ng a faint resemblance to the well-groomed tail of an
Orlov race courser, quite forgetting his vocal powers, gave forth such a
volume of sound as to confuse himself and frighten everybody else. Soon
after this the clergy took their leave.

Kolia, in his new coat decorated with golden buttons, was the hero of
the day. He was given presents, he was congratulated, his hands were
kissed at the front door and at the back door by servants, workmen from
the factory, old women and young girls and peasants; the latter, in
memory of the days of serfdom, hung around the tables in front of the
house, spread out with pies and small bottles of vodka. The happy boy
was shy and pleased and proud, all at the same time; he caressed his
parents and ran out of the room. At dinner Sipiagin ordered champagne,
and before drinking his son's health made a speech. He spoke of the
significance of "serving the land," and indicated the road he wished his
Nikolai to follow (he did not use the diminutive of the boy's name),
of the duty he owed, first to his family; secondly to his class, to
society; thirdly to the people--"Yes, my dear ladies and gentlemen, to
the people; and fourthly, to the government!" By degrees Sipiagin became
quite eloquent, with his hand under the tail of his coat in imitation of
Robert Peel. He pronounced the word "science" with emotion, and finished
his speech by the Latin exclamation, laboremus! which he instantly
translated into Russian. Kolia, with a glass in his hand, went over to
thank his father and to be kissed by the others.

Nejdanov exchanged glances with Mariana again...

They no doubt felt the same, but they did not speak to each other.

However, Nejdanov was more amused than annoyed with the whole
proceeding, and the amiable hostess, Valentina Mihailovna, seemed to him
to be an intelligent woman, who was aware that she was playing a part,
but pleased to think that there was someone else intelligent enough
to understand her. Nejdanov probably had no suspicion of the degree in
which he was flattered by her attitude towards him.

On the following day lessons were renewed, and life fell back in its
ordinary rut.

A week flew by in this way. Nejdanov's thoughts and experiences during
that time may be best gathered from an extract of a letter he wrote to
a certain Silin, an old school chum and his best friend. Silin did not
live in St. Petersburg, but in a distant provincial town, with an old
relative on whom he