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lling； and； in the grass； the corncrake； and over them would be wheeling flocks of twittering linnets。 Also； the jacksnipe would be uttering its croak； and the lark executing its roulades where it had become lost in the sunshine； and cranes sending forth their trumpet…like challenge as they deployed towards the zenith in triangle…shaped flocks。 In fact； the neighbourhood would seem to have become converted into one great concert of melody。 O Creator； how fair is Thy world where； in remote； rural seclusion； it lies apart from cities and from highways！
But soon even this began to pall upon Tientietnikov； and he ceased altogether to visit his fields； or to do aught but shut himself up in his rooms； where he refused to receive even the bailiff when that functionary called with his reports。 Again； although； until now； he had to a certain extent associated with a retired colonel of hussarsa man saturated with tobacco smokeand also with a student of pronounced； but immature； opinions who culled the bulk of his wisdom from contemporary newspapers and pamphlets； he found； as time went on； that these companions proved as tedious as the rest； and came to think their conversation superficial； and their European method of comporting themselvesthat is to say； the method of conversing with much slapping of knees and a great deal of bowing and gesticulationtoo direct and unadorned。 So these and every one else he decided to 〃drop；〃 and carried this resolution into effect with a certain amount of rudeness。 On the next occasion that Varvar Nikolaievitch Vishnepokromov called to indulge in a free…and…easy symposium on politics； philosophy； literature； morals； and the state of financial affairs in England （he was； in all matters which admit of superficial discussion； the pleasantest fellow alive； seeing that he was a typical representative both of the retired fire…eater and of the school of thought which is now becoming the rage）when； I say； this next happened； Tientietnikov merely sent out to say that he was not at home； and then carefully showed himself at the window。 Host and guest exchanged glances； and； while the one muttered through his teeth 〃The cur！〃 the other relieved his feelings with a remark or two on swine。 Thus the acquaintance came to an abrupt end； and from that time forth no visitor called at the mansion。
Tientietnikov in no way regretted this； for he could now devote himself wholly to the projection of a great work on Russia。 Of the scale on which this composition was conceived the reader is already aware。 The reader also knows how strange； how unsystematic； was the system employed in it。 Yet to say that Tientietnikov never awoke from his lethargy would not be altogether true。 On the contrary； when the post brought him newspapers and reviews； and he saw in their printed pages； perhaps； the well…known name of some former comrade who had succeeded in the great field of Public Service； or had conferred upon science and the world's work some notable contribution； he would succumb to secret and suppressed grief； and involuntarily there would burst from his soul an expression of aching； voiceless regret that he himself had done so little。 And at these times his existence would seem to him odious and repellent； at these times there would uprise before him the memory of his school days； and the figure of Alexander Petrovitch； as vivid as in life。 And； slowly welling； the tears would course over Tientietnikov's cheeks。
What meant these repinings？ Was there not disclosed in them the secret of his galling spiritual painthe fact that he had failed to order his life aright； to confirm the lofty aims with which he had started his course； the fact that； always poorly equipped with experience； he had failed to attain the better and the higher state； and there to strengthen himself for the overcoming of hindrances and obstacles； the fact that； dissolving like overheated metal； his bounteous store of superior instincts had failed to take the final tempering； the fact that the tutor of his boyhood； a man in a thousand； had prematurely died； and left to Tientietnikov no one who could restore to him the moral strength shattered by vacillation and the will power weakened by want of virilityno one； in short； who could cry hearteningly to his soul 〃Forward！〃the word for which the Russian of every degree； of every class； of every occupation； of every school of thought； is for ever hungering。
Indeed； WHERE is the man who can cry aloud for any of us； in the Russian tongue dear to our soul； the all…compelling command 〃Forward！〃？ Who is there who； knowing the strength and the nature and the inmost depths of the Russian genius； can by a single magic incantation divert our ideals to the higher life？ Were there such a man； with what tears； with what affection； would not the grateful sons of Russia repay him！ Yet age succeeds to age； and our callow youth still lies wrapped in shameful sloth； or strives and struggles to no purpose。 God has not yet given us the man able to sound the call。
One circumstance which almost aroused Tientietnikov； which almost brought about a revolution in his character； was the fact that he came very near to falling in love。 Yet even this resulted in nothing。 Ten versts away there lived the general whom we have heard expressing himself in highly uncomplimentary terms concerning Tientietnikov。 He maintained a General…like establishment； dispensed hospitality （that is to say； was glad when his neighbours came to pay him their respects； though he himself never went out）； spoke always in a hoarse voice； read a certain number of books； and had a daughtera curious； unfamiliar type； but full of life as life itself。 This maiden's name was Ulinka； and she had been strangely brought up； for； losing her mother in early childhood； she had subsequently received instruction at the hands of an English governess who knew not a single word of Russian。 Moreover her father； though excessively fond of her； treated her always as a toy； with the result that； as she grew to years of discretion； she became wholly wayward and spoilt。 Indeed； had any one seen the sudden rage which would gather on her beautiful young forehead when she was engaged in a heated dispute with her father； he would have thought her one of the most capricious beings in the world。 Yet that rage gathered only when she had heard of injustice or harsh treatment； and never because she desired to argue on her own behalf； or to attempt to justify her own conduct。 Also； that anger would disappear as soon as ever she saw any one whom she had formerly disliked fall upon evil times； and； at his first request for alms would； without consideration or subsequent regret； hand him her purse and its whole contents。 Yes； her every act was strenuous； and when she spoke her whole personality seemed to be following hot…foot upon her thoughtboth her expression of face and her diction and the movements of her hands。 Nay； the very folds of her frock had a similar appearance of striving； until one would have thought that all her self were flying in pursuit of her words。 Nor did she know reticence： before any one she would disclose her mind； and no force could compel her to maintain silence when she d