Sanine

While Sina Karsavina and Dubova were absent on a visit, Yourii's life

seemed uneventful and monotonous. His father was engaged, either at the

club or with household matters, and Lialia and Riasantzeff found the

presence of a third person embarrassing, so that Yourii avoided their

society. It thus became his habit to go to bed early and not to rise

till the midday meal. All day long, when in his room, or in the garden,

he brooded over matters, waiting for a supreme access of energy that

should spur him on to do some great work.

This "great work" each day assumed a different form. Now it was a

picture, or, again, it was a series of articles that should show the

world what a huge mistake the social democrats had made in not giving

Yourii a leading role in their party. Or else it was an article in

favour of adherence to the people and of strenuous co-operation with

it--a very broad, imposing treatment of the subject. Each day, however,

as it passed, brought nothing but boredom. Once or twice Novikoff and

Schafroff came to see him. Yourii also attended lectures and paid

visits, yet all this seemed to him empty and aimless. It was not what

he sought, or fancied that he sought.

One day he went to see Riasantzeff. The doctor had large, airy rooms

filled with all such things as an athletic, healthy man needs for his

amusement; Indian clubs, dumb-bells, rapiers, fishing-rods, nets,

tobacco-pipes, and much else that savoured of wholesome, manly

recreation.

Riasantzeff received him with frank cordiality, chatted pleasantly,

offered him cigarettes, and finally asked him to go out shooting with

him.

"I have not got a gun," said Yourii.

"Have one of mine. I have got five," replied Riasantzeff. To him,

Yourii was the brother of Lialia, and he was anxious to be as kind to

him as possible. He therefore insisted upon Yourii's acceptance of one

of his guns, eagerly displaying them all, taking them to pieces, and

explaining their make. He even fired at a target in the yard, so that

at last Yourii laughingly accepted a gun and some cartridges, much to

Riasantzeff's pleasure.

"That's first-rate!" he said, "I had meant to get some duck-shooting

to-morrow, so we'll go together, shall we?"

"I should like it very much," replied Yourii.

When he got home he spent nearly two hours examining his gun, fingering

the lock, and taking aim at the lamp. He then carefully greased his old

shooting-boots.

On the following day, towards evening, Riasantzeff, fresh, hearty as

ever, drove up in a droschky with a smart bay to fetch Yourii.