pinion of you; and know,
that it's forever."

"Well, now, I didn't mean anything... Really, I... Why go all up in the
air, me soul? You don't like that I'm a gay fellow, well, I'll be
quiet. Give me your hand, Lichonin, let's drink!"

"Well, all right, get away from me. Here's to your health! Only don't
behave like a little boy, you Ossetean ram. Well, then, I continue,
gentlemen. If we find anything which might satisfy the just opinion of
Simanovsky about the dignity of independent toil, unsustained by
anything, then I shall stick to my system: to teach Liuba whatever is
possible, to take her to the theatre, to expositions, to popular
lectures, to museums; to read aloud to her, give her the possibility of
hearing music--comprehensible music, of course. It's understood, I
alone won't be able to manage all this. I expect help from you; and
after that, whatever God may will."

"Oh, well," said Simanovsky, "the work is new, not threadbare; and how
can we know the unknowable--perhaps you, Lichonin, will become the
spiritual father of a good being. I, too, offer my services."

"And I! And I!" the other two seconded; and right there, without
getting up from the table, the four students worked out a very broad
and very wondrous program of education and enlightenment for Liubka.

Soloviev took upon himself to teach the girl grammar and writing. In
order not to tire her with tedious lessons, and as a reward for
successes, he would read aloud for her artistic fiction, Russian and
foreign, easy of comprehension. Lichonin left for himself the teaching
of arithmetic, geography and history.

While the prince said simple-heartedly, without his usual facetiousness
this time:

"I, my children, don't know anything; while that which I do know, I
know very badly. But I'll read to her the remarkable production of the
great Georgian poet Rustavelli, and translate it line by line. I
confess to you, that I'm not much of a pedagogue: I tried to be a
tutor, but they politely chased me out after only the second lesson.
Still, no one can teach better playing on a guitar, mandolin, and the
bagpipes!"

Nijeradze was speaking with perfect seriousness, and for that reason
Lichonin with Soloviev good-naturedly started laughing; but with entire
unexpectedness, to the general amazement of all, Simanovsky sustained
him.

"The prince speaks common sense. To have the mastery of an instrument
elevates the aesthetic sense, in any case; and is even