按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
but that's Marfa Petrovna's character。 Anyway she succeeded in
completely re…establishing Dounia's reputation and the whole
ignominy of this affair rested as an indelible disgrace upon her
husband； as the only person to blame； so that I really began to feel
sorry for him； it was really treating the crazy fellow too harshly。
Dounia was at once asked to give lessons in several families； but
she refused。 All of a sudden every one began to treat her with
marked respect and all this did much to bring about the event by
which； one may say； our whole fortunes are now transformed。 You must
know； dear Rodya； that Dounia has a suitor and that she has already
consented to marry him。 I hasten to tell you all about the matter； and
though it has been arranged without asking your consent； I think you
will not be aggrieved with me or with your sister on that account； for
you will see that we could not wait and put off our decision till we
heard from you。 And you could not have judged all the facts without
being on the spot。 This was how it happened。 He is already of the rank
of a counsellor； Pyotr Petrovitch Luzhin； and is distantly related
to Marfa Petrovna； who has been very active in bringing the match
about。 It began with his expressing through her his desire to make our
acquaintance。 He was properly received； drank coffee with us and the
very next day he sent us a letter in which he very courteously made an
offer and begged for a speedy and decided answer。 He is a very busy
man and is in a great hurry to get to Petersburg； so that every moment
is precious to him。 At first； of course； we were greatly surprised； as
it had all happened so quickly and unexpectedly。 We thought and talked
it over the whole day。 He is a well…to…do man； to be depended upon； he
has two posts in the government and has already made his fortune。 It
is true that he is forty…five years old； but he is of a fairly
prepossessing appearance and might still be thought attractive by
women； and he is altogether a very respectable and presentable man；
only he seems a little morose and somewhat conceited。 But possibly
that may only be the impression he makes at first sight。 And beware；
dear Rodya； when he comes to Petersburg； as he shortly will do； beware
of judging him too hastily and severely； as your way is； if there is
anything you do not like in him at first sight。 I give you this
warning； although I feel sure that he will make a favourable
impression upon you。 Moreover； in order to understand any man one must
be deliberate and careful to avoid forming prejudices and mistaken
ideas； which are very difficult to correct and get over afterwards。
And Pyotr Petrovitch； judging by many indications； is a thoroughly
estimable man。 At his first visit； indeed； he told us that he was a
practical man； but still he shares； as he expressed it； many of the
convictions 'of our most rising generation' and he is an opponent of
all prejudices。 He said a good deal more； for he seems a little
conceited and likes to be listened to； but this is scarcely a vice。 I；
of course； understood very little of it； but Dounia explained to me
that； though he is not a man of great education； he is clever and
seems to be good…natured。 You know your sister's character； Rodya。 She
is a resolute； sensible； patient and generous girl； but she has a
passionate heart； as I know very well。 Of course； there is no great
love either on his side； or on hers； but Dounia is a clever girl and
has the heart of an angel； and will make it her duty to make her
husband happy who on his side will make her happiness his care。 Of
that we have no good reason to doubt； though it must be admitted the
matter has been arranged in great haste。 Besides he is a man of
great prudence and he will see； to be sure； of himself； that his own
happiness will be the more secure； the happier Dounia is with him。 And
as for some defects of character； for some habits and even certain
differences of opinion… which indeed are inevitable even in the
happiest marriages… Dounia has said that； as regards all that； she
relies on herself； that there is nothing to be uneasy about； and
that she is ready to put up with a great deal； if only their future
relationship can be an honourable and straightforward one。 He struck
me； for instance； at first； as rather abrupt； but that may well come
from his being an outspoken man； and that is no doubt how it is。 For
instance； at his second visit； after he had received Dounia's consent；
in the course of conversation； he declared that before making Dounia's
acquaintance； he had made up his mind to marry a girl of good
reputation； without dowry and； above all； one who had experienced
poverty； because； as he explained； a man ought not to be indebted to
his wife； but that it is better for a wife to look upon her husband as
her benefactor。 I must add that he expressed it more nicely and
politely than I have done； for I have forgotten his actual phrases and
only remember the meaning。 And； besides； it was obviously not said
of design； but slipped out in the heat of conversation； so that he
tried afterwards to correct himself and smooth it over； but all the
same it did strike me as somewhat rude； and I said so afterwards to
Dounia。 But Dounia was vexed； and answered that 'words are not deeds；'
and that； of course； is perfectly true。 Dounia did not sleep all night
before she made up her mind； and； thinking that I was asleep； she
got out of bed and was walking up and down the room all night； at last
she knelt down before the ikon and prayed long and fervently and in
the morning she told me that she had decided。
〃I have mentioned already that Pyotr Petrovitch is just setting
off for Petersburg； where he has a great deal of business； and he
wants to open a legal bureau。 He has been occupied for many years in
conducting civil and commercial litigation； and only the other day
he won an important case。 He has to be in Petersburg because he has an
important case before the Senate。 So； Rodya dear； he may be of the
greatest use to you； in every way indeed； and Dounia and I have agreed
that from this very day you could definitely enter upon your career
and might consider that your future is marked out and assured for you。
Oh； if only this comes to pass！ This would be such a benefit that we
could only look upon it as a providential blessing。 Dounia is dreaming
of nothing else。 We have even ventured already to drop a few words
on the subject to Pyotr Petrovitch。 He was cautious in his answer； and
said that； of course； as he could not get on without a secretary； it
would be better to be paying a salary to a relation than to a
stranger； if only the former were fitted for the duties （as though
there could be doubt of your being fitted！） but then he expressed
doubts whether your studies at the university would leave you time for
work at his office。 The matter dropped for the time； but Dounia is
thinking of nothing else now。 She has been in a sort of fever for
the last few days； and has already made a regular plan for your
becoming in the end an associate and even a partner in Pyotr
Petrovitch's business； which might well be； seeing that you are a
student of law。 I am in complete agreement with her； Rodya； and
share all her plans and hopes； and think there is every probability of
realising them。 And in spite of Pyotr Petrovitch's evasiveness； very
natural at present； （since he does not know you） Dounia is firmly
persuaded that she will gain everything by her good influence over her
future husband； this she is reckoning upon。 Of course we are careful
not to talk of any of these more remote plans to Pyotr Petrovitch；
especially of your becoming his partner。 He is a practical man and
might take this very coldly； it might all seem to him simply a
day…dream。 Nor has either Dounia or I breathed a word to him of the
great hopes we have of his helping us to pay for your university
studies； we have not spoken of it in the first place； because it
will come to pass of itself； later on； and he will no doubt without
wasting words offer to do it of hi