Sanine

Slowly, tediously, the evening passed. Yourii would not admit that he

was blameworthy, for he did not agree with his father that politics

were no part of his business. He considered that his father was

incapable of understanding the simplest things, being old and void of

intelligence. Unconsciously he blamed him for his old age and his

antiquated ideas: they enraged him. The topics touched upon by

Riasantzeff did not interest him. He scarcely listened, but steadily

watched his father with black, glittering eyes. Just at supper-time

came Novikoff, Ivanoff and Semenoff.

Semenoff was a consumptive student who for some months past had lived

in the town, where he gave lessons. He was thin, ugly, and looked very

delicate. Upon his face, which was prematurely aged, lay the fleeting

shadow of approaching death. Ivanoff was a schoolmaster, a long-haired,

broad-shouldered, ungainly man. They had been walking on the boulevard,

and hearing of Yourii's arrival had come to salute him. With their

coming things grew more cheerful. There was laughter and joking, and at

supper much was drunk. Ivanoff distinguished himself in this respect.

During the few days that followed his unfortunate proposal to Lida,

Novikoff had become somewhat calmer. That Lida had refused him might

have been accidental, he thought; it was his fault, indeed, as he ought

to have prepared her for such an avowal. Nevertheless it was painful to

him to visit the Sanines. Therefore he endeavoured to meet Lida

elsewhere, either in the street, or at the house of a mutual friend.

She, for her part, pitied him, and, in a way, blamed herself which

caused her to treat him with exaggerated cordiality, so that Novikoff

once more began to hope.

"What do you say to this?" he asked, just as they were all going,

"Let's arrange a picnic at the convent, shall we?"

The convent, situated on a hill at no great distance from the town, was

a favourite place for excursions. It was near the river, and the road

leading to it was good.

Devoted as she was to every kind of amusement such as bathing, rowing

and walks in the woods, Lialia welcomed the idea with enthusiasm.

"Yes, of course! Of course! But when is it to be?"

"Well, why not to-morrow?" said Novikoff.

"Who else shall we ask?" asked Riasantzeff, equally pleased at the

prospect of a day's outing. In the woods he would be able to hold

Lialia in his arms, to kiss her, and feel that the sweet body he

coveted was near.

"Let us see. We are six. Suppose we ask Schafroff?"