After a short time Tentyotnikoff became used to the service, only it did not prove to be his chief aim and object, as he had at first supposed that it would be, but something of secondary importance. It served as a means of occupying his time, causing him to set a higher value on the moments which remained to him. His uncle, the actual councillor of state, had begun to think that his nephew was going to do him credit, when all of a sudden this nephew disappointed him.

Among Andrei Ivanovitch’s friends—and these were numerous—there chanced to be two who were what is called “embittered men.” They possessed those uneasy and peculiar characters which not only manifest displeasure at real injustice, but even at whatever seems in their eyes to be unjust. Good men at the outset but disorderly in their own conduct, demanding consideration for themselves, and at the same time most intolerant towards others, they acted powerfully on Andrei Ivanovitch by means of their fiery language and the manner in which they evinced their noble indignation against society. After making him irritable, they called his attention to all sorts of trifles to which he would not before have thought of paying any heed. Then Feodor Feodorovitch Lyenitzuin, the chief of one of the departments, suddenly incurred the young fellow’s displeasure. Andrei began to seek out a multitude of shortcomings in the chief. It seemed to him that in conversation with his superiors he turned entirely into artificial sugar, and that when he addressed himself to a subordinate, into vinegar; that, after the manner of all petty- minded individuals, he took note of those who presented themselves with congratulations for him on festive occasions, and revenged himself on those whose names did not appear on his porter’s list.

In consequence of this, Andrei Ivanovitch felt a positive disgust with him, and at last one day he addressed Feodor Feodorovitch with so much impertinence that he received an intimation from the authorities that he must either apologise or send in his resignation. He then sent in his resignation. His uncle, the actual councillor of state, came to him in alarm, with entreaties: “For Christ’s sake, Andrei Ivanovitch, consider! What are you doing? Abandoning a career so auspiciously begun simply because you happened not to like the chief? Reflect! Who are you? What is this to you? Why, if such things were to be noticed, no one would remain in the service. Reconsider the matter, mortify your pride, go and explain matters to him!”

“That is not the point, uncle,” said the nephew. “It isn’t hard for me to ask his pardon. I am in the wrong: he is the chief, and it wasn’t proper for me to speak to him in that manner. But the question is this: I have another duty—three hundred souls of peasants, an estate in disorder, and a fool as a steward. The empire will suffer very little loss if another man is set to copying documents in the office in my stead, but there will be a vast loss if three hundred men do not pay their taxes. What do you think about it? I am a landowner; if I busy myself with improving and caring for those who are intrusted to me, and if I present the empire with three hundred upright, sober, and industrious subjects, will my service be in any way inferior to that of any head of department—Lyenitzuin, for instance?”

The actual councillor of state stood with his mouth wide open in amazement. He had not expected such a reply. After reflecting for a short time, he began again in this fashion: “But still, my friend, how can you bury yourself in the country? What sort of society can there be among the moujiks? Here, at all events, you may encounter a general or a prince in the street. You will pass someone there; well, and there’s the gaslights, and busy Europe hard by, whereas, in the country, everyone you meet is either a peasant or a woman. And why condemn yourself to barbarity for your whole life?”

However, the convincing arguments of the uncle had no effect upon the nephew. The latter felt weary of the service and of the capital. The country had begun to present itself to him in the light of a comfortable retreat, calculated to refresh his mind, and he might there lead a life of useful activity. He had already unearthed the newest books on the subject of village economy.

Within two weeks after this conversation, Tentyotnikoff was in the neighbourhood of the scenes amid which his childhood had been passed, not far from the very beautiful nook which no visitor or tourist was ever able to admire sufficiently. He had already quite forgotten certain spots, and he gazed with curiosity upon the magnificent views, like a perfect new-comer. And, lo! for some unknown reason, his