self that my conduct at the inn at Simbirsk had been very silly, and I felt guilty toward Saveliitch. The old man was seated on the front of the vehicle in dull si

ow I was wrong; I was a fool yesterday, and offended you without cause, but I

I have left you alone at the inn? How could it have been avoided? The devil had a hand in it! I wanted to go and s

ard and a gambler. To console dear old Saveliitch, I gave him my word, that for the future I would not dispose of single kopeck without his consent. Littl

ded a desert, sad and wild, broken be little hills and d

s. Suddenly my coachman, looking at a certain point and addressing me, "My lor

at

is some wind ahead; do you see

t ma

is over yonder?" pointing

than the white stepp

re! that li

to me that this little cloud foretold a chasse-neige - a snowdrift. I had heard of the drifting snows of this region, a

the next relay of horses. I gave orders, therefore, to redouble our speed

, growing, extending, and finally invading the whole sky. A fine snow began to fall, which sudde

th the sea of snow which the wind raised up fr

cried the coachman, "it

and storm. The wind blew with an expression

, covering us. The horses went at a w

go on?" I said

rom the kibitka. "God knows where we are

him. Saveliitch t

aken some tea and slept till morning; the storm would have been over, and we c

d up around the kibitka; the horses stood motionless, now and then shivering. The c

itch g

ad, but I could only see the whirling of the snow-drift. All at once I thought I saw

lord," he replied, re-mounting to his seat; "it is not a kibitka

n object which was coming toward us. In two minute

ted my coachman; "tell u

an. "I am on solid ground, but wh

"do you know this country? Can you

ther. But one can not help losing the road in this weather. It is better to stop here and wa

cy of God and pass the night on the steppe, when the traveler, seating

ng is near. Turn to

ht?" said the coachman, sulki

ell as the harness, belong to another

coachman's

I to the new-comer, "that

" said he, "and I have smelled smo

wherever the other wished. The horses walked heavily through the deep snow. The kibitka advanced but slow

ood of the kibitka, wrapped myself up in my pelisse, and fell asleep, roc

d. Saveliitch was

rd," said he, "w

rrived?" said I,

mbled right upon the hedge of the dwelling. Com

e master of the house met us at the door, holding a lantern under the flaps of his long coat, the Cossack cafetan. He l

er Iaik, was a peasant of some s

he asked for fire to make me a few cups of tea, of which

guide?" I aske

above. I raised my eyes to the loft, and saw

are you

t's the use of concealment? I had a touloup, but I left it yesterday i

the pine torch his appearance was remarkable. A man about forty years of age, medium height, slight but with broad shoulders. His black beard was turning grey; large, quick, r

of tea. He tasted it

order me a glass of brandy; te

m the shelf of a closet a bottle and a glass, and

ain in our district. Whe

known proverb: "'The sparrow was in the orchard eating flax-seed; the gr

gan to ring the bell for Vespers, but the priest's wife forbade it

uncle," said

ere shall be mushrooms, there will be a basket to put them in. P

d to his loft. I did not understand a word of this thief's slang. It was only in the sequel that I learned that they spoke of the affairs of the ar

n peasant. The warm bricks of the hot-air chamber of the stove diffused a grateful heat, and soon the old man and the host, who had laid himself on the floor, were snoring. I stretched myself upon a bench, and slept like a dead. Awaking next morning quite late, I saw that the hurricane was over. The sun shone out, the snow extended in the distance like a sheet of dazz

to the inn? Your will be done, my lord, but we have not a rouble to spare. If

was entirely at his discretion. But it was very unpleasant not to be

im half a rouble, give one of my coats - he is

tch, "what does he want with your touloup? He w

is lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me a coat

at the child has not yet attained to full reason, and there you are, glad to pillage him, t

play the logician; bri

g -"a touloup of hare-skin! Quite ne

great difficulty, bursting all the seams. Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well p

to the sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurr

bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn-out uniform, recalled the sold

my father

since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, see what a fine fellow of a son he has. Ah!

e before all, but is this the way to write to an old friend? Hum -'Field-marshal Munich - little Caroline

" said he, "that must

of innocence, "to treat a pers

be done for you. You shall be an officer in the -- regiment, and not to lose time, go tomorrow to the fort of Belogorsk, where you will serve under Captain Mironoff, a brave and ho

the Guards almost from my mother's womb? To what has it led? To the re

n economy reigned at table, and I think the fear of having an occasional

leave of the General an