At two o'clock precisely stroller homework, drawn by six horses, He drove into the yard and rolled around thick green turf circle. Old Berastau went up on the porch with two footmen Muromsky. son after him, he came on horseback and with him went to the dining room, where the table was already laid. Murom took his neighbors could not be fonder, He invited them to inspect the garden before dinner and a menagerie and led along the paths, thoroughly swept and strewn with sand. Old Berastau inwardly sorry for the lost labor and time for such useless whims, but she remained silent out of politeness. His son shared neither displeasure prudent landlord, no admiration Proud Anglomaniac; he was looking forward to the appearance of the master's daughter, of which many had heard, and although his heart, As we know, It was already taken, but the young beauty has always had the right to his imagination.
Returning to the living room, They sat three: old men remembered the old days and anecdotes of his life, and Alex wondered about, what role to play him in the presence of Lisa. He decided, that cold distraction anyway all decently prepared and due to this. table, he turned his head with such indifference, with such a proud nebrezhnostyu, that the heart of the most inveterate coquette was due certainly to shudder. Unluckily, instead Lisa, I became old Miss Jackson, nabelennaya, tightened, with downcast eyes and a small curtsy, and great military movement Alekseevo lost in vain. Before he could gather strength again, when the door opened again, and Lisa went this time. everyone stood; father began to view reviews, but suddenly he stopped and hastily bit his lips ... Lisa, his dark Lisa, Nabeul was head over heels, nasurmlena forest itself Miss Jackson; Toupees, much lighter own her hair, was whipped, Louis XIV wig; sleeve à l'imbécile # protruded like hoops at Madame de Pompadour;# waist was constricted, like the letter X, and all the diamonds of her mother, has not laid in a pawnshop, sparkled on her fingers, neck and ears. Alex could not find his Akulina in this funny and brilliant young lady. His father came to her arm, and he followed it with annoyance; when he touched her Belenky Palchikov, it seemed, they trembled. Meanwhile, he caught a glimpse of leg, with the intention of the exposed and shod with all kinds of coquetry. It reconciled him somewhat with the rest of her outfit. With regard to whiting and to antimony, in the simplicity of his heart, admit, he had them at first glance did not notice, and after not suspected. Grigory Ivanovich remembered his promise and tried not to show surprise and mind; but the mischief of his daughter seemed to him so funny, that he could hardly hold. Not to laugh was prim Englishwoman. she guessed, antimony and whiting were stolen from her chest, and a crimson blush of annoyance broke through the artificial whiteness of her face. She threw the fiery glances at the young Wives, which, postponing to another time any explanation, pritvorяlasь, if they do not notice.
Seli for chair. Alex went on to play the role of the scattered thoughtfully. Lisa affectations, I said through clenched teeth, singsong, and only in French. Father constantly stare at her, not realizing its goals, but finding it all very amusing. Englishwoman raged and silent. Ivan Petrovich was one at home: el for dvoih, I drank in the measure, He laughed, and his laughter every hour friendlier talking and laughing.
Finally he got up from the table; guests left, Grigory Ivanovich gave way to laughter and questions. "Whatever you want to fool them? - he asked Lisa. - Do you know? Bleach law you agree; I do not enter into the secrets of a lady's toilet, but in your place I would have been belitsya; of course, not too much, a little ". Lisa was delighted with the success of his fiction. She hugged her father, I promised him to think about his advice and ran to propitiate an angry Miss Jackson, where violence has agreed to open its door to her and listen to her excuses. Lisa was ashamed to be seen by strangers such Chernavka; she did not dare to ask ... she was sure, that the good, dear Miss Jackson forgive her ... and so on., etc.. Miss Jackson, making sure, Lisa did not think to pick it up to ridicule, reassured, Lisa kissed and reconciliation pledge gave her a jar of white British, that Lisa and adopted with the expression of gratitude.
The reader will guess, that the next morning Lisa did not hesitate to come to the grove dating. "You were, his, vecor in our lord? - she said at once Alexei, - what seemed to you young lady?"Alex replied, that he did not notice. "Pity", - replied Lisa. "And why should?"- said Alexey. "Wherefore, I would like to ask you, justice Is, say ... "-" What do they say?"-" Pravda li, say, if I look like a young lady?"-" What nonsense! It before you freak freak ". «Brothers, his, sin to tell you this; Our fair-haired young lady such, this woman of fashion! Where shall I be with her!"Alex swore to her, that it is better to all kinds of little white ladies, and, to reassure her completely, I began to describe her mistress so funny features, Lisa laughed heartily. "But w, - she said with a sigh, - though the young lady, can, and funny, I still before her fool the illiterate ". - "And! - said Alexei, - there is something to lament! Yes when you want, I immediately you will learn to read and write ". - "A vzapravdu, - Lisa said, - Do not try to actually?"-" Very well, Darling; start right now ". they sat. Alex took out his pencil and notebook, and learn the alphabet Akulina surprisingly soon. Alex could not Hanadiv its cunning. The next morning, she wanted to try and write; first pencil would not obey her, but after a few minutes she and draw in the letters has become quite decently. "What a miracle! - said Alexey. - Yes, we have the doctrine is rather, than the Lancastrian system ". Indeed, the third lesson was sorting Akulina have to spell "Natalia, Boyars daughter * ", interrupting remarks reading, from where Alex was truly amazed, and a circular sheet izmarala aphorisms, selected from the same story.
Week later, and between them started up correspondence. Post office was established in the hollow of an old oak. Nastia secretly corrected position of the postman. to bring
Alex large hand-written letters and there on the blue plain paper Karakulko his beloved. Akulina probably got used to the best warehouse speeches, and her mind visibly evolved and formed.
Meanwhile, a recent acquaintance between Ivan Petrovich Berestov and Grigory Muromsky increasingly strengthened, and soon turned into friendship, here are the facts: Muromsky often I thought about, that Ivan Petrovich's death all his possessions will pass to Alexei Ivanovich; in that case, Alexei Ivanovich will be one of the richest landowners of the province and that there it is no reason not to marry Lisa. The old Berastau, on his side, although he admitted in his neighbor a folly (or, in his words, nonsense English), but also did not deny it and many different advantages, eg: rare resourcefulness; Grigory was a close relative of the Count Pronsk, man noble and strong; Count could be very useful to Alexei, and Murom (so thought Ivan Petrovich), probably, overjoyed occasion to give his daughter advantageously. The elderly as long pondered all this to myself every, that finally with each other and negotiations, hugged, They had promised to deal the order process and began to fuss about him each with a hand. Muromsky had difficulty: persuade her to meet Betsy shorter with Alexey, which I had not seen it since the memorable dinner. Seemed, they each other do not really like; at least Alex is not already back to Priluchino, and Lisa went to her room whenever, Ivan Petrovich udostoival of your visit. But, I thought Grigory Ivanovich, If Alex is my every day, Betsy the same should be in love with him. It is in the nature of things. All Slade.
Ivan Petrovich less worried about the success of their intentions. The same evening, he called his son to his office, He lit his pipe and, after a little silence, said: "What are you, Alyosha, for a long time about the military service not Rumor? Ile hussar uniform have you not tempted!" - "Not, father, - Alex responded respectfully, - I see, you do not want, so I went to the hussars; it is my duty to obey you ". - "Good, - she replied Ivan Petrovich, - I see, you are a dutiful son; it is comforting to me; Well I do not want and I'll nevolit; do not urge you to start immediately ... ... in the civil service; and meanwhile I intend to marry you ".
- To whom it, father? - I asked the bewildered Alex.
- On Lizaveta Grigorievna Murom, - she replied Ivan Petrovich; - at least where the bride; isn't it true?
- Father, I was about marriage yet I do not think.
- You do not think, so I thought and thought better of you.
- Will your. Lisa Muromskaya I do not like.
- After pleasant. can endure, slyubitsya.
- I do not feel able to make her happiness.
- None of your grief - her happiness. What? so that you will read to the parent? good!
- As you please, I do not want to get married and not married.
- Will you marry, or I will curse, and the estate, how god world! sell and promotaû, and you will not leave mite. I'll give you three days to think it over, but for the time being do not dare to my eyes seem.
Alex knew, that if my father would take it into his head, it really that, in the words of Taras Skotinin, he and nail not vyshibesh; but Alex was priest, and as it was difficult to argue. He went to his room and began to think about the limits of parental authority, Lizaveta Grigorievna, a solemn promise to his father to make it to the poor, and finally about Akulina. The first time he saw clearly, that he was passionately in love with it; of romantic idea of marrying a peasant and live for his work came to him, and the more he thought about this and decisive actions, moreover I found it prudent. For some time bye in the grove were discontinued due to rainy weather. He wrote a letter Akulina the clearest handwriting and the most rabid syllable, She declared her about the risks they perdition, and immediately he offered her his hand. Immediately he took the letter to the post office, in the hollow, and went to bed very pleased with himself.
The next day Alex, firm in its intention to, early in the morning I went to Muromsky, in order to explain to him openly. He hoped to incite his generosity and win him to their side. "Will Gregory House Ivanovic?" - he asked, stopping his horse in front of the porch of the castle priluchinskogo. "Not at all, - servant answered; - Grigory morning deigned to go ". - "How boring!"- thought Alex. "Does House, at least, Lizaveta Grigorievna?"-" House with ". Aleksei dismounted, He handed the reins and the footman went unannounced.
"Everything will be decided, - he thought, going to the living room;- obъyasnyus with her own ". He entered and was dumbfounded ...! Lisa ... no Akulina, Pretty dark Akulina, not Dress, and in a white morning dress, I sat by the window and read his letter; she was so busy, not heard, as he walked. Alex could not help rejoicing. Lisa started, I looked up, She screamed and tried to escape. He rushed her to keep. "Akulina, Akulina!.."Lisa tried to get rid of him ...« Mais laissez-moi donc, monsieur; but are you crazy?#"- she repeated, turning away. "Akulina! My friend, Akulina!"- he repeated, kissing her hands. Miss Jackson, witness this scene, dont know, what to think. At that moment the door opened, and Grigory entered.
- To her! - said Muromsky, - that you, it seems, thing already quite harmoniously ...
Readers will relieve me from unnecessary responsibilities describe isolation.
