the wife and other stories- 第31部分

My　tutor　was　looked　upon　among　us　as　an　exceptional　nature。　He　was　a　young　man　of　twenty；　with　a　pimply　face；　shaggy　locks；　a　low　forehead；　and　an　unusually　long　nose。　His　nose　was　so　big　that　when　he　wanted　to　look　close　at　anything　he　had　to　put　his　head　on　one　side　like　a　bird。　To　our　thinking；　there　was　not　a　man　in　the　province　cleverer；　more　cultivated；　or　more　stylish。　He　had　left　the　high…school　in　the　class　next　to　the　top；　and　had　then　entered　a　veterinary　college；　from　which　he　was　expelled　before　the　end　of　the　first　half…year。　The　reason　of　his　expulsion　he　carefully　concealed；　which　enabled　any　one　who　wished　to　do　so　to　look　upon　my　instructor　as　an　injured　and　to　some　extent　a　mysterious　person。　He　spoke　little；　and　only　of　intellectual　subjects；　he　ate　meat　during　the　fasts；　and　looked　with　contempt　and　condescension　on　the　life　going　on　around　him；　which　did　not　prevent　him；　however；　from　taking　presents；　such　as　suits　of　clothes；　from　my　mother；　and　drawing　funny　faces　with　red　teeth　on　my　kites。　Mother　disliked　him　for　his　〃pride；〃　but　stood　in　awe　of　his　cleverness。

Our　visitor　did　not　keep　us　long　waiting。　At　the　beginning　of　May　two　wagon…loads　of　big　boxes　arrived　from　the　station。　These　boxes　looked　so　majestic　that　the　drivers　instinctively　took　off　their　hats　as　they　lifted　them　down。

〃There　must　be　uniforms　and　gunpowder　in　those　boxes；〃　I　thought。

Why　〃gunpowder〃？　Probably　the　conception　of　a　general　was　closely　connected　in　my　mind　with　cannons　and　gunpowder。

When　I　woke　up　on　the　morning　of　the　tenth　of　May；　nurse　told　me　in　a　whisper　that　〃my　uncle　had　come。〃　I　dressed　rapidly；　and；　washing　after　a　fashion；　flew　out　of　my　bedroom　without　saying　my　prayers。　In　the　vestibule　I　came　upon　a　tall；　solid　gentleman　with　fashionable　whiskers　and　a　foppish…looking　overcoat。　Half　dead　with　devout　awe；　I　went　up　to　him　and；　remembering　the　ceremonial　mother　had　impressed　upon　me；　I　scraped　my　foot　before　him；　made　a　very　low　bow；　and　craned　forward　to　kiss　his　hand；　but　the　gentleman　did　not　allow　me　to　kiss　his　hand：　he　informed　me　that　he　was　not　my　uncle；　but　my　uncle's　footman；　Pyotr。　The　appearance　of　this　Pyotr；　far　better　dressed　than　Pobyedimsky　or　me；　excited　in　me　the　utmost　astonishment；　which；　to　tell　the　truth；　has　lasted　to　this　day。　Can　such　dignified；　respectable　people　with　stern　and　intellectual　faces　really　be　footmen？　And　what　for？

Pyotr　told　me　that　my　uncle　was　in　the　garden　with　my　mother。　I　rushed　into　the　garden。

Nature；　knowing　nothing　of　the　history　of　the　Gundasov　family　and　the　rank　of　my　uncle；　felt　far　more　at　ease　and　unconstrained　than　I。　There　was　a　clamour　going　on　in　the　garden　such　as　one　only　bears　at　fairs。　Masses　of　starlings　flitting　through　the　air　and　hopping　about　the　walks　were　noisily　chattering　as　they　hunted　for　cockchafers。　There　were　swarms　of　sparrows　in　the　lilac…bushes；　which　threw　their　tender；　fragrant　blossoms　straight　in　one's　face。　Wherever　one　turned；　from　every　direction　came　the　note　of　the　golden　oriole　and　the　shrill　cry　of　the　hoopoe　and　the　red…legged　falcon。　At　any　other　time　I　should　have　begun　chasing　dragon…flies　or　throwing　stones　at　a　crow　which　was　sitting　on　a　low　mound　under　an　aspen…tree；　with　his　blunt　beak　turned　away；　but　at　that　moment　I　was　in　no　mood　for　mischief。　My　heart　was　throbbing；　and　I　felt　a　cold　sinking　at　my　stomach；　I　was　preparing　myself　to　confront　a　gentleman　with　epaulettes；　with　a　naked　sword；　and　with　terrible　eyes！

But　imagine　my　disappointment！　A　dapper　little　foppish　gentleman　in　white　silk　trousers；　with　a　white　cap　on　his　head；　was　walking　beside　my　mother　in　the　garden。　With　his　hands　behind　him　and　his　head　thrown　back；　every　now　and　then　running　on　ahead　of　mother；　he　looked　quite　young。　There　was　so　much　life　and　movement　in　his　whole　figure　that　I　could　only　detect　the　treachery　of　age　when　I　came　close　up　behind　and　saw　beneath　his　cap　a　fringe　of　close…cropped　silver　hair。　Instead　of　the　staid　dignity　and　stolidity　of　a　general；　I　saw　an　almost　schoolboyish　nimbleness；　instead　of　a　collar　sticking　up　to　his　ears；　an　ordinary　light　blue　necktie。　Mother　and　my　uncle　were　walking　in　the　avenue　talking　together。　I　went　softly　up　to　them　from　behind；　and　waited　for　one　of　them　to　look　round。

〃What　a　delightful　place　you　have　here；　Klavdia！〃　said　my　uncle。　〃How　charming　and　lovely　it　is！　Had　I　known　before　that　you　had　such　a　charming　place；　nothing　would　have　induced　me　to　go　abroad　all　these　years。〃

My　uncle　stooped　down　rapidly　and　sniffed　at　a　tulip。　Everything　he　saw　moved　him　to　rapture　and　excitement；　as　though　he　had　never　been　in　a　garden　on　a　sunny　day　before。　The　queer　man　moved　about　as　though　he　were　on　springs；　and　chattered　incessantly；　without　allowing　mother　to　utter　a　single　word。　All　of　a　sudden　Pobyedimsky　came　into　sight　from　behind　an　elder…tree　at　the　turn　of　the　avenue。　His　appearance　was　so　unexpected　that　my　uncle　positively　started　and　stepped　back　a　pace。　On　this　occasion　my　tutor　was　attired　in　his　best　Inverness　cape　with　sleeves；　in　which；　especially　back…view；　he　looked　remarkably　like　a　windmill。　He　had　a　solemn　and　majestic　air。　Pressing　his　hat　to　his　bosom　in　Spanish　style；　he　took　a　step　towards　my　uncle　and　made　a　bow　such　as　a　marquis　makes　in　a　melodrama；　bending　forward；　a　little　to　one　side。

〃I　have　the　honour　to　present　myself　to　your　high　excellency；〃　he　said　aloud：　〃the　teacher　and　instructor　of　your　nephew；　formerly　a　pupil　of　the　veterinary　institute；　and　a　nobleman　by　birth；　Pobyedimsky！〃

This　politeness　on　the　part　of　my　tutor　pleased　my　mother　very　much。　She　gave　a　smile；　and　waited　in　thrilled　suspense　to　hear　what　clever　thing　he　would　say　next；　but　my　tutor；　expecting　his　dignified　address　to　be　answered　with　equal　dignity　　that　is；　that　my　uncle　would　say　〃H'm！〃　like　a　general　and　hold　out　two　fingers　　was　greatly　confused　and　abashed　when　the　latter　laughed　genially　and　shook　hands　with　him。　He　muttered　something　incoherent；　cleared　his　throat；　and　walked　away。

〃Come！　isn't　that　charming？〃　laughed　my　uncle。　〃Just　look！　he　has　made　his　little　flourish　and　thinks　he's　a　very　clever　fellow！　I　do　like　that　　upon　my　soul　I　do！　What　youthful　aplomb；　what　life　in　that　foolish　flourish！　And　what　boy　is　this？〃　he　asked；　suddenly　turning　and　looking　at　me。

〃That　is　my　Andryushenka；〃　my　mother　introduced　me；　flushing　crimson。　〃My　consolation。　。　。〃

I　made　a　scrape　with　my　foot　on　the　sand　and　dropped　a　low　bow。

〃A　fine　fellow　。　。　。　a　fine　fellow　。　。　。〃　muttered　my　uncle；　taking　his　hand　from　my　lips　and　stroking　me　on　the　head。　〃So　your　name　is　Andrusha？　Yes；　yes。　。　。　。　H'm！　。　。　。　upon　my　soul！　。　。　。　Do　you　learn　lessons？〃

My　mother；　exaggerating　and　embellishing　as　all　mothers　do；　began　to　describe　my　achievements　in　the　sciences　and　the　excellence　of　my　behaviour；　and　I　walked　round　my　uncle　and；　following　the　ceremonial　laid　down　for　me；　I　continued　making　low　bows。　Then　my　mother　began　throwing　out　hints　that　with　my　remarkable　abilities　it　would　not　be　amiss　for　me　to　get　a　government　nomination　to　the　cadet　school；　but　at　the　point　when　I　was　to　have　burst　into　tears　and　begged　for　my　uncle's　protection；　my　uncle　suddenly　stopped　and　flung　up　his　hands　in　amazement。

〃My　goo…oodness！　What's　that？〃　he　asked。

Tatyana　Ivanovna；　the　wife　of　our　bailiff；　Fyodor　Petrovna；　was　coming　towards　us。　She　was　carrying　a　starched　white　petticoat　and　a　long　ironing…board。　As　she　passed　us　she　looked　shyly　at　the　visitor　through　her　eyelashes　and　flushed　crimson。

〃Wonders　will　never　cease　。　。　。〃　my　uncle　filtered　through　his　teeth；　looking　after　her　with　friendly　interest。　〃You　have　a　fresh　surprise　at　every　step；　sister　。　。　。　upon　my　soul！〃

〃She's　a　beauty　。　。　。〃　said　mother。　〃They　chose　her　as　a　bride　for　Fyodor；　though　she　lived　over　seventy　miles　from　here。　。　。　。〃

Not　every　one　would　have　called　Tatyana　a　beauty。　She　was　a　plump　little　woman　of　twenty；　with　black　eyebrows　and　a　graceful　figure；　always　rosy　and　attractive…looking；　but　in　her　face　and　in　her　whole　person　there　was　not　one　striking　feature；　not　one　bold　line　to　catch　the　eye；　as　though　nature　had　lacked　inspiration　and　confidence　when　creating　her。　Tatyana　Ivanovna　was　shy；　bashful；　and　modest　in　her　behaviour；　she　moved　softly　and　smoothly；　said　little；　seldom　laughed；　and　her　whole　life　was　as　regular　as　her　face　and　as　flat　as　her　smooth；　tidy　hair。　My　uncle　screwed　up　his　eyes　looking　after　her；　and　smiled。　Mother　looked　intently　at　his　smiling　face　and　grew　serious。

〃And　so；　brother；　you've　never　married！〃　she　sighed。

〃No；　I've　not　married。〃

〃Why　not？〃　asked　mother　softly。

〃How　can　I　tell　you？　It　has　happened　so。　In　my　youth　I　was　too　hard　at　work；　I　had　no　time　to　live；　and　when　I　longed　to　live　　I　looked　round　　and　there　I　had　fifty　years　on　my　back　already。　I　was　too　late！　However；　talking　about　it　。　。　。　is　depressing。〃

My　mother　and　my　uncle　both　sighed　at　once　and　walked　on；　and　I　left　them　and　flew　off　to　find　my　tutor；　that　I　might　share　my　impressions　with　him。　Pobyedimsky　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　yard；　looking　majestically　at　the　heavens。

〃One　can　see　he　is　a　man　of　culture！〃　he　said；　twisting　his　head　round。　〃I　hope　we　shall　get　on　together。〃

An　hour　later　mother　came　to　us。

〃I　am　in　trouble；　my　dears！〃　she　began；　sighing。　〃You　see　brother　has　brought　a　valet　with　him；　and　the　valet；　God　bless　him；　is　not　one　you　can　put　in　the　kitchen　or　in　the　hall；　we　must　give　him　a　room　apart。　I　can't　think　what　I　am　to　do！　I　tell　you　what；　children；　couldn't　you　move　out　somewhere　　to　Fyodor's　lodge；　for　instance　　and　give　your　room　to　the　valet？　What　do　you　say？〃

We　gave　our　ready　consent；　for　living　in　the　lodge　was　a　great　deal　more　free　than　in　the　house；　under　mother's　eye。

〃It's　a　nuisance；　and　that's　a　fact！〃　said　mother。　〃Brother　says　he　won't　have　dinner　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　but　between　six　and　seven；　as　they　do　in　Petersburg。　I　am　simply　distracted　with　worry！　By　seven　o'clock　the　dinner　will　be　done　to　rags　in　the　oven。　Really；　men　don't　understand　anything　about　housekeeping；　though　they　have　so　much　intellect。　Oh；　dear！　we　shall　have　to　cook　two　dinners　every　day！　You　will　have　dinner　at　midday　a