CONTENTS
THESCHOOLMISTRESS
ANERVOUSBREAKDOWN
MISERY
CHAMPAGNE
AFTERTHETHEATRE
ALADY’SSTORY
INEXILE
THECATTLE-DEALERS
SORROW
ONOFFICIALDUTY
THEFIRST-CLASSPASSENGER
ATRAGICACTOR
ATRANSGRESSION
SMALLFRY
THEREQUIEM
INTHECOACH-HOUSE
PANICFEARS
THEBET
THEHEAD-GARDENER’SSTORY
THEBEAUTIES
THESHOEMAKERANDTHEDEVIL
THESCHOOLMISTRESS
AThalf-pasteighttheydroveoutofthetown。
Thehighroadwasdry,alovelyAprilsunwasshiningwarmly,butthesnowwasstilllyingintheditchesandinthewoods。Winter,dark,long,andspiteful,washardlyover;springhadcomeallofasudden。Butneitherthewarmthnorthelanguidtransparentwoods,warmedbythebreathofspring,northeblackflocksofbirdsflyingoverthehugepuddlesthatwerelikelakes,northemarvelousfathomlesssky,intowhichitseemedonewouldhavegoneawaysojoyfully,presentedanythingneworinterestingtoMaryaVassilyevnawhowassittinginthecart。Forthirteenyearsshehadbeenschoolmistress,andtherewasnoreckoninghowmanytimesduringallthoseyearsshehadbeentothetownforhersalary;andwhetheritwerespringasnow,orarainyautumnevening,orwinter,itwasallthesametoher,andshealways——
invariably——longedforonethingonly,togettotheendofherjourneyasquicklyascouldbe。
Shefeltasthoughshehadbeenlivinginthatpartofthecountryforagesandages,forahundredyears,anditseemedtoherthatshekneweverystone,everytreeontheroadfromthetowntoherschool。Herpastwashere,herpresentwashere,andshecouldimaginenootherfuturethantheschool,theroadtothetownandbackagain,andagaintheschoolandagaintheroad……
Shehadgotoutofthehabitofthinkingofherpastbeforeshebecameaschoolmistress,andhadalmostforgottenit。Shehadoncehadafatherandmother;theyhadlivedinMoscowinabigflatneartheRedGate,butofallthatlifetherewasleftinhermemoryonlysomethingvagueandfluidlikeadream。Herfatherhaddiedwhenshewastenyearsold,andhermotherhaddiedsoonafter……Shehadabrother,anofficer;atfirsttheyusedtowritetoeachother,thenherbrotherhadgivenupansweringherletters,hehadgotoutofthewayofwriting。Ofheroldbelongings,allthatwasleftwasaphotographofhermother,butithadgrowndimfromthedampnessoftheschool,andnownothingcouldbeseenbutthehairandtheeyebrows。
Whentheyhaddrivenacoupleofmiles,oldSemyon,whowasdriving,turnedroundandsaid:
\"Theyhavecaughtagovernmentclerkinthetown。Theyhavetakenhimaway。ThestoryisthatwithsomeGermanshekilledAlexeyev,theMayor,inMoscow。\"
\"Whotoldyouthat?\"
\"Theywerereadingitinthepaper,inIvanIonov’stavern。\"
Andagaintheyweresilentforalongtime。MaryaVassilyevnathoughtofherschool,oftheexaminationthatwascomingsoon,andofthegirlandfourboysshewassendingupforit。Andjustasshewasthinkingabouttheexamination,shewasovertakenbyaneighboringlandownercalledHanovinacarriagewithfourhorses,theverymanwhohadbeenexaminerinherschooltheyearbefore。Whenhecameuptoherherecognizedherandbowed。
\"Good-morning,\"hesaidtoher。\"Youaredrivinghome,I
suppose。\"
ThisHanov,amanoffortywithalistlessexpressionandafacethatshowedsignsofwear,wasbeginningtolookold,butwasstillhandsomeandadmiredbywomen。Helivedinhisbighomesteadalone,andwasnotintheservice;andpeopleusedtosayofhimthathedidnothingathomebutwalkupanddowntheroomwhistling,orplaychesswithhisoldfootman。Peoplesaid,too,thathedrankheavily。Andindeedattheexaminationtheyearbeforetheverypapershebroughtwithhimsmeltofwineandscent。Hehadbeendressedallinnewclothesonthatoccasion,andMaryaVassilyevnathoughthimveryattractive,andallthewhileshesatbesidehimshehadfeltembarrassed。Shewasaccustomedtoseefrigidandsensibleexaminersattheschool,whilethisonedidnotrememberasingleprayer,orknowwhattoaskquestionsabout,andwasexceedinglycourteousanddelicate,givingnothingbutthehighestmarks。
\"IamgoingtovisitBakvist,\"hewenton,addressingMaryaVassilyevna,\"butIamtoldheisnotathome。\"
Theyturnedoffthehighroadintoaby-roadtothevillage,HanovleadingthewayandSemyonfollowing。Thefourhorsesmovedatawalkingpace,witheffortdraggingtheheavycarriagethroughthemud。Semyontackedfromsidetoside,keepingtotheedgeoftheroad,atonetimethroughasnowdrift,atanotherthroughapool,oftenjumpingoutofthecartandhelpingthehorse。MaryaVassilyevnawasstillthinkingabouttheschool,wonderingwhetherthearithmeticquestionsattheexaminationwouldbedifficultoreasy。AndshefeltannoyedwiththeZemstvoboardatwhichshehadfoundnoonethedaybefore。Howunbusiness-like!
Hereshehadbeenaskingthemforthelasttwoyearstodismissthewatchman,whodidnothing,wasrudetoher,andhittheschoolboys;butnoonepaidanyattention。Itwashardtofindthepresidentattheoffice,andwhenonedidfindhimhewouldsaywithtearsinhiseyesthathehadn’tamomenttospare;theinspectorvisitedtheschoolatmostonceinthreeyears,andknewnothingwhateverabouthiswork,ashehadbeenintheExciseDutiesDepartment,andhadreceivedthepostofschoolinspectorthroughinfluence。TheSchoolCouncilmetveryrarely,andtherewasnoknowingwhereitmet;theschoolguardianwasanalmostilliteratepeasant,theheadofatanningbusiness,unintelligent,rude,andagreatfriendofthewatchman’s——andgoodnessknowstowhomshecouldappealwithcomplaintsorinquiries……
\"Hereallyishandsome,\"shethought,glancingatHanov。
Theroadgrewworseandworse……Theydroveintothewood。
Heretherewasnoroomtoturnround,thewheelssankdeeplyin,watersplashedandgurgledthroughthem,andsharptwigsstruckthemintheface。
\"Whataroad!\"saidHanov,andhelaughed。
Theschoolmistresslookedathimandcouldnotunderstandwhythisqueermanlivedhere。Whatcouldhismoney,hisinterestingappearance,hisrefinedbearingdoforhimhere,inthismud,inthisGod-forsaken,drearyplace?Hegotnospecialadvantagesoutoflife,andhere,likeSemyon,wasdrivingatajog-trotonanappallingroadandenduringthesamediscomforts。WhylivehereifonecouldliveinPetersburgorabroad?Andonewouldhavethoughtitwouldbenothingforarichmanlikehimtomakeagoodroadinsteadofthisbadone,toavoidenduringthismiseryandseeingthedespaironthefacesofhiscoachmanandSemyon;butheonlylaughed,andapparentlydidnotmind,andwantednobetterlife。Hewaskind,soft,naive,andhedidnotunderstandthiscoarselife,justasattheexaminationhedidnotknowtheprayers。Hesubscribednothingtotheschoolsbutglobes,andgenuinelyregardedhimselfasausefulpersonandaprominentworkerinthecauseofpopulareducation。Andwhatusewerehisglobeshere?
\"Holdon,Vassilyevna!\"saidSemyon。
Thecartlurchedviolentlyandwasonthepointofupsetting;
somethingheavyrolledontoMaryaVassilyevna’sfeet——itwasherparcelofpurchases。Therewasasteepascentuphillthroughtheclay;hereinthewindingditchesrivuletsweregurgling。
Thewaterseemedtohavegnawedawaytheroad;andhowcouldonegetalonghere!Thehorsesbreathedhard。Hanovgotoutofhiscarriageandwalkedatthesideoftheroadinhislongovercoat。
Hewashot。
\"Whataroad!\"hesaid,andlaughedagain。\"Itwouldsoonsmashupone’scarriage。\"
\"Nobodyobligesyoutodriveaboutinsuchweather,\"saidSemyonsurlily。\"Youshouldstayathome。\"
\"Iamdullathome,grandfather。Idon’tlikestayingathome。\"
BesideoldSemyonhelookedgracefulandvigorous,butyetinhiswalktherewassomethingjustperceptiblewhichbetrayedinhimabeingalreadytouchedbydecay,weak,andontheroadtoruin。
Andallatoncetherewasawhiffofspiritsinthewood。MaryaVassilyevnawasfilledwithdreadandpityforthismangoingtohisruinfornovisiblecauseorreason,anditcameintohermindthatifshehadbeenhiswifeorsistershewouldhavedevotedherwholelifetosavinghimfromruin。Hiswife!Lifewassoorderedthatherehewaslivinginhisgreathousealone,andshewaslivinginaGod-forsakenvillagealone,andyetforsomereasonthemerethoughtthatheandshemightbeclosetooneanotherandequalsseemedimpossibleandabsurd。Inreality,lifewasarrangedandhumanrelationswerecomplicatedsoutterlybeyondallunderstandingthatwhenonethoughtaboutitonefeltuncannyandone’sheartsank。
\"Anditisbeyondallunderstanding,\"shethought,\"whyGodgivesbeauty,thisgraciousness,andsad,sweeteyestoweak,unlucky,uselesspeople——whytheyaresocharming。\"
\"Herewemustturnofftotheright,\"saidHanov,gettingintohiscarriage。\"Good-by!Iwishyouallthingsgood!\"
Andagainshethoughtofherpupils,oftheexamination,ofthewatchman,oftheSchoolCouncil;andwhenthewindbroughtthesoundoftheretreatingcarriagethesethoughtsweremingledwithothers。Shelongedtothinkofbeautifuleyes,oflove,ofthehappinesswhichwouldneverbe……
Hiswife?Itwascoldinthemorning,therewasnoonetoheatthestove,thewatchmandisappeared;thechildrencameinassoonasitwaslight,bringinginsnowandmudandmakinganoise:itwasallsoinconvenient,socomfortless。Herabodeconsistedofonelittleroomandthekitchencloseby。Herheadachedeverydayafterherwork,andafterdinnershehadheart-burn。Shehadtocollectmoneyfromtheschool-childrenforwoodandforthewatchman,andtogiveittotheschoolguardian,andthentoentreathim——thatoverfed,insolentpeasant——forGod’ssaketosendherwood。Andatnightshedreamedofexaminations,peasants,snowdrifts。Andthislifewasmakinghergrowoldandcoarse,makingherugly,angular,andawkward,asthoughsheweremadeoflead。Shewasalwaysafraid,andshewouldgetupfromherseatandnotventuretositdowninthepresenceofamemberoftheZemstvoortheschoolguardian。Andsheusedformal,deferentialexpressionswhenshespokeofanyoneofthem。Andnoonethoughtherattractive,andlifewaspassingdrearily,withoutaffection,withoutfriendlysympathy,withoutinterestingacquaintances。Howawfulitwouldhavebeeninherpositionifshehadfalleninlove!
\"Holdon,Vassilyevna!\"
Againasharpascentuphill……
Shehadbecomeaschoolmistressfromnecessity,withoutfeelinganyvocationforit;andshehadneverthoughtofavocation,ofservingthecauseofenlightenment;anditalwaysseemedtoherthatwhatwasmostimportantinherworkwasnotthechildren,norenlightenment,buttheexaminations。Andwhattimehadsheforthinkingofvocation,ofservingthecauseofenlightenment?
Teachers,badlypaiddoctors,andtheirassistants,withtheirterriblyhardwork,havenoteventhecomfortofthinkingthattheyareservinganideaorthepeople,astheirheadsarealwaysstuffedwiththoughtsoftheirdailybread,ofwoodforthefire,ofbadroads,ofillnesses。Itisahard-working,anuninterestinglife,andonlysilent,patientcart-horseslikeMaryVassilyevnacouldputupwithitforlong;
thelively,nervous,impressionablepeoplewhotalkedaboutvocationandservingtheideaweresoonwearyofitandgaveupthework。
Semyonkeptpickingoutthedriestandshortestway,firstbyameadow,thenbythebacksofthevillagehuts;butinoneplacethepeasantswouldnotletthempass,inanotheritwasthepriest’slandandtheycouldnotcrossit,inanotherIvanIonovhadboughtaplotfromthelandownerandhaddugaditchroundit。Theykepthavingtoturnback。
TheyreachedNizhneyeGorodistche。Nearthetavernonthedung-strewnearth,wherethesnowwasstilllying,therestoodwagonsthathadbroughtgreatbottlesofcrudesulphuricacid。
Therewereagreatmanypeopleinthetavern,alldrivers,andtherewasasmellofvodka,tobacco,andsheepskins。Therewasaloudnoiseofconversationandthebangingoftheswing-door。
Throughthewall,withoutceasingforamoment,camethesoundofaconcertinabeingplayedintheshop。MaryaVassilyevnasatdownanddranksometea,whileatthenexttablepeasantsweredrinkingvodkaandbeer,perspiringfromtheteatheyhadjustswallowedandthestiflingfumesofthetavern。
\"Isay,Kuzma!\"voiceskeptshoutinginconfusion。\"Whatthere!\"
\"TheLordblessus!\"\"IvanDementyitch,Icantellyouthat!\"
\"Lookout,oldman!\"
Alittlepock-markedmanwithablackbeard,whowasquitedrunk,wassuddenlysurprisedbysomethingandbeganusingbadlanguage。
\"Whatareyouswearingat,youthere?\"Semyon,whowassittingsomewayoff,respondedangrily。\"Don’tyouseetheyounglady?\"
\"Theyounglady!\"someonemimickedinanothercorner。
\"Swinishcrow!\"
\"Wemeantnothing……\"saidthelittlemaninconfusion。\"Ibegyourpardon。Wepaywithourmoneyandtheyoungladywithhers。
Good-morning!\"
\"Good-morning,\"answeredtheschoolmistress。
\"Andwethankyoumostfeelingly。\"
MaryaVassilyevnadrankherteawithsatisfaction,andshe,too,beganturningredlikethepeasants,andfelltothinkingagainaboutfirewood,aboutthewatchman……
\"Stay,oldman,\"sheheardfromthenexttable,\"it’stheschoolmistressfromVyazovye……Weknowher;she’sagoodyounglady。\"
\"She’sallright!\"
Theswing-doorwascontinuallybanging,somecomingin,othersgoingout。MaryaVassilyevnasaton,thinkingallthetimeofthesamethings,whiletheconcertinawentonplayingandplaying。
Thepatchesofsunshinehadbeenonthefloor,thentheypassedtothecounter,tothewall,anddisappearedaltogether;
sobythesunitwaspastmidday。Thepeasantsatthenexttableweregettingreadytogo。Thelittleman,somewhatunsteadily,wentuptoMaryaVassilyevnaandheldouthishandtoher;
followinghisexample,theothersshookhands,too,atparting,andwentoutoneafteranother,andtheswing-doorsqueakedandslammedninetimes。
\"Vassilyevna,getready,\"Semyoncalledtoher。
Theysetoff。Andagaintheywentatawalkingpace。
\"AlittlewhilebacktheywerebuildingaschoolhereintheirNizhneyeGorodistche,\"saidSemyon,turninground。\"Itwasawickedthingthatwasdone!\"
\"Why,what?\"
\"Theysaythepresidentputathousandinhispocket,andtheschoolguardiananotherthousandinhis,andtheteacherfivehundred。\"
\"Thewholeschoolonlycostathousand。It’swrongtoslanderpeople,grandfather。That’sallnonsense。\"
\"Idon’tknow,……Ionlytellyouwhatfolkssay。\"
ButitwasclearthatSemyondidnotbelievetheschoolmistress。
Thepeasantsdidnotbelieveher。Theyalwaysthoughtshereceivedtoolargeasalary,twenty-oneroublesamonth(fivewouldhavebeenenough),andthatofthemoneythatshecollectedfromthechildrenforthefirewoodandthewatchmanthegreaterpartshekeptforherself。Theguardianthoughtthesameasthepeasants,andhehimselfmadeaprofitoffthefirewoodandreceivedpaymentsfromthepeasantsforbeingaguardian——
withouttheknowledgeoftheauthorities。
Theforest,thankGod!wasbehindthem,andnowitwouldbeflat,opengroundallthewaytoVyazovye,andtherewasnotfartogonow。Theyhadtocrosstheriverandthentherailwayline,andthenVyazovyewasinsight。
\"Whereareyoudriving?\"MaryaVassilyevnaaskedSemyon。\"Taketheroadtotherighttothebridge。\"
\"Why,wecangothiswayaswell。It’snotdeepenoughtomatter。\"
\"Mindyoudon’tdrownthehorse。\"
\"What?\"
\"Look,Hanovisdrivingtothebridge,\"saidMaryaVassilyevna,seeingthefourhorsesfarawaytotheright。\"Itishe,I
think。\"
\"Itis。Sohedidn’tfindBakvistathome。Whatapig-headedfellowheis。Lordhavemercyuponus!He’sdrivenoverthere,andwhatfor?It’sfullytwomilesnearerthisway。\"
Theyreachedtheriver。Inthesummeritwasalittlestreameasilycrossedbywading。ItusuallydriedupinAugust,butnow,afterthespringfloods,itwasariverfortyfeetinbreadth,rapid,muddy,andcold;onthebankandrightuptothewatertherewerefreshtracksofwheels,soithadbeencrossedhere。
\"Goon!\"shoutedSemyonangrilyandanxiously,tuggingviolentlyatthereinsandjerkinghiselbowsasabirddoesitswings。\"Goon!\"
Thehorsewentonintothewateruptohisbellyandstopped,butatoncewentonagainwithaneffort,andMaryaVassilyevnawasawareofakeenchillinessinherfeet。
\"Goon!\"she,too,shouted,gettingup。\"Goon!\"
Theygotoutonthebank。
\"Nicemessitis,Lordhavemercyuponus!\"mutteredSemyon,settingstraighttheharness。\"It’saperfectplaguewiththisZemstvo……\"
Hershoesandgolosheswerefullofwater,thelowerpartofherdressandofhercoatandonesleevewerewetanddripping:thesugarandflourhadgotwet,andthatwasworstofall,andMaryaVassilyevnacouldonlyclaspherhandsindespairandsay:
Oh,Semyon,Semyon!Howtiresomeyouarereally!……\"
Thebarrierwasdownattherailwaycrossing。Atrainwascomingoutofthestation。MaryaVassilyevnastoodatthecrossingwaitingtillitshouldpass,andshiveringalloverwithcold。
Vyazovyewasinsightnow,andtheschoolwiththegreenroof,andthechurchwithitscrossesflashingintheeveningsun:andthestationwindowsflashedtoo,andapinksmokerosefromtheengine……anditseemedtoherthateverythingwastremblingwithcold。
Herewasthetrain;thewindowsreflectedthegleaminglightlikethecrossesonthechurch:itmadehereyesachetolookatthem。
Onthelittleplatformbetweentwofirst-classcarriagesaladywasstanding,andMaryaVassilyevnaglancedatherasshepassed。Hermother!Whataresemblance!Hermotherhadhadjustsuchluxurianthair,justsuchabrowandbendofthehead。Andwithamazingdistinctness,forthefirsttimeinthosethirteenyears,thererosebeforehermindavividpictureofhermother,herfather,herbrother,theirflatinMoscow,theaquariumwithlittlefish,everythingtothetiniestdetail;sheheardthesoundofthepiano,herfather’svoice;shefeltasshehadbeenthen,young,good-looking,well-dressed,inabrightwarmroomamongherownpeople。Afeelingofjoyandhappinesssuddenlycameoverher,shepressedherhandstohertemplesinanecstacy,andcalledsoftly,beseechingly:
\"Mother!\"
Andshebegancrying,shedidnotknowwhy。JustatthatinstantHanovdroveupwithhisteamoffourhorses,andseeinghimsheimaginedhappinesssuchasshehadneverhad,andsmiledandnoddedtohimasanequalandafriend,anditseemedtoherthatherhappiness,hertriumph,wasglowingintheskyandonallsides,inthewindowsandonthetrees。Herfatherandmotherhadneverdied,shehadneverbeenaschoolmistress,itwasalong,tedious,strangedream,andnowshehadawakened……
\"Vassilyevna,getin!\"
Andatonceitallvanished。Thebarrierwasslowlyraised。MaryaVassilyevna,shiveringandnumbwithcold,gotintothecart。Thecarriagewiththefourhorsescrossedtherailwayline;Semyonfollowedit。Thesignalmantookoffhiscap。
\"AndhereisVyazovye。Hereweare。\"
ANERVOUSBREAKDOWN
AMEDICALstudentcalledMayer,andapupiloftheMoscowSchoolofPainting,Sculpture,andArchitecturecalledRybnikov,wentoneeveningtoseetheirfriendVassilyev,alawstudent,andsuggestedthatheshouldgowiththemtoS。Street。ForalongtimeVassilyevwouldnotconsenttogo,butintheendheputonhisgreatcoatandwentwiththem。
Heknewnothingoffallenwomenexceptbyhearsayandfrombooks,andhehadneverinhislifebeeninthehousesinwhichtheylive。Heknewthatthereareimmoralwomenwho,underthepressureoffatalcircumstances——environment,badeducation,poverty,andsoon——areforcedtoselltheirhonorformoney。
Theyknownothingofpurelove,havenochildren,havenocivilrights;theirmothersandsistersweepoverthemasthoughtheyweredead,sciencetreatsofthemasanevil,menaddressthemwithcontemptuousfamiliarity。Butinspiteofallthat,theydonotlosethesemblanceandimageofGod。Theyallacknowledgetheirsinandhopeforsalvation。Ofthemeansthatleadtosalvationtheycanavailthemselvestothefullestextent。
Society,itistrue,willnotforgivepeopletheirpast,butinthesightofGodSt。MaryofEgyptisnolowerthantheothersaints。WhenithadhappenedtoVassilyevinthestreettorecognizeafallenwomanassuch,byherdressorhermanners,ortoseeapictureofoneinacomicpaper,healwaysrememberedastoryhehadonceread:ayoungman,pureandself-sacrificing,lovesafallenwomanandurgeshertobecomehiswife;she,consideringherselfunworthyofsuchhappiness,takespoison。
VassilyevlivedinoneofthesidestreetsturningoutofTverskoyBoulevard。Whenhecameoutofthehousewithhistwofriendsitwasabouteleveno’clock。Thefirstsnowhadnotlongfallen,andallnaturewasunderthespellofthefreshsnow。
Therewasthesmellofsnowintheair,thesnowcrunchedsoftlyunderthefeet;theearth,theroofs,thetrees,theseatsontheboulevard,everythingwassoft,white,young,andthismadethehouseslookquitedifferentfromthedaybefore;thestreetlampsburnedmorebrightly,theairwasmoretransparent,thecarriagesrumbledwithadeepernote,andwiththefresh,light,frostyairafeelingstirredinthesoulakintothewhite,youthful,featherysnow。\"Againstmywillanunknownforce,\"
hummedthemedicalstudentinhisagreeabletenor,\"hasledmetothesemournfulshores。\"
\"Beholdthemill……\"theartistsecondedhim,\"inruinsnow……\"
\"Beholdthemill……inruinsnow,\"themedicalstudentrepeated,raisinghiseyebrowsandshakinghisheadmournfully。
Hepaused,rubbedhisforehead,tryingtorememberthewords,andthensangaloud,sowellthatpassers-bylookedround:
\"HereinolddayswhenIwasfree,Love,free,unfettered,greetedme。\"
Thethreeofthemwentintoarestaurantand,withouttakingofftheirgreatcoats,drankacoupleofglassesofvodkaeach。Beforedrinkingthesecondglass,Vassilyevnoticedabitofcorkinhisvodka,raisedtheglasstohiseyes,andgazedintoitforalongtime,screwinguphisshortsightedeyes。Themedicalstudentdidnotunderstandhisexpression,andsaid:
\"Come,whylookatit?Nophilosophizing,please。Vodkaisgivenustobedrunk,sturgeontobeeaten,womentobevisited,snowtobewalkedupon。Foroneeveninganywaylivelikeahumanbeing!\"
\"ButIhaven’tsaidanything……\"saidVassilyev,laughing。\"AmIrefusingto?\"
Therewasawarmthinsidehimfromthevodka。Helookedwithsoftenedfeelingsathisfriends,admiredthemandenviedthem。
Inthesestrong,healthy,cheerfulpeoplehowwonderfullybalancedeverythingis,howfinishedandsmoothiseverythingintheirmindsandsouls!Theysing,andhaveapassionforthetheatre,anddraw,andtalkagreatdeal,anddrink,andtheydon’thaveheadachesthedayafter;theyarebothpoeticalanddebauched,bothsoftandhard;theycanwork,too,andbeindignant,andlaughwithoutreason,andtalknonsense;theyarewarm,honest,self-sacrificing,andasmenareinnowayinferiortohimself,Vassilyev,whowatchedovereverystephetookandeverywordheuttered,whowasfastidiousandcautious,andreadytoraiseeverytrifletothelevelofaproblem。Andhelongedforoneeveningtoliveashisfriendsdid,toopenout,tolethimselfloosefromhisowncontrol。Ifvodkahadtobedrunk,hewoulddrinkit,thoughhisheadwouldbesplittingnextmorning。Ifheweretakentothewomenhewouldgo。Hewouldlaugh,playthefool,gailyrespondtothepassingadvancesofstrangersinthestreet……
Hewentoutoftherestaurantlaughing。Helikedhisfriends——
oneinacrushedbroad-brimmedhat,withanaffectationofartisticuntidiness;theotherinasealskincap,amannotpoor,thoughheaffectedtobelongtotheBohemiaoflearning。Helikedthesnow,thepalestreetlamps,thesharpblacktracksleftinthefirstsnowbythefeetofthepassers-by。Helikedtheair,andespeciallythatlimpid,tender,naive,asitwerevirginaltone,whichcanbeseeninnatureonlytwiceintheyear——wheneverythingiscoveredwithsnow,andinspringonbrightdaysandmoonlighteveningswhentheicebreaksontheriver。
\"Againstmywillanunknownforce,Hasledmetothesemournfulshores,\"
hehummedinanundertone。
Andthetuneforsomereasonhauntedhimandhisfriendsalltheway,andallthreeofthemhummeditmechanically,notintimewithoneanother。
Vassilyev’simaginationwaspicturinghow,inanothertenminutes,heandhisfriendswouldknockatadoor;howbylittledarkpassagesanddarkroomstheywouldstealintothewomen;
how,takingadvantageofthedarkness,hewouldstrikeamatch,wouldlightupandseethefaceofamartyrandaguiltysmile。
Theunknown,fairordark,wouldcertainlyhaveherhairdownandbewearingawhitedressing-jacket;shewouldbepanic-strickenbythelight,wouldbefearfullyconfused,andwouldsay:\"ForGod’ssake,whatareyoudoing!Putitout!\"Itwouldallbedreadful,butinterestingandnew。
II
ThefriendsturnedoutofTrubnoySquareintoGratchevka,andsoonreachedthesidestreetwhichVassilyevonlyknewbyreputation。Seeingtworowsofhouseswithbrightlylightedwindowsandwide-opendoors,andhearinggaystrainsofpianosandviolins,soundswhichfloatedoutfromeverydoorandmingledinastrangechaos,asthoughanunseenorchestraweretuningupinthedarknessabovetheroofs,Vassilyevwassurprisedandsaid:
\"Whatalotofhouses!\"
\"That’snothing,\"saidthemedicalstudent。\"InLondontherearetentimesasmany。Thereareaboutahundredthousandsuchwomenthere。\"
Thecabmenweresittingontheirboxesascalmlyandindifferentlyasinanyothersidestreet;thesamepassers-bywerewalkingalongthepavementasinotherstreets。Noonewashurrying,noonewashidinghisfaceinhiscoat-collar,nooneshookhisheadreproachfully……Andinthisindifferencetothenoisychaosofpianosandviolins,tothebrightwindowsandwide-opendoors,therewasafeelingofsomethingveryopen,insolent,reckless,anddevil-may-care。Probablyitwasasgayandnoisyattheslave-marketsintheirday,andpeople’sfacesandmovementsshowedthesameindifference。
\"Letusbeginfromthebeginning,\"saidtheartist。
Thefriendswentintoanarrowpassagelightedbyalampwithareflector。Whentheyopenedthedooramaninablackcoat,withanunshavenfacelikeaflunkey’s,andsleepy-lookingeyes,gotuplazilyfromayellowsofainthehall。Theplacesmeltlikealaundrywithanodorofvinegarinaddition。Adoorfromthehallledintoabrightlylightedroom。Themedicalstudentandtheartiststoppedatthisdoorand,craningtheirnecks,peepedintotheroom。
\"Buonasera,signori,rigolleto——hugenotti——traviata!\"begantheartist,withatheatricalbow。
\"Havanna——tarakano——pistoleto!\"saidthemedicalstudent,pressinghiscaptohisbreastandbowinglow。
Vassilyevwasstandingbehindthem。Hewouldhavelikedtomakeatheatricalbowandsaysomethingsilly,too,butheonlysmiled,feltanawkwardnessthatwaslikeshame,andwaitedimpatientlyforwhatwouldhappennext。
Alittlefairgirlofseventeenoreighteen,withshorthair,inashortlight-bluefrockwithabunchofwhiteribbononherbosom,appearedinthedoorway。
\"Whydoyoustandatthedoor?\"shesaid。\"Takeoffyourcoatsandcomeintothedrawing-room。\"
Themedicalstudentandtheartist,stilltalkingItalian,wentintothedrawing-room。Vassilyevfollowedthemirresolutely。
\"Gentlemen,takeoffyourcoats!\"theflunkeysaidsternly;\"youcan’tgoinlikethat。\"
Inthedrawing-roomtherewas,besidesthegirl,anotherwoman,verystoutandtall,withaforeignfaceandbarearms。Shewassittingnearthepiano,layingoutagameofpatienceonherlap。
Shetooknonoticewhateverofthevisitors。
\"Wherearetheotheryoungladies?\"askedthemedicalstudent。
\"Theyarehavingtheirtea,\"saidthefairgirl。\"Stepan,\"shecalled,\"goandtelltheyoungladiessomestudentshavecome!\"
Alittlelaterathirdyoungladycameintotheroom。Shewaswearingabrightreddresswithbluestripes。Herfacewaspaintedthicklyandunskillfully,herbrowwashiddenunderherhair,andtherewasanunblinking,frightenedstareinhereyes。
Asshecamein,shebeganatoncesingingsomesonginacoarse,powerfulcontralto。Afterherafourthappeared,andafterherafifth……
InallthisVassilyevsawnothingneworinteresting。Itseemedtohimthatthatroom,thepiano,thelooking-glassinitscheapgiltframe,thebunchofwhiteribbon,thedresswiththebluestripes,andtheblankindifferentfaces,hehadseenbeforeandmorethanonce。Ofthedarkness,thesilence,thesecrecy,theguiltysmile,ofallthathehadexpectedtomeethereandhaddreaded,hesawnotrace。
Everythingwasordinary,prosaic,anduninteresting。Onlyonethingfaintlystirredhiscuriosity——theterrible,asitwereintentionallydesigned,badtastewhichwasvisibleinthecornices,intheabsurdpictures,inthedresses,inthebunchofribbons。Therewassomethingcharacteristicandpeculiarinthisbadtaste。
\"Howpoorandstupiditallis!\"thoughtVassilyev。\"WhatisthereinallthistrumperyIseenowthatcantemptanormalmanandexcitehimtocommitthehorriblesinofbuyingahumanbeingforarouble?Iunderstandanysinforthesakeofsplendor,beauty,grace,passion,taste;butwhatistherehere?Whatistherehereworthsinningfor?But……onemustn’tthink!\"
\"Beardy,treatmetosomeporter!\"saidthefairgirl,addressinghim。
Vassilyevwasatonceovercomewithconfusion。
\"Withpleasure,\"hesaid,bowingpolitely。\"Onlyexcuseme,madam,I……Iwon’tdrinkwithyou。Idon’tdrink。
Fiveminuteslaterthefriendswentoffintoanotherhouse。
\"Whydidyouaskforporter?\"saidthemedicalstudentangrily。
\"Whatamillionaire!Youhavethrownawaysixroublesfornoreasonwhatever——simplywaste!\"
\"Ifshewantsit,whynotletherhavethepleasure?\"saidVassilyev,justifyinghimself。
\"Youdidnotgivepleasuretoher,buttothe’Madam。’Theyaretoldtoaskthevisitorstostandthemtreatbecauseitisaprofittothekeeper。\"
\"Beholdthemill……\"hummedtheartist,\"inruinsnow……\"
Goingintothenexthouse,thefriendsstoppedinthehallanddidnotgointothedrawing-room。Here,asinthefirsthouse,afigureinablackcoat,withasleepyfacelikeaflunkey’s,gotupfromasofainthehall。Lookingatthisflunkey,athisfaceandhisshabbyblackcoat,Vassilyevthought:\"WhatmustanordinarysimpleRussianhavegonethroughbeforefateflunghimdownasaflunkeyhere?Wherehadhebeenbeforeandwhathadhedone?Whatwasawaitinghim?Washemarried?Wherewashismother,anddidsheknowthathewasaservanthere?\"
AndVassilyevcouldnothelpparticularlynoticingtheflunkeyineachhouse。Inoneofthehouses——hethoughtitwasthefourth——therewasalittlespare,frail-lookingflunkeywithawatch-chainonhiswaistcoat。Hewasreadinganewspaper,andtooknonoticeofthemwhentheywentin。LookingathisfaceVassilyev,forsomereason,thoughtthatamanwithsuchafacemightsteal,mightmurder,mightbearfalsewitness。Butthefacewasreallyinteresting:abigforehead,grayeyes,alittleflattenednose,thincompressedlips,andablanklystupidandatthesametimeinsolentexpressionlikethatofayoungharrierovertakingahare。Vassilyevthoughtitwouldbenicetotouchthisman’shair,toseewhetheritwassoftorcoarse。Itmustbecoarselikeadog’s。
III
Havingdrunktwoglassesofporter,theartistbecamesuddenlytipsyandgrewunnaturallylively。
\"Let’sgotoanother!\"hesaidperemptorily,wavinghishands。\"I
willtakeyoutothebestone。\"
Whenhehadbroughthisfriendstothehousewhichinhisopinionwasthebest,hedeclaredhisfirmintentionofdancingaquadrille。Themedicalstudentgrumbledsomethingabouttheirhavingtopaythemusiciansarouble,butagreedtobehis_vis-a-vis_。Theybegandancing。
Itwasjustasnastyinthebesthouseasintheworst。Heretherewerejustthesamelooking-glassesandpictures,thesamestylesofcoiffureanddress。Lookingroundatthefurnishingoftheroomsandthecostumes,Vassilyevrealizedthatthiswasnotlackoftaste,butsomethingthatmightbecalledthetaste,andeventhestyle,ofS。Street,whichcouldnotbefoundelsewhere——somethingintentionalinitsugliness,notaccidental,butelaboratedinthecourseofyears。Afterhehadbeenineighthouseshewasnolongersurprisedatthecolorofthedresses,atthelongtrains,thegaudyribbons,thesailordresses,andthethickpurplishrougeonthecheeks;hesawthatitallhadtobelikethis,thatifasingleoneofthewomenhadbeendressedlikeahumanbeing,oriftherehadbeenonedecentengravingonthewall,thegeneraltoneofthewholestreetwouldhavesuffered。
\"Howunskillfullytheysellthemselves!\"hethought。\"Howcantheyfailtounderstandthatviceisonlyalluringwhenitisbeautifulandhidden,whenitwearsthemaskofvirtue?Modestblackdresses,palefaces,mournfulsmiles,anddarknesswouldbefarmoreeffectivethanthisclumsytawdriness。Stupidthings!
Iftheydon’tunderstanditofthemselves,theirvisitorsmightsurelyhavetaughtthem……\"
AyoungladyinaPolishdressedgedwithwhitefurcameuptohimandsatdownbesidehim。
\"Younicedarkman,whyaren’tyoudancing?\"sheasked。\"Whyareyousodull?\"
\"Becauseitisdull。\"
\"TreatmetosomeLafitte。Thenitwon’tbedull。\"
Vassilyevmadenoanswer。Hewassilentforalittle,andthenasked:
\"Whattimedoyougettosleep?\"
\"Atsixo’clock。\"
\"Andwhattimedoyougetup?\"
\"Sometimesattwoandsometimesatthree。\"
\"Andwhatdoyoudowhenyougetup?\"
\"Wehavecoffee,andatsixo’clockwehavedinner。\"
\"Andwhatdoyouhavefordinner?\"
\"Usuallysoup,beefsteak,anddessert。Ourmadamkeepsthegirlswell。Butwhydoyouaskallthis?\"
\"Oh,justtotalk……\"
Vassilyevlongedtotalktotheyoungladyaboutmanythings。Hefeltanintensedesiretofindoutwhereshecamefrom,whetherherparentswereliving,andwhethertheyknewthatshewashere;
howshehadcomeintothishouse;whethershewerecheerfulandsatisfied,orsadandoppressedbygloomythoughts;whethershehopedsomedaytogetoutofherpresentposition……Buthecouldnotthinkhowtobeginorinwhatshapetoputhisquestionssoasnottoseemimpertinent。Hethoughtforalongtime,andasked:
\"Howoldareyou?\"
\"Eighty,\"theyoungladyjested,lookingwithalaughattheanticsoftheartistashedanced。
Allatoncesheburstoutlaughingatsomething,andutteredalongcynicalsentenceloudenoughtobeheardbyeveryone。
Vassilyevwasaghast,andnotknowinghowtolook,gaveaconstrainedsmile。Hewastheonlyonewhosmiled;alltheothers,hisfriends,themusicians,thewomen,didnotevenglancetowardshisneighbor,butseemednottohaveheardher。
\"StandmesomeLafitte,\"hisneighborsaidagain。
Vassilyevfeltarepulsionforherwhitefurandforhervoice,andwalkedawayfromher。Itseemedtohimhotandstifling,andhisheartbeganthrobbingslowlybutviolently,likeahammer——
one!two!three!
\"Letusgoaway!\"hesaid,pullingtheartistbyhissleeve。
\"Waitalittle;letmefinish。\"
Whiletheartistandthemedicalstudentwerefinishingthequadrille,toavoidlookingatthewomen,Vassilyevscrutinizedthemusicians。Arespectable-lookingoldmaninspectacles,ratherlikeMarshalBazaine,wasplayingthepiano;ayoungmanwithafairbeard,dressedinthelatestfashion,wasplayingtheviolin。Theyoungmanhadafacethatdidnotlookstupidnorexhausted,butintelligent,youthful,andfresh。Hewasdressedfancifullyandwithtaste;heplayedwithfeeling。Itwasamysteryhowheandtherespectable-lookingoldmanhadcomehere。Howwasittheywerenotashamedtosithere?Whatweretheythinkingaboutwhentheylookedatthewomen?
Iftheviolinandthepianohadbeenplayedbymeninrags,lookinghungry,gloomy,drunken,withdissipatedorstupidfaces,thenonecouldhaveunderstoodtheirpresence,perhaps。Asitwas,Vassilyevcouldnotunderstanditatall。Herecalledthestoryofthefallenwomanhehadonceread,andhethoughtnowthatthathumanfigurewiththeguiltysmilehadnothingincommonwithwhathewasseeingnow。Itseemedtohimthathewasseeingnotfallenwomen,butsomedifferentworldquiteapart,alientohimandincomprehensible;ifhehadseenthisworldbeforeonthestage,orreadofitinabook,hewouldnothavebelievedinit……
Thewomanwiththewhitefurburstoutlaughingagainandutteredaloathsomesentenceinaloudvoice。Afeelingofdisgusttookpossessionofhim。Heflushedcrimsonandwentoutoftheroom。
\"Waitaminute,wearecomingtoo!\"theartistshoutedtohim。
IV
\"Whileweweredancing,\"saidthemedicalstudent,astheyallthreewentoutintothestreet,\"Ihadaconversationwithmypartner。Wetalkedaboutherfirstromance。He,thehero,wasanaccountantatSmolenskwithawifeandfivechildren。Shewasseventeen,andshelivedwithherpapaandmamma,whosoldsoapandcandles。\"
\"Howdidhewinherheart?\"askedVassilyev。
\"Byspendingfiftyroublesonunderclothesforher。Whatnext!\"
\"Soheknewhowtogethispartner’sstoryoutofher,\"thoughtVassilyevaboutthemedicalstudent。\"ButIdon’tknowhowto。\"
\"Isay,Iamgoinghome!\"hesaid。
\"Whatfor?\"
\"BecauseIdon’tknowhowtobehavehere。Besides,Iambored,disgusted。Whatisthereamusinginit?Iftheywerehumanbeings——buttheyaresavagesandanimals。Iamgoing;doasyoulike。\"
\"Come,Grisha,Grigory,darling……\"saidtheartistinatearfulvoice,huggingVassilyev,\"comealong!Let’sgotoonemoretogetheranddamnationtakethem!……Pleasedo,Grisha!\"
TheypersuadedVassilyevandledhimupastaircase。Inthecarpetandthegiltbanisters,intheporterwhoopenedthedoor,andinthepanelsthatdecoratedthehall,thesameS。Streetstylewasapparent,butcarriedtoagreaterperfection,moreimposing。
\"Ireallywillgohome!\"saidVassilyevashewastakingoffhiscoat。
\"Come,come,dearboy,\"saidtheartist,andhekissedhimontheneck。\"Don’tbetiresome……Gri-gri,beagoodcomrade!Wecametogether,wewillgobacktogether。Whatabeastyouare,really!\"
\"Icanwaitforyouinthestreet。Ithinkit’sloathsome,really!\"
\"Come,come,Grisha……Ifitisloathsome,youcanobserveit!Doyouunderstand?Youcanobserve!\"
\"Onemusttakeanobjectiveviewofthings,\"saidthemedicalstudentgravely。