CHAPTER XXVI
The deceased Odintsov had not liked innovations, but he had tolerated'the fine arts within a certain sphere,' and had in consequence put upin his garden, between the hothouse and the lake, an erection after thefashion of a Greek temple, made of Russian brick. Along the dark wallat the back of this temple or gallery were placed six niches forstatues, which Odintsov had proceeded to order from abroad. Thesestatues were to represent Solitude, Silence, Meditation, Melancholy,Modesty, and Sensibility. One of them, the goddess of Silence, with herfinger on her lip, had been sent and put up; but on the very same daysome boys on the farm had broken her nose; and though a plasterer ofthe neighbourhood undertook to make her a new nose 'twice as good asthe old one,' Odintsov ordered her to be taken away, and she was stillto be seen in the corner of the threshing barn, where she had stoodmany long years, a source of superstitious terror to the peasant women.The front part of the temple had long ago been overgrown with thickbushes; only the pediments of the columns could be seen above the densegreen. In the temple itself it was cool even at mid-day. Anna Sergyevnahad not liked visiting this place ever since she had seen a snakethere; but Katya often came and sat on the wide stone seat under one ofthe niches. Here, in the midst of the shade and coolness, she used toread and work, or to give herself up to that sensation of perfectpeace, known, doubtless, to each of us, the charm of which consists inthe half-unconscious, silent listening to the vast current of life thatflows for ever both around us and within us.
The day after Bazarov's arrival Katya was sitting on her favouritestone seat, and beside her again was sitting Arkady. He had besoughther to come with him to the 'temple.'
There was about an hour still to lunch-time; the dewy morning hadalready given place to a sultry day. Arkady's face retained theexpression of the preceding day; Katya had a preoccupied look. Hersister had, directly after their morning tea, called her into her room,and after some preliminary caresses, which always scared Katya alittle, she had advised her to be more guarded in her behaviour withArkady, and especially to avoid solitary talks with him, as likely toattract the notice of her aunt and all the household. Besides this,even the previous evening Anna Sergyevna had not been herself; andKatya herself had felt ill at ease, as though she were conscious ofsome fault in herself. As she yielded to Arkady's entreaties, she saidto herself that it was for the last time.
'Katerina Sergyevna,' he began with a sort of bashful easiness, 'sinceI've had the happiness of living in the same house with you, I havediscussed a great many things with you; but meanwhile there is one,very important ... for me ... one question, which I have not touchedupon up till now. You remarked yesterday that I have been changedhere,' he went on, at once catching and avoiding the questioning glanceKatya was turning upon him. 'I have changed certainly a great deal, andyou know that better than any one else--you to whom I really owe thischange.'
'I?... Me?...' said Katya.
'I am not now the conceited boy I was when I came here,' Arkady wenton. 'I've not reached twenty-three for nothing; as before, I want to beuseful, I want to devote all my powers to the truth; but I no longerlook for my ideals where I did; they present themselves to me ... muchcloser to hand. Up till now I did not understand myself; I set myselftasks which were beyond my powers.... My eyes have been opened lately,thanks to one feeling.... I'm not expressing myself quite clearly, butI hope you understand me.'
Katya made no reply, but she ceased looking at Arkady.
'I suppose,' he began again, this time in a more agitated voice, whileabove his head a chaffinch sang its song unheeding among the leaves ofthe birch--'I suppose it's the duty of every one to be open with those... with those people who ... in fact, with those who are near to him,and so I ... I resolved ...'
But here Arkady's eloquence deserted him; he lost the thread,stammered, and was forced to be silent for a moment. Katya still didnot raise her eyes. She seemed not to understand what he was leading upto in all this, and to be waiting for something.
'I foresee I shall surprise you,' began Arkady, pulling himselftogether again with an effort, 'especially since this feeling relatesin a way ... in a way, notice ... to you. You reproached me, if youremember, yesterday with a want of seriousness,' Arkady went on, withthe air of a man who has got into a bog, feels that he is sinkingfurther and further in at every step, and yet hurries onwards in thehope of crossing it as soon as possible; 'that reproach is often aimed... often falls ... on young men even when they cease to deserve it;and if I had more self-confidence ...' ('Come, help me, do help me!'Arkady was thinking, in desperation; but, as before, Katya did not turnher head.) 'If I could hope ...'
'If I could feel sure of what you say,' was heard at that instant theclear voice of Anna Sergyevna.
Arkady was still at once, while Katya turned pale. Close by the bushesthat screened the temple ran a little path. Anna Sergyevna was walkingalong it escorted by Bazarov. Katya and Arkady could not see them, butthey heard every word, the rustle of their clothes, their verybreathing. They walked on a few steps, and, as though on purpose, stoodstill just opposite the temple.
'You see,' pursued Anna Sergyevna, 'you and I made a mistake; we areboth past our first youth, I especially so; we have seen life, we aretired; we are both--why affect not to know it?--clever; at first weinterested each other, curiosity was aroused ... and then ...'
'And then I grew stale,' put in Bazarov.
'You know that was not the cause of our misunderstanding. But, however,it was to be, we had no need of one another, that's the chief point;there was too much ... what shall I say? ... that was alike in us. Wedid not realise it all at once. Now, Arkady ...'
'So you need him?' queried Bazarov.
'Hush, Yevgeny Vassilyitch. You tell me he is not indifferent to me,and it always seemed to me he liked me. I know that I might well be hisaunt, but I don't wish to conceal from you that I have come to thinkmore often of him. In such youthful, fresh feeling there is a specialcharm ...'
'The word _fascination_ is most usual in such cases,' Bazarovinterrupted; the effervescence of his spleen could be heard in hischoked though steady voice. 'Arkady was mysterious over something withme yesterday, and didn't talk either of you or your sister.... That's aserious symptom.'
'He is just like a brother with Katya,' commented Anna Sergyevna, 'andI like that in him, though, perhaps, I ought not to have allowed suchintimacy between them.'
'That idea is prompted by ... your feelings as a sister?' Bazarovbrought out, drawling.
'Of course ... but why are we standing still? Let us go on. What astrange talk we are having, aren't we? I could never have believed Ishould talk to you like this. You know, I am afraid of you ... and atthe same time I trust you, because in reality you are so good.'
'In the first place, I am not in the least good; and in the secondplace, I have lost all significance for you, and you tell me I amgood.... It's like a laying a wreath of flowers on the head of acorpse.'
'Yevgeny Vassilyitch, we are not responsible ...' Anna Sergyevna began;but a gust of wind blew across, set the leaves rustling, and carriedaway her words. 'Of course, you are free ...' Bazarov declared after abrief pause. Nothing more could be distinguished; the steps retreated... everything was still.
Arkady turned to Katya. She was sitting in the same position, but herhead was bent still lower. 'Katerina Sergyevna,' he said with a shakingvoice, and clasping his hands tightly together, 'I love you for everand irrevocably, and I love no one but you. I wanted to tell you this,to find out your opinion of me, and to ask for your hand, since I amnot rich, and I feel ready for any sacrifice.... You don't answer me?You don't believe me? Do you think I speak lightly? But remember theselast days! Surely for a long time past you must have known thateverything--understand me--everything else has vanished long ago andleft no trace? Look at me, say one word to me ... I love ... I love you... believe me!'
Katya glanced at Arkady with a bright and serious look, and after longhesitation, with the faintest smile, she said,
'Yes.'
Arkady leapt up from the stone seat. 'Yes! You said Yes, KaterinaSergyevna! What does that word mean? Only that I do love you, that youbelieve me ... or ... or ... I daren't go on ...'
'Yes,' repeated Katya, and this time he understood her. He snatched herlarge beautiful hands, and, breathless with rapture, pressed them tohis heart. He could scarcely stand on his feet, and could only repeat,'Katya, Katya ...' while she began weeping in a guileless way, smilinggently at her own tears. No one who has not seen those tears in theeyes of the beloved, knows yet to what a point, faint with shame andgratitude, a man may be happy on earth.
The next day, early in the morning, Anna Sergyevna sent to summonBazarov to her boudoir, and with a forced laugh handed him a foldedsheet of notepaper. It was a letter from Arkady; in it he asked for hersister's hand.
Bazarov quickly scanned the letter, and made an effort to controlhimself, that he might not show the malignant feeling which wasinstantaneously aflame in his breast.
'So that's how it is,' he commented; 'and you, I fancy, only yesterdayimagined he loved Katerina Sergyevna as a brother. What are youintending to do now?'
'What do you advise me?' asked Anna Sergyevna, still laughing.
'Well, I suppose,' answered Bazarov, also with a laugh, though he feltanything but cheerful, and had no more inclination to laugh than shehad; 'I suppose you ought to give the young people your blessing. It'sa good match in every respect; Kirsanov's position is passable, he'sthe only son, and his father's a good-natured fellow, he won't try tothwart him.'
Madame Odintsov walked up and down the room. By turns her face flushedand grew pale. 'You think so,' she said. 'Well, I see no obstacles ...I am glad for Katya ... and for Arkady Nikolaevitch too. Of course, Iwill wait for his father's answer. I will send him in person to him.But it turns out, you see, that I was right yesterday when I told youwe were both old people.... How was it I saw nothing? That's whatamazes me!' Anna Sergyevna laughed again, and quickly turned her headaway.
'The younger generation have grown awfully sly,' remarked Bazarov, andhe too laughed. 'Good-bye,' he began again after a short silence. 'Ihope you will bring the matter to the most satisfactory conclusion; andI will rejoice from a distance.'
Madame Odintsov turned quickly to him. 'You are not going away? Whyshould you not stay _now_? Stay ... it's exciting talking to you ...one seems walking on the edge of a precipice. At first one feels timid,but one gains courage as one goes on. Do stay.'
'Thanks for the suggestion, Anna Sergyevna, and for your flatteringopinion of my conversational talents. But I think I have already beenmoving too long in a sphere which is not my own. Flying fishes can holdout for a time in the air; but soon they must splash back into thewater; allow me, too, to paddle in my own element.'
Madame Odintsov looked at Bazarov. His pale face was twitching with abitter smile. 'This man did love me!' she thought, and she felt pityfor him, and held out her hand to him with sympathy.
But he too understood her. 'No!' he said, stepping back a pace. 'I'm apoor man, but I've never taken charity so far. Good-bye, and good luckto you.'
'I am certain we are not seeing each other for the last time,' AnnaSergyevna declared with an unconscious gesture.
'Anything may happen!' answered Bazarov, and he bowed and went away.
'So you are thinking of making yourself a nest?' he said the same dayto Arkady, as he packed his box, crouching on the floor. 'Well, it's acapital thing. But you needn't have been such a humbug. I expectedsomething from you in quite another quarter. Perhaps, though, it tookyou by surprise yourself?'
'I certainly didn't expect this when I parted from you,' answeredArkady; 'but why are you a humbug yourself, calling it "a capitalthing," as though I didn't know your opinion of marriage.'
'Ah, my dear fellow,' said Bazarov, 'how you talk! You see what I'mdoing; there seems to be an empty space in the box, and I am puttinghay in; that's how it is in the box of our life; we would stuff it upwith anything rather than have a void. Don't be offended, please; youremember, no doubt, the opinion I have always had of KaterinaSergyevna. Many a young lady's called clever simply because she cansigh cleverly; but yours can hold her own, and, indeed, she'll hold itso well that she'll have you under her thumb--to be sure, though,that's quite as it ought to be.' He slammed the lid to, and got up fromthe floor. 'And now, I say again, good-bye, for it's useless to deceiveourselves--we are parting for good, and you know that yourself ... youhave acted sensibly; you're not made for our bitter, rough, lonelyexistence. There's no dash, no hate in you, but you've the daring ofyouth and the fire of youth. Your sort, you gentry, can never getbeyond refined submission or refined indignation, and that's no good.You won't fight--and yet you fancy yourselves gallant chaps--but wemean to fight. Oh well! Our dust would get into your eyes, our mudwould bespatter you, but yet you're not up to our level, you'readmiring yourselves unconsciously, you like to abuse yourselves; butwe're sick of that--we want something else! we want to smash otherpeople! You're a capital fellow; but you're a sugary, liberal snob forall that--_ay volla-too_, as my parent is fond of saying.'
'You are parting from me for ever, Yevgeny,' responded Arkadymournfully; 'and have you nothing else to say to me?'
Bazarov scratched the back of his head. 'Yes, Arkady, yes, I have otherthings to say to you, but I'm not going to say them, because that'ssentimentalism--that means, mawkishness. And you get married as soon asyou can; and build your nest, and get children to your heart's content.They'll have the wit to be born in a better time than you and me. Aha!I see the horses are ready. Time's up! I've said good-bye to everyone.... What now? embracing, eh?'
Arkady flung himself on the neck of his former leader and friend, andthe tears fairly gushed from his eyes.
'That's what comes of being young!' Bazarov commented calmly. 'But Irest my hopes on Katerina Sergyevna. You'll see how quickly she'llconsole you! Good-bye, brother!' he said to Arkady when he had got intothe light cart, and, pointing to a pair of jackdaws sitting side byside on the stable roof, he added, 'That's for you! follow thatexample.'
'What does that mean?' asked Arkady.
'What? Are you so weak in natural history, or have you forgotten thatthe jackdaw is a most respectable family bird? An example to you!...Good-bye!'
The cart creaked and rolled away.
Bazarov had spoken truly. In talking that evening with Katya, Arkadycompletely forgot about his former teacher. He already began to followher lead, and Katya was conscious of this, and not surprised at it. Hewas to set off the next day for Maryino, to see Nikolai Petrovitch.Anna Sergyevna was not disposed to put any constraint on the youngpeople, and only on account of the proprieties did not leave them bythemselves for too long together. She magnanimously kept the princessout of their way; the latter had been reduced to a state of tearfulfrenzy by the news of the proposed marriage. At first Anna Sergyevnawas afraid the sight of their happiness might prove rather trying toherself, but it turned out quite the other way; this sight not only didnot distress her, it interested her, it even softened her at last. AnnaSergyevna felt both glad and sorry at this. 'It is clear that Bazarovwas right,' she thought; 'it has been curiosity, nothing but curiosity,and love of ease, and egoism ...'
'Children,' she said aloud, 'what do you say, is love a purelyimaginary feeling?'
But neither Katya nor Arkady even understood her. They were shy withher; the fragment of conversation they had involuntarily overheardhaunted their minds. But Anna Sergyevna soon set their minds at rest;and it was not difficult for her--she had set her own mind at rest.
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