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lanced of conduct themselves； and； while demanding general agreement with their views； treated those of others with the scantiest of ceremony。 Nevertheless these two associates exercised upon Tientietnikovboth by the fire of their eloquence and by the form of their noble dissatisfaction with societya very strong influence； with the result that； through arousing in him an innate tendency to nervous resentment； they led him also to notice trifles which before had escaped his attention。 An instance of this is seen in the fact that he conceived against Thedor Thedorovitch Lienitsin； Director of one of the Departments which was quartered in the splendid range of offices before mentioned； a dislike which proved the cause of his discerning n the man a host of hitherto unmarked imperfections。 Above all things did Tientietnikov take it into his head that； when conversing with his superiors； Lienitsin became； of the moment； a stick of luscious sweetmeat； but that； when conversing with his inferiors； he approximated more to a vinegar cruet。 Certain it is that； like all petty…minded individuals； Lienitsin made a note of any one who failed to offer him a greeting on festival days； and that he revenged himself upon any one whose visiting…card had not been handed to his butler。 Eventually the youth's aversion almost attained the point of hysteria； until he felt that； come what might； he MUST insult the fellow in some fashion。 To that task he applied himself con amore； and so thoroughly that he met with complete success。 That is to say； he seized on an occasion to address Lienitsin in such fashion that the delinquent received notice either to apologies or to leave the Service； and when of these alternatives he chose the latter his uncle came to him； and made a terrified appeal。 〃For God's sake remember what you are doing！〃 he cried。 〃To think that； after beginning your career so well； you should abandon it merely for the reason that you have not fallen in with the sort of Director whom you prefer！ What do you mean by it； what do you mean by it？ Were others to regard things in the same way； the Service would find itself without a single individual。 Reconsider your conductforego your pride and conceit； and make Lienitsin amends。〃
〃But； dear Uncle；〃 the nephew replied； 〃that is not the point。 The point is； not that I should find an apology difficult to offer； seeing that； since Lienitsin is my superior； and I ought not to have addressed him as I did； I am clearly in the wrong。 Rather； the point is the following。 To my charge there has been committed the performance of another kind of service。 That is to say； I am the owner of three hundred peasant souls； a badly administered estate； and a fool of a bailiff。 That being so； whereas the State will lose little by having to fill my stool with another copyist； it will lose very much by causing three hundred peasant souls to fail in the payment of their taxes。 As I say （how am I to put it？）； I am a landowner who has preferred to enter the Public Service。 Now； should I employ myself henceforth in conserving； restoring； and improving the fortunes of the souls whom God has entrusted to my care； and thereby provide the State with three hundred law…abiding； sober； hard…working taxpayers； how will that service of mine rank as inferior to the service of a department…directing fool like Lienitsin？〃
On hearing this speech； the State Councillor could only gape； for he had not expected Tientietnikov's torrent of words。 He reflected a few moments； and then murmured：
〃Yes； but； butbut how can a man like you retire to rustication in the country？ What society will you get there？ Here one meets at least a general or a prince sometimes； indeed； no matter whom you pass in the street； that person represents gas lamps and European civilisation； but in the country； no matter what part of it you are in； not a soul is to be encountered save muzhiks and their women。 Why should you go and condemn yourself to a state of vegetation like that？〃
Nevertheless the uncle's expostulations fell upon deaf ears； for already the nephew was beginning to think of his estate as a retreat of a type more likely to nourish the intellectual faculties and afford the only profitable field of activity。 After unearthing one or two modern works on agriculture； therefore； he； two weeks later； found himself in the neighbourhood of the home where his boyhood had been spent； and approaching the spot which never failed to enthral the visitor or guest。 And in the young man's breast there was beginning to palpitate a new feelingin the young man's soul there were reawakening old； long…concealed impressions； with the result that many a spot which had long been faded from his memory now filled him with interest； and the beautiful views on the estate found him gazing at them like a newcomer； and with a beating heart。 Yes； as the road wound through a narrow ravine； and became engulfed in a forest where； both above and below； he saw three…centuries…old oaks which three men could not have spanned； and where Siberian firs and elms overtopped even the poplars； and as he asked the peasants to tell him to whom the forest belonged； and they replied； 〃To Tientietnikov；〃 and he issued from the forest； and proceeded on his way through meadows； and past spinneys of elder； and of old and young willows； and arrived in sight of the distant range of hills； and； crossing by two different bridges the winding river （which he left successively to right and to left of him as he did so）； he again questioned some peasants concerning the ownership of the meadows and the flooded lands； and was again informed that they all belonged to Tientietnikov； and then； ascending a rise； reached a tableland where； on one side； lay ungarnered fields of wheat and rye and barley； and； on the other； the country already traversed （but which now showed in shortened perspective）； and then plunged into the shade of some forked； umbrageous trees which stood scattered over turf and extended to the manor…house itself； and caught glimpses of the carved huts of the peasants； and of the red roofs of the stone manorial outbuildings； and of the glittering pinnacles of the church； and felt his heart beating； and knew； without being told by any one； whither he had at length arrivedwell； then the feeling which had been growing within his soul burst forth； and he cried in ecstasy：
〃Why have I been a fool so long？ Why； seeing that fate has appointed me to be ruler of an earthly paradise； did I prefer to bind myself in servitude as a scribe of lifeless documents？ To think that； after I had been nurtured and schooled and stored with all the knowledge necessary for the diffusion of good among those under me； and for the improvement of my domain； and for the fulfilment of the manifold duties of a landowner who is at once judge； administrator； and constable of his people； I should have entrusted my estate to an ignorant bailiff； and sought to maintain an absentee guardianship over the affairs of serfs whom I have never met； and of whose capabilities and characters I am yet ignorant！ To think that I should have deemed true estate…management inferior to a documentary； fantastical management of provinces which lie