at once, and was told that all was ready
+long ago. The old man dressed quickly; instead of his ceremonial
+frock-coat, he put on his familiar dressing-gown of fine camel's hair,
+and went out to the stoop to superintend the entertainment in person. On
+the broad lawn which was not fenced off from the road, tables had been
+put up on trestles, and the tables were laden with barrels of beer,
+casks of whisky, and piles of buns to eat with the liquor; these buns,
+made of wheat-flour, were cut in halves. The outdoor servants stood in a
+group apart near the house; a great crowd of serfs and their wives stood
+further off, and beyond them a still greater crowd of Mordvinians of
+both sexes. Stepan Mihailovitch threw a hasty glance over the scene, saw
+that all was in order, and went back to his stoop. The family had
+collected round him, and he was just going to ask where the young couple
+were, when they appeared together. He greeted his daughter-in-law even
+more affectionately than before, and treated her with no more formality
+than if she had been his own daughter. "Now then, Alosha," he said,
+"take your wife's arm and lead her round to greet the people; they are
+all anxious to see her and kiss the hand of their young mistress. Let us
+start!" He went in front himself; then came Alexyei Stepanitch, leading
+his wife, and last, at a little distance, Arina Vassilyevna with her
+daughters and their husbands. The sisters-in-law, except Aksinya, found
+it hard to restrain their wrath. The signs of growing affection on their
+father's part, his mention of Sofya Nikolayevna as "the young mistress,"
+the triumph of this hated intruder, her beauty and pretty clothes, her
+ready easy tongue, her charming respect and affection for her
+father-in-law--all these things rankled in their jealous bosoms. They
+felt at once that they had sunk in importance. "It matters less to us,"
+whispered Alexandra; "we are severed branches; but I can't look at
+Tanyusha without crying. She is nothing now in the household but Sofya
+Nikolayevna's maid. And you, mother--no one will respect you any more:
+the servants will all look to her for orders." Her voice shook, and the
+tears gathered in her round rolling eyes. Meanwhile Stepan Mihailovitch
+had got to the outdoor servants and was calling the peasants to come
+nearer: "Why don't you all stand together? You all belong to the same
+family. Well," he went on, "here you see your young mistress; the young
+master you know already. When the time comes, serve them as faithfully
+and zealously as you have served me and Arina Vassilyevna, and you will
+earn their love and favour." All the people bowed to the ground. The
+bride, unaccustomed to such demonstrations, felt disconcerted, not
+knowing where to go or what to do. Noticing this, her father-in-law
+said: "Don't be frightened! Their heads may bend, but they won't come
+off. Well, my friends, first kiss your young mistress's hand, and then
+drink to her health." The people all got up and came near Sofya
+Nikolayevna. She looked round and signed to her man Theodore and handy
+Parasha, who were standing at one side, holding the presents. In a
+moment they handed her a large parcel and a well-filled box. It felt
+strange to her to stretch out her hand to be kissed while standing
+motionless as a statue; and she began to kiss them all herself. This
+ceremony was repeated, as each received a gift from her hands. But
+Stepan Mihailovitch interfered at this point: he saw that at that rate
+he would not get his tea till supper-time. "My dear," he said, "you
+can't possibly kiss them all once, let alone twice! There are too many.
+The old people are a different matter; but it will be enough if they
+kiss your hand." This simplified and shortened the rather tiresome
+ceremony, but even so it lasted a long time. Stepan Mihailovitch
+sometimes spun it out himself, because he could not refrain from naming
+some of the people and praising them to her. Many of the old people
+spoke some simple words of love and devotion, some shed tears, and all
+looked at the bride with pleasure and cordiality. Sofya Nikolayevna was
+much moved. "These good people are ready to love me, and some love me
+already," she thought; "how have I deserved it?" At last, when young and
+old had kissed her hand and she had kissed some of them, and when all
+had received handsome presents, Stepan Mihailovitch took her hand and
+led her to the crowd of Mordvinians. "I am glad to see you, neighbours,"
+he cried in a hearty cheerful voice; "and thank you for coming. I ask
+your goodwill for this young lady who is coming to live near you. You
+are welcome to eat and drink what God has given us." The Mordvinians
+showed their pleasure by shouting, "Many thanks, Stepan Mihailovitch!
+Thank God, for giving such a wife to your son! You deserve such luck for
+your goodness, Stepan Mihailovitch."
+
+When the drinking began, Stepan Mihailovitch surrounded by his family
+hastened back to his beloved stoop. He was conscious that his tea-time
+was long past: it was now past seven, and tea was invariably served at
+six. The long shadow of the house was sloping towards the south, and its
+edges touched the storehouse and stable; the _samovar_ had long been
+hissing on a large table close to the stoop, and Aksyutka was in
+attendance. While the rest sat down round the table, Stepan Mihailovitch
+stuck to his favourite place: he first spread out his invariable woollen
+mat to sit on, and then sat down on the stoop. Tatyana, assisted by
+Aksyutka, poured out tea. Then Sofya Nikolayevna asked leave of her
+father-in-law to sit beside him, and he consented with obvious
+satisfaction. She sprang up from the table, carried her half-finished
+cup of tea to the stoop, and sat down beside the old man. He caressed
+her and ordered a mat to be put down for her, that she might not spoil
+her dress. Then they began a lively, cheerful talk; but at the tea-table
+angry looks and even whispers were exchanged, in spite of the presence
+of the young husband. He could not help noticing this, and his spirits,
+which had not been high before, fell yet lower. Suddenly the old man's
+loud voice rang out: "Come and join us, Alosha; it's livelier over
+here." Alosha started; but the change of place seemed to improve his
+spirits. When tea was over, they remained where they were and went on
+talking till supper, which was served at nine--an hour later than usual.
+All the time the loud singing and hearty laughter of the revellers rang
+out far and wide as the darkness slowly gathered round; but they all
+departed to their own homes as soon as the family had finished supper.
+On saying "good night" Sofya Nikolayevna asked her father-in-law to give
+her his blessing, and the old man at once signed her with the Cross and
+kissed her with a father's tenderness.
+
+The young couple were escorted to their room by the lady of the house
+and her eldest daughter, who sat there a few minutes; and then it was
+the turn of Alexyei Stepanitch to escort his mother and sister to rest.
+Sofya Nikolayevna hastily dismissed her maid and sat down by one of the
+open windows fronting the river, which was fringed at that point by a
+thick border of osier and alder. It was a lovely night: the freshness
+from the river and the scent of the young leaves came through the open
+windows, together with the trills and calls of the nightingales. But
+Sofya Nikolayevna had something else to think of. As a clever woman who
+knew in advance what awaited her in her husband's family, she had
+naturally formed a plan of action beforehand. She had always lived in a
+town and had no conception of the sort of life led by landowners of
+moderate means on their scattered estates in that vast country. She had
+not expected much, but the reality was far worse than she had imagined.
+Nothing was to her taste, neither house, nor garden, nor wood, nor
+island. In the neighbourhood of Ufa she had been accustomed to admire
+noble views from the mountainous bank of the river Byelaya; and this
+little village in a hollow, the time-stained and weather-beaten wooden
+house, the pond surrounded by swamps, and the unending clack of the
+mill--all this seemed to her actually repulsive. And the people were no
+better: from her husband's family to the peasants' children, she could
+love none of them. But there was one exception, and that was Stepan
+Mihailovitch. But for him, she would have been in despair. She had
+formed a favourable opinion of him from the beginning; then, when she
+first saw him, she was frightened by his rough exterior; but she soon
+read in his intelligent eyes and kindly smile, and heard in his voice,
+that this old man had a tender heart which beat kindly to her, that he
+was ready to love her and would love her. Knowing from the first that
+all her hopes depended upon him, she had firmly resolved to gain his
+love by all means; but now she had learnt to love him herself, and her
+deliberate plan coincided with the impulse of her heart. In this respect
+Sofya Nikolayevna was satisfied with herself: she saw that she had
+reached her goal at once. But she was distressed by the thought that by
+her impetuosity she had hurt her kind husband. She waited impatiently
+for him, but, as if to spite her, he did not return. Had she known where
+he was, she would have hurried off in search of him long ago. She longed
+to throw herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness with tears, and
+to remove the last trace of dissatisfaction from his mind by a torrent
+of loving words and caresses. But Alexyei Stepanitch still did not
+return; and the happy moment, when she was penitent and loving and
+filled with a passionate desire to atone for her fault, went by to no
+purpose. An impulse soon passes, and Sofya Nikolayevna first grew
+alarmed and then angry at her husband's long absence. When he came in at
+last, looking rather upset and distressed, instead of rushing into his
+arms and begging to be forgiven, his wife called out to him in an
+excited and somewhat irritated voice, as soon as he crossed the
+threshold: "Where on earth have you been? Why did you leave me alone? I
+am quite worn out with waiting for you two whole hours!" "I sat a
+quarter of an hour or so with my mother and sisters," he answered. "And
+that was time enough for them to complain of me and invent calumnies
+against me, and you believed them! Why are you so depressed and sad?"
+Sofya Nikolayevna's face expressed strong emotion, and her beautiful
+eyes filled with tears. The young husband was startled and even alarmed;
+he was beginning to dread her tears. "Sonitchka," he said, "calm
+yourself; no one complained of you; why should they, when you have
+injured no one?" This was not quite a true statement. If nobody had
+complained openly or attacked her in plain terms, they had implied by
+hints and allusions that his wife was singling out her father-in-law to
+pay court to, with the object of trampling on the rest of the family;
+but they saw through her tricks, and so would her husband some day when
+he found himself under her feet! Alexyei Stepanitch did not believe
+these innuendoes; but the feeling of sadness, which had never left him
+since the scene on the island, became heavier and lay like lead on his
+kind heart. He only said, "It is no use talking like that," and left the
+room. But, instead of returning at once to his bedroom, he spent some
+time in walking alone up and down the parlour which was now dark and
+empty. Through the seven open windows he looked at the Jackdaw Wood
+sleeping in darkness, and at the dark line of trees by the river, the
+scene of his childhood's amusements and occupations; and he listened to
+the sound of the mill, the whistles of the nightingales, and the
+screeching of the owls. Feeling somewhat relieved, he went off to the
+bedroom, entirely unconscious of the reception he was to meet there.
+
+But Sofya Nikolayevna soon grew calmer: the voice of penitence began to
+speak again in her heart, though not with the same force as before; she
+changed her tone and turned to her husband with a genuine feeling of
+love and pity; she caressed him and begged his forgiveness. She spoke
+with unfeigned warmth of her happiness in finding that she loved his
+father, and begged him to be perfectly frank with her: frankness, she
+said, was essential between them. Her husband was soothed and comforted;
+and in the fullness of his heart he told her all he had determined to
+keep secret at all costs, lest he should make a quarrel between his wife
+and his sisters. He lay down and went to sleep at once, but Sofya
+Nikolayevna lay awake for long, and her brain worked busily. At last she
+remembered that she had to get up early, because she intended to join
+her father-in-law on the stoop at sunrise, long before the family
+assembled; she wished to cheer the old man by her presence and to speak
+her mind to him at leisure. At last, with a strong effort, she fell
+asleep.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna woke with the first rays of the sun. Though she had
+not slept long, she rose fresh and vigorous. She dressed quickly, kissed
+her husband and told him she was going to his father and he might sleep
+on another hour or so, and then hurried off. Stepan Mihailovitch, after
+sleeping longer than usual, had just washed himself and gone out to the
+stoop. It was a lovely May morning, with all the charm of late spring,
+fresh and yet deliciously warm; all living things sang together for joy,
+and the long morning shadows still hid the coolness and moisture from
+the conquering rays of the sun. The feeling of the morning took hold of
+Sofya Nikolayevna and breathed life into her, though she was not
+accustomed to be moved by natural beauty or the charms of the country.
+Her father-in-law was surprised and pleased to see her. Her fresh face
+and shining eyes, her neat hair and pretty dress, made it impossible to
+guess that she had sprung out of bed after little sleep and had spent
+but little time over her toilet before she hurried out. Stepan
+Mihailovitch liked people to be lively and quick and clever; and all
+these requirements he was pleased to find in Sofya Nikolayevna. He
+kissed her and said good-humouredly: "What made you get up so early? You
+can't have had your sleep out. I'm sure you're not accustomed to rise so
+early; you will have a headache." "No, _batyushka_," she replied,
+embracing the old man with genuine tenderness; "I am used to early
+rising. From childhood I have had much to do and many cares, with a sick
+father and a whole family to look after. Of late I have been spoilt and
+have lain in bed longer. But I woke early this morning, and Alexyei told
+me"--here the old man frowned--"that you were up already; so I came out
+here, hoping that you would not drive me away but allow me to give you
+your tea." The words were ordinary enough, but they came from the heart
+and were spoken so earnestly that the old man was touched. He kissed her
+forehead and said: "Well, in that case, thank you, my dear child. You
+shall give me my tea, and we shall have a leisurely talk together."
+Aksyutka had already set the _samovar_ on the table. Stepan Mihailovitch
+gave orders that no one else should be called, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+began to arrange about the tea. All her actions were as quick and neat
+as if she had done nothing else all her life. The old man was pleased,
+as he watched that young and pretty figure so unlike what he was
+accustomed to, and those busy active fingers. The tea was made strong,
+and served exactly as he liked it: that is, the teapot, covered with a
+napkin, was placed on the top of the _samovar_; his cup was filled close
+up to the brim; Sofya Nikolayevna handed it without spilling a single
+drop in the saucer; and the fragrant beverage was so hot that it burnt
+his lips. The old man took his cup and tasted the tea. With surprise and
+pleasure he said: "I declare you are a witch: you know all my tastes and
+fancies. Well, if you make yourself as pleasant to your husband, he will
+be a happy man." He generally drank his tea alone, and the family did
+not begin theirs till he had finished; but this morning, when he had got
+his second cup, he told his daughter-in-law to pour one out for herself
+and drink it sitting beside him. "I never drink more than two, but I
+will take a third cup to-day; the tea tastes better somehow," he said in
+the kindest of tones. And indeed, the pleasure which Sofya Nikolayevna
+felt in her occupation was so visible on her expressive face that it
+could not but communicate itself to the susceptible nature of Stepan
+Mihailovitch; and his spirits rose unusually high. He made her take a
+second cup and eat a scone, of the kind for which the ovens at Bagrovo
+were long famous. The tea was cleared away, and a conversation began,
+most lively and animated, most frank and affectionate. Sofya Nikolayevna
+gave free course to her eager feelings; she talked easily and
+charmingly; her conquest of the old man was complete. In the middle of
+their talk he suddenly asked, "What of your husband? Is he asleep?"
+"Alexyei was waking when I left him," she said quickly; "but I told him
+to sleep on." The old man frowned severely and was silent. After a
+moment's reflexion, he spoke, not angrily but seriously. "Listen to me,
+my dear little daughter-in-law; you are so clever that I can tell you
+the truth without beating about the bush. I don't like to keep a thing
+on my mind. If you take my advice--well and good; if you don't--well,
+you are not my daughter and can please yourself. I don't like your
+calling your husband 'Alexyei,' as his parents might; he has got another
+name;[43] 'Alexyei' is a name you might address to a servant. A wife
+must treat her husband with respect if she wishes other people to
+respect him. There was another thing yesterday I did not like: you sent
+him to fetch the presents, and he stood there holding the tray like a
+footman. Then again just now, you said you had 'told' him to go to
+sleep. A wife ought not to give orders to her husband; if she does,
+mischief comes of it. That may be the fashion with you in the town, but,
+according to our old-fashioned country notions, all that is a great
+mistake." Sofya Nikolayevna listened respectfully, and then she spoke,
+so frankly and feelingly, that every word made its way to the old man's
+heart: "I thank you, _batyushka_, for not keeping back from me what
+displeased you. I shall gladly do what you wish, and I begin to see
+myself that I was wrong. I am still young, _batyushka_, and I have had
+no one to guide me: my own father has not left his bed for six years. I
+caught up that way of addressing my husband from others; but it shall
+never happen again, either in your presence or behind your back.
+_Batyushka_," she went on, and the large tears welled from her eyes, "I
+have come to love you like a father; treat me always as a daughter: stop
+me, scold me, whenever I do wrong, but forgive me and do not keep
+displeasure in your heart against me. I am young and hasty, and I may go
+wrong at every step. Remember that I am a stranger in this house, where
+nobody knows me and I know nobody. Do not you fail me." Then she fell on
+his neck and embraced him like a daughter, kissing his breast and even
+his hands; and the old man's own eyes filled with tears. He let her keep
+hold of his hands and said, "Well, that is all right." As we know
+already, Stepan Mihailovitch had a natural sagacity which divined the
+presence of evil and was attracted by goodness; and he never made a
+mistake in either case. He had taken a fancy to his daughter-in-law at
+first sight; and now that he understood her and appreciated her, he
+loved her for better and for worse. That love was exposed to many trials
+in later years, and any other man might have wavered, but he never
+wavered in his love for her to his last breath.
+
+ [43] _I.e._ Stepanitch, son of Stephen, which should be used in public
+      by the wife.
+
+Alexyei Stepanitch soon appeared, and was followed by all the family.
+Her daughters had urged Arina Vassilyevna to go out long before, but she
+did not dare to appear, because, when Stepan Mihailovitch gave orders
+"that no one should be called," it was taken to mean that he did not
+wish to see any one. She only came out now because her husband had told
+Mazan to summon all the family. There was no trace of tears on Sofya
+Nikolayevna's face; and she greeted the newcomers with more than usual
+cordiality. Nor could one tell from Stepan Mihailovitch that anything
+unusual had happened; but the bride could not conceal her high spirits,
+and the two sisters-in-law noticed this at once and guessed the alarming
+truth pretty accurately.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had settled that the young couple were to visit
+their relations in order of seniority; and it was therefore arranged
+that they should go to Aksinya's house next day. Aksinya herself went
+home that afternoon, accompanied by her sister Elizabeth, who was to
+help her in entertaining the guests. The distance was only 50 _versts_,
+and the strong Bagrovo horses could go all the way without baiting. The
+start was fixed for six o'clock next morning.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch did not in the least conceal his feelings towards
+his daughter-in-law. He kept her beside him and talked with her
+repeatedly, asking questions about her family affairs, or making her
+speak of her life at Ufa; and he listened to her with attentive
+interest, now and then giving his opinion in some pithy phrase. She
+eagerly caught up his pertinent remarks; but it was clear that she was
+moved, not by obsequious concurrence with the old man's ways of
+thinking, but by a full comprehension of his words and a conviction of
+their truth. Then in his turn he initiated her into the past and present
+history of her new relations; and his whole description was so simple
+and true, so frank and lifelike, that she realised it as few could have
+done, and was charmed by it. Never in her life had she met his equal.
+Her own father was intelligent and kind, emotional and unselfish; but at
+the same time he was weak, falling in with the prevailing tone of his
+surroundings, and bearing the stamp of the evasive time-serving official
+who had worked his way up from a clerk's stool to the position of
+Governor's Deputy. Here she saw before her an old man of little
+education and uncouth exterior, and report said of him that he was
+ruthless when angry; and yet he was sensible, kind, and honest, and
+inflexible in his clear judgment of right and wrong--a man who was
+upright in all his actions and truthful in every word he spoke. Her
+quick intellect conceived a noble type of manly worth, which set aside
+her old ideas and opened up new possibilities. And what happiness that
+this man was her husband's father! On him depended her peace of mind in
+her husband's family, and perhaps even the happiness of her marriage!
+
+Dinner was a much more lively and cheerful affair than on the previous
+day. The bride sat as before between her husband and her father-in-law;
+but Arina Vassilyevna now took her usual place opposite Stepan
+Mihailovitch. Immediately after dinner, Aksinya left, accompanied by
+her sister Elizabeth. As the old man was lying down to rest as
+usual, he said, "Well, Arisha, I think God has given us a splendid
+daughter-in-law; it would be a sin not to take her to our hearts." "True
+indeed, Stepan Mihailovitch," she answered; "if you approve of Sofya
+Nikolayevna, of course I do." The old man made a wry face but said
+nothing; and she hurried away, fearing to make a slip of the tongue, and
+anxious to report to her daughters the remarkable words of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, which must be accepted as law and obeyed, in appearance at
+least, to the letter.
+
+Though she had slept little at night, Sofya Nikolayevna could not sleep
+after dinner. She went out with her husband, and they walked, by his
+wish, to the old beech-wood, where the jackdaws built, and down the
+course of the river. There was no repetition of the old disagreements.
+She had been charmed and captivated by her father-in-law, and she now
+tried to convey to her husband the feelings of her own eager
+impressionable mind. As all people of her temperament are apt to do, she
+transferred to her handsome young husband some part of the merits she
+had found in his father, and loved him more than ever. He listened with
+surprise and pleasure to the enthusiasm of his beautiful wife, and said
+to himself, "Thank God that my father and she have become such friends!
+There will be no further trouble." He kissed her hands, and said that he
+was the happiest man on all the earth, and she a peerless goddess before
+whom all should bow down. He did not quite understand his wife nor
+appreciate her estimate of his father, so acute and profound; he only
+felt, as he had always felt, perfectly convinced that Stepan
+Mihailovitch was the kind of man whom all must respect and even fear.
+This time Sofya Nikolayevna found no faults: his feelings were her
+feelings and his language hers: she praised the deep river and the
+beech-wood with all its uneven stumps; even of her sisters-in-law she
+spoke kindly.
+
+When he woke up in the afternoon, Stepan Mihailovitch at once summoned
+all the family. It was a long time since he had been seen in such a
+bright and gentle mood: whether it was due to a good sleep or to happy
+feelings, it was clear to every one that the old master was satisfied
+and cheerful beyond his wont. After their father's pronouncement,
+Alexandra and Elizabeth were on their guard, while Tanyusha (as she was
+always called) and her mother were very willing to be more friendly and
+conversational. At a sign from his wife Karatayeff began with more
+boldness to echo what was said, even when he was not addressed; but his
+brother-in-law, the General, persisted in his gloomy silence and frowned
+significantly. The conversation became unusually brisk and animated. The
+old man expressed a wish to have his tea early, in the shade near the
+stoop, of course; and the privilege of pouring it out was conferred on
+Sofya Nikolayevna exclusively. Tanyusha was quite willing to hand over
+the office. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch ordered two cars to be brought
+round, took his daughter-in-law in one, and drove off with all his
+family to the mill. It should be said that a mill was a special hobby of
+my grandfather's, and that he understood the working of it thoroughly.
+The mill itself was not much to look at, and the weed grew round it in
+an untidy way; but the stones did their work thoroughly well. He liked
+to show off his mill, and now displayed it in detail to his
+daughter-in-law, taking pleasure in her utter ignorance and
+astonishment, which sometimes turned to fear, when he suddenly turned on
+a strong current of water upon all the four wheels, till the machinery
+began to move and swing and rattle, the stones to whirl round, creaking
+and whizzing, and the building, filled with flour-dust, to quiver and
+shake under foot. All this was an entire novelty to Sofya Nikolayevna,
+and she did not like it at all, though out of politeness she asked many
+questions and expressed surprise and admiration at everything. He was
+much pleased, and kept her there a long time. When the pair went out
+upon the dam, where Alexyei Stepanitch and his sisters were fishing,
+they were hailed with laughter by the anglers: they were both covered
+with flour. Stepan Mihailovitch was accustomed to this; besides he had
+given a shake and a brush to his clothes on leaving the mill; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna had no suspicion that she was so completely and artistically
+powdered. When he looked at her, her father-in-law himself laughed
+heartily; and she laughed more than any one, and was very merry,
+regretting only that she had no looking-glass to consult, to find out if
+her ball-dress became her. Seeing the anglers intent upon their sport,
+Stepan Mihailovitch next drove his companion round the pond and over the
+bridge; and, after visiting the stream higher up, he came back along the
+dam to the place where the anglers were engaged, while Arina
+Vassilyevna, who was very stout, sat on the ground and watched them. The
+whole course of their drive was over bog and swamp; it was hardly safe
+to cross the crazy little bridge, and difficult to make way over the dam
+which was made of manure and sank under the wheels. Though Sofya
+Nikolayevna found all this distasteful, it was impossible for Stepan
+Mihailovitch to detect her. He saw neither mire nor swamp, and he was
+impervious to the unpleasant smell from the stagnant water and the
+material of the dam. He had planned and constructed it all himself, and
+he enjoyed it all. It grew damp at sunset, and all set off for home in
+good spirits. The anglers carried their spoil with them, perch and other
+kinds. The bailiff was waiting for his master by the stoop; and orders
+were given about work on the land, while the bride put her dress in
+order. Meanwhile the fish was boiled or fried in sour cream, while the
+largest perch were baked in their skins and scales; and all these were
+pronounced very good at supper.
+
+So the second day passed, and the party broke up early, because the
+young couple had to make an early start next morning for their visit.
+When alone with her mother and youngest sister, Alexandra threw off the
+mask with relief and gave full play to her infernal temper and cruel
+tongue. She saw perfectly that all was lost and all her forebodings
+realised: that her father was taken in the toils and infatuated with the
+adventuress, and there was nothing to be done now except to dismiss the
+pair to Ufa as soon as possible and devise some scheme in their absence.
+She abused her mother and sister for being too affectionate: "But for
+me," she said, "you would have been taken in too by that dressed-up
+doll, that pauper with a Cossack for her grandfather."
+
+At six exactly next morning the young couple started in their English
+coach drawn by six of the fine horses bred at Bagrovo. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was up in time to give his tea to her father-in-law; and he embraced her
+at starting, and even signed her with the Cross, because she was to be
+absent for the night. They drove down the river and across it, and then
+uphill to the little town of Boogoorooslan. Without a halt our
+travellers crossed the river Great Kinel, and the horses trotted at the
+rate of ten _versts_ an hour along the rutty road on the flat side of
+the river, where the grass grew tall and thick and there was no sign of
+habitation. It was long since Alexyei Stepanitch had been across the
+Kinel; and he was delighted by the greenness and fragrance of the
+steppe. Bustards constantly rose off the road, and solitary snipe kept
+up with the carriage, wheeling over it and flying on ahead, or perching
+on the guide-posts and filling the air with their notes. Alexyei
+Stepanitch was very sorry that he had not taken his gun. In those days
+the steppe was alive with birds of every kind, and the sound of their
+myriad voices was so attractive to him, and indeed absorbed his
+attention so completely, that his ears were generally deaf to the lively
+and clever conversation of his wife. She soon noticed this and became
+thoughtful; her high spirits gave place to displeasure, and she began to
+talk to her maid, Parasha, who was with them in the coach. After
+crossing a district of high level land, they arrived at their
+destination exactly at noon. The little wooden house, an even greater
+contrast than Bagrovo to the houses of Ufa, stood on the flat bank of
+the Little Kinel, divided from it only by a kitchen-garden containing a
+few sunflowers and young vegetables and rows of peeled pea-stakes. I
+still recall with pleasure this unpretending spot, which I first saw ten
+years after this time; and I understand why my father liked it and my
+mother was bound to dislike it. It was a bare empty spot, quite flat and
+fully exposed to the sun, without a bush or a tree; the level steppe
+with its marmot-burrows lay all round; and the quiet river flowed by,
+deep in places and overgrown with reeds. It had nothing striking or
+picturesque to attract any one; yet Alexyei Stepanitch preferred it even
+to Bagrovo. I don't agree with him, but I had a strong liking for that
+quiet little house on the river-bank, the clear stream, the weed swaying
+in the current, the wide stretch of grassy steppe, and the ferry which
+started from close to the door and took you across to a yet wilder
+steppe, where the prairie-grass stretched straight southwards to what
+seemed an illimitable distance.
+
+The hostess, with her two little boys and a daughter of two years old,
+met her guests at the door; her sister Elizabeth and her husband were
+there also. In spite of the unpromising aspect of the simple rooms,
+everything was very clean and nice, much more so indeed than at Bagrovo.
+Though "Miss Simplicity," as her sisters called her, was a widow with
+small children, there was a neatness and order in the place which showed
+that it was managed entirely by a female hand. I have said already that
+Aksinya was a kind woman and had taken a fancy to her sister-in-law; it
+was therefore very natural that she did honour to her guests and
+received them with cordiality in her own house. This had been foreseen
+at Bagrovo, and Elizabeth had been sent on purpose to restrain the
+excessive friendliness of her sister by means of her superior
+intelligence and higher position in society, due to her husband's rank.
+But that simple soul held out against her clever, cunning sister: to all
+her urgent admonitions her answer was short and plain: "Do as you please
+at Bagrovo; you may hate and abuse Sofya Nikolayevna, but I like her;
+she has always been polite and kind to me, and therefore I intend to
+make her and my brother happy in my house." And she carried out her
+purpose with sincere affection and satisfaction, showing every attention
+to her sister-in-law and pressing her good things on both guests. But
+the proud Elizabeth and even her husband--though he drank so much
+towards evening that he had to be shut up in an empty bath-house--were
+much colder and more distant in their behaviour than at Bagrovo. Sofya
+Nikolayevna took no notice of them, and was charming to her hostess and
+the children. After dinner the party rested for a little and then went
+out for a walk by the river; they crossed by a ferry to the far bank and
+drank tea there. Sofya Nikolayevna was asked to fish, but she declined,
+saying that she hated fishing and was quite happy sitting with her
+sisters-in-law. But Alexyei Stepanitch, much pleased to see how well his
+wife got on with his eldest sister, eagerly accepted the proposal and
+sat till supper-time on the bank, hidden in the thick reeds; he landed
+several of the large bream which abounded in the quiet waters of the
+Kinel. The servants used constantly to fish for their own amusement and
+for that of their young masters. The guests determined to start next
+morning at six, and were half inclined to depart even earlier, so as not
+to keep Stepan Mihailovitch waiting for his dinner. Their hostess and
+her sister were to wait till the evening, spending a night at
+Boogoorooslan to rest the horses, and reaching Bagrovo the following
+day.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was still a little vexed with her husband. For all her
+intelligence she could not understand how a man who loved her dearly
+could also love his damp Bagrovo, with its stump-strewn woods, unsavoury
+dam, and stagnant pools; how he could gaze with delight at the tiresome
+steppe with its stupid snipe; and, above all, how he could desert his
+wife for hours for the sake of a fishing-rod and those bream which smelt
+so damp and disgusting! So she felt almost offended when Alexyei
+Stepanitch tried to communicate to her his delight in nature and in
+sport. She was wise enough, however, not to start upon explanations or
+reproofs this time; the scene on the island was still fresh in her
+memory.
+
+The young couple passed a peaceful night in Aksinya's own bedroom which
+she had given up to them; and she had done it up for them to the best of
+her ability, undeterred by the caustic remarks of her sister. They left
+the house half an hour earlier than the time originally fixed; and
+nothing particular happened on their way back, except that Alexyei
+Stepanitch was not quite so much absorbed by the steppe and the snipe,
+and did not call out quite so loud when bustards rose off the road, so
+that he could listen with more attention to his wife and look at her
+more tenderly. They reached Bagrovo before they were expected. But
+preparations were making for dinner, and Alexandra had had time to say:
+"Poor papa will have to wait for dinner to-day; but how can you expect
+town-people to get up so early several days running?" The old man saw
+through this perfectly. He astonished them all by saying very
+good-humouredly, "Well, never mind; we can wait for our guests." This
+caused a sensation, because Stepan Mihailovitch had never in his life
+sat down to dinner later than twelve o'clock, though sometimes, when he
+felt hungry, he had it earlier, and the slightest delay or unpunctuality
+made him exceedingly angry. "You see what Sofya Nikolayevna can do,"
+whispered Alexandra to her mother and youngest sister; "if _she_ keeps
+him waiting, there is no complaint; but if you had come back from
+Nyeklyoodovo late for dinner, you would never have heard the end of it,
+nor should we." The malicious whisper was hardly ended when the carriage
+dashed up to the steps; while the tired horses snorted, the old man
+kissed his daughter-in-law and praised her for being in time; then his
+voice rang through the house, "Mazan, Tanaichonok, dinner at once!"
+
+The day passed off as before. After tea Stepan Mihailovitch, whose
+affection for his daughter-in-law seemed to grow with every hour,
+ordered the drove of horses to be driven in from the steppe. He wished
+to show it to Sofya Nikolayevna, who happened to say that she had never
+seen such a thing and would like to see it. When the animals were driven
+into the yard, the old man took his daughter-in-law round himself,
+pointing out the best brood-mares, the yearlings and two-year-olds and
+young geldings, all fat and healthy from the steppe where they grazed
+together all summer. He gave her two fine mares with foals at foot, and
+hoped she would have good fortune with their stock. Sofya Nikolayevna
+was much pleased by the foals, and liked to watch them as they started
+and bounded and then nuzzled against their mothers; and she expressed
+much gratitude for the gift. Then Stepan Mihailovitch gave strict orders
+to his head groom, Spirka: "See," he said, "that special care is taken
+of Sofya Nikolayevna's mares; and we shall put a special mark on the
+foals by splitting one ear rather lower; and later we must make a brand
+with the young mistress's name on it." Then he turned to her: "I wish
+you were a lover of horses, my dear," he went on; "Alexyei does not care
+for them in the least." The old man was very fond of them himself, and,
+though he was not rich, by endless trouble he had got together a large
+stud and owned a breed which was the admiration of fanciers and good
+judges. He was pleased by her interest in his stud; though her only
+motive was to please him, he believed that she meant what she said, and
+carried her off to see how the carriage-horses, his own and those of his
+guests, were fed; of the latter there were often a large number in the
+stables at Bagrovo.
+
+I am afraid of wearying the reader by such a minute description of the
+young couple's visit, and shall only say that the next day, which was
+the fifth, was spent just like the preceding day. According to the order
+of seniority the next formal visit should have been to the Yerlykins;
+but, as their estate was 170 _versts_ from Bagrovo and much nearer Ufa,
+it was settled to take them on the return journey to the town. There was
+this other reason, that General Yerlykin, Elizabeth's silent, gloomy
+husband, having broken out at Aksinya's house, had started on one of his
+regular drinking bouts which generally lasted at least a week, so that
+his wife had been forced to leave him with some friends at
+Boogoorooslan, and give out that he was ill. So Alexandra was to receive
+the next visit, and started off home with her husband on the previous
+day; with her father's consent, she invited the oldest and youngest of
+the sisters for the occasion, while Elizabeth remained behind,
+ostensibly to be near her sick husband, though her real object was to
+bring her influence to bear on her parents. The Karatayeffs lived about
+50 _versts_ from Bagrovo; the distance was the same as to Aksinya's
+house, but the road ran in the opposite direction, due north, and passed
+through woods and hills in the second half of the journey. The visitors
+started after an early lunch. As the road was little used and heavy for
+the horses, they halted half-way for two hours in the open field, and
+reached Karatayevka about tea-time. The house was infinitely worse than
+Aksinya's: the small dark windows caught the eye at once; the floors
+were uneven, riddled with rat-holes, and so dirty as to defy soap and
+water. Sofya Nikolayevna felt fear and disgust as she entered this
+inhospitable and repulsive dwelling. Alexandra was haughty in her
+reception of them; she was profuse in sarcastic apologies of this kind:
+"We are glad to see our guests and bid them welcome; my brother, I know,
+will not be critical, but I doubt if Sofya Nikolayevna will deign to
+enter our poor house after her father's grand mansion at Ufa. Of course
+we are poor people, with no official rank; living on our own property,
+_we_ have no lucrative salaries to maintain us." But Sofya Nikolayevna
+gave as good as she got: she replied that the way people lived depended
+as much on their tastes as on their money, and that it was all one to
+her where her husband's relations lived and how they lived. When supper
+was over, the young couple were shown to their bedroom, which was the
+so-called drawing-room. As soon as the candle was out, a great
+disturbance began in the room; the pattering and noise increased, and
+swarms of rats soon assailed them with such boldness that the poor bride
+lay awake all night, shaking with fear and disgust. Alexyei Stepanitch
+was forced to light a candle and arm himself with a window-prop for the
+defence of the bed, on which the rats kept jumping up as long as it was
+dark. He felt neither fear nor disgust; it was no novelty to him; at
+first he was rather amused by the ceaseless activity and bold springs of
+the repulsive creatures, and then he fell asleep, lying across the bed
+and still holding the window-prop. But his wife woke him again and again
+and only fell asleep herself at sunrise, when the enemy sought the
+concealment of his trenches. She got up with a headache, but her hostess
+only laughed at the fright the rats had given her, and added that they
+only attacked strangers, and the people of the house were used to them.
+Tanyusha was afraid of rats herself; and she and Aksinya could not look
+unmoved at the signs of suffering on their sister-in-law's face. They
+expressed sympathy with her, and Aksinya even scolded Alexandra for not
+taking the ordinary precautions by placing the bed in the centre of the
+room, attaching curtains to it, and tucking the ends under the mattress;
+but the hostess said with an angry laugh, "It is a pity they did not
+bite off her nose." "You had better look out!" said her sister; "if this
+gets to our father's ears, you will catch it."
+
+Karatayevka was situated on the slope of a hill, above a little
+spring-fed stream which was dammed up at the end of the village and
+turned a small mill. The position was not bad, but the owners and all
+their ways were so objectionable that the place had no attraction for
+any one. M. Karatayeff, who was afraid of Stepan Mihailovitch at Bagrovo
+and of his wife at home, would have liked to pay some attentions to
+Sofya Nikolayevna when his wife was out of the room; but he only found
+courage to ask leave from time to time to kiss her hand, and generally
+added that she was the most beautiful creature in the world. When he
+repeated his request, it was refused. His was a strange existence. Most
+of his summer was spent in visiting wandering Bashkir tribes, and
+drinking _koumiss_ every day till he was intoxicated; he spoke the
+Bashkir language like a native; he rode on horseback whole days without
+dismounting, and had become as bow-legged as a Bashkir; he had their
+skill with the bow and could smash an egg at long range with the best of
+them. All the rest of the year he spent in a kind of lumber-room warmed
+by a stove, near the house-door; he wore a skin coat, and kept the
+little window always open even in the hardest frosts; and there he
+remained all day with his head stuck out of the window, humming Bashkir
+songs and taking a sip now and then of Bashkir mead or some decoction of
+herbs. Why Karatayeff looked out of his window over the empty yard with
+a rough path running across it, what he saw and noted there, what
+thoughts passed through the brain at the top of that big body--these are
+problems which no ingenuity can solve. Sometimes, it is true, his
+philosophic meditations were disturbed: when some plump woman or girl
+appeared from the servants' quarters and walked mincingly along the path
+towards the cattle-shed, then a pantomime of nods and signals took place
+between the window and the yard; but soon the fair vision turned out of
+sight and vanished like a ghost, and Karatayeff was left staring into
+empty void.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was eager to escape from this horrible place: after an
+early dinner, during which the horses were already standing at the door,
+they said "good-bye" at once and started. The hostess kissed her
+sister-in-law on both cheeks and on the shoulders, and thanked her
+significantly for her kind visit; and Sofya Nikolayevna, just as
+significantly, thanked the lady for her kind hospitality.
+
+When alone with her husband in the carriage, Sofya Nikolayevna gave vent
+to her anger. Aksinya in her simplicity had let out accidentally that
+the hostess had purposely taken no precautions against the rats; and the
+bride, though she had refrained from an outburst in her enemy's house,
+was unable any longer to control her excitable nature. Forgetting that
+Alexandra was her husband's sister, and that Parasha was in the carriage
+with them, she was lavish in her terms of abuse. Alexyei Stepanitch, a
+straightforward and kindly man himself, could not believe that there was
+any intention on the part of his sister: attributing what had happened
+to mere carelessness, he was hurt by his wife's violent language which
+was really inexcusable under any provocation. The young husband was
+angry for the first time with his young wife: saying that she should be
+ashamed to speak so, he turned from her and was silent. Such was their
+state of mind when they arrived at Mertovshchina, where Mme. Myortvavo,
+a remarkably intelligent old lady, was then living with her daughter
+Katherine who had lately been married to Peter Chichagoff. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was warmly attached to both the Chichagoffs. She did not in
+the least expect to find them there, and soon forgot all her displeasure
+in this agreeable surprise; she became very lively and cheerful, but no
+one could fail to notice that Alexyei Stepanitch remained silent and
+sad.
+
+Chichagoff's history, and especially his second marriage, is quite a
+romance; and I shall tell it as briefly as I can, because we shall often
+come across this family in future, and especially because the life of
+the young Bagroffs was a good deal influenced by this pair. Peter
+Chichagoff was a man of exceptional ability or, I should rather say,
+exceptional acuteness, and had received what was for those days an
+advanced education in many subjects: he knew several languages, could
+draw and understood architecture, and wrote both in prose and verse. In
+his hot youth he fell in love at Moscow with a young lady of the
+Rimsko-Korsakoff family, and went so far as to misrepresent his
+position, in order to win her hand. This was discovered after the
+marriage, and he was banished to Ufa. His wife soon died. Within a year
+he consoled himself and fell in love with Katherine Myortvavo, who was
+attracted by his gay and amiable temper, his intelligence and
+acquirements; his face was so very plain that it could exercise no
+attraction. She was no longer a girl and had too strong a character to
+be controlled by her mother and brothers: they let her marry Chichagoff,
+and he was pardoned soon afterwards but not allowed to leave the
+Government of Ufa. Sofya Nikolayevna liked him for two reasons: because
+he was the husband of her dearest friend, and perhaps still more for his
+own cleverness and wide information. Mme. Myortvavo had just settled to
+leave Ufa and live in the country, and the Chichagoffs had come on
+purpose to help her in building a house and a church. After a week's
+experience of her husband's relations, this meeting was a spring in the
+desert to Sofya Nikolayevna; it was like a breath of fresh air in which
+her heart and quick intelligence expanded; she talked on with her
+friends till near midnight. But Alexyei Stepanitch would have sat there
+in silence and solitude, had not the old lady grasped the situation and
+entertained him by her pleasant talk. After supper, however, he said
+"good-night," and went off to the bedroom allotted to the visitors; when
+Sofya Nikolayevna came she found him fast asleep. They started for
+Bagrovo early next day without disturbing their hosts.
+
+During their drive Alexyei Stepanitch was still sullen and silent. In
+reply to direct questions from his wife, his answers were so cold and
+short that she gave up speaking to him. Her lively and impatient temper
+resented this treatment, but she did not care to clear up matters in
+Parasha's presence, preferring to wait till the after-dinner rest when
+she would be alone with her husband. For the present she started a
+conversation with her maid about their life at Ufa, while Alexyei
+Stepanitch squeezed into a corner of the carriage and either fell asleep
+or pretended to. They reached Bagrovo two hours before dinner. Stepan
+Mihailovitch was obviously pleased to see his daughter-in-law again, and
+even said that he had missed her. "My dear," he added; "you really must
+not stay here too long, or I shan't be able to let you go; as it is, I
+shall miss you, likely enough." He made her give him a minute account of
+their expedition. He praised Mme. Myortvavo whom he knew well, and said
+that he would send her an invitation next day to come with her daughter
+and son-in-law and dine at Bagrovo; he fixed on the following Sunday,
+which was four days ahead, for the entertainment. "You must visit the
+Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys the day after to-morrow," he said; "and then
+you can invite them too for Sunday; and then, three days later, you had
+better be off home to Ufa. Your father has never been parted from you
+before, and must miss you terribly; and I am sure, my dear, that you are
+even more anxious to see him, poor suffering old man!"
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was not long in finding out that something
+disagreeable had happened on this expedition. In the course of
+conversation, he said, "Well, were the Karatayeffs glad to see you?" The
+answer was of course in the affirmative; but Sofya Nikolayevna happened
+to mention that she had been kept awake all night by rats. This
+surprised the old man: he had only been there once, long ago, and had
+heard nothing of the kind. But here Arina Vassilyevna unsuspiciously
+joined in, in spite of the warning signs of her daughter Elizabeth; she
+suffered for it afterwards, poor lady, at the hands of her daughters. "O
+yes, yes, _batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch!" she cried; "the rats there
+are perfectly awful! Without bed-curtains, it's impossible to get a wink
+of sleep." "Had you no curtains to your bed, then?" asked the old man,
+and there was an ominous change in his voice as he spoke. "No," was the
+only possible answer. "An excellent hostess!" he said, and looked at his
+wife and daughter in such a way that a cold shiver ran down their backs.
+
+The Karatayeff party had not yet returned, but were expected by
+tea-time. Dinner was not a cheerful meal: all were out of spirits, and
+each had his or her own reasons. Arina Vassilyevna and Elizabeth were
+conscious of the approaching storm, and feared that the thunderbolt
+might smite them also. It was long since Stepan Mihailovitch had been in
+a rage, and the prospect was more alarming to them because they had
+become unused to such outbreaks. Sofya Nikolayevna noted the frown on
+her father-in-law's face; she did not object to his giving a good fright
+to his daughter, whom she detested as her avowed enemy; but she feared
+she might somehow get involved herself. She had no unkind intention in
+speaking about the rats: she never supposed that her father-in-law would
+take any special notice of this circumstance or attach serious
+importance to it. Nevertheless, a stone lay on her heart also: she could
+not determine how to act towards her husband. He had been angry with her
+for the first time, when she used insulting language about his sister:
+was it best to wait till he appealed to her voluntarily, or to put an
+end to the uncomfortable situation by begging him to forgive her? Her
+love and her tender caresses might then cause him to forget her
+regrettable impulsiveness. And she certainly would have chosen this
+course; for she was passionately in love with her kind young husband.
+She blamed herself severely: she ought to have foreseen everything and
+been prepared for everything. She knew that Alexyei Stepanitch would not
+hesitate to die for her, but she knew also that she ought not to demand
+of him what he could not give--a tender and constant observation, and a
+full comprehension of all the trifling occurrences that might give her
+pain. And this was hard for her, with her hot blood and sensitive
+nerves, her eager, excitable brain and impressionable nature. Such were
+the poor woman's thoughts and feelings as she walked up and down her
+room waiting for her husband; his mother had stopped him on his way
+there after dinner and asked him to come to her bedroom. The minutes
+seemed to her like hours. The thought that he was loitering on purpose,
+fearing a scene and unwilling to be alone with her; the thought, that
+without relieving her heart of its many troubles and without a
+reconciliation with her husband, she would see him again in the presence
+of her enemies and must play a part the whole evening--this thought
+oppressed her heart and threw her into a fever. Suddenly the door
+opened, and Alexyei Stepanitch walked in. There was no hesitation in his
+movements; he was no longer timid and sad, but fearless and even
+displeased. He began at once to reproach her for complaining to his
+father and getting Alexandra into trouble. "They are all trembling and
+crying now, and God only knows what will come of it," he said, primed
+with all that his mother and sister had been impressing upon him. "It is
+wrong and a sin on your part to cause trouble and quarrels in your
+husband's family. I told you what my father is like when he is angry;
+and you, knowing this and seeing his love for you, took advantage of
+it!" Sofya Nikolayevna's patience snapped instantly, and she fired up at
+once; love was silent, and of pity and contrition not a trace was left;
+and her poor husband discovered that Stepan Mihailovitch was not the
+only person who could fly into a passion. An irresistible flood of
+complaints, accusations, and reproaches poured down upon him. He was
+utterly crushed and confounded; he could make no defence, and was all
+but a monster in his own eyes. Soon he was kneeling at her feet and
+begging forgiveness with tears. It was not surprising that Alexyei
+Stepanitch was powerless before that volcanic eruption of feeling and
+intelligence, that heartfelt conviction and wonderful power of
+eloquence. A man entirely in the right, a man much more resolute than
+Alexyei Stepanitch, would have pleaded guilty before the youth and
+beauty of a woman whom he loved. And Alexyei Stepanitch was certainly
+not in the right.
+
+When the storm had calmed down in the bedroom of the young couple, it
+was still brewing at the other end of the house, in the smallish room
+which belonged to Stepan Mihailovitch. Sleep had not brought peace to
+him or smoothed the frown from his high forehead. He sat for some time
+across his bed in gloomy silence, and then called out, "Mazan!" Mazan
+had long been lying outside the door, breathing heavily according to his
+wont, and looking in through a chink; he had been placed there as a
+sentry, while the family were sitting in the parlour, full of gloomy
+apprehensions. He called out at the top of his voice, "What is your
+pleasure, sir?"--and hurried into the room. "Has my daughter Alexandra
+arrived? Yes? Then bring her here." Alexandra entered on his heels, for
+on such occasions delay was more dangerous than anything. "How dared
+you, Madam," began the old man in the voice she knew and dreaded--"how
+dared you set rats on your brother and his wife?" "I am sorry, father,"
+humbly answered Alexandra, while her knees trembled beneath her, and
+fear kept down her own infernal temper. "I put my guests on purpose in
+the drawing-room, and I never thought of putting curtains to their bed.
+I was so busy and so glad to see them that it slipped my memory." "You
+were so glad to see them! Do you expect me to believe _that_? How did
+you dare to act so to your brother and to me? How did you dare to bring
+shame on your father in his old age?" The affair would perhaps have gone
+no further than angry words and loud threats and possibly a rap from his
+fist; but Alexandra, stung by the thought that she was suffering on
+account of Sofya Nikolayevna, and hoping that the storm would still blow
+over, forgot that any sort of answer was a new offence. She could not
+resist saying, "I am punished for nothing on her account." A fresh and
+terrible fit of rage seized Stepan Mihailovitch, that rage which
+invariably ended in painful and shocking violence. Words of fury were on
+the point of rushing from his lips, when Arina Vassilyevna, with her
+daughters Aksinya and Tanyusha, ran into the room and fell at the old
+man's feet, with tears and cries; they had been standing outside the
+door and had seen what was coming. Karatayeff had been standing there
+with them; but he ran out of the house and into the wood, where he
+slashed furiously at the innocent birch-branches with his stick,
+punishing them for the wrong done to his wife. Elizabeth did not venture
+to enter the room, knowing that her own conscience was not clear, and
+that her father was quite aware of the part she had played. "_Batyushka_
+Stepan Mihailovitch!" cried Arina Vassilyevna, "your will is law, you
+are our master, do what pleases you! Only do not shame us and disgrace
+your family in the sight of your daughter-in-law! You will frighten her
+out of her life; all this is new to her." The words seemed to have some
+effect on the old man. He was silent for a moment; then he pushed
+Alexandra from him with his foot, crying, "Begone, and don't venture to
+show yourself till I send for you!" No one waited for any further
+orders: in a moment the room was cleared, and all was silence round
+Stepan Mihailovitch; but his blue eyes long remained dark and clouded,
+and his chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing, as he restrained
+his passionate anger which had been aroused and not satisfied.
+
+The _samovar_ had long been hissing on the drawing-room table, not in
+the shade of the stoop, because heavy rain had just ceased falling and
+it was damp out of doors. Nature seemed to sympathise with what was
+passing in the house of Bagrovo. Soon after dinner two clouds of intense
+blackness had met in the zenith and long remained there motionless,
+emitting from time to time flashes of lightning and shaking the air with
+peals of thunder. At last the rain came down in torrents, the clouds
+shifted to the east, and the setting sun shone out. Fields and woods
+smelt sweeter, refreshed by the rain, and the birds began to sing
+louder; but alas! the storms of human passion are not followed by such a
+calm.
+
+Alexandra pretended illness, but the other daughters came with their
+mother to the drawing-room; Karatayeff also was there, but Yerlykin was
+still absent from the house, on the pretext of ill-health. Stepan
+Mihailovitch had tea in his room and gave orders that he was not to be
+disturbed. The door of the young couple's room was locked; after a short
+delay, tapping was tried and brought them out at once. Sofya Nikolayevna
+looked cheerful, and her husband really was more cheerful than before;
+but it was easy to guess from their faces that something unusual had
+been happening in their room. Of what had passed in the bedroom of
+Stepan Mihailovitch, they knew nothing. As for Arina Vassilyevna and her
+daughters, they looked like people who had just been pulled out of the
+water or snatched from the fire. It is a pity that there was no one to
+observe the scene; for it is certain that the different expressions on
+the faces of the company would have afforded an entertaining spectacle.
+All attempts to keep up a conversation were unsuccessful. The absence of
+the father and of one daughter puzzled Sofya Nikolayevna beyond
+endurance: she invented some pretext for going to her own room, where
+she summoned Parasha and got to the bottom of the mystery. They knew all
+about it in the maids' room: not only had Mazan and Tanaichonok been
+listening all the time, but the old lady and her daughter were in the
+habit of keeping nothing back from their waiting-women. Thus Parasha was
+able to give her mistress an exact and detailed report. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was much disturbed. She had never expected such alarming
+consequences; she heartily regretted having told her father-in-law about
+the wretched rats; and she was sincerely sorry for Alexandra. She went
+back to the drawing-room and asked leave to visit the invalid, but was
+told she was asleep. During her absence, Alexyei Stepanitch had heard
+the whole story. After a hasty supper they separated to their rooms at
+ten o'clock. When alone with her husband, Sofya Nikolayevna, with much
+agitation and many tears, fell on his neck, and again asked his
+forgiveness with heartfelt penitence, blaming herself much more than she
+really deserved. But he did not understand the delicacy of feeling which
+prompted her genuine grief and drew from her tears. He was only sorry to
+see her distress herself about trifles; and he tried to console her by
+saying that all was well that ends well, that the family were accustomed
+to such scenes, that his father would wake in a good temper to-morrow
+and forgive Alexandra, and all would go on as well as at first. Only he
+begged her not to have any explanations with any of the family, and not
+to beg pardon, as she wished to do, for her unintentional slip; and he
+advised her not to visit his father in the morning but to wait till he
+sent for her. Sofya Nikolayevna understood her husband's character
+better than she had ever done before; and the knowledge hurt her deeply.
+While he slept peacefully all night, she never closed an eye.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch was the worse for his fit of anger and also disliked
+the thought that his daughter-in-law might have heard of it. His honest
+nature resented every underhand action and deliberate unkindness; and
+also he saw, in what his daughter had done, disregard to his own
+authority and position. He was on the brink of an illness; he ate no
+supper, stayed indoors instead of going to sit on the stoop, and, when
+he should have seen his bailiff, sent his orders by a servant. But the
+benign darkness of night which gives light to the eye of our mind, the
+stillness, and then sleep, which calms the passions of men and rains
+down blessings upon them--all these did their kindly office. Early next
+day he summoned Arina Vassilyevna and gave her his instructions to
+convey to his daughters--they were intended mainly for Alexandra, but in
+part also for Elizabeth--that Sofya Nikolayevna was not to know of any
+unpleasantness, and they were to behave accordingly. In a short time the
+_samovar_ was placed on the table, and all the family summoned. Arina
+Vassilyevna fortunately had time to send a message by her son to Sofya
+Nikolayevna, begging her to do her best to cheer up the master of the
+house: "He is not quite well," she said, "and in low spirits for some
+reason." In spite of her sleepless night and the aching of her own
+heart, Sofya Nikolayevna carried out this request to admiration; all the
+party, and she herself more than any, were anxious that it should be
+done.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was an astonishing woman! Lively, impressionable, and
+excitable, she could be carried away in a moment by impulses of the head
+or heart, and was capable of very sudden and complete transformations of
+behaviour. In later years stupid people accused her of insincerity on
+this ground, but no one else did. It was really a kind of artistic
+power, which enabled her to adapt herself instantly to a new atmosphere
+and a new position, and to act absolutely in accordance with her
+immediate purpose; and this purpose, being entirely sincere, acted like
+a spell on others. In this case, she laid herself out to calm the
+agitation of her father-in-law, for whom she had conceived a warm
+affection, and who had championed her cause at the cost of his peace of
+mind and at the risk of his health; and she wished to relieve her
+husband and his family, who had been terrified and assailed owing to her
+slip of the tongue. Her imagination and feelings were so completely
+mastered by this purpose that she exercised a kind of magical power over
+the party and soon subdued them all by the irresistible spell of her
+personality. She poured out tea herself and handed the cups herself,
+first to her father-in-law and then to the rest; she talked to every one
+so easily and pleasantly and brightly that the old man, quite convinced
+that she had caught no glimpse of the skeleton in the cupboard, soon
+relaxed his features. Of him also it was true that his cheerfulness was
+infectious; and, before an hour had passed, all traces of the storm of
+yesterday had disappeared.
+
+Immediately after dinner the young couple started off to pay two
+ceremonial visits--to Ilarion Kalpinsky and his wife Catherine at
+Nyeklyoodovo, and to our old acquaintance Mme. Lupenevsky, who lived
+within two _versts_ of the Kalpinskys. Kalpinsky was in his own way a
+remarkable man: though he had received no regular education, he was very
+intelligent and well-read; his origin was obscure--it was said that he
+was of Mordvinian descent--but he had risen to a considerable rank in
+the public service, and had made a marriage of interest with the
+daughter of a country gentleman of good family. His present pursuit was
+farming, and his object to save money. He set up for a freethinker; and
+his few neighbours who had heard of Voltaire called him a Voltairian. He
+lived at home without taking any part in the life of the family, and
+reserved to himself complete freedom in the gratification of his
+somewhat Epicurean tastes and habits. Though she had heard of him, Sofya
+Nikolayevna had never seen him, because he had only recently removed to
+Orenburg from his public office at Petersburg. She was surprised to find
+in him a man possessed of intelligence and culture according to the
+standards of the time, and dressed like a gentleman living in the
+capital. She was pleased with him at first; but he soon began to show
+off before such an attractive visitor, and then his profanity and the
+shameless immorality of his family life made her feel a disgust for him
+which she never afterwards got over. His wife was far more intelligent
+than her sister, Mme. Lupenevsky, but not her superior in any other
+respect. The visit lasted for an hour, and was followed by a visit to
+Mme. Lupenevsky. In both houses tea was given to the guests and
+home-made jam, and the meal was seasoned with a kind of conversation
+which horrified Sofya Nikolayevna. Both families were invited to dine at
+Bagrovo on the following Sunday. By one of those striking
+inconsistencies in human nature which it is impossible to explain, Mme.
+Lupenevsky fell in love at first sight with Sofya Nikolayevna, and used
+such language to her at parting that her guest must needs either blush
+or laugh aloud; nevertheless her words were the expression of sincere
+and even enthusiastic attachment.
+
+The pair reached home an hour before supper-time, and were welcomed with
+unusual cordiality and pleasure by Stepan Mihailovitch, whom they found
+sitting on the familiar stoop. He was much amused when he was told that
+Mme. Lupenevsky had conceived such a passion for his daughter-in-law,
+kissing her repeatedly, claiming that they were kindred spirits, and
+lavishing terms of affection upon her. Contrary to custom, the whole
+family went out again to the stoop after supper, and spent a long time
+there in cheerful conversation with the master of the household, in the
+cool of the night and under the starry sky. Stepan Mihailovitch, though
+he could not have explained why, was fond of the faint colourless light
+that follows the glow of sunset.
+
+The solemn feast on the Sunday was to be something beyond what had ever
+been seen at Bagrovo, but nothing special happened on either of the
+intervening days. Yerlykin came back from Boogoorooslan looking yellow
+and ill, as he always did after a drinking-bout. Stepan Mihailovitch
+knew of his son-in-law's unfortunate weakness or disease, and tried to
+cure him by dosing him with unpalatable drinks, but without success.
+When sober, Yerlykin had a loathing for alcohol and could not raise a
+glass of wine to his lips without a shudder; but he was seized four
+times a year with a sudden and irresistible craving for spirits. If the
+attempt was made to keep drink from him, he became a most pitiable and
+wretched object, talking constantly and weeping, and begging abjectly
+for the poison; and if it was still refused, he became frantic and even
+capable of attempts at suicide. Sofya Nikolayevna, who had heard the
+whole story, was exceedingly sorry for him. She spoke kindly to him and
+tried to make him talk to her. But it was no good: the General persisted
+in his sullen silence and gloomy pride. Instead of being grateful to her
+sister-in-law, Elizabeth resented these advances to her husband, and
+expressed her resentment in bitter terms. But Stepan Mihailovitch
+noticed this and addressed a stern reproof to his clever daughter, who
+did not love her sister-in-law any the better in consequence.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch twice took his daughter-in-law out to see his crops
+of rye and spring-sown wheat, and drove with her to all his favourite
+water-springs in the hills, and the "Sacred Wood" where the trees had
+been protected from the axe by a religious service. The old man believed
+that all these sights were interesting and agreeable to her; but in fact
+she positively disliked them all. Her sole support was in the thought
+that she would soon leave Bagrovo and would do her best never to set
+eyes on it again. If any one had told her that she would spend most of
+her life there, grow old there, and even die there, she would not have
+believed it: she would have said that death was preferable, and would
+have meant what she said. But whatever God decrees, to that man can
+become accustomed, and that he can endure.
+
+Sunday came and the guests began to assemble. Mme. Myortvavo came, and
+the Kalpinskys and Lupenevskys, and two old bachelors, the judge and the
+mayor of Boogoorooslan. Another guest was Afrosinya Andreyevna (her
+surname, which was never used, I forget), a spare little old lady and a
+great talker; she had a small estate near Bagrovo. She was famous for
+her powers of invention, and Stepan Mihailovitch liked at times to
+listen to her, as a grown man sometimes listens with pleasure to a fairy
+tale intended for children.
+
+But Afrosinya Andreyevna deserves that the reader should have at least a
+bowing acquaintance with her. At one time in her life she had spent ten
+years in Petersburg to watch a lawsuit; when she won it, she came back
+to her little estate in the country. She brought back with her from
+Petersburg a store of anecdotes whose extravagance made Stepan
+Mihailovitch laugh till he cried. For instance, she used to represent
+herself as a bosom friend of the Empress Catherine, adding by way of
+explanation that two people could not live ten years in the same town
+without being thrown together. "I was in church one day"--she talked
+this way when she was in the vein--"the people were going out, and the
+Empress walked past me, and I made a low curtsey and ventured to
+congratulate her on the festival; and then Her Majesty was so very kind
+and condescending as to say: 'How are you, Afrosinya Andreyevna? How is
+your suit going? Why don't you come to see me of an evening and bring
+your knitting with you? We could chat together and pass the time
+pleasantly.' Of course I never missed an evening after that. I got to
+know the people about the court, and every one in the palace without a
+single exception knew me and liked me. Suppose a royal footman was sent
+anywhere, to buy something it might be, he never failed to look in at my
+house and tell me all about it. As a matter of course, I always offered
+him a glass of something good; I kept a bottle of whisky in the cupboard
+on purpose. I was sitting by my window one evening when I saw a royal
+footman in red uniform, with the coat of arms on it, ride past at a
+gallop; he was soon followed by a second and a third. That was too much
+for me: I threw up the window and called out, 'Philip Petrovitch! Philip
+Petrovitch! what are you all galloping for, and why don't you pay me a
+visit?' 'No time! Afrosinya Andreyevna!' was his answer; 'a terrible
+thing has happened: candles will soon be wanted at the palace, and we've
+run out of them!' 'Stop!' I cried out; 'I have 5 lbs. of candles laid
+in; you can come in and take them.' Philip Petrovitch was delighted; I
+carried out the candles with my own hands and relieved the people from
+their difficulty. So you see, _batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch, they
+simply couldn't help being fond of me."
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch had many traits of character peculiar to himself;
+and this was one--though he was a sworn foe to deliberate lying of every
+kind, and detested the most trifling deception and even the kind of
+evasion which is sometimes quite excusable, yet he liked listening to
+the harmless fabrications and fictions of simple people, who were
+innocently carried away by the vividness of their imagination till they
+actually came to believe in their own incredible romancing. He liked
+talking to Afrosinya Andreyevna, not only at a merry party, but also
+when they were alone together, if he was in the right mood for it; and
+she spent whole hours in pouring out for his benefit the story of her
+life in Petersburg, which consisted entirely of such incidents as that
+which I have already quoted.
+
+But it is time to go back to the guests arriving at Bagrovo. The mayor's
+_kaftan_[44] and the judge's uniform were equally remarkable; but the
+best sight of all was Kalpinsky: on each side of him stood a female
+scarecrow in the person of his wife and of her sister, while he himself
+wore an embroidered coat of French cut, a pair of watch-chains, a number
+of rings, silk stockings and shoes with gold buckles. All the family
+wore their best bib and tucker, and even Stepan Mihailovitch was forced
+to smarten himself up. M. Chichagoff, who had a critical, satirical turn
+of mind, made fun with much effect of the motley assembly and especially
+of his friend Kalpinsky; he was talking all the time to his wife and to
+her inseparable companion, Sofya Nikolayevna, who sat together and apart
+from the rest. Sofya Nikolayevna had hard work to keep from laughing:
+she tried not to listen, and begged Chichagoff either to hold his tongue
+or to start a conversation with Stepan Mihailovitch, whom he would find
+worthy of respect. He did so, and soon took a great fancy to the old
+man; and his feeling was reciprocated. But Stepan Mihailovitch disliked
+Kalpinsky, both as an upstart and also as an unbeliever and loose-liver.
+
+ [44] The kaftan is a long cloth coat belted in at the waist.
+
+The splendour of the banquet may be imagined. Stepan Mihailovitch for
+once resigned all his favourite dishes--haggis, roast ribs of pork, and
+porridge made of green rye. A _chef_ had been procured, of special skill
+in the culinary art. Materials of all sorts were provided in
+abundance--a six-weeks-old calf, a pig fed to monstrous proportions, fat
+sheep, and poultry of all kinds. It was the custom then to place all the
+courses at once on the cloth; and the table at Bagrovo could hardly hold
+them all or support their weight. Cold dishes came first--smoked hams
+seasoned with garlic; next came green cabbage soup and crayfish soup,
+with forcemeat balls and rolls of different kinds; then fish-salad on
+ice, sturgeon kippered and sturgeon dried, and a dish heaped
+mountain-high with crayfish tails. Of entrees there were only two:
+salted quails _aux choux_, and stuffed ducks with a red sauce containing
+raisins, plums, peaches, and apricots. These entrees were a concession
+to modern fashion; Stepan Mihailovitch did not like them and called them
+"kickshaws." They were followed by a turkey of enormous size and
+fatness, and a hindquarter of veal; the accessories were preserved
+melons and gourds, apple chips, and pickled mushrooms. The dinner ended
+up with round jam-tarts and raised apple pies served with thick cream.
+All this was washed down with home-made liquors, home-brewed March beer,
+iced _kvass_, and foaming mead.
+
+Such were the meals which our heroic grandfathers and grandmothers
+consumed without leaving out a single course, and even managed to digest
+satisfactorily! But they took their time over it, and the meal went on
+for hours. The dishes were solid, substantial affairs, as we have seen,
+and there were plenty of them; and the servants also, both those of the
+house and those whom the guests brought with them, had no idea of
+waiting: they bustled about and collided with one another and seemed
+likely at every moment to spill the sauce or the gravy over some lady's
+dress.
+
+The dinner was a cheerful meal. The master of the house had Mme.
+Myortvavo on his right, and on his left Chichagoff, who steadily rose in
+his host's good graces and was quite capable, unaided, of enlivening the
+dullest of parties. The young couple were near the head of the table,
+with Mme. Chichagoff and Kalpinsky; the latter, while paying constant
+attentions to the two young women and exchanging an occasional jest with
+Alexyei Stepanitch, ate for two all the time, to make up for the
+voluntary abstinence which he practised at home, in his eagerness to
+save money. Yerlykin sat next to Chichagoff; unlike the rest of the
+party, he ate little and drank nothing but cold water; he never spoke,
+but looked gloomy and profound. The lady of the house had her daughters
+and nieces with other guests near her at table. The party next adjourned
+to the drawing-room, where there were two tables set out with
+sweetmeats. On one stood a round cabinet of Chinese porcelain resting on
+a round metal stand which was gilt and painted in bright colours. The
+cabinet contained a number of closely-fitting trays, each of which held
+a different sort of preserved fruit--raspberries, strawberries,
+cherries, gooseberries, and blackberries; and there were crystallised
+rose-petals in a small round receptacle at the top. This cabinet, which
+would be considered very rare and precious nowadays, was a present sent
+by the bride's father to Stepan Mihailovitch. Small plates were set out
+on the other table, filled with black and white currants, apricots,
+peaches, dates, raisins, nuts of many kinds, and almonds in the shell.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch rose from table in such good spirits that he did not
+even wish to lie down and rest. All could see--and indeed he wished it
+to be seen--his pride in his daughter-in-law and his affection for her;
+and her love and respect for him were as plain to see. During dinner he
+often turned towards her and asked her to do him some trifling
+service--to hand something, or pour out something. "Please help me
+yourself," he would say, "for you and I agree in our tastes"--or, "Just
+remind me of what I said to you the other day"--or, "Do repeat what you
+told me yesterday; I seem to have forgotten it." After dinner it was the
+same: he often asked her to give some order, or to hand him something,
+and so on. The form of his address was always plain and unpretentious,
+sometimes even unceremonious; but the tone of affection in which these
+appeals were expressed left no doubt in the mind of any spectator that
+he was entirely captivated by his daughter-in-law. And she, I need
+hardly say, replied with love and gratitude to every token of the stern
+old man's love for her--tokens often so slight that many would have
+missed them. Stepan Mihailovitch, who was thoroughly enjoying himself,
+tried to make Mme. Lupenevsky talk: pretending ignorance, he asked in a
+loud voice, "Well, Flona, what say you of my daughter-in-law?" The
+lady's enthusiasm had been raised to a higher pitch by the ale and
+strong waters she had been drinking. She declared most positively and
+solemnly that she had fallen in love at first sight with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, and rather preferred her to her own daughter, Lizanka; and
+that Alexyei Stepanitch was the most fortunate of men. "It used to be
+quite another story," said the old man significantly; "don't change back
+again, my dear!" But now Sofya Nikolayevna, perhaps from a dislike for
+this topic, strongly urged her father-in-law to go and lie down, if only
+for a short time. He consented, and she went with him and drew his
+curtains with her own hand; he asked her to see to the entertainment of
+the party, and she hurried back, pleased and flattered by this
+commission. While some lay down to rest, the others crossed to the
+island and sat on the river-bank in the shade of the trees. Sofya
+Nikolayevna was reminded of the scene that had taken place there so
+recently--her unreasonable excitement and the unjust reproaches which
+had rankled in the mind of her husband. Her heart was full; and, though
+she saw him now, in perfect content and happiness, laughing loudly at a
+story which Kalpinsky was telling, she drew him aside, threw her arms
+round him, and said with tears in her eyes, "Forgive me, my dear, and
+bury in oblivion all that happened here on the day we came!" Alexyei
+Stepanitch had a strong objection to tears; but he kissed both her hands
+and said good-humouredly, "How can you recall such a trifle, my darling?
+You are quite wrong to trouble yourself." Then he hurried back to hear
+the end of the story, which was very amusing as Kalpinsky told it.
+Though there was really no cause for distress, Sofya Nikolayevna felt a
+momentary heartache.
+
+The master of the house soon woke and summoned all the party to join him
+by the stoop. Tables and chairs were placed in the broad thick shadow
+cast by the house; and the _samovar_ was soon hissing. Tea was poured
+out by Sofya Nikolayevna; there were rolls and scones and cream so thick
+that it had a golden tinge on it; and for all this some at least of the
+guests still found room. The Kalpinskys and Mme. Lupenevsky went off
+after tea: there was positively no room for them to sleep at Bagrovo,
+and they had not far to go, only fifteen _versts_. The guests from
+Boogoorooslan also took their leave.
+
+Mme. Myortvavo and her party left early next morning, and the Yerlykins
+after dinner, to prepare for a visit from the young couple on their way
+back to Ufa. The same evening Stepan Mihailovitch announced quite
+frankly that the time had come for the rest of the party to disperse: he
+wished to spend the last days alone with his son and daughter-in-law,
+and to enjoy their society without interruption. As a matter of course,
+his wishes were carried out. Alexandra said "good-bye" to her
+sister-in-law as graciously as she could, and the sister-in-law said
+"good-bye" to her with unfeigned satisfaction. Her secret wish to spend
+some days without the hateful presence of Elizabeth and Alexandra had
+been divined by Stepan Mihailovitch; and she blessed him in her thoughts
+for his power of intuition. Aksinya was quite different; and Sofya
+Nikolayevna parted from her with feelings of gratitude and real
+affection. None of this escaped the old man's keen eyes. Tanyusha and
+her mother caused no constraint, partly because they were more
+good-tempered and friendly to their guest, and also because they often
+withdrew and left the others to their own devices.
+
+The three remaining days were spent at Bagrovo in perfect peace of mind,
+untroubled by malevolent observation or pretences of affection or
+venomous innuendoes. The strain on Sofya Nikolayevna's nerves was
+relaxed, and she was able to take her bearings with less prejudice and
+study the peculiarities of the little world in which she found herself.
+In spite of their complete unlikeness to herself, she could now
+understand her mother-in-law and Tanyusha better, and make allowances
+for them; she could form a cooler judgment of Stepan Mihailovitch, and
+could understand how her husband came to be what he was. To some extent
+she realised that Alexyei could not be entirely changed, and that the
+time was distant--perhaps it would never come--when misunderstandings
+between them would cease. But this last thought passed too lightly
+through her mind; and the old dream, that she could educate her husband
+over again and make a new man of him, took fresh hold of her eager
+imagination. What happens to most young wives in the course of life was
+happening now to Sofya Nikolayevna: she found in her husband a certain
+inferiority, certain limitations of feeling and perception; and though
+her love for him was none the less passionate on that account, she was
+beginning to feel vaguely dissatisfied with his love for her, because he
+found room in his heart for other things--the pond and the island, the
+steppe and its population of snipe, the river and those horrid fish! A
+feeling of jealousy, though directed to no definite object as yet, was
+lurking at her heart; and she felt a dim presentiment of coming
+disaster.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch also had been somewhat taken up hitherto by constant
+observation of the feelings and actions of his daughters; but now he was
+more at leisure to attend to his daughter-in-law and his son also. For
+all his want of education and rough-and-ready way of expressing himself,
+his natural sagacity and power of intuition revealed to him the whole
+difference of character between the two; and he found here matter for
+serious reflexion. Their present love for one another was a pleasant
+sight to him, and he felt happy when he saw Sofya Nikolayevna's eyes
+constantly fixed on her husband and her eager desire to please him; but
+his happiness had a shade of fear and of disbelief in the solidity and
+permanence of a state of things in itself so charming. He would have
+liked to speak his mind on the subject, to give them some hints or some
+useful advice; but, whenever he began, he could not find the right words
+for thoughts and feelings which he could not make clear even to himself;
+and he went no further than those trivial commonplaces which, for all
+their triviality, have been bequeathed to us by the practical wisdom of
+past generations and are verified by our own experience. His failure
+troubled him, and he said so frankly to his daughter-in-law. She was a
+clever woman, yet she failed to understand the thoughts which the old
+man was turning over in his brain, and the feeling hidden in his heart.
+To his son he said: "Your wife is very clever and very excitable. Her
+tongue will probably run away with her at times; if so, don't be weak
+with her: stop her at once, and make her see her mistake. Scold her, but
+forgive her at once; if she displeases you, don't be sullen or keep up
+resentment; have it all out with her at once. But trust her absolutely;
+she is as true as steel." Again, when he was alone with Sofya
+Nikolayevna, he said to her: "My dear daughter-in-law, God has given you
+many good gifts. I have only one thing to say to you: don't give the
+reins to your impetuous temper. Your husband is honest and kind; his
+temper is mild, and he will never willingly hurt your feelings; don't
+you hurt his. Honour him and treat him with respect. If you cease to
+respect your husband, things will go wrong. Suppose he says or does
+something you don't like, then say nothing; don't be too exacting, and
+don't expect perfection. I can see you through and through, and I love
+you dearly. For God's sake, don't fill the cup till it runs over:
+anything can be overdone, even a wife's devotion to her husband."
+
+The advice was received as always by his son with profound respect, and
+by Sofya Nikolayevna with the ardent gratitude of a daughter. There was
+much talk on other subjects--their future life at Ufa, the husband's
+prospects in his profession, and the means of defraying their
+expenditure. Definite arrangements were made on all points, and all
+parties were satisfied.
+
+And now the day came for their departure. The silk curtains in the
+bedroom were taken down; the muslin and satin pillow-cases with broad
+lace edging were taken off the pillows; and all this finery was packed
+up and dispatched to Ufa. Pies of different kinds were baked for the
+travellers. Father Vassili was summoned once more, and the prayers for
+those "travelling by land or by water" were said. Fresh horses were to
+be in readiness at Korovino, forty _versts_ away; to that point they
+were to be taken by the Bagrovo horses, the same fine team of six which
+had conveyed the pair on their ceremonial visits. They dined together
+for the last time; and for the last time Stepan Mihailovitch pressed his
+favourite dishes on his daughter-in-law. The carriage was already
+standing at the steps. When the party rose from table, they went to the
+drawing-room and sat there in silence for some minutes. Then Stepan
+Mihailovitch crossed himself and rose to his feet; the rest followed his
+example, said a prayer,[45] and began their good-byes. All shed tears
+except Stepan Mihailovitch, and even he had hard work to refrain. He
+embraced his daughter-in-law and gave her his blessing; then he
+whispered in her ear, "Mind, I look forward to a little grandson." She
+blushed up to the ears and kissed his hands without speaking; and now he
+did not resist her doing so. All the outdoor servants and most of the
+peasants were standing by the steps. Some of them had half a mind to
+come forward and say farewell to their young master and mistress; but
+Stepan Mihailovitch, who hated good-byes and parting scenes, called out,
+"What are you up to there? Make your bow, and that will be enough!"
+Sofya Nikolayevna had only time to exchange greetings with one or two of
+the people. They took their seats quickly, and the strong horses started
+off with the carriage as if it had been a mere feather. Stepan
+Mihailovitch shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand; for some
+minutes he tried to make out the moving carriage in the cloud of dust
+which followed it; and, when it had reached the stackyard at the top of
+the hill, he went back to his own room and lay down to sleep.
+
+ [45] In prayers of this kind, nothing is said aloud: the worshipper
+      turns towards the _ikons_ on the wall and crosses himself.
+
+
+
+
+FRAGMENT V: LIFE AT UFA
+
+
+During the first few minutes Sofya Nikolayevna felt sorry for her
+father-in-law and sad to part with him. The image of the old man who had
+learnt to love her and was suffering now from the separation, came
+vividly before her. But before long the easy motion of the carriage,
+with the fleeting glimpses of fields and coppices and the outline of the
+hills along which they were driving, had a soothing effect upon her
+mind; and she began to feel heartily glad that she had left Bagrovo. Her
+joy was too great to be concealed, though she realised that her husband
+would not like it. He, she thought, was sadder than he had any business
+to be. Some explanations might possibly have followed, but were
+fortunately prevented by the presence of Parasha. The carriage rolled
+quickly through the village of Noikino, where it was saluted by hearty
+shouts from the Mordvinians, and then crossed the river Nasyagai by a
+crazy bridge. They crossed the same river again and passed through the
+village of Polibino, and came at last to Korovino, where a fresh team
+was waiting for their arrival; their own horses were to rest there for
+some hours and return to Bagrovo in the evening.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had provided herself with writing materials, and now
+she wrote a warm letter of thanks to her husband's parents. It was
+intended especially for Stepan Mihailovitch; and he understood this
+perfectly and hid the letter in the secret drawer of the modest
+writing-desk which satisfied his needs; and there Sofya Nikolayevna came
+upon her own letter unexpectedly eight years afterwards, when the old
+man was in his grave. The horses were put to, good-byes were said to the
+coachman and postilion--long-legged Tanaichonok was acting as postilion
+on this occasion--and the pair resumed their journey. Fortune was kind
+at this point to Sofya Nikolayevna: it proved impossible to get to the
+Yerlykins' house, and thus she was saved from a most tiresome and
+oppressive visit. A deep river on the way had to be crossed, and the
+bridge had rotted and collapsed. As it would take a long time to mend
+it, the young couple could keep straight on towards Ufa. As they got
+near the town, Sofya Nikolayevna could think of nothing but her sick
+father, who had not seen her for more than a fortnight; he had been left
+in the care of servants and must be feeling lonely and eager for his
+daughter's return. The travellers took a full hour to cross the river
+Byelaya in a crazy ferry-boat; and the ascent of the steep hill on the
+other side took time. Before it was over, Sofya Nikolayevna was very
+impatient and in great agitation. At last she got to the house. In a
+fever of excitement she hurried to her father's room and softly opened
+the door. He was lying in his usual position; and near him, on the very
+armchair which was usually occupied by Sofya Nikolayevna herself, his
+servant Nikolai was sitting.
+
+This man was a Kalmuck, and I must tell something of his history. In
+those distant times it was a common practice in the district of Ufa to
+buy native boys and girls, either Kalmucks or Kirghizes, from their
+parents or relations, and to make use of them later as serfs. Forty
+years before the date of my story, M. Zubin had bought two Kalmuck boys.
+He had them baptized, became fond of them, and made pets of them. He had
+them taught to read and write; and, when they grew up, they became his
+personal servants. Both of them were intelligent and neat-handed and
+appeared to be very devoted; but, when Pugatchoff[46] raised the
+standard of revolt, they both ran off and joined the rebels. One of them
+soon lost his life; but the other, who had been his master's favourite
+and was called Nikolai, now became the favourite of one Chika, who was
+prominent among the rebels and stood high in the favour of Pugatchoff
+himself. It is well known that one band of the revolters was encamped
+for a long time near Ufa, on the opposite bank of the river Byelaya.
+Nikolai was in this camp and had by this time been promoted to a
+position of some authority. It was said that he was fiercer than any of
+them and breathed fire and slaughter against no one so much as his old
+master who had brought him up. Tradition tells that, whenever the rebels
+were preparing to cross the river and fall upon the defenceless town,
+they saw a great army march out to defend the heights on the opposite
+bank, and an ancient warrior at their head, riding on a snow-white
+horse, and holding a spear in one hand and a Cross in the other. The
+cowardly band of outlaws were terrified by this vision and desisted from
+all their attempts; and they had done nothing when the news came that
+Pugatchoff was defeated. Of course they scattered at once. The revolt
+came to an end, and the scattered rabble were seized and brought to
+trial. Nikolai, who was one of these, was condemned to the gallows. I
+cannot vouch for the truth of this; but I have been assured that, after
+his trial at Ufa, the noose was actually round his neck, when M. Zubin
+claimed the privilege which he possessed as a landholder, pardoned his
+old favourite, and took him home, undertaking to be responsible himself
+for the criminal's behaviour. Nikolai seemed penitent and tried by zeal
+and devotion to atone for his crime. By degrees he contrived to get back
+into his master's confidence; and, when Sofya Nikolayevna, after her
+stepmother's death, took over the management of the household, she found
+Nikolai established as butler; he had been a favourite with her
+stepmother, and this now became a passport to her father's goodwill.
+Nikolai had been guilty of much insolence to his young mistress during
+her time of humiliation; but he was a very cunning fellow and quite
+realised his present position. He played the part of the repentant
+sinner, throwing all the guilt on the stepmother, and blaming himself
+for the slavish spirit in which he had carried out her orders. It would
+have been quite easy for Sofya Nikolayevna to get rid of him for good
+and all; but her youth and generous nature made her believe that his
+repentance was genuine. She pardoned him, and actually begged her father
+to leave him in his old position. As time went on, she was sometimes
+vexed by the way in which he settled things without consulting her, and
+she felt doubts about his honesty. She noticed also that his intimacy
+with her father, though concealed from her, was closer than she liked.
+But he was very zealous in his attendance upon his sick master, sleeping
+always in the same room, and also found time to do his work as butler
+exceedingly well. She was therefore content with mild reproofs, and the
+man was left free to take root at leisure in his double office. When she
+became engaged, she had to see herself to the buying of her
+wedding-clothes and to spend much time with her future husband; and so
+she was less with her father and gave less attention to household
+affairs. Nikolai took full advantage of this opportunity, and his power
+over the old invalid increased daily. Hoping soon to get rid of his
+mistress and to become master of the house himself, he grew more
+insolent and less careful to conceal his power. Sofya Nikolayevna
+sometimes snubbed him sharply; she was grieved to see her father's
+increasing dependence on this man and abdication of his own authority.
+
+ [46] See note to p. 67 (Transcriber: note 33).
+
+Nikolai had made full use of the few days that preceded and followed the
+marriage, and of her absence for a fortnight at Bagrovo: his master, now
+at death's door, was completely under his control. Sofya Nikolayevna
+guessed the true state of affairs as soon as she saw the man lying
+asleep in the armchair; never before had he ventured on such a liberty.
+She gave him a look which sent him in some haste and confusion out of
+the room. Her father was by no means as pleased to see her as she
+expected; he made haste to tell her that Nikolai was not to blame: "It
+is at my urgent wish," he said, "that he sometimes takes a seat at my
+bedside." "It is a pity you do that, father," she said; "you will spoil
+him altogether and be forced to turn him off; I know him better than you
+do." Then, without entering upon further explanations, she expressed her
+joy at having found him no worse. Alexyei Stepanitch soon came in, and
+then the old man, touched by his daughter's unfeigned tenderness, his
+son-in-law's attentive behaviour, and the love between husband and wife,
+listened with pleasure to their narrative and thanked God with tears for
+their happiness.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna began at once the business of instalment. She chose
+three rooms, quite separate from the rest, for their own occupation; and
+in a few days her arrangements were so complete that she could receive
+her own guests without any disturbance to her father. It was her
+intention to arrange as before about the management of the house and the
+attendance on her father, and to assign to Nikolai the subordinate part
+of carrying out her instructions; but the man had always hated her, and
+now felt himself strong enough to declare open war against his young
+mistress. While attending to the father more zealously than ever, he
+contrived with extraordinary cunning to insult the daughter at every
+turn; and to Alexyei Stepanitch he was so insolent that the young man
+lost patience, in spite of his easy and unexacting temper, and told his
+wife that he could not possibly put up with the position. For some time
+Sofya Nikolayevna did not trouble her father, hoping by her own
+influence to keep Nikolai within the bounds of reasonable politeness;
+she relied upon his intelligence, and also believed that he knew her
+determined character and would not venture to drive her to extremities.
+But the malicious Asiatic--this was the servants' name for him--was
+convinced beforehand that he would conquer, and tried to provoke Sofya
+Nikolayevna into some passionate outburst. Long ago he had been able to
+instill into his master the belief that the young lady could not endure
+her father's faithful servant and would certainly try to turn him out of
+the house. The invalid was horrified by this prospect, and solemnly
+declared that he would prefer death to such a deprivation. Sofya
+Nikolayevna tried to hint to her father in very gentle and affectionate
+terms that Nikolai forgot himself in his behaviour to her husband and
+neglected to carry out her orders; it seemed to be his intention to
+provoke her to anger. But her father became agitated and refused to
+listen: he said that he was perfectly satisfied with Nikolai, and begged
+her not to trouble the butler but to give her orders to some other
+servant. Young and impulsive, and accustomed to undisputed authority in
+her father's house, Sofya Nikolayevna found it hard to endure the
+insulting behaviour of an unworthy menial; yet her love for her father,
+and her desire to nurse and comfort him and alleviate his sufferings as
+far as possible, kept her for long from the idea of leaving him in that
+dying state to depend entirely upon such a wretch as Nikolai and other
+servants. She controlled her impulsiveness and injured pride; she gave
+her household orders through one of the other servants, knowing all the
+time that all her instructions were altered by her enemy at his will and
+pleasure. She induced her father to order that Nikolai should not enter
+the sick-room while she was sitting there. But this arrangement soon
+broke down: under various pretexts, the man constantly came into the
+room; and indeed the invalid himself constantly asked for him. This
+painful situation continued for several months.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna arranged her engagements in the town in accordance
+with her own wishes. The people whom she liked she often met, either in
+their houses or her own; the rest she seldom saw, and was content to
+exchange formal calls with them. Her husband was acquainted already with
+everybody in the town; but his wife's intimate friends now became
+intimate with him. He became popular with them and got on very well in
+his new position--I mean, in the select society that gathered round his
+wife.
+
+Meanwhile, soon after her return to Ufa, Sofya Nikolayevna began to feel
+unpleasant symptoms of a peculiar kind, which gave great satisfaction to
+Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard of them. The continuation of his
+ancient line, the descendants of the great Shimon, was a constant theme
+of the old man's thoughts and wishes; it troubled his peace of mind and
+stuck in his head like a nail. On receiving the good news from his son,
+Stepan Mihailovitch was full of happy hopes and convinced that the child
+would infallibly be a boy. His family always said that his spirits were
+unusually high at this time. He had prayers said in church for his
+daughter-in-law's health, forgave certain sums owed him by neighbours or
+dependants, asked every one to congratulate him, and made them drink
+till they were dizzy.
+
+In his excitement and joy, it occurred to him suddenly to bestow a mark
+of his favour upon Aksyutka, the maid who poured out tea and coffee, to
+whom he always showed an unaccountable partiality. Aksyutka was a
+peasant's daughter who had lost both parents and was brought to the
+house at Bagrovo when she was seven years old, merely to save her from
+starvation. She was exceedingly ugly--red-haired and freckled, with eyes
+of no colour in particular; she was also bad-tempered and a horrible
+sloven. This does not sound attractive; but Stepan Mihailovitch took a
+great fancy to her, and never did dinner pass without his giving or
+sending to the child something taken from the dishes at table. When she
+grew up, he made her pour out his tea in the morning and talked to her
+for hours at a time. She was now a good deal over thirty. One morning,
+soon after the good news came from Ufa, Stepan Mihailovitch said to her:
+"What makes you go about looking like a scarecrow? Be off, you stupid
+creature, and put on your best clothes that you wear on holidays. I mean
+to find you a husband." Aksyutka grinned: she thought her master was not
+serious, and answered: "Why, who would marry an orphan like me, except
+perhaps Kirsanka, the shepherd?" (Kirsanka, as every one knew, was
+deformed and idiotic.) Stepan Mihailovitch seemed vexed; he went on, "If
+I arrange the marriage, you can have your pick of the young men. Go and
+dress yourself, and come back at once." Aksyutka went out surprised and
+delighted; and Stepan Mihailovitch summoned Little Ivan to his presence.
+We have heard something of this man already; he was now twenty-four
+years old, with a complexion of lilies and roses, a very fine young
+fellow, both tall and stout. At the time of Pugatchoff's revolt, when
+the master himself took refuge with his family at Astrakhan, Ivan's
+father had been left in charge of the serfs at Bagrovo; and it was
+generally supposed that his death was due to overwork and anxiety at
+that time. He left two sons, both called Ivan, and this one was known as
+Little Ivan, to distinguish him from his elder brother, who inherited
+his father's nickname of Weasel. Little Ivan appeared before his master,
+"like a leaf before the grass."[47] Stepan Mihailovitch looked at him
+with admiration, and then said in a voice so kind that the lad's heart
+leaped for joy, "Ivan, I mean to give you a wife." "Your will is law,
+_batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch," answered the man, devoted body and
+soul to his master. "Well, go and dress yourself in your best, and come
+back to me in less than no time." Ivan flew off to do his master's
+bidding. Aksyutka was the first to reappear; she had smoothed her red
+hair and greased it with oil, and put on her smartest jacket and skirt,
+and her bare feet were hidden in shoes; but alas! she was no more
+beautiful than before. She was much excited, and her mouth was
+constantly expanding into a broad grin, which she tried to hide with her
+hand, because she felt ashamed of it. Stepan Mihailovitch laughed: "Oh,
+she's willing enough to take a husband," he said. Back flew Ivan; but
+the sight of Aksyutka's ugly face and fine dress sent a cold shiver down
+his back. "There is your bride," said Stepan Mihailovitch; "she is a
+good servant to me as your father was once. You may both count on my
+protection." His wife now came in, and he turned to her and said:
+"Arisha, the bride's clothes are all to be made out of our stuff; I
+shall give her a cow and provide everything to eat and drink at the
+wedding." No one raised any objections, and the marriage took place.
+Aksyutka was charmed with her handsome husband, but he detested his
+repulsive wife, who was ten years older than him to boot. She was
+jealous of him all day long, and not without reason; and he beat her all
+day long, with some excuse on his side also; for nothing but the
+stick--and not even that for long--could shut her mouth and keep her
+wicked tongue from wagging. It was a pity, a great pity: Stepan
+Mihailovitch did a wrong thing when he made others sad because he was
+happy.
+
+ [47] _I.e._ "instantly," though why the phrase means this I cannot
+      discover. In Russian fairy-tales, a witch regularly summons any one
+      she wants with the words, "Stand thou before me, like a leaf before
+      the grass!"
+
+Of his happiness I judge partly by tradition but more from a letter
+which he wrote to Sofya Nikolayevna and which I have seen myself. We
+have seen that he was capable of strong and deep affection; yet it is
+hard to believe that a man with so little refinement of manner could
+give verbal expression to such tender and delicate solicitude as
+breathed through the whole of this letter. He begged her and commanded
+her to be careful of her health, and sent her much advice on the
+subject. Unfortunately, I can only remember a few words of it: "If you
+were living in my house"--this was one thing the old man said--"I would
+not suffer the wind to blow on you or a grain of dust to settle on your
+skin."
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was able to appreciate this affection, though she
+understood that half of it was intended for the expected heir; and she
+promised to carry out scrupulously his wishes and instructions. But it
+was hard for her to keep this promise. She was one of those women who
+pay for the joy of motherhood by a constant discomfort which is more
+painful and distressing than any real illness; and she suffered in mind
+also, because her relations with her father became daily more
+humiliating and the insolence of Nikolai more unbearable. Alexyei
+Stepanitch, who saw no danger in his wife's constant sufferings, and was
+told that the symptoms were quite natural and would soon pass away,
+though he was sorry for his wife, was not excessively put out; and this
+was another cause of distress to Sofya Nikolayevna. He worked hard at
+his duties in the law-court, hoping soon to be promoted. He had become
+accustomed to living with his father-in-law; he avoided for the present
+all contact with Nikolai, and looked forward without impatience to a
+change in their position. His wife did not like this either. Things
+dragged on like this, as I have said already, for several months, and it
+was not a happy time for any of them.
+
+But Nikolai was not satisfied with this state of things: he desired a
+final solution. Seeing that Sofya Nikolayevna was controlling her quick
+temper and righteous indignation, he determined to force her hand. It
+was necessary for his purpose that she should lose patience and complain
+to her father; and he warned the invalid more than once that he was
+constantly expecting Sofya Nikolayevna to complain of him and demand his
+instant dismissal. He did not wait for any pretext or opportunity. One
+day, in the presence of other servants, when his young mistress was
+standing close to him at the open door of the next room, he began,
+speaking loud and looking straight at her, to use such offensive
+language of herself and her husband that Sofya Nikolayevna was struck
+dumb for a moment by his insolence. But she recovered immediately, and
+without a word to him rushed to her father's room, where, choking with
+wrath and excitement, she repeated the insulting words which had been
+said almost to her face by his favourite. Nikolai came in at her heels
+and would not let her finish her story. Feigning tears and crossing
+himself, he solemnly swore, that it was mere slander, that he had never
+said anything of the sort, and that it was wicked of Sofya Nikolayevna
+to ruin an innocent man! "You hear what he says, Sonitchka," said the
+invalid in a peevish voice. This was too much for Sofya Nikolayevna:
+stung to the quick, she forgot her magnanimous self-restraint and forgot
+also that she might kill her father with fright. She raised her voice
+with such effect that the favourite was forced to leave the room. Then
+she said to her father: "After this insult I cannot live under the same
+roof with Nikolai: you must choose which of us is to go, he or I!"--and
+then she rushed wildly from the room. The old man had a seizure, and
+Nikolai hastened to his aid. The usual remedies were applied with
+success, and then master and man had a long conversation, after which
+Sofya Nikolayevna was summoned to the room. "Sonitchka," he said, with
+all the firmness and calmness he could muster, "my weak and suffering
+state makes it impossible for me to part with Nikolai; my life depends
+on him. You must buy another house; here is money for the purpose."
+Sofya Nikolayevna fell fainting to the ground and was carried back to
+her own room.
+
+To this had come the tender tie of affection between parent and child, a
+tie which should surely have been made doubly strong by the temporary
+coolness due to the stepmother, and then by the father's penitence and
+the daughter's devotion and forgetfulness of all her wrongs. And then,
+when she married, she had chosen her husband with this in view, and had
+stipulated that she should not be parted from her father! And now they
+were to part at a time when the doctors declared he would not live
+another month! But in this forecast the doctors were mistaken, just as
+they often are nowadays: he lived on for more than a year.
+
+When Sofya Nikolayevna recovered from her swoon and her eyes fell on the
+pale anxious face of Alexyei Stepanitch, she realised that there was one
+creature on earth who loved her: she threw her arms round her husband,
+and floods of tears gave relief to her heart. She told him all that had
+passed between her and her father. The narrative revived the smart of
+her wounded feelings, and brought out more clearly the difficulty of her
+position; and she would have despaired, but for the support of her kind
+husband. Though weaker in character and less far-sighted than she was,
+he never ran into extremes and never lost presence of mind and power of
+judgment in the trying hours of life. It may seem strange that Alexyei
+Stepanitch could give moral support to Sofya Nikolayevna; but, for all
+her exceptional intelligence and apparent strength of will, the effect
+of a sudden shock to her feelings was to make her lose courage and
+become utterly bewildered. As an honest chronicler of oral tradition, I
+am bound to add that she was too sensitive to the opinion of society and
+paid it too much deference, in spite of her own superiority to the
+people among whom she lived. What would be said by people at Ufa, and
+especially by the ladies who took the lead in society there? What would
+be thought by her husband's family? What, above all, would be said by
+Stepan Mihailovitch when he heard that she had left her father? As she
+asked herself these questions, the injury to her pride gave her as much
+pain as the wound to her feelings as a daughter. To her it seemed
+equally terrible that her father should be blamed for ingratitude to his
+daughter, or that she should be blamed for failing in affection to a
+dying father. One or other alternative was bound to be chosen; and
+either he or she was bound to be condemned.
+
+Alexyei Stepanitch felt deep pity for her as he watched these
+sufferings, and he felt puzzled also. It was no easy task to administer
+consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna: her eager fancy painted appalling
+pictures of disaster, and her ready tongue gave them lively expression.
+She was prepared to brush aside every attempt to find an issue from the
+situation, and to trample on every suggestion of a settlement. But
+Alexyei Stepanitch had love to teach him, and also that sanity and
+simplicity of mind which was wanting in his wife. He waited till the
+first irrepressible outburst was over, the first outcry of the wounded
+heart; and then he began to speak. The words were very ordinary, but
+they came from a kind, simple heart; and if they did not calm Sofya
+Nikolayevna, they did at least by degrees make it possible for her to
+understand what was said. He told her that she had always done her duty
+as a loving daughter, and that she must continue to do it by falling in
+with her father's wishes. It was probably no sudden decision: her father
+might have wished for a long time that they should live apart. For a
+sick and dying man it was difficult or even impossible to part from the
+regular attendant who nursed him so faithfully. Stepan Mihailovitch must
+be told the whole truth; but to acquaintances it would be enough to say
+that her father had always intended to set up the young couple in a
+house of their own during his lifetime. She would be able to visit her
+father twice a day and attend to him almost as much as before. Of course
+people in the town would find out in time the real reason of the
+separation--they had probably some idea already of the facts--but they
+would only pity her and abuse Nikolai. "Besides," he added, "though your
+father talked like that, when it comes to acting, he may shrink from the
+separation. Talk it over with him, and lay all your case before him."
+Sofya Nikolayevna made no reply: during a long silence her eyes rested
+with a curious, puzzled gaze on her husband. The truth of his simple
+words and his plain way of looking at things--these breathed peace and
+comfort into her heart. His plan seemed to her new and ingenious, and
+she wondered she had never thought of it herself. With a heart full of
+love and gratitude she embraced her husband.
+
+So it was settled that Sofya Nikolayevna should appeal to her father to
+alter his decision and let them stay on in the house, at all events
+until she had entirely recovered from her confinement; their household
+arrangements would be quite separate, and all collisions with Nikolai
+would be avoided. In favour of this suggestion, there was one very
+pressing argument--that, while it was bad for Sofya Nikolayevna in her
+present condition to be jolted over the ill-paved streets of the town,
+no risk to herself would prevent her from paying a daily visit to her
+father. But the explanation with her father was unsuccessful. The old
+man told her calmly but firmly that his decision had been carefully
+considered and was no impulse of the moment. "My dear Sonitchka," he
+said, "I knew beforehand that after your marriage you could not live
+under the same roof as Nikolai. You are not able to judge him coolly,
+and I don't blame you for it: he sinned deeply against you in old days,
+and, though you forgave him, you were unable to forget his conduct. I
+know that he does not behave properly to you even now; but you take an
+exaggerated view of it all." At this point Sofya Nikolayevna tried to
+break in, but he stopped her and said: "Wait and hear to the end what I
+have to say. Let us suppose that he is as guilty as you take him to be:
+that makes it all the more impossible for you to live in the same house
+with him; but I cannot face parting from him. Have pity on my helpless
+and suffering condition. I am no longer a man, but a lifeless corpse;
+you know that Nikolai has to move me in bed ten times a day; no one can
+take his place. All I ask is peace of mind. Death is hovering over me,
+and every moment I must prepare for the change to eternity. I was
+constantly made wretched by the thought that Nikolai was giving offence
+to you. Our parting is inevitable; go, my dear, and live in a house of
+your own. When you come to visit me you shall not see the object of your
+dislike: he will be only too glad to keep out of the way. He has gained
+his object and got you out of the house, and now he will be able to rob
+me at his leisure. I know and see it all, but I forgive him everything
+for his unwearied nursing of me day and night. What he undergoes in his
+attendance on me is beyond the power of human endurance. Do not distress
+me, but take the money and buy a house for yourselves."
+
+I shall not describe all the phases through which Sofya Nikolayevna
+passed--her doubts and hesitations, her mental conflicts, her tears and
+sufferings, her ups and downs of feeling from day to day. It is enough
+to say that the money was accepted and the house bought, and husband and
+wife were settled there before a fortnight had passed. The little house
+was new and clean, and had never been occupied before. Sofya Nikolayevna
+began with her usual ardour to put her house in order and to settle the
+course of their daily life; but her health, much affected by her
+condition, and still more by all the agitation she had gone through,
+soon broke down altogether. She was confined to bed for a fortnight, and
+did not see her father for a whole month. Their first interview was a
+touching and pitiful sight. He had grown much weaker; missing his
+daughter and blaming himself for her illness, he had suffered much by
+her absence. Their meeting gave happiness to both, but it cost them
+tears. He was especially grieved to see her so terribly thin and so
+altered in looks; but this was due, not so much to grief and illness as
+to her condition. The features of some women look different and even
+ugly during pregnancy; and Sofya Nikolayevna was a case in point. In
+course of time things settled down and her relations with her father
+became easy; Nikolai never ventured to appear when she was present.
+There was just one person who could not reconcile himself to the thought
+that she had left a dying father to settle in a house of her own; and
+that was Stepan Mihailovitch. She quite anticipated this, and wrote him
+a very frank letter just before she was taken ill, in which she tried to
+explain her father's action and defend it as far as possible. She might
+have saved herself the trouble, for Stepan Mihailovitch blamed her and
+not her father, and said that it was her duty to bear without a sign of
+displeasure all the misconduct of "that scoundrel" Nikolai. He wrote to
+his son to reprove him for allowing his wife to abandon her father to
+the hands of servants. But Stepan Mihailovitch did not realise, either
+that the separation was necessary to preserve the peace of a dying man,
+or that a wife could act without the permission of her husband. In the
+present case, however, husband and wife were entirely of one mind.
+
+To put the finishing touches to the new house and modest household
+arrangements, Sofya Nikolayevna called in the assistance of a widow whom
+she knew, who lived in a humble position at Ufa. This was Mme.
+Cheprunoff, a very simple and kind-hearted creature. She owned a little
+house in the suburbs, and a small but productive garden, which brought
+her in a trifle. She had other means of maintaining herself and her
+adored only child, a little one-eyed boy called Andrusha: she hawked
+about small wares of different kinds, and even sold cakes in the market.
+But her chief source of income was the sale of Bokhara muslin, which she
+went to Orenburg every year to buy. Sofya Nikolayevna was related
+through her mother to this woman; but she had the weakness to conceal
+the relationship, though every one in the town knew it. Mme. Cheprunoff
+was devoted to her brilliant and distinguished kinswoman. She used to
+pay secret visits to Sofya Nikolayevna during the time when she was
+persecuted and humiliated by her stepmother; and Sofya Nikolayevna, when
+her time of triumph and influence came, became the avowed benefactress
+of Mme. Cheprunoff. When they were alone together, Sofya Nikolayevna
+lavished caresses upon her unselfish and devoted kinswoman; but, when
+other people were present, the one was the great lady and the other the
+poor _protegee_ who sold cakes in the streets. This treatment did not
+offend Mme. Cheprunoff: on the contrary, she insisted on it. She loved
+and admired her beautiful cousin with all her heart, and looked on her
+as a superior being, and would never have forgiven herself if she had
+thrown a shadow on the brilliant position of Sofya Nikolayevna. The
+secret was revealed, as it had to be, to Alexyei Stepanitch; and he, in
+spite of the ancient lineage which his sisters were always dinning into
+his ears, received this humble friend as his wife's worthy kinswoman,
+and treated her with affection and respect all his life; he even tried
+to kiss the work-worn hand of the cake-seller, but she would never allow
+it. He was only prevented by his wife's earnest entreaties from speaking
+of this relationship in his own family and in the circle of their
+acquaintance. This conduct earned him the love of the simple-minded
+woman; and whenever there were differences in the household in later
+years, she was his ardent champion and defender. She knew all the shops
+and was a great hand at a bargain; and so, with her help, Sofya
+Nikolayevna did her furnishing quickly and well.
+
+When the young Bagroffs bought a house and started housekeeping by
+themselves, there was much talk and gossip in the town; and at first
+many exaggerations and inventions were current. But Alexyei Stepanitch
+had spoken the truth: the real reason came out before long. This was due
+chiefly to Nikolai, who boasted among his friends that he had ousted the
+pettish young lady, and took the opportunity to give a lively
+description of her character. So the talk and gossip soon quieted down.
+
+Husband and wife had at last a house entirely to themselves. In the
+morning, Alexyei Stepanitch drove down to his work at the law-courts,
+dropping his wife at her father's house; and on his return he spent some
+time every day with his father-in-law, before taking his wife home. A
+modest dinner awaited them there. To sit alone together, at a meal of
+their own ordering, in their own house, was a charming sensation for a
+time; but nothing is a novelty for long, and this charm could not last
+for ever. In spite of her bad health and small means, Sofya
+Nikolayevna's clever hands made her little house as dainty as a toy.
+Taste and care are a substitute for money; and many of their visitors
+thought the furnishing splendid. The hardest problem was to arrange
+about their servants. Sofya Nikolayevna had brought two servants as part
+of her portion--a man named Theodore and a black-eyed maid called
+Parasha; these two were now married to one another; and at the same time
+Annushka, a young laundress belonging to Sofya Nikolayevna, was married
+to Yephrem Yevseitch, a young servant who had been brought from Bagrovo.
+This man was honest and good-natured and much attached to his young
+mistress, which cannot be said of the other servants. She returned his
+affection, and he well deserved it: he was one in a thousand, and his
+devotion to her was proved by his whole life.
+
+Yevseitch (as he was always called in the family) became later the
+attendant of her eldest son,[48] and watched over him like a father. I
+knew this worthy man well. Fifteen years ago I saw him for the last
+time; he was then blind and spending his last days in the Government of
+Penza on an estate belonging to one of the grandsons of Stepan
+Mihailovitch. I spent a whole month there in the summer; and every
+morning I went to fish in a pool where the stream of Kakarma falls into
+the river Niza. The cottage where Yevseitch was living stood right on
+the bank of this pool; and every day as I came up I saw him leaning
+against the angle of the cottage and facing the rising sun. He was bent
+and decrepit, and his hair had turned perfectly white; pressing a long
+staff to his breast, he leaned upon it with the knotted fingers of both
+hands, and turned his sightless eyes towards the sun's rays. Though he
+could not see the light, he could feel its warmth, so pleasant in the
+fresh morning air, and his face expressed both pleasure and sadness. His
+ear was so quick that he heard my step at some distance, and he always
+hailed me as an old fisherman might hail a schoolboy, though I was then
+myself over fifty years old. "Ah, it's you, my little falcon!"--he used
+to call me this when I was a child--"you're late this morning! God send
+you a full basket!" He died two years later in the arms of his son and
+daughter and his wife, who survived him several years.
+
+ [48] _I.e._ the Author.
+
+Meantime life at Ufa took a very regular and unvarying course. Owing to
+her state of health and spirits, Sofya Nikolayevna paid few visits and
+only to intimate friends, whose small number was made smaller by the
+absence of the Chichagoffs. Autumn was nearly over before those dearest
+of friends returned from the country with Mme. Myortvavo. The disordered
+nerves and consequent low spirits of his wife were at first a source of
+great uneasiness to Alexyei Stepanitch. He was completely puzzled: he
+had never in his life met people who were ill without anything definite
+the matter, or sad with no cause for sadness; he could make nothing of
+illness due to some inexplicable grief, or grief due to some imaginary
+or imperceptible illness. But he saw that there was no serious danger,
+and his anxiety calmed down by degrees. He was convinced that it was all
+the effect of imagination, which had always been his way of accounting
+for his wife's moods of excitement and distress, whenever he found it
+impossible to arrive at any reason within his comprehension. If he
+ceased to be uneasy, he began to be rather bored at times; and this was
+very natural, in spite of his love for his wife and pity for her
+constant suffering. To listen for whole hours every day to constant
+complaints about her condition, which was not after all so very
+exceptional; to hear gloomy presentiments, or even prophecies, of the
+fatal results which were sure to follow (and Sofya Nikolayevna, thanks
+to her reading of medical works, was extraordinarily ingenious in
+discovering ominous symptoms); to endure her reproaches and constant
+demands for those trifling services which a man can seldom render--all
+this was wearisome enough. Sofya Nikolayevna saw what he felt, and was
+deeply hurt. If she had found him in general incapable of deep feeling
+and strong passion, she would have reconciled herself sooner to her
+situation. She used often to say herself, "A man cannot give you what he
+has not got"; and she would have recognised the truth of the saying and
+submitted to her fate. But the misfortune was that she remembered the
+depth and ardour of her husband's passion in the days of his courtship,
+and believed that he might have continued to love her in the same
+fashion, had not something occurred to cool his feelings. This unlucky
+notion by degrees took hold of her imagination, and her ingenuity soon
+discovered many reasons to account for this coolness and much evidence
+of its truth. As to reasons--there was the hostile influence of his
+family, her own ill-health, and, worst of all, her loss of beauty; for
+her looking-glass forced upon her the sad change in her appearance. Her
+proofs were these--that her husband was not disquieted by her danger,
+took insufficient notice of her condition, did not try to cheer and
+interest her, and, above all, found more pleasure in talking to other
+women. And then a passion, which hitherto had lurked unrecognised, the
+torturing passion of jealousy, as keen-sighted as it is blind, flashed
+up like gunpowder in her heart. Every day there were scenes--tears and
+reproaches, quarrels and reconciliations. And all the time Alexyei
+Stepanitch was entirely innocent. To the insinuations of his sisters he
+paid no attention at all; to his father's opinion he attached great
+importance, and that was so favourable to Sofya Nikolayevna that she had
+even risen in her husband's eyes in consequence. He was sincerely, if
+not deeply, distressed about her sufferings; and her loss of beauty he
+regarded as temporary, and looked forward with pleasure to the time when
+his young wife would get back her good looks. Though the sight of her
+suffering distressed him, he could not sympathise with all her
+presentiments and prognostications which he believed to be quite
+imaginary. He was incapable, as most men would be, of paying her the
+sort of attention she expected. It was really a ticklish business to
+administer consolation to Sofya Nikolayevna in her present condition:
+you were quite likely to put your foot in it and make matters worse; it
+required much tact and dexterity, and these were qualities which her
+husband did not possess. If he found more pleasure in talking to other
+women, it was probably because he was not afraid that some casual remark
+might cause annoyance and irritation.
+
+But Sofya Nikolayevna could not look at the matter in this light. Her
+view of it was dictated by her nature, whose fine qualities were apt to
+run to extremes. But what was to be done, if the nerves of one were
+tough and strong and those of the other sensitive and morbid, if hers
+were jarred by what had no effect upon his? The Chichagoffs alone
+understood the causes of this uncomfortable situation; and, though they
+received no confidences from either husband or wife, they took a warm
+interest in both and did much to calm Sofya Nikolayevna's excitement by
+their friendship, their frequent visits, and their rational and sensible
+conversation. Both husband and wife owed much to them at this period.
+
+So things went on till the time that Sofya Nikolayevna became a mother.
+Though she was often troubled in mind, her health improved during the
+last two months, and she was safely delivered of a daughter. She
+herself, and her husband still more, would have preferred a son; but,
+when the mother pressed the child to her heart, she thought no more of
+any distinction between boy and girl. A passion of maternal love filled
+her heart and mind and whole being. Alexyei Stepanitch thanked God for
+his wife's safety, rejoiced at her relief, and soon reconciled himself
+to the fact that his child was a girl.
+
+But at Bagrovo it was quite another story! Stepan Mihailovitch was so
+confident that he was to have a grandson to carry on the line of the
+Bagroffs, that he would not believe at first in the birth of a
+grand-daughter. When at last he read through his son's letter with his
+own eyes and was convinced that there was no doubt about it, he was
+seriously annoyed. He put off the entertainment planned for his
+labourers, and refused to write himself to the parents; he would only
+send a message of congratulation to the young mother, with instructions
+that the infant was to be christened Praskovya, in compliment to his
+cousin and favourite, Praskovya Ivanovna Kurolyessova. His vexation over
+this disappointment was a touching and amusing sight. Even his womankind
+derived a little secret amusement from it. His good sense told him that
+he had no business to be angry with any one, but for a few days he could
+not control his feelings--so hard was it for him to give up the hope, or
+rather the certainty, that a grandson would be born, to continue the
+famous line of Shimon. In the expectation of the happy news, he had kept
+his family tree on his bed, ready any day to enter his grandson's name;
+but now he ordered this document to be hidden out of sight. He would not
+allow his daughter Aksinya to travel to Ufa in order to stand godmother
+to the babe; he said impatiently, "Take that journey for a girl's
+christening? Nonsense! If she brings a girl every year, you would have
+travelling enough!" Time did its work, however, and the frown, never a
+formidable frown this time, vanished from the brow of Stepan
+Mihailovitch, as he consoled himself with the thought that he might have
+a grandson before a year was out. Then he wrote a kind and playful
+letter to his daughter-in-law, pretending to scold her for her mistake
+and bidding her present him with a grandson within a twelvemonth.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna was so entirely absorbed by the revelation of
+maternity and by devotion to her child, that she did not even notice the
+signs of the old man's displeasure, and was quite unaffected by
+Aksinya's absence from the christening. It proved difficult to keep her
+in bed for nine days after her confinement. She felt so well and strong
+that she could have danced on the fourth day. But she had no wish to
+dance; she wanted to be on her feet day and night, attending to her
+little Parasha. The infant was feeble and sickly; the mother's constant
+distress of body and mind had probably affected the child. The doctor
+would not allow her to nurse the child herself. Andrei Avenarius was the
+name of this doctor; he was a very clever, cultivated, and amiable man,
+an intimate friend of the young people and a daily visitor at their
+house. As soon as possible Sofya Nikolayevna took her baby to her
+father's house, hoping that it would please the invalid to see this
+mite, and that he would find in it a resemblance to his first wife. This
+resemblance was probably imaginary; for, in my opinion, it is impossible
+for an infant to be like a grown-up person; but Sofya Nikolayevna never
+failed to assert that her first child was the very image of its
+grandmother. Old M. Zubin was approaching the end of his earthly career;
+both body and mind were breaking fast. He looked at the baby with little
+interest, and had hardly strength to sign it with the Cross. All he said
+was, "I congratulate you, Sonitchka." Sofya Nikolayevna was distressed
+by her father's critical condition--it was more than a month since she
+had seen him--and also by his indifference to her little angel, Parasha.
+
+But soon the young mother forgot all the world around her, as she hung
+over her daughter's cradle. All other interests and attachments grew
+pale in comparison, and she surrendered herself with a kind of frenzy to
+this new sensation. No hands but hers might touch the child. She handed
+it herself to the foster-mother and held it at the breast, and it was
+pain to her to watch it drawing life, not from its mother, but from a
+stranger. It is hard to believe, but it is true, and Sofya Nikolayevna
+admitted it herself later, that, if the child sucked too long, she used
+to take it away before it was satisfied, and rock it herself in her arms
+or in the cradle, and sing it to sleep. She saw nothing of her friends,
+not even of her dear Mme. Chichagoff. Naturally they all thought her
+eccentric or absurd and her chief intimates were vexed by her conduct.
+She paid a hasty visit every day to her father, and returned every day
+with fear in her heart that she would find the child ill. She left her
+husband perfectly free to spend his time as he liked. For some days he
+stopped at home; but his wife never stirred from the cradle and took no
+notice of him, except to turn him out of the little nursery, because she
+feared that twice-breathed air might hurt the baby. After this, he began
+to go out alone, till at last he went to some party every day; and he
+began to play cards to relieve his boredom. The Ufa ladies were amused
+at the sight of the deserted husband, and some of them flirted with him,
+saying that it was a charity to console the widower, and that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would thank them for it when she recovered from her maternal
+passion and reappeared in society. Sofya Nikolayevna did not hear of
+these good Samaritans till later; when she did, she was vexed. Mme.
+Cheprunoff, who came often to the house, watched Sofya Nikolayevna with
+astonishment, pity, and displeasure. She was a tender mother herself to
+her little boy with the one eye, but this devotion to one object and
+disregard of everything else seemed to her to border on insanity. With
+groans and sighs she struck her fists against her own body--this was a
+regular trick of hers--and said that such love was a mortal sin which
+God would punish. Sofya Nikolayevna resented this so much that she kept
+Mme. Cheprunoff out of the nursery in future. No one but Dr. Avenarius
+was admitted there, and he came pretty often. The mother was constantly
+discovering symptoms of different diseases in the child; for these she
+began by consulting Buchan's _Domestic Medicine_, and then, when that
+did not answer, she called in Avenarius. He found it impossible to argue
+her out of her beliefs: all he could do was to prescribe harmless
+medicines. Yet the child was really feeble, and at times he was obliged
+to prescribe for it in real earnest.
+
+It is difficult to say what would have been the upshot of all this; but,
+by the inscrutable designs of Providence, a thunderbolt burst over the
+head of Sofya Nikolayevna: her adored child died suddenly. The cause of
+death was uncertain: it may have been too much care, or too much
+medicine, or too feeble a constitution; at any rate, the child
+succumbed, when four months old, to a very slight attack of a common
+childish ailment. Sofya Nikolayevna was sitting by the cradle when she
+saw the infant start and a spasm pass over the little face; she caught
+it up and found that it was dead.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna must have had a marvellous constitution to support
+this blow. For some days she knew no one and the doctors feared for her
+reason; there were three of them, Avenarius, Zanden, and Klauss; all
+three were much attached to their patient, and one of them was always
+with her. But, by God's blessing and thanks to her youth and strength,
+that terrible time passed by. The unhappy mother recovered her senses,
+and her love for her husband, whose own distress was great, asserted
+itself for the time and saved her. On the fourth day she became
+conscious of her surroundings; she recognised Alexyei Stepanitch, so
+changed by grief that he was hard to recognise, and her bosom friend,
+Mme. Chichagoff; a terrible cry burst from her lips and a healing flood
+of tears gushed from the eyes which had been dry till then. She silently
+embraced her husband and sobbed for long on his breast, while he sobbed
+himself like a child. The danger of insanity was past, but the
+exhaustion of her bodily strength was still alarming. For four days and
+nights she had neither eaten nor drunk, and now she could swallow no
+food nor medicine nor even water. Her condition was so critical that the
+doctors did not oppose her wish to make her confession and receive the
+sacraments. The performance of this Christian duty was beneficial to the
+patient: she slept for the first time, and, when she woke after two
+hours looking bright and happy, she told her husband that she had seen
+in her sleep a vision of Our Lady of Iberia, exactly as she was
+represented on the _ikon_ of their parish church; and she believed that,
+if she could put her lips to this _ikon_, the Mother of God would surely
+have mercy on her. The image was brought from the church, and the priest
+read the service for the Visitation of the Sick. When the choir sang, "O
+mighty Mother of God, look down in mercy on my sore bodily
+suffering!"--all present fell on their knees and repeated the words of
+the prayer. Alexyei Stepanitch sobbed aloud; and the sufferer too shed
+tears throughout the service and pressed her lips to the image. When it
+was over, she felt so much relief that she was able to drink some water;
+and from that time she began to take food and medicine. Her two dear
+friends, Mme. Chichagoff and Mme. Cheprunoff, were with her constantly;
+she was soon pronounced out of danger, and her husband's troubled heart
+had rest. The doctors set to work with fresh zeal to restore her
+strength, and their great anxiety was in a way dangerous to their
+patient; for one of them found traces of consumption, another of
+_marasmus_, and the third was apprehensive of an aneurysm. But
+fortunately they were unanimous on one point: the patient should go at
+once to the country, to enjoy pure air and, preferably, forest air, and
+take a course of _koumiss_. At the beginning of June it was not too late
+to drink mare's milk, as the grass on the steppes was still fresh and in
+full growth.
+
+Stepan Mihailovitch took the news of his grand-daughter's death very
+coolly: he even said, "No reason to tear one's hair over _that_! There
+will be plenty more girls." But when he heard later of the dangerous
+illness of Sofya Nikolayevna, the old man was much disturbed. When a
+third message came, that she was out of immediate danger but very ill,
+and that the doctors were baffled and prescribed a course of _koumiss_,
+he was exceedingly angry with the doctors: "Those bunglers murder our
+bodies," he said, "and defile our souls by making us swallow the drink
+of heathens. If a Russian is forbidden by his Church to eat horseflesh,
+then he has no business to drink the milk of the unclean animal." Then
+he added with a heavy sigh and a gesture of disgust: "I don't like it at
+all: her life may perhaps be saved, but she will never be right again,
+and there will be no children." Stepan Mihailovitch was deeply grieved
+and remained for a long time in a state of depression.
+
+Twenty-nine _versts_ to the south-west of Ufa, on the road to Kazan,
+where the Uza falls into that noble river, the Dyoma, there lay in a
+rich valley a little Tatar village called by the Russians Alkino,
+surrounded by forests. The houses nestled in picturesque disorder at the
+foot of a hill called Bairam-Tau[49] which gave them shelter from the
+north; and another hill, Zein-Tau,[50] rose on the west. The Uza,
+fringed with bushes, flowed to the south-west; the forest-glades were
+fragrant with grasses and flowers; and, all round, oaks and limes and
+maples cleft the air and imparted to it an invigorating virtue. To this
+charming spot Alexyei Stepanitch brought his wife, weak and pale and
+thin, a mere shadow of her old self; Avenarius, their friend and doctor,
+came with them, and they had some difficulty in getting the patient to
+the end of the journey. The owner of the village received them with
+cordial hospitality; he had a comfortable house, but Sofya Nikolayevna
+was unwilling to install herself there, and one of the outbuildings was
+cleared out for her occupation. The family were only too kind in their
+attentions to her, so that the doctor was obliged to forbid their visits
+for a time. They spoke Russian fairly well, though they professed the
+Mohammedan creed; and, though their dress and habits were then partly
+Russian and partly Tatar, _koumiss_ was their invariable drink from
+morning till night. For Sofya Nikolayevna, the health-giving beverage
+was prepared in a cleanly, civilised manner: the mare's milk was
+fermented in a clean, new wooden bucket and not in the usual bag of raw
+horse-hide. The natives declared that _koumiss_ made in their fashion
+tasted better, and was more effective; but Sofya Nikolayevna felt an
+unconquerable aversion to the horse-hide bag. When the doctor had laid
+down rules for the cure, he went back to Ufa, leaving Alexyei
+Stepanitch, with Parasha and Annushka, in charge of the invalid. The air
+and the _koumiss_, of which small doses were taken at first; the daily
+drives with Alexyei Stepanitch through the forest which surrounded the
+village--Yevseitch, who was now a favourite with Sofya Nikolayevna,
+acted as coachman; the woods, where the patient lay for whole hours in
+the cool shade on a leather mattress with pillows, breathing the
+fragrant air into her lungs, listening sometimes to an entertaining
+book, and often sinking into refreshing sleep--the whole life was so
+beneficial to Sofya Nikolayevna that in a fortnight she was able to get
+up and could walk about. When Avenarius came again he was delighted by
+the effect of the _koumiss_, and increased the doses; but, as the
+patient could not endure it in large quantities, he thought it necessary
+to prescribe vigorous exercise in the form of riding on horseback. For a
+Russian lady to ride was in those days a startling novelty: Alexyei
+Stepanitch did not like it, and Sofya Nikolayevna herself was shocked by
+the notion. Their host's daughters presented an instructive example, for
+they constantly rode far and wide over the country on their Bashkir
+ponies; but Sofya Nikolayevna turned a deaf ear for long to all
+persuasions, and even to the entreaties of her husband, whom the doctor
+had speedily and completely convinced of the necessity of the exercise.
+At last the Chichagoffs came on a visit to Alkino, and Sofya
+Nikolayevna's resistance was overcome by a joint effort. What appealed
+to her most strongly was the example of Mme. Chichagoff, who, in the
+spirit of true friendship, sacrificed her own prejudices and began to
+ride, at first alone, and then with the patient. This hard exercise
+required a change of diet; and fat mutton, which Sofya Nikolayevna did
+not like either, was prescribed. Avenarius probably took a hint from the
+habits of the Bashkirs and Tatars, who, while moving from place to place
+throughout the summer, drink _koumiss_ and eat hardly anything but fat
+mutton, not even bread; and they ride all day long over the broad
+steppes, until the prairie grass turns from green to grey and veils
+itself with a soft, silvery down. The treatment answered admirably. They
+sometimes rode out in a large party with the sons and daughters of their
+host. There was a potash factory which they sometimes visited, about two
+_versts_ from Alkino, situated in the depth of the forest and on the
+bank of a stream; and Sofya Nikolayevna looked with interest at the iron
+cauldrons full of burning wood-ash, the wooden troughs in which the
+dross was deposited, and the furnaces in which the product was refined
+and converted into porous white lumps of the vegetable salt called
+"potash." She admired the rapidity with which the work was carried on,
+and the activity of the Tatars, whose skull-caps were a novelty to her,
+and also the long shirts which came down to their feet and yet left them
+free command of their limbs. In general her hosts were very kind, and
+tried to amuse their guest by making the natives sing and dance before
+her, or wrestle, or run races on horseback.
+
+ [49] Hill of Feasting.
+
+ [50] Hill of Meeting.
+
+At first Alexyei Stepanitch was always present at these expeditions and
+entertainments; but, when he ceased to feel anxious about his wife's
+health, and saw her surrounded by troops of attentive friends, he began
+by degrees to find some time on his hands. Country life and country air,
+with the beauty of that landscape, roused in him a desire for his old
+amusements. He made fishing-lines and began to angle for the wily trout
+in the clear mountain streams round Alkino; and he went out sometimes to
+catch quails with a net. Theodore, Parasha's young husband, was a
+capital hand at this sport and could make pipes to decoy the birds. With
+sportsmen in general, netting for quails does not rank high; but really
+I do not know why they despise it. To lie on the fragrant meadow grass
+with your net hanging in front of you on the tall stalks; to hear the
+quails calling beside you and at a distance; to imitate their low, sweet
+note on the pipe; to hear the excited birds reply and watch them run, or
+even fly, from all sides towards you; to watch their curious antics, and
+to get excited yourself over the success or failure of your
+strategy--all this gave me much pleasure at one time, and even now I
+cannot recall it with indifference. But it was impossible to make this
+pleasure intelligible to Sofya Nikolayevna.
+
+In two months she was well on the way to recovery: her face filled out,
+and a bright colour began to play again upon her cheeks. When Avenarius
+paid a third visit, he was entirely satisfied; and he had a perfect
+right to triumph; for he was the first to prescribe _koumiss_ and
+directed the treatment himself. He had always been attached to his
+patient; and now that he had succeeded in saving her life, he loved her
+like a daughter.
+
+Alexyei Stepanitch sent a weekly bulletin to his father at Bagrovo.
+Stepan Mihailovitch was glad to hear that his daughter-in-law was
+getting better; but of course he disbelieved in the healing power of the
+_koumiss_, and was very angry about the riding, which they were rash
+enough to mention in writing to him. His wife and daughters made use of
+this opportunity, and the sneering remarks, which they let fall on
+purpose in the course of conversation, worked him up to such a pitch
+that he wrote his son a rather offensive letter which gave pain to Sofya
+Nikolayevna. But, when he was convinced that his daughter-in-law had
+quite recovered and had even grown stout, pleasing hopes began to stir
+again in his breast, and he grew reconciled in some degree to the
+_koumiss_ and the riding.
+
+The young Bagroffs returned to Ufa at the beginning of autumn. Old M.
+Zubin was very far gone by that time, and his daughter's wonderful
+recovery produced no sort of impression on him. All his earthly business
+was done, and all ties broken; every thread that held him to life was
+severed, and the soul could hardly find shelter in the disruption of the
+body.
+
+The normal course of relations between the young couple had been, so to
+speak, arrested in its development by a number of events: first, by the
+birth of the child and the mother's extravagant devotion to it; then, by
+the child's death which nearly deprived the mother of her reason and her
+life; and, finally, by the long course of treatment and residence in the
+Tatar village. In the stormy season of her distress and sickness, Sofya
+Nikolayevna had ever before her eyes the genuine love and self-sacrifice
+of her husband. At that time there were none of those collisions, which
+constantly occur at ordinary times between ill-matched characters; and,
+even if there were occasions for such misunderstandings, they passed
+unnoticed. When gold is in circulation, small change is of little
+importance. In exceptional circumstances and critical moments, nothing
+but gold passes; but the daily expenditure of uneventful life is mainly
+carried on with small change. Now Alexyei Stepanitch, though he was not
+poor in gold, was often hard up for small change. When a man, if he sees
+distress and danger threatening the health and life of one whom he
+loves, himself suffers in every fibre of his being; when he forgets
+sleep and food and himself altogether; when the nerves are strung up and
+the moral nature uplifted--at such times there is no room for small
+exactions, no room for small services and attentions. But when the time
+of tragic events has gone by, everything quiets down again; the nerves
+are relaxed and the spirit contracts; the material life of flesh and
+blood asserts itself, in all its triviality; habits resume their lost
+power; and then comes the turn of those exactions and demands we spoke
+of, the turn of small services and polite attentions and all the other
+trifles which make up the web of actual ordinary life. Time will again
+apply the test and bring back the necessity of self-sacrifice; but
+meanwhile life runs on without a stop in the ordinary groove, and its
+peace and adornment and pleasure--what we call happiness, in fact--is
+made up entirely of trivial things, of small change.
+
+For these reasons, when Sofya Nikolayevna began to recover and Alexyei
+Stepanitch ceased to fear for her life and health, there began by
+degrees to reappear, on one side, the old exacting temper, and, on the
+other side, the old incapacity to satisfy its demands. Gentle reproaches
+and expostulations had become tiresome to the husband, and fierce
+explosions frightened him. Fear at once banished perfect frankness, and
+loss of frankness between husband and wife, especially in the less
+assertive and independent of the two, leads straight to the destruction
+of domestic happiness. After the return to Ufa, this evil would probably
+have grown worse in the trivial, idle atmosphere of town life; but Sofya
+Nikolayevna's father was now actually dying, and his sad, suffering
+condition banished all other anxieties and monopolised his daughter's;
+thoughts and feelings. Obedient to the law of her moral nature, she gave
+herself up without reserves to her duty as a daughter. Thus the process
+which was unveiling every corner of their domestic life, was again
+brought to a standstill. Sofya Nikolayevna spent her days and nights
+with her father. Nikolai, as before, waited on his sick master, nursing
+him with wonderful devotion and indefatigable care; and, as before, he
+kept out of sight of Sofya; Nikolayevna, though he had now the right and
+the power to appear before her with impunity. Touched by his behaviour,
+she had sent for him; a reconciliation took place, and she gave him
+leave to be present with her in the sick-room. The dying man, in spite
+of his apparent insensibility to all around him, noticed this change: he
+pressed his daughter's hand in his feeble grasp, and said in a hardly
+audible whisper, "I thank you." Sofya Nikolayevna never left her father
+after this time.
+
+I said that when Stepan Mihailovitch received the good news of his
+daughter-in-law's recovery, fond hopes awoke once more in his breast.
+They were not disappointed: before long Sofya Nikolayevna wrote to him
+herself, that she hoped, if God was good to her, to give birth to a son,
+to be the comfort of his old age. At the instant Stepan Mihailovitch was
+overjoyed, but he soon controlled his feelings and hid his happiness
+from his womankind. Perhaps it occurred to him that this second child
+might be a daughter, that Sofya Nikolayevna and the doctors between them
+might kill it too with too much love and too much medicine, and that the
+mother might lose her health over again; or perhaps Stepan Mihailovitch
+was like many other people, who deliberately prophesy calamities with a
+secret hope that fortune will reverse their prognostications. He
+pretended that he was not in the least glad, and said coolly: "No, no!
+I'm too old a bird to look at _that_ chaff. When the thing happens, it
+will be time enough to believe it and rejoice over it." His family were
+surprised to hear him speak so, and said nothing in reply. But, as a
+matter of fact, the old man for some unknown reason became convinced
+once more in his heart that he would have a grandson: he gave
+instructions again to Father Vassili to repeat in church the prayer for
+"women labouring of child"; and he fished out once more the family tree
+from its hiding-place, and kept it always beside him.
+
+Meanwhile M. Zubin's last hour on earth came quietly on. He had suffered
+much for many years; it seemed hardly natural that life should linger on
+in a body which had lost all force and motion; and the ending of such a
+bare and pitiful existence could distress no one. Even Sofya Nikolayevna
+had only one prayer--that her father's soul might depart in peace. And
+there _was_ peace, and even happiness, at the moment of death. The face
+of the dying man lit up suddenly, and this expression remained long upon
+the features, though the eyes were shut and the body had grown cold. The
+funeral was a solemn and splendid ceremony. M. Zubin had once been very
+popular; but he had become forgotten by degrees, and sympathy for his
+suffering had become gradually weaker. But now, when the news of his
+death flew round the town, old memories revived and evoked a fresh
+feeling of love and pity for him. On the day of his funeral every house
+was empty, and all the population of Ufa lined the streets between the
+Church of the Assumption and the cemetery. May he rest in peace! If he
+had the weakness of human nature, he had also its goodness.
+
+After M. Zubin's death, guardians were appointed for the children of his
+two marriages; and Alexyei Stepanitch became guardian of his wife's two
+brothers, who, before finishing their education at the Moscow
+boarding-school, were summoned to Petersburg to enter the Guards. I
+forgot to mention that M. Zubin, shortly before his death, was
+successful in obtaining for Alexyei Stepanitch his promotion to a higher
+office at the law-courts.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna wept and prayed for a long time, and Alexyei
+Stepanitch wept and prayed at her side; but those tears and prayers were
+not painful or violent and had no ill effect on the recently restored
+health of Sofya Nikolayevna. Her husband's entreaties and the advice of
+her friends and doctors prevailed with her, and she began to take care
+of herself and to pay due attention to her condition. They convinced her
+that the health and even the life of the unborn child depended on the
+state of her own health and spirits. Their arguments were confirmed by
+bitter experience, and she resolutely submitted to all that was required
+of her. When her father-in-law wrote to her and expressed in simple
+words his sympathy with her loss and his fear that she might again
+injure her own health by excess of grief, she sent a very reassuring
+letter in reply; and she did in fact attend carefully to her bodily
+health and composure of mind. A regular but not monotonous plan of life
+was laid down. The two doctors, Klauss--who was becoming very intimate
+with the Bagroffs--and Avenarius, made her go out every day before
+dinner, and sometimes on foot; and each evening they had an
+unceremonious party of pleasant people at home, or went out themselves,
+generally to the Chichagoffs' house. Mme. Chichagoff's brothers became
+great friends of the Bagroffs, especially the younger, Dmitri, who asked
+that, when the time came, he might stand godfather. Both brothers were
+well-bred men and well-educated, according to the standards of the time;
+and they came often to the house and passed the time there with
+pleasure. In the Bagroffs' house, reading aloud was a favourite
+occupation. But, as no one can read or listen to reading without
+intervals, Sofya Nikolayevna was taught to play cards. Klauss took the
+chief part in initiating her into this science; and, whenever the
+Bagroffs were alone of an evening, he never failed to make up their
+table. Avenarius could not take part in this pastime, because he never
+in his life knew the difference between the five and the ace.
+
+Spring set in early that year, but in all its beauty. The ice on the
+Byelaya broke up, and the blocks were carried down by the stream; the
+river broke its banks and spread till it was six _versts_ across. The
+whole of this expanse could be clearly seen from the windows of the
+Bagroffs' little house; their orchard burst into leaf and flower, and
+the fragrance of bird-cherries and apple-blossom filled the air. They
+used this orchard as a drawing-room, and the warm weather did good to
+Sofya Nikolayevna and made her stronger.
+
+At this time an event happened at Ufa which caused a great sensation
+there and was especially interesting to the young Bagroffs, because the
+hero of the story was an intimate friend of theirs, and, if I am not
+mistaken, distantly related to Alexyei Stepanitch. Sofya Nikolayevna, as
+one would expect from her character, took a lively interest in such a
+romantic affair. A young man, named Timasheff, one of the most prominent
+and richest nobles of the district, fell in love with a Tatar girl, the
+daughter of a rich Tatar landowner. Her family, just like the Alkins,
+had altered their way of living to a certain extent in conformity with
+European customs, and they spoke Russian well; but they strictly
+observed the Moslem faith in all its purity. The beautiful Salme
+returned the love of the handsome Russian officer, who was a captain in
+the regiment stationed near Ufa. As she could not be married to a
+Russian without changing her religion, it was perfectly certain that her
+parents and grown-up brothers would never give their consent to such a
+union. Salme struggled long against her love, and love burns more
+fiercely in the hearts of women of Asia. At last, as is the rule in such
+cases, Mahomet was defeated, and Salme made up her mind to elope with
+her lover, meaning to be baptised first and then married. The commander
+of Timasheff's regiment was General Mansuroff, a universal favourite and
+the kindest of men, who gained distinction afterwards when he crossed
+"The Devil's Bridge" in the Alps with Suvoroff. He had lately married
+for love himself, and he knew and sympathised with Timasheff's
+enterprise, and promised to take the lovers under his protection. One
+dark, rainy night Salme sallied forth from her father's house, and found
+Timasheff waiting for her in a wood close by with a pair of
+saddle-horses; they had to gallop about 100 _versts_ to reach Ufa. Salme
+was a skilful rider; every ten or fifteen _versts_ they found fresh
+horses, guarded by soldiers of Timasheff's regiment; he was very popular
+with his men. Thus the fugitives flew along "on the wings of love," as a
+poet of that day would infallibly have said. Meanwhile Salme's absence
+was quickly noticed: her passion for Timasheff had long been suspected,
+and a strict watch was kept over her movements. A band of armed Tatars
+assembled instantly, and followed the enraged father[51] and brothers in
+furious pursuit of the lovers, uttering fierce shouts and threats of
+vengeance. They took the right track and would probably have captured
+the fugitives--at any rate blood would have been spilt, because a number
+of soldiers, eagerly interested in the affair, were posted at different
+points along the road--had not the pursuit been delayed by a stratagem.
+The bridge over a deep and dangerous river was broken down behind the
+lovers; and the Tatars were forced to swim across, and thus lost some
+two hours. Even so, the boat which carried Timasheff and Salme across
+the Byelaya under the walls of Ufa, had hardly reached mid-stream, when
+the old Tatar galloped up to the bank, attended by his sons and half of
+his faithful company; the other half had stopped when their horses fell
+dead under them. A whole regiment of Russian soldiers were in possession
+of all the punts and ferry-boats, on the pretence of crossing to the
+town. The unhappy father gnashed his teeth in fury, cursed his daughter,
+and rode off home. Half dead with weariness and fear, Salme was placed
+in a carriage and taken to the house of Timasheff's mother. The affair
+now assumed a legal and official character: here was a Mahometan woman
+asking of her own free will to be received into the Christian Church,
+and the authorities of the town took her under their protection,
+informed the _mufti_, who lived at Ufa and was always called "the Tatar
+bishop," of all that had passed, and called upon him to stop the injured
+family or any other Mahometans from all attempts to recover by violence
+a person who had deliberately preferred the Christian faith. In a few
+days the clergy prepared the convert to receive the sacraments of
+baptism and unction. The rite was celebrated with great pomp in the
+Cathedral: Salme was christened Seraphima, and immediately afterwards,
+without leaving the church, the young lovers were married. All Ufa was
+interested in the affair. The young people and all the men naturally
+stood up for the beautiful Salme; but the women, some of whom, perhaps,
+had personal reasons for disappointment, judged her conduct severely.
+Very few stretched out the hand of sincere friendship to the convert,
+whom her husband's station admitted to the inner circle of Ufa society.
+The young couple had no warmer sympathisers than Sofya Nikolayevna and
+Alexyei Stepanitch; and they were actively assisted by the wife of
+General Mansuroff, an amiable young woman whose maiden name was
+Bulgakoff. Before long the Timasheffs had a firm footing in their new
+sphere. The bride's education was taken in hand; she had much natural
+ability, and soon became a success in society, where she aroused both
+sympathy and envy, due in some degree to her beauty and the peculiarity
+of her position. Sofya Nikolayevna kept up a steady friendship with
+Seraphima Timasheff till death divided them. To the general regret, Mme.
+Timasheff died of consumption three years after her marriage. She left
+two sons; her husband nearly went out of his mind with grief; he left
+the Army, gave up his life to the care of his children, and never
+married again. It was currently reported, though I cannot vouch for the
+truth of the reports, that her illness and death were due to secret
+pining after the kinsfolk she had abandoned and remorse for her change
+of religion.
+
+ [51] Another version of the story tells that the mother led the pursuit.
+      (_Author's note_.)
+
+These events did nothing to arrest the quick flight of time. The day
+came when Sofya Nikolayevna was forbidden to go out to parties, or even
+to take drives in the country. In fine weather she walked up and down
+the garden for half an hour twice a day; if it was wet, she opened all
+the doors in the house and followed the same routine under cover. It is
+probable that all this seclusion and strict regimen did more harm than
+good; yet my opinion is contradicted by the facts, for Sofya Nikolayevna
+was in perfect health. Alexyei Stepanitch found it necessary to let the
+doctors have their way; for he was constantly receiving instructions
+from his father to watch over his wife like the apple of his eye. Her
+friends also, and especially the doctors who felt a strong personal
+attachment for her, kept such a close watch on Sofya Nikolayevna that
+she could neither take a step nor swallow a morsel or drink a drop
+without their permission. As Avenarius had to leave the town on some
+official business, it fell on Klauss, who was the other leading lady's
+doctor at Ufa, to undertake the personal supervision of her health.
+Klauss was a German, a very kind man, clever and well-educated, but
+singularly grotesque in his appearance. Though he was still of middle
+age, he wore a bright yellow wig; and people asked where he could have
+got human hair of a colour never beheld on any human head; his eyebrows
+also were yellowish, and so were the whites of his small brown eyes; but
+his face, which was round and rather small, was as red as burning coal.
+His habits in society were very odd: though he liked kissing the hands
+of ladies, he would never allow himself to be kissed on the cheek,
+maintaining that it was a gross breach of manners on the part of a man
+to permit such a greeting. He had a great fondness for small children
+which he showed in this way: he took the child on his knees, placed its
+hand on the palm of his own left hand and stroked it for hours at a time
+with his right hand. His special favourites he constantly addressed as
+"Monster!" or "Turk!"--and Sofya Nikolayevna naturally came in for her
+share of these endearments.[52]
+
+ [52] Klauss became lecturer on midwifery in the Foundling Hospital at
+      Moscow in 1791, and died in 1821 after the conscientious discharge
+      of his duties for thirty years. He never left off the yellow wig.
+      He was an enthusiastic and well-known numismatist. (_Author's
+      note._)
+
+Owing to his intimacy with the young Bagroffs, Klauss knew all about
+Stepan Mihailovitch--his eager desire for a grandson, and the impatience
+with which he was awaiting the event. As Klauss wrote Russian well, he
+wrote out a forecast, for whose accuracy he vouched, in a distinct
+handwriting for the old man's benefit: he foretold that Sofya
+Nikolayevna would give birth to a son between the 15th and 22nd of
+September. When the forecast was sent to Stepan Mihailovitch, "German
+liar!" was his only comment; but in his heart he believed it; for his
+excitement and joy could be seen in his face and heard in every word he
+spoke. About this time, our old acquaintance, Afrosinya Andreyevna, paid
+him a visit at Bagrovo. He let her see more than others of his main
+anxiety, that he might have another grand-daughter; and she told him
+that, when passing through Moscow, she had gone to Trinity Church there,
+to say her prayers to St. Sergius; and there she heard that some
+well-known lady, the mother of several daughters, had taken a vow that
+if her next child was a boy, it should be christened Serghei; and she
+did give birth to a son before the year was out. Stepan Mihailovitch
+said nothing at the time; but he wrote a letter himself to his son and
+daughter-in-law by the next post, expressing his desire that they should
+say prayers in church to St. Sergius the Wonder-worker, and take a vow
+to call their child Serghei if it were a boy. In explanation of his wish
+he added: "There has never yet been a Serghei in the Bagroff family."
+These instructions were carried out to the letter. Sofya Nikolayevna
+spared no pains to provide everything that a careful mother could think
+of for her expected child; above all, an admirable foster-mother was
+found at Kasimofka, one of the villages that had belonged to her father.
+Marya Vassilyevna, a peasant woman, had every qualification for her
+office that one could wish for; and she was perfectly willing to
+undertake the duty, and moved to Ufa in good time, bringing her own
+infant with her.
+
+The crisis was now approaching. By this time Sofya Nikolayevna was
+forbidden to walk. Catherine Chichagoff was kept to her own house by
+ill-health, and no other visitors were admitted. But Mme. Cheprunoff was
+constantly with her cousin, never leaving her except to see her own
+beloved little boy, Andrusha. Klauss came to breakfast every morning,
+and again for tea, which he drank with rum in it, in the evening; then
+he played cards with husband and wife; and, as the stakes were too small
+to buy cards with, the prudent German procured some used packs which he
+brought with him. Reading sometimes took the place of cards, and Klauss
+was present on these occasions. Alexyei Stepanitch, who had gained some
+experience and skill in the art, was the regular reader; and sometimes
+Klauss brought a German book and translated it aloud, which gave
+pleasure to his hearers, especially to Sofya Nikolayevna, who wished to
+get some knowledge, if only a smattering, of German literature.
+
+Sofya Nikolayevna had experienced already the absorbing and unlimited
+power of maternal affection, the strongest of all our feelings, and she
+was filled with awe by her present condition. She accepted it as a
+sacred duty to maintain mental composure, and so to preserve the health
+of her unborn infant and secure its existence, on which depended all her
+hopes, all her future, and all her life. We know Sofya Nikolayevna
+pretty well already; we know how apt she was to be carried away; and
+therefore we shall not be surprised to hear that she gave herself up
+wholly to her feeling for the child she bore. Every hour of the day and
+night was devoted to the task of taking care of herself in all possible
+ways. Her mind and her thoughts were so entirely concentrated upon this
+one object that she noticed nothing else and was, apparently, quite
+satisfied with her husband, though it is probable that things happened
+which might have made her dissatisfied. The more Alexyei Stepanitch got
+to know his wife, the more she surprised him. He was a man singularly
+unable to appreciate excessive display of feeling, or to sympathise with
+it, from whatever object it arose. Thus his wife's power of passionate
+devotion frightened him; he dreaded it, just as he used to dread his
+father's furious fits of anger. Excessive feeling always produces an
+unpleasant impression upon quiet unemotional people; they cannot
+recognise such a state of mind to be natural, and regard it as a kind of
+morbid condition which some persons are liable to at times. They
+disbelieve in the permanence of a mental composure which may break down
+at any moment; and they are afraid of people with such a temperament.
+And fear is fatal to love, even to a child's love for his parents. In
+general I must say that, in point of mutual understanding and sympathy,
+the relations between Alexyei Stepanitch and his wife, instead of
+becoming closer, as might have been expected, grew less intimate. This
+may seem strange, but it often happens thus in life.
+
+Just at this time Klauss was transferred to an official post at Moscow.
+He had already taken leave of his colleagues and all his acquaintance;
+and he waited on solely with a view to Sofya Nikolayevna's confinement,
+hoping to be of service to her in case of necessity. He calculated that
+he might be able to get away on the 17th or 18th of September, and hired
+horses for that date. Hiring was necessary, because he intended to break
+his journey to visit a German friend, who lived at some distance from
+the post-road, so that the coach would not serve his purpose. The 15th
+of September passed, but the expected event did not take place. Sofya
+Nikolayevna felt better and more enterprising than usual; and it was
+only the pedantry of the doctor, she said, that kept her to the sofa.
+When the 16th, 17th, and 18th had all gone by, the German, in spite of
+his love for Sofya Nikolayevna, got very angry, because he had to pay a
+_rouble_ a day to the driver he had hired--a terribly high price,
+according to the ideas of those days; and the Bagroffs bantered him
+about this in a friendly way. The reading and card-playing went on every
+evening; and if the doctor won 60 _kopecks_[53] from his hosts, he was
+much pleased, and said that his driver would not cost him much _that_
+day. The 19th passed off with no change. On the 20th, when Klauss came
+in the morning, Sofya Nikolayevna stood at her bedroom door and greeted
+him with a curtsey. He got very angry: "Monster!" he said, "you are
+treating me abominably"; but he kissed as usual the hand she held out to
+him. "It is too bad, Alexyei Stepanitch," he went on; "your wife is
+ruining me. Her baby ought to have been born on the 15th, and here she
+is, dropping curtseys on the 20th!" "Never mind, my dear fellow," said
+Alexyei Stepanitch, patting him on the shoulder; "you must rob us at
+cards to-night. But the packs are nearly worn out." Klauss promised to
+bring a new pack; he lunched there, and, after sitting on till two
+o'clock, took his leave. He called again at six in the evening, punctual
+to the minute. Finding no one in the hall, or parlour, or drawing-room,
+he tried to get into the bedroom, but the door was locked; he knocked,
+and it was opened by Mme. Cheprunoff. The doctor went in and stood dumb
+with astonishment. The floor of the room was covered with rugs; green
+silk curtains hung by the windows, and a fine silk canopy over the
+double bed; a candle, shaded by a book, was burning in a corner; and in
+the bed, resting on embroidered pillows and wearing a dainty, easy
+morning wrapper, lay Sofya Nikolayevna. Her face looked fresh, and her
+eyes were radiant with happiness. "Congratulate me, my dear friend!" she
+said in a strong, audible voice; "I am the happy mother of a son!" The
+doctor, when he looked at her face and heard her voice, took the whole
+thing to be a mystification and a hoax. "Monster! don't try to play
+tricks on so old a bird as I am!" he said. "Better get up; I have
+brought a new pack of cards. It will be a present for the baby," he
+added, coming up to the bed and shoving the cards under a pillow. "My
+dear friend," said Sofya Nikolayevna, "I swear to you I have got a son!
+Look at him; there he is!" And there, resting on a large down-pillow
+trimmed with lace, and wrapped in a pink velvet coverlet, he really saw
+a newborn infant, a strong boy; and Alyona Maksimovna, the midwife, was
+standing near the bed.
+
+ [53] 1 _rouble_ = 100 _kopecks_.
+
+The doctor flew into a furious rage. He sprang back from the bed as if
+he had burnt himself, and roared out, "What! in my absence! after my
+staying on here for a week and losing money every day, you did not send
+for me!" His face turned from red to purple, his wig came half off, and
+his whole stumpy figure looked so ridiculous that the lady in the bed
+burst out laughing. Then the midwife tried to soothe him: "_Batyushka_,"
+she said, "we had no time to think of anything at the moment; then, when
+we had got things straight, we meant to send for your Honour, but Sofya
+Nikolayevna said you would be here at once." The worthy man soon
+recovered from his vexation; tears of joy started to his eyes; he caught
+hold of the infant in his practised hands and began to examine it by the
+candle-light, turning it round and feeling it till it squalled loudly.
+Then he thrust a finger into its mouth, and, when the infant began to
+suck lustily, the doctor was pleased and called out, "How fine and
+healthy he is, the little Turk!" Sofya Nikolayevna was frightened when
+she saw her priceless treasure so freely handed; and the midwife tried
+to take it from him, fearing it would be "overlooked." But Klauss was
+inexorable: he ran about the room, holding the child, and called for a
+tub of warm water with a sponge and some soap, and a binder. Then he
+turned back his sleeves, tied on an apron, threw down his wig, and began
+to wash the babe, talking to it like this: "Ah, my little Turk, that
+stops your crying; you like the feel of the warm water!"
+
+Then Alexyei Stepanitch hurried into the room, almost beside himself
+with joy. He had been dispatching a special messenger to carry the good
+news to Stepan Mihailovitch, and writing letters to his parents; and
+there was a separate letter for his sister Aksinya, begging her to come
+as soon as possible and stand godmother to his son. Before the doctor
+had time to dry himself, the happy father embraced him till he nearly
+choked him; he had already exchanged greetings with every one in the
+house, and many tears of joy had been shed. And Sofya Nikolayevna--but,
+what _she_ felt, I dare not try to express in words: her bliss was such
+as few on earth ever feel and no one can feel for long.
+
+The event produced extraordinary rejoicing within the house, and even
+the neighbours shared in it. The intoxication of joy was prolonged by
+liquor; and soon all the servants were singing and dancing in the court.
+Some who never drank at other times now took a drop too much; and one of
+these was Yevseitch. They found it impossible to control him: he was
+always begging to go to his mistress's bedroom to see the little son. At
+last his wife, with Parasha's help, tied him tightly to a heavy bench;
+and even then he went on kicking out his legs, cracking his fingers, and
+attempting to articulate the chorus of a song.
+
+Tired out by his exertions and by joyful excitement, Klauss at last sat
+down in an armchair and much enjoyed a cup of tea. He was somewhat too
+liberal with the rum that evening, and felt a buzzing in his head after
+the third cup. So he gave instructions that the baby was to have no milk
+but only syrup of rhubarb till the morning, and took leave of his happy
+host and hostess. He kissed the baby's hand, promised to call early the
+next morning, and went off to spend the night at his own house. As he
+passed through the court, he saw the dancing, and the sound of singing
+came from every window of the kitchen and servants' quarter. He stood
+still; and, though he was sorry to interfere with the good people's
+merriment, yet he advised them to stop their singing and dancing,
+because their mistress needed rest. To his surprise, they all took his
+hint and lay down at once, intending to sleep. As he passed out of the
+gate he muttered to himself: "Well, he's a lucky child! How glad they
+all are to have him!"
+
+And it is really true that this child was born under a happy star. His
+mother, who had suffered constantly before her former confinement, had
+perfect health before his birth; his parents lived in peace together
+during those halcyon days; a foster-mother was found for him who proved
+to be more devoted than most real mothers; he was the answer to prayers
+and the object of fond desires, and the joy over his coming into the
+world spread far beyond his parents. The very day of his birth, though
+the season was autumn, was warm as summer.
+
+But what happened at Bagrovo, when the good news came that God had given
+a son and heir to Alexyei Stepanitch? This is what happened at Bagrovo.
+From the 15th of September, Stepan Mihailovitch counted the days and
+hours, and waited for the special messenger from Ufa. The man had been
+told to gallop day and night with relays of horses. This method of
+travelling was new, and Stepan Mihailovitch disapproved of it as a
+foolish waste of money and an unnecessary tax on the country people. He
+preferred to use his own horses; but the importance and solemnity of
+this occasion made him depart from his regular practice. Fortune did not
+keep him in suspense too long: on the 22nd of September, when he was
+sleeping after dinner, the messenger arrived, bearing letters and the
+good news. The old man woke from a sound sleep, and had hardly had time
+to stretch himself and clear his throat when Mazan rushed into the room
+and, stammering with joyful excitement, got out the words, "A grandson,
+_batyushka_ Stepan Mihailovitch! Hearty congratulations!"
+
+The first movement of Stepan Mihailovitch was to cross himself. Then he
+sprang out of bed, went barefoot to his desk, snatched from it the
+family tree, took the pen from the ink-bottle, drew a line from the
+circle containing the name Alexyei, traced a fresh circle at the end of
+the line, and wrote in the centre of the circle, "_Serghei_."
+
+                                  ----
+
+Farewell! my figures, bright or dark, my people, good or bad--I should
+rather say, figures that have their bright and dark sides, and people
+who have both virtues and vices. You are not great heroes, not imposing
+personalities; you trod your path on earth in silence and obscurity, and
+it is long, very long, since you left it. But you were men and women,
+and your inward and outward life was not mere dull prose, but as
+interesting and instructive to us as we and our life in turn will be
+interesting and instructive to our descendants. You were actors in that
+mighty drama which mankind has played on this earth since time
+immemorial; you played your parts as conscientiously as others, and you
+deserve as well to be remembered. By the mighty power of the pen and of
+print, your descendants have now been made acquainted with you.[54] They
+have greeted you with sympathy and recognised you as brothers, whenever
+and however you lived, and whatever clothes you wore. May no harsh
+judgment and no flippant tongue ever wrong your memory!
+
+ [54] This work first appeared in parts in a Moscow magazine. When they
+      were collected in a book, this epilogue was added.
+
+                                THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                  ----
+
+                               PRINTED BY
+
+                   WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
+
+                           LONDON AND BECCLES
+
+                                  ----
+
+                          _By SERGE AKSAKOFF_.
+
+                           YEARS OF CHILDHOOD
+
+                           By SERGE AKSAKOFF.
+
+    Translated, for the first time, from the Russian by J. D. DUFF,
+                 Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
+
+                       _Demy 8vo. 10s. 6d. net._
+
+                                  ----
+
+"We are grateful to Mr. Duff for translating for the first time into
+English this remarkable book. 'Years of Childhood' becomes the more
+fascinating the more one reads and thinks about it. Aksakoff read a new
+and ecstatic meaning into things which are banal and tame to most men
+and women, and the eager eye of his mind scanned deep into the lives and
+loves of the people round about him."--_Morning Post._
+
+"Serge Aksakoff holds a distinct and, one might say, delightful position
+in Russian literature. He placed himself, almost without an effort, in
+the ranks of the great masters of his nation by instinctively obeying
+the precept that men of letters should look in their own hearts and
+write. One can hardly thank the translator sufficiently for this first
+rendering of the book in any other language than Russian."--_The Times._
+
+"English readers may well be grateful to Mr. J. D. Duff for his
+translation of a very unusual book. He promises us a translation of 'A
+Family History,' which carries on the narrative of Aksakoff's life and
+gives some account of his family. In the original the two make one book,
+and all who read this first instalment will welcome the completion of
+it."--_Spectator._
+
+"A book of rare charm."--_Observer._
+
+"Mr. Duff, with this admirable rendering, has unearthed a treasure for
+the English reader. Let us hope that the other portion of these memoirs
+will appear without delay. For this is Russia herself--convincingly real
+and intimate." --_English Review._
+
+"Apart from its great artistic value, Aksakoff's work has the
+attractiveness that belongs to all origins. What Mr. Maurice Baring once
+said, that the story of Aksakoff's memoirs is as vivid and interesting
+as any novel, is quite true. And it is not only true but remarkable; for
+reminiscences, especially of childhood, do not usually have the sort of
+interest that a novel has, however vivid they may be.... The fact is,
+Aksakoff succeeded in solving perhaps the hardest problem in
+literature,--the problem of working a child's consciousness as a medium
+for all it is worth. The book has, for us, this advantage over the other
+major works of Russian literature, that it has found in Mr. Duff a
+translator who is not only a scholar, but an artist skilful enough never
+to force the note for a moment." --_New Statesman._
+
+"A charming Russian book. At this time when so many translations from
+the Russian are appearing, well advised and ill advised, it is good to
+be able to put the hand on one superlatively good book. Here is a
+refreshment for tired eyes and tired souls. It is put into beautiful
+English, and the book can be read aloud with much profit and
+pleasure."--_Country Life._
+
+"Of an extraordinary richness and novelty."--_Westminster Gazette._
+
+                         LONDON: EDWARD ARNOLD
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A RUSSIAN GENTLEMAN***
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