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supper； the men…servants were running to and
fro bringing in things。 It was nearly three
o'clock。 I had to make the most of the last
minutes。 I chose her again for the mazurka； and
for the hundredth time we danced across the
room。
〃'The quadrille after supper is mine；' I said；
taking her to her place。
〃'Of course； if I am not carried off home；' she
said； with a smile。
〃'I won't give you up；' I said。
〃'Give me my fan； anyhow；' she answered。
〃'I am so sorry to part with it；' I said； handing
her a cheap white fan。
〃'Well； here's something to console you；' she
said； plucking a feather out of the fan； and giving
it to me。
〃I took the feather； and could only express my
rapture and gratitude with my eyes。 I was not
only pleased and gay； I was happy； delighted； I
was good； I was not myself but some being not
of this earth； knowing nothing of evil。 I hid the
feather in my glove； and stood there unable to
tear myself away from her。
〃'Look； they are urging father to dance；' she
said to me； pointing to the tall； stately figure of
her father； a colonel with silver epaulettes； who
was standing in the doorway with some ladies。
〃'Varinka； come here！' exclaimed our hostess；
the lady with the diamond ferronniere and with
shoulders like Elizabeth； in a loud voice。
〃'Varinka went to the door； and I followed her。
〃'Persuade your father to dance the mazurka
with you； ma chere。Do； please； Peter Valdislavo…
vich；' she said； turning to the colonel。
〃Varinka's father was a very handsome； well…
preserved old man。 He had a good colour； mous…
taches curled in the style of Nicolas I。； and white
whiskers which met the moustaches。 His hair was
combed on to his forehead； and a bright smile；
like his daughter's； was on his lips and in his eyes。
He was splendidly set up； with a broad military
chest； on which he wore some decorations； and he
had powerful shoulders and long slim legs。 He
was that ultra…military type produced by the disci…
pline of Emperor Nicolas I。
〃When we approached the door the colonel was
just refusing to dance； saying that he had quite for…
gotten how； but at that instant he smiled； swung
his arm gracefully around to the left； drew his
sword from its sheath； handed it to an obliging
young man who stood near； and smoothed his
suede glove on his right hand。
〃'Everything must be done according to rule；'
he said with a smile。 He took the hand of his
daughter； and stood one…quarter turned； waiting
for the music。
〃At the first sound of the mazurka； he stamped
one foot smartly； threw the other forward； and；
at first slowly and smoothly； then buoyantly and
impetuously； with stamping of feet and clicking of
boots； his tall； imposing figure moved the length
of the room。 Varinka swayed gracefully beside
him； rhythmically and easily； making her steps
short or long； with her little feet in their white satin
slippers。
〃All the people in the room followed every
movement of the couple。 As for me I not only ad…
mired； I regarded them with enraptured sym…
pathy。 I was particularly impressed with the old
gentleman's boots。 They were not the modern
pointed affairs； but were made of cheap leather；
squared…toed； and evidently built by the regimental
cobbler。 In order that his daughter might dress
and go out in society； he did not buy fashionable
boots； but wore home…made ones； I thought； and
his square toes seemed to me most touching。 It
was obvious that in his time he had been a good
dancer； but now he was too heavy； and his legs had
not spring enough for all the beautiful steps he
tried to take。 Still； he contrived to go twice round
the room。 When at the end； standing with legs
apart； he suddenly clicked his feet together and fell
on one knee； a bit heavily； and she danced grace…
fully around him； smiling and adjusting her skirt；
the whole room applauded。
〃Rising with an effort； he tenderly took his
daughter's face between his hands。 He kissed her
on the forehead； and brought her to me； under the
impression that I was her partner for the mazurka。
I said I was not。 'Well； never mind。 just go
around the room once with her；' he said； smil…
ing kindly； as he replaced his sword in the
sheath。
〃As the contents of a bottle flow readily when
the first drop has been poured； so my love for
Varinka seemed to set free the whole force of lov…
ing within me。 In surrounding her it embraced the
world。 I loved the hostess with her diadem and
her shoulders like Elizabeth； and her husband and
her guests and her footmen； and even the engineer
Anisimov who felt peevish towards me。 As for
Varinka's father； with his home…made boots and
his kind smile； so like her own； I felt a sort of ten…
derness for him that was almost rapture。
〃After supper I danced the promised quadrille
with her； and though I had been infinitely happy
before； I grew still happier every moment。
〃We did not speak of love。 I neither asked
myself nor her whether she loved me。 It was
quite enough to know that I loved her。 And I had
only one fearthat something might come to in…
terfere with my great joy。
〃When I went home； and began to undress for
the night； I found it quite out of the question。
held the little feather out of her fan in my hand；
and one of her gloves which she gave me when I
helped her into the carriage after her mother。
Looking at these things； and without closing my
eyes I could see her before me as she was for an
instant when she had to choose between two part…
ners。 She tried to guess what kind of person
was represented in me； and I could hear her
sweet voice as she said； 'Prideam I right？' and
merrily gave me her hand。 At supper she took the
first sip from my glass of champagne； looking at
me over the rim with her caressing glance。 But；
plainest of all； I could see her as she danced with
her father； gliding along beside him； and looking
at the admiring observers with pride and happi…
ness。
〃He and she were united in my mind in one
rush of pathetic tenderness。
〃I was living then with my brother； who has
since died。 He disliked going out； and never went
to dances； and besides； he was busy preparing for
his last university examinations； and was leading a
very regular life。 He was asleep。 I looked at
him； his head buried in the pillow and half covered
with the quilt； and I affectionately pitied him；
pitied him for his ignorance of the bliss I was ex…
periencing。 Our serf Petrusha had met me with a
candle； ready to undress me； but I sent him away。
His sleepy face and tousled hair seemed to me so
touching。 Trying not to make a noise； I went to
my room on tiptoe and sat down on my bed。 No；
I was too happy； I could not sleep。 Besides； it
was too hot in the rooms。 Without taking off my
uniform； I went quietly into the hall； put on my
overcoat； opened the front door and stepped out
into the street。
〃It was after four when I had left the ball；
going home and stopping there a while had occu…
pied two hours； so by the time I went out it was
dawn。 It was regular carnival weatherfoggy；
and the road full of water…soaked snow just melt…
ing； and water dripping from the eaves