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to slumber。 Only old hunchbacked Fokabare…footed； clad in some
sort of a woman's wadded nightdress； and carrying a candlestick
opened the door to us。 As soon as he saw who we were； he trembled
all over with joy； kissed us on the shoulders； hurriedly put on
his felt slippers； and started to dress himself properly。 I
passed in a semi…waking condition through the porch and up the
steps； but in the hall the lock of the door； the bars and bolts；
the crooked boards of the flooring； the chest； the ancient
candelabrum （splashed all over with grease as of old）； the
shadows thrown by the crooked； chill； recently…lighted stump of
candle； the perennially dusty； unopened window behind which I
remembered sorrel to have grownall was so familiar； so full of
memories； so intimate of aspect； so； as it were； knit together by
a single idea； that I suddenly became conscious of a tenderness
for this quiet old house。 Involuntarily I asked myself； 〃How have
we； the house and I； managed to remain apart so long？〃 and；
hurrying from spot to spot； ran to see if all the other rooms
were still the same。 Yes； everything was unchanged； except that
everything had become smaller and lower； and I myself taller；
heavier； and more filled out。 Yet； even as I was； the old house
received me back into its arms； and aroused in me with every
board； every window； every step of the stairs； and every sound
the shadows of forms； feelings； and events of the happy but
irrevocable past。 When we entered our old night nursery； all my
childish fears lurked once more in the darkness of the corners
and doorway。 When we passed into the drawing…room； I could feel
the old calm motherly love diffusing itself from every object in
the apartment。 In the breakfast…room； the noisy； careless
merriment of childhood seemed merely to be waiting to wake to
life again。 In the divannaia （whither Foka first conducted us；
and where he had prepared our beds） everythingmirror； screen；
old wooden ikon； the lumps on the walls covered with white paper
seemed to speak of suffering and of death and of what would never
come back to us again。
We got into bed； and Foka； bidding us good…night； retired。
〃It was in this room that Mamma died； was it not？〃 said Woloda。
I made no reply； but pretended to be asleep。 If I had said
anything I should have burst into tears。 On awaking next morning；
I beheld Papa sitting on Woloda's bed in his dressing gown and
slippers and smoking a cigar。 Leaping up with a merry hoist of
the shoulders； he came over to me； slapped me on the back with
his great hand； and presented me his cheek to press my lips to。
〃Well done； DIPLOMAT！〃 he said in his most kindly jesting tone as
he looked at me with his small bright eyes。 〃Woloda tells me you
have passed the examinations well for a youngster； and that is a
splendid thing。 Unless you start and play the fool； I shall have
another fine little fellow in you。 Thanks； my dear boy。 Well； we
will have a grand time of it here now； and in the winter；
perhaps； we shall move to St。 Petersburg。 I only wish the hunting
was not over yet； or I could have given you some amusement in
THAT way。 Can you shoot； Woldemar？ However； whether there is any
game or not； I will take you out some day。 Next winter； if God
pleases； we will move to St。 Petersburg； and you shall meet
people； and make friends； for you are now my two young grown…ups。
I have been telling Woldemar that you are just starting on your
careers； whereas my day is ended。 You are old enough now to walk
by yourselves； but； whenever you wish to confide in me； pray do
so； for I am no longer your nurse； but your friend。 At least； I
will be your friend and comrade and adviser as much as I can and
more than that I cannot do。 How does that fall in with your
philosophy； eh； Koko？ Well or ill； eh？〃
Of course I said that it fell in with it entirely； and； indeed； I
really thought so。 That morning Papa had a particularly winning；
bright； and happy expression on his face； and these new relations
between us； as of equals and comrades； made me love him all the
more。
〃Now； tell me；〃 he went on； 〃did you call upon all our kinsfolk
and the Iwins？ Did you see the old man； and what did he say to
you？ And did you go to Prince Ivan's？〃
We continued talking so long that； before we were fully dressed；
the sun had left the window of the divannaia； and Jakoff （the
same old man who of yore had twirled his fingers behind his back
and always repeated his words） had entered the room and reported
to Papa that the carriage was ready。
〃Where are you going to？〃 I asked Papa。
〃Oh； I had forgotten all about it！〃 he replied； with a cough and
the usual hoisting of his shoulder。 〃I promised to go and call
upon Epifanova to…day。 You remember Epifanova'la belle
Flamande'don't you； who used to come and see your Mamma？ They
are nice people。〃 And with a self…conscious shrug of his
shoulders （so it appeared to me） Papa left the room。
During our conversation； Lubotshka had more than once come to the
door and asked 〃Can I come in？〃 but Papa had always shouted to
her that she could not do so； since we were not dressed yet。
〃What rubbish！〃 she replied。 〃Why； I have seen you in your
dressing…gown。〃
〃Never mind； you cannot see your brothers without their
inexpressibles；〃 rejoined Papa。 〃If they each of them just go to
the door； let that be enough for you。 Now go。 Even for them to
SPEAK to you in such a neglige costume is unbecoming。〃
〃How unbearable you are！〃 was Lubotshka's parting retort。 〃Well；
at least hurry up and come down to the drawing…room； for Mimi
wants to see them。〃
As soon as Papa had left the room； I hastened to array myself in
my student's uniform； and to repair to the drawing…room。
Woloda； on the other hand； was in no hurry； but remained sitting
on his bed and talking to Jakoff about the best places to find
plover and snipe。 As I have said； there was nothing in the world
he so much feared as to be suspected of any affection for his
father； brother； and sister； so that； to escape any expression of
that feeling； he often fell into the other extreme； and affected
a coldness which shocked people who did not comprehend its cause。
In the hall； I collided with Papa； who was hurrying towards the
carriage with short； rapid steps。 He had a new and fashionable
Moscow greatcoat on； and smelt of scent。 On seeing me； he gave a
cheerful nod； as much as to say； 〃Do you remark my splendour？〃
and once again I was struck with the happy expression of face
which I had noted earlier in the morning。
The drawing…room looked the same lofty； bright room as of Yore；
with its brown English piano； and its large open windows looking
on to the green trees and yellowish…red paths of the garden。
After kissing Mimi and Lubotshka； I was approaching Katenka for
the same purpose when it suddenly struck me that it might be
improper for me to salute her in that fashion。 Accordingly I
halted； silent and blushing。 Katenka； for her part； was quite at
her ease as she held out a white hand to me and congratulated me
on my passing into the University。 The same thing took place when
Woloda entered the drawing…room and met Katenka。 Indeed； it was
something of a problem how； after being brought up together and
seeing one another daily； we ought now； after this first
separation； to meet again。 Katenka had grown better…looking than
any of us； yet Woloda seemed not at all confused as； with a
slight bow to her； he crossed over to Lubotshka； made a jesting
remark to her； and then departed somewhere on some solitary
expedition。
XXIX
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GIRLS AND OURSELVES
OF the girls Woloda took the strange view that； although he
wished that they should have enough to eat； should sleep well； be
well dressed； and avoid making such mistakes in French as would
shame him before strangers； he would never admit that they could
think or feel like human beings； still less that they could
converse with him sensibly about anything。 Whenever they
addressed to him a serious question （a thing； by the way； which
he always tried to avoid）； such as asking his opinion on a novel
or inquiring about his doings at the University； he invariably
pulled a grimace； and either turned away without speaking or
answered with some nonsensical French phrase〃Comme c'est tres
jolie！〃 or the like。 Or again； feigning to look serious and
stolidly wise； he would say something absolutely meaningless and
bearing no relation whatever to the question asked him； or else
suddenly exclaim； with a look of pretended unconsciousness； the
word bulku or poyechali or kapustu； ＇Respectively； 〃 roll of
butter；〃 〃away；〃 and 〃 cabbage。〃＇ or something of the kind； and
when； afterwards； I happened to repeat these words to him as
having been told me by Lubotshka or Katenka； he would always
remark：
〃Hm！ So you actually care about talki