"Oh, I ought to give you a sketch of the company you will meet

with us," she went on. "I'll begin with the ladies. Princess

Varvara--you know her, and I know your opinion and Stiva's about

her. Stiva says the whole aim of her existence is to prove her

superiority over Auntie Katerina Pavlovna: that's all true; but

she's a good-natured woman, and I am so grateful to her. In

Petersburg there was a moment when a chaperon was absolutely

essential for me. Then she turned up. But really she is good-

natured. She did a great deal to alleviate my position. I see

you don't understand all the difficulty of my position...there in

Advertisement..

Petersburg," she added. "Here I'm perfectly at ease and happy.

Well, of that later on, though. Then Sviazhsky--he's the marshal

of the district, and he's a very good sort of a man, but he wants

to get something out of Alexey. You understand, with his

property, now that we are settled in the country, Alexey can

exercise great influence. Then there's Tushkevitch--you have

seen him, you know--Betsy's admirer. Now he's been thrown over

and he's come to see us. As Alexey says, he's one of those

people who are very pleasant if one accepts them for what they

try to appear to be, _et puis il est comme il faut_, as Princess

Varvara says. Then Veslovsky...you know him. A very nice boy,"

she said, and a sly smile curved her lips. "What's this wild

story about him and the Levins? Veslovsky told Alexey about it,

and we don't believe it. _Il est très gentil et naïf_," she said

again with the same smile. "Men need occupation, and Alexey

needs a circle, so I value all these people. We have to have the

house lively and gay, so that Alexey may not long for any

novelty. Then you'll see the steward--a German, a very good

fellow, and he understands his work. Alexey has a very high

opinion of him. Then the doctor, a young man, not quite a

Nihilist perhaps, but you know, eats with his knife...but a very

good doctor. Then the architect.... _Une petite cour!_"




Most Popular