, so that the bark is rubbed off
in three places. What do you think of that! I spoke to him and he
stands like a post and only blinks his eyes. Hanging is too good
for him."

Growing calmer, he embraced Kovrin and kissed him on the cheek.

"Well, God bless you! . . . God bless you! . . ." he muttered. "I
am very glad you have come. Unutterably glad. . . . Thank you."

Then, with the same rapid step and preoccupied face, he made the
round of the whole garden, and showed his former ward all his
greenhouses and hot-houses, his covered-in garden, and two apiaries
which he called the marvel of our century.

While they were walking the sun rose, flooding the garden with
brilliant light. It grew warm. Foreseeing a long, bright, cheerful
day, Kovrin recollected that it was only the beginning of May, and
that he had before him a whole summer as bright, cheerful, and long;
and suddenly there stirred in his bosom a joyous, youthful feeling,
such as he used to experience in his childhood, running about in
that garden. And he hugged the old man and kissed him affectionately.
Both of them, feeling touched, went indoors and drank tea out of
old-fashioned china cups, with cream and satisfying krendels made
with milk and eggs; and these trifles reminded Kovrin again of his
childhood and boyhood. The delightful present was blended with the
impressions of the past that stirred within him; there was a tightness
at his heart; yet he was happy.

He waited till Tanya was awake and had coffee with her, went for a
walk, then went to his room and sat down to work. He read attentively,
making notes, and from time to time raised his eyes to look out at
the open windows or at the fresh, still dewy flowers in the vases
on the table; and again he dropped his eyes to his book, and it
seemed to him as though every vein in his body was quivering and
fluttering with pleasure.

II

In the country he led just as nervous and restless a life as in
town. He read and wrote a great deal, he studied Italian, and when
he was out for a walk, thought with pleasure that he would soon sit
down to work again. He slept so little that every one wondered at
him; if he accidentally dozed for half an hour in the daytime, he
would lie awake all night, and, after a sleepless night, would feel
cheerful and vigorous as though nothing had happened.

He talked a great deal, drank wine, and smoked expensive cigars.
Very often, almost every day, young ladies of neighbou