seen in her a woman like many others in Petersburg. Pale, it is true, her eyes lacked lustre, her blouse hung in straight folds over her narrow shoulders and flat chest, her movements were slow, almost inert But are rosy cheeks,
bright eyes, and lively gestures characteristics of our
beauties? And as for grace of figure Neither
Phidias nor Praxitiles could have found here a Venus for their chisel.
No, one must not look for classical beauty in the fair
women of the North ; they are not statues; they fall into no
•antique pose, such as the beauty of the Greek women has
been immortalised in; nor have they the form which would
take such poses ; they have not the faultlessly correct lines
of the body Sensuality does not flow from their
eyes in moist brilliance ; on their half-opened lips there is not the melting, frankly passionate smile, which burns on the lips of the women of the South. To our women is given* a different, higher beauty in compensation. No sculptor could catch the light of thought in the traits of their countenances, the conflict of will with passion, the play of unutterable fluctuations of the soul with innumerable subtle shades of caprice, apparent simplicity, anger and kindness, hidden delights and sufferings .... all these like flying sparks thrown off by the soul that is their centre
/'From whatever cause, no one seeing Lizaveta Alexan-| drovna for the first time would have noticed anything wronff with her. Only one who had known her before, who remembered the freshness of her face, the brilliance of her glance, through which at times one could not see the colour of her eyes—they seemed to swim in rich tremulous waves of light—who remembered her splendid shoulders and shapely bosom, would have looked with pained surprise at her now, and would, if he were not indifferent to her, have been heavy at heart, as now Piotr Ivanitch was, with a sympathetic sorrow which he was afraid to admit to himself.
He went gently into the room and sat down near her.
' What are you doing ? ' he asked.
' I am looking through my account-book,' she answered. ' Only think, Piotr Ivanitch; in the course of last month nearly a thousand and a half roubles gone on food; it's beyond everything!'
Without saying a word he took the book from her and laid it on the table.
' Listen to me,' he began, ' the doctor says that my complaint may get worse here; he advises us to go away to some watering-place abroad. What do you say to it ? '
'What do I say? The doctor's opinion in.such a matter is of more importance than mine, I imagine. We must go away, if he advises it.'
' But you ? Would you wish to make such a journey ? '
' If you like.'
' But perhaps you would rather stay here ? '
' Very well, I will stay.'
' Which of the two ? ' asked Piotr Ivanitch with some impatience.
' Make the arrangements for yourself and for me too, as you choose, ,, she replied with despondent indifference; ' if you direct me I will go, if not I will stay here.'
' You cannot stay here,' said Piotr Ivanitch; ' the doctor says that your health is suffering somewhat through the climate.'
'What did he base that idea on?' said Lizaveta Alexandrovna; ' I am well, I feel nothing amiss .'
' Continual traveiung,' said .Fiotr xvamtcn, •¦ will perhaps be too exhausting for you too; wouldn't you like to stay at Moscow with your aunt while I am abroad ? '
' Very well; I will go to Moscow then.'
'Or shall we not go together to the Crimea for the summer?'
' Very well, to the Crimea then.'
Piotr Ivanitch did not persist; he got up from the sofa, and began to pace about as he had done in his study, then he stood still near her.
' You don't care where you go ? ' he said.
' No, it's all the same,' she said.
u Why is it so ? '
' Say what you like, Piotr Ivanitch,' she observed, ' we must cut down our expenses; a thousand five hundred roubles on food alone !'
He took the book from her and threw it under the table.
'Why do you occupy yourself with it so much?' he inquired ; ' do you regret the money ? '
' But what eke should I do ? Why, I am your wife ? You yourself taught me ... . and now you reproach me with occupying myself .... I am doing my duty!'
' Listen, Liza!' said Piotr Ivanitch, after a short silence ; ' you are trying to transform your nature, to conquer yourself .... that's not right. I never required it of you; you will not make me believe that these wretched things (he pointed to the account-book) could really occupy your mind. Why do you want to force yourself? I give you complete freedom.'
' Good Heavens! what do I want with freedom,' said Lizaveta Alexandrovna,' what am I to do with it ? Hitherto you have disposed of me and yourself so well, so wisely, that I have got out of the way of being independent; continue to do so for the future; and I shall have no need of freedom.'
Both were silent
' It is a long while, Liza,' Piotr Ivanitch began again, 'since I have heard from you any request, any desire of any kind or fancy.'
' Th^re $ nothing I want,' she said.
' Have you not any special .... secret wishes ?' he asked sympathetically, looking steadily at her.
She hesitated whether to speak or not
Piotr Ivanitch noticed it
' Tell me, for God's sake, tell me !' he went on, ' your wishes shall be mine, I will obey them as a law.'
' Very well, then,' she answered; ' if you could do this for me ... . give up our Fridays .... these entertainments wear me out.'
Piotr Ivanitch grew gloomy.
'You live like a prisoner even now,' he said, after a pause, ' and when your friends cease to meet round you on Fridays, you will be completely in solitude. However, so be it ; you wish it .... it shall be done. What do you want to do ? '
' Hand me over your accounts, your books to keep, some business .... I will work at them . . . .' she said, and stretched under the table to pick up the account-book.
To Piotr Ivanitch this seemed like a piece of ill-acted simulation.
' Liza 1' he said reproachfully.
The book remained under the table.
'I am wondering whether you would not renew some acquaintances which we have quite dropped? I was meaning to give a ball with that idea, so that you should have some amusement '
' Oh, no, no!' said Lizaveta Alexandrovna in dismay, ' for goodness' sake, no, it's not necessary .... How is it possible .... a ball!'
' What is there to alarm you in it ? At your age balls do not lose their attractions, you might still dance.'
' No, Piotr Ivanitch, I entreat you, don't make plans!' she said earnestly; ' to have to think about dress, to get oneself up, receive a crowd, go out .... Heaven forbid !'
'You seem to wish to spend all your days in a blouse ? '
'Yes, if you don't object, I would rather not change it. What is the object of dressing up ? it's a mere waste of money and useless trouble without any advantage.'
'Do you know what?' said Piotr Ivanitch suddenly, ' they say that Rubini is engaged to be here this winter; we shall have a round of Italian Opera; I will take a box for us ... . what do you say to it ? '
' She did not speak.
' Liza!'
