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hear no more about his feelings and intentions with regard to
Lubov Sergievna； but to talk unstintedly about my own love for
Sonetchka； who seemed to me an object of affection of a far
higher order。 Yet for some reason or another I could not make up
my mind to tell him straight out how splendid it would seem when
I had married Sonetchka and we were living in the countryof how
we should have little children who would crawl about the floor
and call me Papa； and of how delighted I should be when he；
Dimitri； brought his wife； Lubov Sergievna； to see us； wearing an
expensive gown。 Accordingly； instead of saying all that； I
pointed to the setting sun； and merely remarked： 〃Look； Dimitri！
How splendid！〃
To this； however； Dimitri made no reply； since he was evidently
dissatisfied at my answering his confession （which it had cost
him much to make） by directing his attention to natural objects
（to which he was； in general； indifferent）。 Upon him Nature had
an effect altogether different to what she had upon myself； for
she affected him rather by her industry than by her beautyhe
loved her rather with his intellect than with his senses。
〃I am absolutely happy；〃 I went on； without noticing that he was
altogether taken up with his own thoughts and oblivious of
anything that I might be saying。 〃You will remember how told you
about a girl with whom I used to be in love when was a little
boy？ Well； I saw her again only this morning； and am now
infatuated with her。〃 Then I told himdespite his continued
expression of indifferenceabout my love； and about all my plans
for my future connubial happiness。 Strangely enough； no sooner
had I related in detail the whole strength of my feelings than I
instantly became conscious of its diminution。
The rain overtook us just as we were turning into the avenue of
birch…trees which led to the house； but it did not really wet us。
I only knew that it was raining by the fact that I felt a drop
fall； first on my nose； and then on my hand； and heard something
begin to patter upon the young； viscous leaves of the birch…trees
as； drooping their curly branches overhead； they seemed to imbibe
the pure； shining drops with an avidity which filled the whole
avenue with scent。 We descended from the carriage； so as to reach
the house the quicker through the garden； but found ourselves
confronted at the entrance…door by four ladies； two of whom were
knitting； one reading a book； and the fourth walking to and fro
with a little dog。 Thereupon； Dimitri began to present me to his
mother； sister； and aunt； as well as to Lubov Sergievna。 For a
moment they remained where they were； but almost instantly the
rain became heavier。
〃Let us go into the verandah； you can present him to us there；〃
said the lady whom I took to be Dimitri's mother； and we all of
us ascended the entrance…steps。
XXIII
THE NECHLUDOFFS
From the first； the member of this company who struck me the most
was Lubov Sergievna； who； holding a lapdog in her arms and
wearing stout laced boots； was the last of the four ladies to
ascend the staircase； and twice stopped to gaze at me intently
and then kiss her little dog。 She was anything but good…looking；
since she was red…haired； thin； short； and slightly crooked。 What
made her plain face all the plainer was the queer way in which
her hair was parted to one side （it looked like the wigs which
bald women contrive for themselves）。 However much I should have
liked to applaud my friend； I could not find a single comely
feature in her。 Even her brown eyes； though expressive of good…
humour； were small and dullwere； in fact； anything but pretty；
while her hands （those most characteristic of features）； were
though neither large nor ill…shaped； coarse and red。
As soon as we reached the verandah； each of the ladies； except
Dimitri's sister Varenikawho also had been regarding me
attentively out of her large； dark…grey eyessaid a few words
to me before resuming her occupation； while Varenika herself began
to read aloud from a book which she held on her lap and steadied
with her finger。
The Princess Maria Ivanovna was a tall； well…built woman of
forty。 To judge by the curls of half…grey hair which descended
below her cap one might have taken her for more； but as soon as
ever one observed the fresh； extraordinarily tender； and almost
wrinkleless face； as well as； most of all； the lively； cheerful
sparkle of the large eyes； one involuntarily took her for less。
Her eyes were black and very frank； her lips thin and slightly
severe； her nose regular and slightly inclined to the left； and
her hands ringless； large； and almost like those of a man； but
with finely tapering fingers。 She wore a dark…blue dress fastened
to the throat and sitting closely to her firm； still youthful
waista waist which she evidently pinched。 Lastly； she held
herself very upright； and was knitting a garment of some kind。 As
soon as I stepped on to the verandah she took me by the hand；
drew me to her as though wishing to scrutinise me more closely；
and said； as she gazed at me with the same cold； candid glance as
her son's； that she had long known me by report from Dimitri； and
that therefore； in order to make my acquaintance thoroughly； she
had invited me to stay these twenty…four hours in her house。
〃Do just as you please here；〃 she said； 〃and stand on no ceremony
whatever with us； even as we shall stand on none with you。 Pray
walk； read； listen； or sleep as the mood may take you。〃
Sophia Ivanovna was an old maid and the Princess's younger
sister； though she looked the elder of the two。 She had that
exceedingly overstuffed appearance which old maids always present
who are short of stature but wear corsets。 It seemed as though
her healthiness had shifted upwards to the point of choking her；
her short； fat hands would not meet below her projecting bust；
and the line of her waist was scarcely visible at all。
Notwithstanding that the Princess Maria Ivanovna had black hair
and eyes； while Sophia Ivanovna had white hair and large；
vivacious； tranquilly blue eyes （a rare combination）； there was a
great likeness between the two sisters； for they had the same
expression； nose； and lips。 The only difference was that Sophia's
nose and lips were a trifle coarser than Maria's； and that； when
she smiled； those features inclined towards the right；
whereas Maria's inclined towards the left。 Sophia； to judge by
her dress and coiffure； was still youthful at heart； and would
never have displayed grey curls； even if she had possessed them。
Yet at first her glance and bearing towards me seemed very proud；
and made me nervous； whereas I at once felt at home with the
Princess。 Perhaps it was only Sophia's stoutness and a certain
resemblance to portraits of Catherine the Great that gave her； in
my eyes； a haughty aspect； but at all events I felt quite
intimidated when she looked at me intently and said； 〃Friends of
our friends are our friends also。〃 I became reassured and changed
my opinion about her only when； after saying those words； she
opened her mouth and sighed deeply。 It may be that she owed her
habit of sighing after every few wordswith a great distention
of the mouth and a slight drooping of her large blue eyesto her
stoutness； yet it was none the less one which expressed so much
good…humour that I at once lost all fear of her； and found her
actually attractive。 Her eyes were charming； her voice pleasant
and musical； and even the flowing lines of her fullness seemed to
my youthful vision not wholly lacking in beauty。
I had imagined that Lubov Sergievna； as my friend's friend； would
at once say something friendly and familiar to me； yet； after
gazing at me fixedly for a while； as though in doubt whether the
remark she was about to make to me would not be too friendly； she
at length asked me what faculty I was in。 After that she stared
at me as before； in evident hesitation as to whether or not to
say something civil and familiar； until； remarking her
perplexity； I besought her with a look to speak freely。 Yet all
she then said was； 〃They tell me the Universities pay very little
attention to science now；〃 and turned away to call her little
dog。
All that evening she spoke only in disjointed fragments of this
kindfragments which had no connection either with the point or
with one another； yet I had such faith in Dimitri； and he so
often kept looking from her to me with an expression which mutely
asked me； 〃Now； what do you think of that？〃 that； though I
entirely failed to persuade myself that in Lubov Sergievna there
was anything to speak of； I could not bear to express the
thought； even to myself。
As for the last member of the family； Varenika； she was a well…
developed girl of sixteen。 The only good features in her were a
pair of dark…grey eyes；which； in their expression of gaiety
mingled with qui