ividual." He
paid no attention to the others. Sipiagin turned his head once or twice
in a dignified manner, as if looking round at his worldly belongings, a
pose that set off to perfection his long drooping whiskers and somewhat
small round neck. Then he shouted to one of the servants in a loud
resonant voice, not at all husky from the journey, "Ivan! Take this
gentleman to the green room and see to his luggage afterwards!" He then
told Nejdanov that he could change and rest awhile, and that dinner
would be served at five o'clock. Nejdanov bowed and followed Ivan to the
"green" room, which was situated on the second floor.

The whole company went into the drawing room. The host was welcomed all
over again. An old blind nurse appeared and made him a courtesy. Out of
consideration for her years, Sipiagin gave her his hand to kiss. He
then begged Kollomietzev to excuse him, and retired to his own room
accompanied by his wife.

VII

The room into which the servant conducted Nejdanov was beautifully neat
and spacious, with wide-open windows looking on to the garden. A gentle
breeze stirred the white curtains, blowing them out high like sails
and letting them fall again. Golden reflections glided lightly over the
ceiling; the whole room was filled with the moist freshness of spring.
Nejdanov dismissed the servant, unpacked his trunk, washed, and changed.
The journey had thoroughly exhausted him. The constant presence of a
stranger during the last two days, the many fruitless discussions, had
completely upset his nerves. A certain bitterness, which was neither
boredom nor anger, accumulated mysteriously in the depths of his being.
He was annoyed with himself for his lack of courage, but his heart
ached. He went up to the window and looked out into the garden. It was
an old-fashioned garden, with rich dark soil, such as one rarely sees
around Moscow, laid out on the slope of a hill into four separate parts.
In front of the house there was a flower garden, with straight gravel
paths, groups of acacias and lilac, and round flower beds. To the left,
past the stable yard, as far down as the barn, there was an orchard,
thickly planted with apples, pears, plums, currants, and raspberries.
Beyond the flower garden, in front of the house, there was a large
square walk, thickly interlaced with lime trees. To the right, the view
was shut out by an avenue of silver poplars; a glimpse of an orangery
could be seen through a group o