s the proof that it's right？ You will fall back upon the natural order of things； the uniformity of phenomena； but is there order and uniformity in the fact that I； a living； thinking man； stand over a chasm and wait for it to close of itself； or to fill up with mud at the very time when perhaps I might leap over it or build a bridge across it？ And again； wait for the sake of what？ Wait till there's no strength to live？ And meanwhile one must live； and one wants to live！
〃I went away from my brother's early in the morning； and ever since then it has been unbearable for me to be in town。 I am oppressed by its peace and quiet； I am afraid to look at the windows； for there is no spectacle more painful to me now than the sight of a happy family sitting round the table drinking tea。 I am old and am not fit for the struggle； I am not even capable of hatred； I can only grieve inwardly； feel irritated and vexed； but at night my head is hot from the rush of ideas； and I cannot sleep。 。 。 。 Ah； if I were young！〃
Ivan Ivanovitch walked backwards and forwards in excitement； and repeated： 〃If I were young！〃
He suddenly went up to Alehin and began pressing first one of his hands and then the other。
〃Pavel Konstantinovitch；〃 he said in an imploring voice； 〃don't be calm and contented； don't let yourself be put to sleep！ While you are young； strong； confident； be not weary in well…doing！ There is no happiness； and there ought not to be； but if there is a meaning and an object in life； that meaning and object is not our happiness； but something greater and more rational。 Do good！〃
And all this Ivan Ivanovitch said with a pitiful； imploring smile； as though he were asking him a personal favour。
Then all three sat in arm…chairs at different ends of the drawing…room and were silent。 Ivan Ivanovitch's story had not satisfied either Burkin or Alehin。 When the generals and ladies gazed down from their gilt frames； looking in the dusk as though they were alive； it was dreary to listen to the story of the poor clerk who ate gooseberries。 They felt inclined； for some reason； to talk about elegant people； about women。 And their sitting in the drawing…room where everything the chandeliers in their covers； the arm…chairs； and the carpet under their feet reminded them that those very people who were now looking down from their frames had once moved about； sat； drunk tea in this room； and the fact that lovely Pelagea was moving noiselessly about was better than any story。
Alehin was fearfully sleepy； he had got up early； before three o'clock in the morning； to look after his work； and now his eyes were closing； but he was afraid his visitors might tell some interesting story after he had gone； and he lingered on。 He did not go into the question whether what Ivan Ivanovitch had just said was right and true。 His visitors did not talk of groats； nor of hay； nor of tar； but of something that had no direct bearing on his life； and he was glad and wanted them to go on。
〃It's bed…time； though；〃 said Burkin； getting up。 〃Allow me to wish you good…night。〃
Alehin said good…night and went downstairs to his own domain； while the visitors remained upstairs。 They were both taken for the night to a big room where there stood two old wooden beds decorated with carvings； and in the corner was an ivory crucifix。 The big cool beds； which had been made by the lovely Pelagea； smelt agreeably of clean linen。
Ivan Ivanovitch undressed in silence and got into bed。
〃Lord forgive us sinners！〃 he said； and put his head under the quilt。
His pipe lying on the table smelt strongly of stale tobacco； and Burkin could not sleep for a long while； and kept wondering where the oppressive smell came from。
The rain was pattering on the window…panes all night。
ABOUT LOVE
AT lunch next day there were very nice pies； crayfish； and mutton cutlets； and while we were eating； Nikanor； the cook； came up to ask what the visitors would like for dinner。 He was a man of medium height； with a puffy face and little eyes； he was close…shaven； and it looked as though his moustaches had not been shaved； but had been pulled out by the roots。 Alehin told us that the beautiful Pelagea was in love with this cook。 As he drank and was of a violent character； she did not want to marry him； but was willing to live with him without。 He was very devout； and his religious convictions would not allow him to 〃live in sin〃； he insisted on her marrying him； and would consent to nothing else； and when he was drunk he used to abuse her and even beat her。 Whenever he got drunk she used to hide upstairs and sob； and on such occasions Alehin and the servants stayed in the house to be ready to defend her in case of necessity。
We began talking about love。
〃How love is born；〃 said Alehin； 〃why Pelagea does not love somebody more like herself in her spiritual and external qualities； and why she fell in love with Nikanor； that ugly snout we all call him 'The Snout' how far questions of personal happiness are of consequence in love all that is known； one can take what view one likes of it。 So far only one incontestable truth has been uttered about love： 'This is a great mystery。' Everything else that has been written or said about love is not a conclusion； but only a statement of questions which have remained unanswered。 The explanation which would seem to fit one case does not apply in a dozen others； and the very best thing； to my mind； would be to explain every case individually without attempting to generalize。 We ought； as the doctors say； to individualize each case。〃
〃Perfectly true；〃 Burkin assented。
〃We Russians of the educated class have a partiality for these questions that remain unanswered。 Love is usually poeticized； decorated with roses； nightingales； we Russians decorate our loves with these momentous questions； and select the most uninteresting of them； too。 In Moscow； when I was a student； I had a friend who shared my life； a charming lady； and every time I took her in my arms she was thinking what I would allow her a month for housekeeping and what was the price of beef a pound。 In the same way； when we are in love we are never tired of asking ourselves questi ons： whether it is honourable or dishonourable； sensible or stupid； what this love is leading up to； and so on。 Whether it is a good thing or not I don't know； but that it is in the way； unsatisfactory； and irritating； I do know。〃
It looked as though he wanted to tell some story。 People who lead a solitary existence always have something in their hearts which they are eager to talk about。 In town bachelors visit the baths and the restaurants on purpose to talk； and sometimes tell the most interesting things to bath attendants and waiters； in the country； as a rule； they unbosom themselves to their guests。 Now from the window we could see a grey sky； trees drenched in the rain； in such weather we could go nowhere； and there was nothing for us to do but to tell stories and to listen。
〃I have lived at Sofino and been farming for a long time；〃 Alehin began； 〃ever since I left the University。 I am an idle gentleman by education； a studious person by disposition； but there was a big debt owing on the estate when I came here； and as my father was in debt partly because he had spent so much on my education； I resolved not to go away； but to work till I paid off the debt。 I made up my mind to this and set to work； not； I must confess； without some repugnance。 The land here does not yield much； and if one is not to farm at a loss one must employ serf labour or hired labourers； which is almost the same thing； or put it on a peasant footing that is； work the fields oneself and with one's family。 There is no middle path。 But in those days I did not go into such subtleties。 I did not leave a clod of earth unturned； I gathered together all the peasants； men and women； from the neighbouring villages； the work went on at a tremendous pace。 I myself ploughed and sowed and reaped； and was bored doing it； and frowned with disgust； like a village cat driven by hunger to eat cucumbers in the kitchen…garden。 My body ached； and I slept as I walked。 At first it seemed to me that I could easily reconcile this life of toil with my cultured habits； to do so； I thought； all that is necessary is to maintain a certain external order in life。 I established myself upstairs here in the best rooms； and ordered them to bring me there coffee and liquor after lunch and dinner； and when I went to bed I read every night the _Yyesnik Evropi_。 But one day our priest； Father Ivan； came and drank up all my liquor at one sitting； and the _Yyesnik Evropi_ went to the priest's daughters； as in the summer； especially at the haymaking； I did not succeed in getting to my bed at all； and slept in the sledge in the barn； or somewhere in the forester's lodge； what chance was there of reading？ Little by little I moved downstairs； began dining in the servants' kitchen； and of my former luxury nothing is left but the servants who were in my father's service； and whom it would be painful to turn away。
〃In the first years I was elected here an honourary justice of the peace。 I used to have to go to the town and take part in the sessions of the congress and of the circuit court； and this was a pleasant change for me。 When you live here for two or three months without a break； especially in the winter； you begin at last to pine for a black coat。 And in the circuit court there were frock…coats； and uniforms； and dress…coats； too； all lawyers； men who have received a general education； I had some one to talk to。 After sleeping in the sledge and dining in the kitchen； to sit in an arm…chair in clean linen； in thin boots； with a chain on one's waistcoat； is such luxury！
〃I received a warm welcome in the town。 I made friends eagerly。 And of all my acquaintanceships the most intimate and； to tell the truth； the most agreeable to me was my acquaintance with Luganovitch； the vice…president of the circuit court。 You both know him： a most charming personality。 It all happened just after a celebrated case of incendiarism； the preliminary investigation lasted two days； we were exhausted。 Luganovitch looked at me and said：
〃 'Look here； come round to dinner with me。'
〃