,*APT] #bf 
,I ,%[ ,(F 

#ahegaheg 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TEXT 3 

,AT TEA TIME ! READ+ CAME TO AN 5D1 & ! LADIES BEGAN TO TALK AMONG !MSELVES ( P]SONS & ?+S UNKN[N TO ME4 ,?IS ,I CONCEIV$ !M TO BE DO+ ON PURPOSE TO MAKE ME CONSCI\S 7= ALL !IR K9D DEMEANOR7 ( ! DIFF]5CE :I* YE>S & POSITION 9 ! WORLD HAD SET BETWE5 !M & MYSELF4 ,9 G5]AL DISCUSSIONS1 H[EV]1 9 :I* ,I C\LD TAKE P>T ,I S\<T TO ATONE = MY LATE SIL5CE BY EXHIBIT+ ?AT EXTRAORD9>Y CLEV]NESS & ORIG9ALITY TO :I* ,I FELT COMPELL$ BY MY ,UNIV]SITY UNI=M4 ,= 9/ANCE1 :5 ! CONV]SATION TURN$ UPON C\NTRY H\SES1 ,I SAID ?AT ,PR9CE ,IVAN ,IVANOVIT* HAD A VILLA NE> ,MOSC[ :I* PEOPLE CAME TO SEE EV5 FROM ,LONDON & ,P>IS1 & ?AT IT CONTA9$ BALU/RAD+ :I* HAD CO/ #c#h1 RUBLES4 ,LIKEWISE1 ,I REM>K$ ?AT ! ,PR9CE WAS A V]Y NE> RELATION ( M9E1 & ?AT1 :5 LUN*+ ) HIM ! SAME DAY1 HE HAD 9VIT$ ME TO GO & SP5D ! 5TIRE SUMM] ) HIM AT ?AT VILLA1 BUT ?AT ,I HAD DECL9$1 S9CE ,I KNEW ! VILLA WELL1 & HAD /AY$ 9 IT MORE ?AN ONCE1 & ?AT ALL ?OSE BALU/RAD+S & BRIDGES DID NOT 9T]E/ ME1 S9CE ,I C\LD NOT BE> ORNAM5TAL WORK1 ESPECIALLY 9 ! C\NTRY1 :]E ,I LIK$ EV]Y?+ TO BE :OLLY C\NTRIFI$4 ,AFT] DELIV]+ MYSELF ( ?IS EXTRAORD9>Y & COMPLICAT$ ROMANCE1 ,I GREW CONFUS$1 & BLU%$ SO MU* ?AT EV]Y ONE MU/ HAVE SE5 ?AT ,I WAS LY+4 ,BO? ,V>5IKA1 :O WAS H&+ ME A CUP ( TEA1 & ,SOPHIA ,IVANOVNA1 :O HAD BE5 GAZ+ AT ME ?R\<\T1 TURN$ !IR HEADS AWAY1 & BEGAN TO TALK ( SOME?+ ELSE ) AN EXPRESSION :I* ,I AFT]W>DS LE>N$ ?AT GOOD-NATUR$ PEOPLE ASSUME :5 A V]Y Y\NG MAN HAS TOLD !M A MANIFE/ /R+ ( LIES--AN EXPRESSION :I* SAYS1 0,YES1 WE KN[ HE IS LY+1 & :Y HE IS DO+ IT1 ! POOR Y\NG FELL[60 

,:AT ,I HAD SAID AB\T ,PR9CE ,IVAN ,IVANOVIT* HAV+ A C\NTRY VILLA1 ,I HAD RELAT$ SIMPLY BECAUSE ,I C\LD F9D NO O!R PRETEXT = M5TION+ BO? MY RELATION%IP TO ! ,PR9CE & ! FACT ?AT ,I HAD BE5 TO LUN*EON ) HIM ?AT DAY2 YET :Y ,I HAD SAID ALL ,I HAD AB\T ! BALU/RAD+ CO/+ #c#h1 RUBLES1 & AB\T MY HAV+ SEV]AL TIMES VISIT$ ! ,PR9CE AT ?AT VILLA 7,I HAD NEV] ONCE BE5 !RE--MORE ESPECIALLY S9CE ! ,PR9CE POSSESS$ NO RESID5CES SAVE 9 ,MOSC[ & ,NAPLES1 AS ! ,NE*LUD(FS V]Y WELL KNEW71 ,I C\LD NOT POSSIBLY TELL Y\4 ,NEI!R 9 *ILDHOOD NOR 9 ADOLESC5CE NOR 9 RIP] YE>S DID ,I EV] REM>K 9 MYSELF ! VICE ( FALSEHOOD--ON ! CONTR>Y1 ,I WAS1 IF ANY?+1 TOO \TSPOK5 & TRU?FUL4 ,YET1 DUR+ ?IS FIR/ /AGE ( MY MANHOOD1 ,I (T5 F\ND MYSELF SEIZ$ ) A /RANGE & UNREASONABLE T5D5CY TO LIE 9 ! MO/ DESP]ATE FA%ION4 ,I SAY ADVIS$LY 09 ! MO/ DESP]ATE FA%ION10 = ! REASON ?AT ,I LI$ 9 MATT]S 9 :I* IT WAS ! EASIE/ ?+ 9 ! WORLD TO DETECT ME4 ,ON ! :OLE ,I ?9K ?AT A VA9-GLORI\S DESIRE TO APPE> DIFF]5T FROM :AT ,I WAS1 COMB9$ ) AN IMPOSSIBLE HOPE ?AT ! LIE W\LD NEV] BE F\ND \T1 WAS ! *IEF CAUSE ( ?IS EXTRAORD9>Y IMPULSE4 

,AFT] TEA1 S9CE ! RA9 HAD /OPP$ & ! AFT]-GL[ ( SUNSET WAS CALM & CLE>1 ! ,PR9CESS PROPOS$ ?AT WE %\LD GO & /ROLL 9 ! L[] G>D51 & ADMIRE H] FAVORITE SPOTS !RE4 ,FOLL[+ MY RULE TO BE ALWAYS ORIG9AL1 & CONCEIV+ ?AT CLEV] PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF & ! ,PR9CESS MU/ SURELY BE ABOVE ! BANALITIES ( POLIT5ESS1 ,I REPLI$ ?AT ,I C\LD NOT BE> A WALK ) NO OBJECT 9 VIEW1 & ?AT1 IF ,I ,D,I,D WALK1 ,I LIK$ TO WALK ALONE4 ,I HAD NO IDEA ?AT ?IS SPEE* WAS SIMPLY RUDE2 ALL ,I ?\<T WAS ?AT1 EV5 AS NO?+ C\LD BE MORE FUTILE ?AN EMPTY COMPLIM5TS1 SO NO?+ C\LD BE MORE PLEAS+ & ORIG9AL ?AN A LITTLE FRANK BRUSQU]IE4 ,H[EV]1 ?\< MU* PLEAS$ ) MY ANSW]1 ,I SET \T ) ! RE/ ( ! COMPANY4 

,! ,PR9CESS'S FAVORITE SPOT ( ALL WAS AT ! V]Y BOTTOM ( ! L[] G>D51 :]E A LITTLE BRIDGE SPANN$ A N>R[ PIECE ( SWAMP4 ,! VIEW !RE WAS V]Y RE/RICT$1 YET V]Y 9TIMATE & PLEAS+4 ,WE >E SO ACCU/OM$ TO CONF\ND >T ) NATURE ?AT1 (T5 5\<1 PH5OM5A ( NATURE :I* >E NEV] TO BE MET ) 9 PICTURES SEEM TO US UNREAL1 & GIVE US ! IMPRESSION ?AT NATURE IS UNNATURAL1 OR VICE V]SA2 :]EAS PH5OM5A ( NATURE :I* OCCUR ) TOO MU* FREQU5CY 9 PICTURES SEEM TO US HACKNEY$1 & VIEWS :I* >E TO BE MET ) 9 REAL LIFE1 BUT :I* APPE> TO US TOO P5ETRAT$ ) A S+LE IDEA OR A S+LE S5TIM5T1 SEEM TO US >ABESQUES4 ,! VIEW FROM ! ,PR9CESS'S FAVORITE SPOT WAS AS FOLL[S4 ,ON ! FUR!R SIDE ( A SMALL LAKE1 OV]-GR[N ) WE$S R\ND ITS $GES1 ROSE A /EEP ASC5T COV]$ ) BU%ES & ) HUGE OLD TREES ( MANY %ADES ( GRE51 :ILE1 OV]HANG+ ! LAKE AT ! FOOT ( ! ASC5T1 /OOD AN ANCI5T BIR* TREE :I*1 ?\< P>TLY SUPPORT$ BY /\T ROOTS IMPLANT$ 9 ! M>%Y BANK ( ! LAKE1 RE/$ ITS CR[N UPON A TALL1 /RAI<T POPL>1 & DANGL$ ITS CURV$ BRAN*ES OV] ! SMOO? SURFACE ( ! POND--BO? BRAN*ES & ! SURR\ND+ GRE5]Y BE+ REFLECT$ !RE9 AS 9 A MIRROR4 

0,H[ LOVELY60 SAID ! ,PR9CESS ) A NOD ( H] HEAD1 & ADDRESS+ NO ONE 9 P>TICUL>4 

0,YES1 M>VEL\S60 ,I REPLI$ 9 MY DESIRE TO %[ ?AT HAD AN OP9ION ( MY [N ON EV]Y SUBJECT4 0,YET SOMEH[ IT ALL LOOKS TO ME SO T]RIBLY LIKE A S*EME ( DECORATION40 

,! ,PR9CESS W5T ON GAZ+ AT ! SC5E AS ?\< %E HAD NOT HE>D ME1 & TURN+ TO H] SI/] & ,LUBOV ,S]GIEVNA AT 9T]VALS1 9 ORD] TO PO9T \T TO !M ITS DETAILS--ESPECIALLY A CURV$1 P5D5T B\<1 ) ITS REFLECTION 9 ! WAT]1 :I* P>TICUL>LY PLEAS$ H]4 ,SOPHIA ,IVANOVNA OBS]V$ TO ME ?AT IT WAS ALL V]Y BEAUTIFUL1 & ?AT %E & H] SI/] W\LD SOMETIMES SP5D H\RS TOGE!R AT ?IS SPOT2 YET IT WAS CLE> ?AT H] REM>KS W]E MEANT M]ELY TO PLEASE ! ,PR9CESS4 ,I HAVE NOTIC$ ?AT PEOPLE :O >E GIFT$ ) ! FACULTY ( LOV+ >E SELDOM RECEPTIVE TO ! BEAUTIES ( NATURE4 ,LUBOV ,S]GIEVNA ALSO SEEM$ 5RAPTUR$1 & ASK$ 7AMONG O!R ?+S71 0,H[ DOES ?AT BIR* TREE MANAGE TO SUPPORT ITSELF8 ,HAS IT /OOD !RE LONG80 ,YET ! NEXT MOM5T %E BECAME ABSORB$ 9 CONTEMPLATION ( H] LITTLE DOG ,SUSETKA1 :I*1 ) ITS /UMPY PAWS PATT]+ TO & FRO UPON ! BRIDGE 9 A M9C+ FA%ION1 SEEM$ TO SAY BY ! EXPRESSION ( ITS FACE ?AT ?IS WAS ! FIR/ TIME IT HAD EV] F\ND ITSELF \T ( DOORS4 ,AS = ,DIMITRI1 HE FELL TO DISC\RS+ V]Y LOGICALLY TO HIS MO!R ON ! SUBJECT ( H[ NO VIEW CAN BE BEAUTIFUL ( :I* ! HORIZON IS LIMIT$4 ,V>5IKA ALONE SAID NO?+4 ,GLANC+ AT H]1 ,I SAW ?AT %E WAS LEAN+ OV] ! P>APET ( ! BRIDGE1 H] PR(ILE TURN$ T[>DS ME1 & GAZ+ /RAI<T 9 FRONT ( H]4 ,SOME?+ SEEM$ TO BE 9T]E/+ H] DEEPLY1 OR EV5 AFFECT+ H]1 S9CE IT WAS CLE> ?AT %E WAS OBLIVI\S TO H] SURR\ND+S1 & ?9K+ NEI!R ( H]SELF NOR ( ! FACT ?AT ANY ONE MI<T BE REG>D+ H]4 ,9 ! EXPRESSION ( H] L>GE EYES !RE WAS NO?+ BUT WRAPT ATT5TION & QUIET1 CONC5TRAT$ ?\<T1 :ILE H] :OLE ATTITUDE SEEM$ SO UNCON/RA9$ &1 = ALL H] %ORTNESS1 SO DIGNIFI$ ?AT ONCE MORE SOME RECOLLECTION OR ANO!R T\*$ ME & ONCE MORE ,I ASK$ MYSELF1 0,IS ,I,T1 !N1 BEG9N+80 ,YET AGA9 ,I ASSUR$ MYSELF ?AT ,I WAS ALREADY 9 LOVE ) ,SONET*KA1 & ?AT ,V>5IKA WAS ONLY AN ORD9>Y GIRL1 ! SI/] ( MY FRI5D4 ,?\< %E PLEAS$ ME AT ?AT MOM5T1 ,I SOMEH[ FELT A VAGUE DESIRE TO %[ H]1 BY WORD OR DE$1 SOME SMALL UNFRI5DL9ESS4 

0,I TELL Y\ :AT1 ,DIMITRI10 ,I SAID TO MY FRI5D AS ,I MOV$ NE>] TO ,V>5IKA1 SO ?AT %E MI<T OV]HE> :AT ,I WAS GO+ TO SAY1 0IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT1 EV5 IF !RE HAD BE5 NO MOSQUITOS H]E1 !RE W\LD HAVE BE5 NO?+ TO COMM5D ?IS SPOT2 :]EAS 0--& H]E ,I SLAPP$ MY *EEK1 & 9 V]Y TRU? ANNIHILAT$ ONE ( ?OSE 9SECTS--0IT IS SIMPLY AWFUL40 

0,!N Y\ DO NOT C>E = NATURE80 SAID ,V>5IKA )\T TURN+ H] HEAD4 

0,I ?9K IT A FOOLI%1 FUTILE PURSUIT10 ,I REPLI$1 WELL SATISFI$ ?AT ,I HAD SAID SOME?+ TO ANNOY H]1 AS WELL AS SOME?+ ORIG9AL4 ,V>5IKA ONLY RAIS$ H] EYEBR[S A LITTLE1 ) AN EXPRESSION ( PITY1 & W5T ON GAZ+ 9 FRONT ( H] AS CALMLY AS BE=E4 

,I FELT VEX$ ) H]4 ,YET1 = ALL ?AT1 ! RU/Y1 PA9T-BLI/]$ P>APET ON :I* %E WAS LEAN+1 ! WAY 9 :I* ! D>K WAT]S ( ! POND REFLECT$ ! DROOP+ BRAN* ( ! OV]HANG+ BIR* TREE 7IT ALMO/ SEEM$ TO ME AS ?\< BRAN* & ITS REFLECTION MET71 ! RIS+ ODOR ( ! SWAMP1 ! FEEL+ ( CRU%$ MOSQUITO ON MY *EEK1 & H] ABSORB$ LOOK & /ATUESQUE POSE--MANY TIMES AFT]W>DS DID !SE ?+S RECUR ) UNEXPECT$ VIVIDNESS TO MY RECOLLECTION4 

,FROM 3 ,GUT5B]G4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahef 3 ,*APT] #bf -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,JUNE #d1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #bf -- ,ADD$4 

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