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sentiment；　seem　to　us　arabesques。　The　view　from　the　Princess's

favourite　spot　was　as　follows。　On　the　further　side　of　a　small

lake；　over…grown　with　weeds　round　its　edges；　rose　a　steep　ascent

covered　with　bushes　and　with　huge　old　trees　of　many　shades　of

green；　while；　overhanging　the　lake　at　the　foot　of　the　ascent；

stood　an　ancient　birch　tree　which；　though　partly　supported　by

stout　roots　implanted　in　the　marshy　bank　of　the　lake；　rested　its

crown　upon　a　tall；　straight　poplar；　and　dangled　its　curved

branches　over　the　smooth　surface　of　the　pondboth　branches　and

the　surrounding　greenery　being　reflected　therein　as　in　a　mirror。



〃How　lovely！〃　said　the　Princess　with　a　nod　of　her　head；　and

addressing　no　one　in　particular。



〃Yes；　marvellous！〃　I　replied　in　my　desire　to　show　that　had　an

opinion　of　my　own　on　every　subject。　〃Yet　somehow　it　all　looks　to

me　so　terribly　like　a　scheme　of　decoration。〃



The　Princess　went　on　gazing　at　the　scene　as　though　she　had　not

heard　me；　and　turning　to　her　sister　and　Lubov　Sergievna　at

intervals；　in　order　to　point　out　to　them　its　detailsespecially

a　curved；　pendent　bough；　with　its　reflection　in　the　water；　which

particularly　pleased　her。　Sophia　Ivanovna　observed　to　me　that　it

was　all　very　beautiful；　and　that　she　and　her　sister　would

sometimes　spend　hours　together　at　this　spot；　yet　it　was　clear

that　her　remarks　were　meant　merely　to　please　the　Princess。　I　have

noticed　that　people　who　are　gifted　with　the　faculty　of　loving　are

seldom　receptive　to　the　beauties　of　nature。　Lubov　Sergievna　also

seemed　enraptured；　and　asked　（among　other　things）；　〃How　does　that

birch　tree　manage　to　support　itself？　Has　it　stood　there　long？〃

Yet　the　next　moment　she　became　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　her

little　dog　Susetka；　which；　with　its　stumpy　paws　pattering　to　and

fro　upon　the　bridge　in　a　mincing　fashion；　seemed　to　say　by　the

expression　of　its　face　that　this　was　the　first　time　it　had　ever

found　itself　out　of　doors。　As　for　Dimitri；　he　fell　to　discoursing

very　logically　to　his　mother　on　the　subject　of　how　no　view　can　be

beautiful　of　which　the　horizon　is　limited。　Varenika　alone　said

nothing。　Glancing　at　her；　I　saw　that　she　was　leaning　over　the

parapet　of　the　bridge；　her　profile　turned　towards　me；　and　gazing

straight　in　front　of　her。　Something　seemed　to　be　interesting　her

deeply；　or　even　affecting　her；　since　it　was　clear　that　she　was

oblivious　to　her　surroundings；　and　thinking　neither　of　herself

nor　of　the　fact　that　any　one　might　be　regarding　her。　In　the

expression　of　her　large　eyes　there　was　nothing　but　wrapt

attention　and　quiet；　concentrated　thought；　while　her　whole

attitude　seemed　so　unconstrained　and；　for　all　her　shortness；　so

dignified　that　once　more　some　recollection　or　another　touched　me

and　once　more　I　asked　myself；　〃Is　IT；　then；　beginning？〃　Yet　again

I　assured　myself　that　I　was　already　in　love　with　Sonetchka；　and

that　Varenika　was　only　an　ordinary　girl；　the　sister　of　my　friend。

Though　she　pleased　me　at　that　moment；　I　somehow　felt　a　vague

desire　to　show　her；　by　word　or　deed；　some　small　unfriendliness。



〃I　tell　you　what；　Dimitri；〃　I　said　to　my　friend　as　I　moved　nearer

to　Varenika；　so　that　she　might　overhear　what　I　was　going　to　say；

〃it　seems　to　me　that；　even　if　there　had　been　no　mosquitos　here；

there　would　have　been　nothing　to　commend　this　spot；　whereas　〃

and　here　I　slapped　my　cheek；　and　in　very　truth　annihilated　one　of

those　insects〃it　is　simply　awful。〃



〃Then　you　do　not　care　for　nature？〃　said　Varenika　without　turning

her　head。



〃I　think　it　a　foolish；　futile　pursuit；〃　I　replied；　well　satisfied

that　I　had　said　something　to　annoy　her；　as　well　as　something

original。　Varenika　only　raised　her　eyebrows　a　little；　with　an

expression　of　pity；　and　went　on　gazing　in　front　of　her　as　calmly

as　before。



I　felt　vexed　with　her。　Yet；　for　all　that；　the　rusty；　paint…

blistered　parapet　on　which　she　was　leaning；　the　way　in　which　the

dark　waters　of　the　pond　reflected　the　drooping　branch　of　the

overhanging　birch　tree　（it　almost　seemed　to　me　as　though　branch

and　its　reflection　met）；　the　rising　odour　of　the　swamp；　the

feeling　of　crushed　mosquito　on　my　cheek；　and　her　absorbed　look

and　statuesque　posemany　times　afterwards　did　these　things

recur　with　unexpected　vividness　to　my　recollection。



XXVII



DIMITRI



WHEN　we　returned　to　the　house　from　our　stroll；　Varenika　declined

to　sing　as　she　usually　did　in　the　evenings；　and　I　was　conceited

enough　to　attribute　this　to　my　doing；　in　the　belief　that　its

reason　lay　in　what　I　had　said　on　the　bridge。　The　Nechludoffs

never　had　supper；　and　went　to　bed　early；　while　to…night；　since

Dimitri　had　the　toothache　（as　Sophia　Ivanovna　had　foretold）；　he

departed　with　me　to　his　room　even　earlier　than　usual。　Feeling

that　I　had　done　all　that　was　required　of　me　by　my　blue　collar　and

gilt　buttons；　and　that　every　one　was　very　pleased　with　me；　I　was

in　a　gratified；　complacent　mood；　while　Dimitri；　on　the　other

hand；　was　rendered　by　his　quarrel　with　his　sister　and　the

toothache　both　taciturn　and　gloomy。　He　sat　down　at　the　table；　got

out　a　couple　of　notebooksa　diary　and　the　copy…book　in　which　it

was　his　custom　every　evening　to　inscribe　the　tasks　performed　by

or　awaiting　himand；　continually　frowning　and　touching　his　cheek

with　his　hand；　continued　writing　for　a　while。



〃Oh；　DO　leave　me　alone！〃　he　cried　to　the　maid　whom　Sophia

Ivanovna　sent　to　ask　him　whether　his　teeth　were　still　hurting

him；　and　whether　he　would　not　like　to　have　a　poultice　made。　Then；

saying　that　my　bed　would　soon　be　ready　for　me　and　that　he　would

be　back　presently；　he　departed　to　Lubov　Sergievna's　room。



〃What　a　pity　that　Varenika　is　not　good…looking　and；　in　general；

Sonetchka！〃　I　reflected　when　I　found　myself　alone。　〃How　nice　it

would　be　if；　after　I　have　left　the　University；　I　could　go　to　her

and　offer　her　my　hand！　I　would　say　to　her；　'Princess；　though　no

longer　young；　and　therefore　unable　to　love　passionately；　I　will

cherish　you　as　a　dear　sister。　And　you；'　I　would　continue　to　her

mother；　'I　greatly　respect；　and　you；　Sophia　Ivanovna；　I　value

highly。　Therefore　say　to　me；　Varenika　（since　I　ask　you　to　be　my

wife）；　just　the　simple　and　direct　word　YES。'　And　she　would　give

me　her　hand；　and　I　should　press　it；　and　say；　'Mine　is　a　love

which　depends　not　upon　words；　but　upon　deeds。'　And　suppose；〃　next

came　into　my　head；　〃that　Dimitri　should　suddenly　fall　in　love

with　Lubotshka　（as　Lubotshka　has　already　done　with　him）；　and

should　desire　to　marry　her？　Then　either　one　or　the　other　of　us

would　have　to　resign　all　thought　of　marriage。　Well；　it　would　be

splendid；　for　in　that　case　I　should　act　thus。　As　soon　as　I　had

noticed　how　things　were；　I　should　make　no　remark；　but　go　to

Dimitri　and　say；　'It　is　no　use；　my　friend；　for　you　and　I　to

conceal　our　feelings　from　one　another。　You　know　that　my　love　for

your　sister　will　terminate　only　with　my　life。　Yet　I　know　all；　and

though　you　have　deprived　me　of　all　hope；　and　have　rendered　me　an

unhappy　man；　so　that　Nicolas　Irtenieff　will　have　to　bewail　his

misery　for　the　rest　of　his　existence；　yet　do　you　take　my　sister；'

and　I　should　lay　his　hand　in　Lubotshka's。　Then　he　would　say　to

me；　'No；　not　for　all　the　world！'　and　I　should　reply；　'Prince

Nechludoff；　it　is　in　vain　for　you　to　attempt　to　outdo　me　in

nobility。　Not　in　the　whole　world　does　there　exist　a　more

magnanimous　being　than　Nicolas　Irtenieff。'　Then　I　should　salute

him　and　depart。　In　tears　Dimitri　and　Lubotshka　would　pursue　me；

and　entreat　me　to　accept　their　sacrifice；　and　I　should　consent　to

do　so；　and；　perhaps；　be　happy　ever　afterwardsif　only　I　were　in

love　with　Varenika。〃　These　fancies　tickled　my　imagination　so

pleasantly　that　I　felt　as　though　I　should　like　to　communicate

them　to　my　friend；　yet；　despite　our　mutual　vow　of　frankness；　I

also　felt　as　though　I　had　not　the　physical　energy　to　do　so。



Dimitri　returned　from　Lubov　Sergievna's　room　with　some　toothache

capsules　which　she　had　given　him；　yet　in　even　greater　pain；　and

therefore　in　even　greater　depression；　than　before。　Evidently　no

bedroom　had　yet　been　prepared　for　me；　for　presently　the　boy　who

acted　as　Dimitri's　valet　arrived　to　ask　him　where　I　was　to　sleep。



〃Oh；　go　to　the　devil！〃　cried　Dimitri；　stamping　his　foot。　〃Vasika；

Vasika；　Vasika！〃　he　went　on；　the　instant　that　the　boy　had　left

the　room；　with　a　gradual　raising　of　his　voice　at　each　repetition。

〃　Vasika；　lay　me　out　a　bed　on　the　floor。〃



〃No；　let　ME　sleep　on　the　floor；〃　I　objected。



〃Well；　it　is　all　one。　Lie　anywhere　you　like；〃　continued　Dimitri

in　the　same　angry　tone。　〃Vasika；　why　don't　you　go　and　do　what　I

tell　you？　〃



Evidently　Vasika　did　not　understand　what　was　demanded　of　him；　for

he　remained　where　he　was。



〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？　Go　and　lay　the　bed；　Vasika；　I　tell

you！〃　shouted　Dimitri；　suddenly　bursting　into　a　sort　of　frenzy；

yet　Vasika　still　did　not　understand；　but；　blushing　hotly；　stood

motionless。



〃So　you　are　determined　to　drive　me　mad；　are　you？〃and　leaping

from　his　chair　and　rushing　upon　the　boy；　Dimitri　struck　him　on

the　head　with　the　whole　weight　of　his　fist；　until　the　boy　rushed

headlong　from　the　room。　Halting　in　the　doorway；　Dimitri　glanced

at　me；　and　the　expression　of　fury　and　pain　which　had　sat　for　a

moment　on　his　countenance　suddenly　gave　place　to　such　a　boyish；

kindly；　affectionate；　yet　ashamed；　expression　that　I　felt　sorry

for　him；　and　reconsidered　my　intention　of　leaving　him　to　himself。

He　said　nothing；　but　for　a　long　time　paced　the　room　in　silence；

occasionally　glancing　at　me　with　the　same　deprecatory　expression

as　before。　Then　he　took　his　notebook　from　the　table；　wrote

something　in　it；　took　off　his　jacket　and　folded　it　carefully；

and；　stepping　into　the　corner　where　the　ikon　hung；　knelt　down　and

began　to　say　his　prayers；　with　his　large　white　hands　folded　upon

his　breast。　So　long　did　he　pray　that　Vasika　had　time　to　bring　a

mattress　and　spread　it；　under　m