On the Eve

went into the dining-room. 'Sit beside me, Zoe,' added Anna Vassilyevna, 'and you, Helene,

e end, and tiny red lips. She sang Russian ballads fairly well and could play various pieces, both lively and sentimental, very correctly on the piano. She dressed with taste, but in a rather childish style, and even over-precisely. A

now and then threw comic glances of despair at Zoya, who responded always with the same phlegmatic smile. After dinner, Elena with Bersenyev and Shubin went into the garden; Zoya looked after them, an

nsee de Weber?'

evna. She sank into an easy chair, and

ound. Shubin looked round, and, whispering 'Wait a minute!' he ran off, skipping and hopping to his own room, broug

g at his work. She turned to Bersenyev, with whom

ject that's simply inexhaustible! To-day, par

you were speaking of some spiteful, disagre

I should like to-dance a polka with; I'm sure, too, that she knows that, and is pleased.... Else, what's the meaning of those modest

n set hastily to modelling and kneading

o be a professor?' sa

ll how far I fall short of being-to be worthy of such a high-I mean that I am too little prepared, but I hope to ge

an embarrassed smile and smoothed his hair. When Bersenyev was talking

professor of histo

he added, in a lower vo

served Shubin, making deep lines in the clay wit

uch a position?' asked Elena, leaning on he

ikolaevitch ... The very thought of such work fills me with delight and confusion ... yes, confusion... which comes fr

er died la

Nikolaevna,

that he left a remarkable wo

man. You would have lov

. And what was the

Nikolaevna, would be somewhat difficult. My father was a learned m

Elena, 'excuse my ignorance, what

v smiled

lling, a German philosopher; and what th

ercy's sake! Surely you don't mean to give Elena N

murmured Bersenyev, turn

Elena. 'You and I are in need

er, and suddenly b

g at?' she said coldl

did not

a strange taste, upon my word, to discuss philosophy in weather like this under t

, and of feminine frills a

urse,' rejoined Shubi

tist; why do you encroach on the freedom of others? And allow me to inquire, if that's your bent of

' he began in a nervous voice. 'I understand your hint; you want to sen

of sending you

not worthy of other society, that I am her equal; that I am as v

ways speak like that of her, P

moment precisely, when those fresh, vulgar cheeks of hers... But if I wanted to repay you with

nto the shape of a head, he ran out o

said Elena, loo

smile. 'All artists are like that. One must forg

rivilege in any way. What has he done so far? Give me your arm, and let us go

ooking at her; but his talk flowed more easily, even if not perfectly freely; he spoke simply and genuinely, and his eyes, as they strayed slowly over the trunks of the trees, the sand of the path and the grass, were bright with the quiet ardour of generous emotions, while in his soothed voice there was heard the delight of a man who feels that he is succeeding in expressing