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mortgaged had been foreclosed upon and compulsorily sold by
auction； she had come to the conclusion that all these unpleasant
details of distress upon and valuation of her property had been
due not so much to failure to pay the interest as to the fact
that she was a woman： wherefore she had written to her son （then
serving with his regiment） to come and save his mother from her
embarrassments； and he； like a dutiful sonconceiving that his
first duty was to comfort his mother in her old agehad
straightway resigned his commission （for all that he had been
doing well in his profession； and was hoping soon to become
independent）； and had come to join her in the country。
Despite his plain face； uncouth demeanour； and fault of
stuttering； Peter was a man of unswerving principles and of the
most extraordinary good sense。 Somehowby small borrowings；
sundry strokes of business； petitions for grace； and promises to
repayhe contrived to carry on the property； and； making himself
overseer； donned his father's greatcoat （still preserved in a
drawer）； dispensed with horses and carriages； discouraged guests
from calling at Mitishtchi； fashioned his own sleighs； increased
his arable land and curtailed that of the serfs； felled his own
timber； sold his produce in person； and saw to matters generally。
Indeed； he swore； and kept his oath； that； until all outstanding
debts were paid； he would never wear any clothes than his
father's greatcoat and a corduroy jacket which he had made for
himself； nor yet ride in aught but a country waggon； drawn by
peasants' horses。 This stoical mode of life he sought to apply
also to his family； so far as the sympathetic respect which he
conceived to be his mother's due would allow of； so that；
although； in the drawing…room； he would show her only stuttering
servility； and fulfil all her wishes； and blame any one who did
not do precisely as she bid them； in his study or his office he
would overhaul the cook if she had served up so much as a duck
without his orders； or any one responsible for sending a serf
（even though at Madame's own bidding） to inquire after a
neighbour's health or for despatching the peasant girls into the
wood to gather wild raspberries instead of setting them to weed
the kitchen…garden。
Within four years every debt had been repaid； and Peter had gone
to Moscow and returned thence in a new jacket and tarantass。 ＇A
two…wheeled carriage。＇ Yet； despite this flourishing position of
affairs； he still preserved the stoical tendencies in which； to
tell the truth； he took a certain vague pride before his family
and strangers； since he would frequently say with a stutter： 〃Any
one who REALLY wishes to see me will be glad to see me even in my
dressing…gown； and to eat nothing but shtchi ＇Cabbage…soup。＇ and
kasha ＇Buckwheat gruel。＇ at my table。〃 〃That is what I eat
myself；〃 he would add。 In his every word and movement spoke pride
based upon a consciousness of having sacrificed himself for his
mother and redeemed the property； as well as contempt for any one
who had not done something of the same kind。
The mother and daughter were altogether different characters from
Peter； as well as altogether different from one another。 The
former was one of the most agreeable； uniformly good…tempered；
and cheerful women whom one could possibly meet。 Anything
attractive and genuinely happy delighted her。 Even the faculty of
being pleased with the sight of young people enjoying themselves
（it is only in the best…natured of elderly folk that one meets
with that TRAIT） she possessed to the full。 On the other hand；
her daughter was of a grave turn of mind。 Rather； she was of that
peculiarly careless； absent…minded； gratuitously distant bearing
which commonly distinguishes unmarried beauties。 Whenever she
tried to be gay； her gaiety somehow seemed to be unnatural to
her； so that she always appeared to be laughing either at herself
or at the persons to whom she was speaking or at the world in
generala thing which； possibly； she had no real intention of
doing。 Often I asked myself in astonishment what she could mean
when she said something like； 〃Yes； I know how terribly good…
looking I am；〃 or； 〃Of course every one is in love with me；〃 and
so forth。 Her mother was a person always busy； since she had a
passion for housekeeping； gardening； flowers； canaries； and
pretty trinkets。 Her rooms and garden； it is true； were small and
poorly fitted…up； yet everything in them was so neat and
methodical； and bore such a general air of that gentle gaiety
which one hears expressed in a waltz or polka； that the word
〃toy〃 by which guests often expressed their praise of it all
exactly suited her surroundings。 She herself was a 〃toy〃being
petite； slender； fresh…coloured； small； and pretty…handed； and
invariably gay and well…dressed。 The only fault in her was that a
slight over…prominence of the dark…blue veins on her little hands
rather marred the general effect of her appearance。 On the other
hand； her daughter scarcely ever did anything at all。 Not only
had she no love for trifling with flowers and trinkets； but she
neglected her personal exterior； and only troubled to dress
herself well when guests happened to call。 Yet； on returning to
the room in society costume； she always looked extremely
handsomesave for that cold； uniform expression of eyes and
smile which is common to all beauties。 In fact； her strictly
regular； beautiful face and symmetrical figure always seemed to
be saying to you； 〃Yes； you may look at me。〃
At the same time； for all the mother's liveliness of disposition
and the daughter's air of indifference and abstraction； something
told one that the former was incapable of feeling affection for
anything that was not pretty and gay； but that Avdotia； on the
contrary； was one of those natures which； once they love； are
willing to sacrifice their whole life for the man they adore。
XXXIV
MY FATHER'S SECOND MARRIAGE
MY father was forty…eight when he took as his second wife Avdotia
Vassilievna Epifanov。
I suspect that when； that spring； he had departed for the country
with the girls； he had been in that communicatively happy；
sociable mood in which gamblers usually find themselves who have
retired from play after winning large stakes。 He had felt that he
still had a fortune left to him which； so long as he did not
squander it on gaming； might be used for our advancement in life。
Moreover； it was springtime； he was unexpectedly well supplied
with ready money； he was alone； and he had nothing to do。 As he
conversed with Jakoff on various matters； and remembered both the
interminable suit with the Epifanovs and Avdotia's beauty （it was
a long while since he had seen her）； I can imagine him saying：
〃How do you think we ought to act in this suit； Jakoff？ My idea
is simply to let the cursed land go。 Eh？ What do you think about
it？〃 I can imagine； too； how； thus interrogated； Ja