The Precipice

ky returned home, and was rec

" she asked him. "Grandmother is

i," returned Rais

eak even to Tiet Nikonich. He is with her now and Paulina Karpovna too. Go to G

had t

y. We had prepare

t them up f

her," she cried happily, "Cousin

ed an elegant bow from Paulina Karpovna, an elaborately got-up person of forty-five in a low cut muslin gow

ardly have known you," said Tiet Nikon

ry handsome," said Pau

ed Raisky. "You have hardly aged at all, and

r quite as good as it was. That is age, age. But how glad I am that you, our guest, have arrived in

said Paulina Karpovna. "Here is nature, and fin

er askance, an

's aunt noticed with displeasure that

t confess

she said in a languishing tone. She looked him up and d

and must take my clothes and linen out of the trunk. For you, Granny, and

w crimson wi

are you going

you. Where you will,

nny," he laughed. "I

guests, I tell you you have behaved badly. You have hardly put your nose insi

ery day. I have been visiting an old fri

purpose, Granny," said Marfinka

ed. You are too young to contradict your G

nka drew back i

ows better than I how to entertain a Petersburger. What friccassee d

try with cabbage, the

hed ironically, "Verm

ts in the

since you tasted

Tiet Nikonich kindly, "bu

will entertain our guest with a gosling, pic

groats, would be acce

t is a light soup, with pearl barley, a cutlet, p

ould like

, Cousin?" asked Marfinka.

e have them for

heavy food, Tatiana Markovna sent Marfinka to Pet

t us have a bottle up. Tiet Nikonich and I would lik

ival, though mushrooms and

champagne on ice, Marf

aid Tiet Nikonich amia

dine at home too. You have vexed your Grandmot

ina Karpovna, "our ways here are so

the portraits of Raisky's and the young girls' parents, and excl

m now making up for my absence at midday, and shall be here all night.

auding, but his aunt looked at him with amaz

ed the pointed toes of her shoes in an effort to arouse Raisky's attention. The more she twisted and turned, the more icy was

ss, and talk of wandering about from one shelter to

must certainly mak

our Grandmother's anxieties. If

t w

lead yo

It looks as if he were an interesting

st have gone astray very early in life, but he has apparently good brains

ad away, and dismissed Mark wi

three hundred roubles. Has he rep

ebt. But to me he is, for the

shoot in your direction. Just imagine, Bo

train," complained

oniously at dinner again?" Tati

at night," he went on, addressing Raisky. "He had been out hunting, and had eaten not

ettle him. No, Boris Pavlovich, live like other decent people. Stay with us, have dinner with us, go out with us

r. Let us rather live each one aft

xception," si

are an exceptional woman. Why sh

e your Gr

ease your Grandson? You a

nxiously for you, I have hardly slept, have

this care and trouble is a pleasant stimulant, keeps you busy. If

arfinka. "Grandmother is kindness i

r only when you are here, Boris Pavlovich; at other times she is modest enoug

do as I pleased, I disturbed your arrangements and made a breach in your despotism.

you hear, Tiet Nikonich,

. After supper Raisky unpacked his trunk, and brought down his gifts; for his aunt, a few pounds of excellent tea, of which she was a connoisseur, a coffee machine of a new

at down beside him, and putting her hand on

ber? You are my nearest a

rders with no one to fetch her, and that she hoped someone would accompany her, looki

ered Tatiana Markovna. "Why didn't s

said Paulina Karpovna to

asked Raisky

tion, although it was not directe

bout groats, a goose, and a

two glances, which were intended for me, confess

y asked Marfinka what

like that," la

e morning, felt the feather bed to test its softness, and had a jug of water placed on the table beside him. She came back three times to see if he w