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ng on her hand； and smelt the same oppressive odour which I had smelt five years ago in Mamma's room。 The doctor came three times a day； and there had been more than one consultation。 Yet the character of her haughty； ceremonious bearing towards all who lived with her； and particularly towards Papa； never changed in the least。 She went on emphasising certain words； raising her eyebrows； and saying 〃my dear；〃 just as she had always done。
Then for a few days we did not see her at all； and one morning St。 Jerome proposed to me that Woloda and I should take Katenka and Lubotshka for a drive during the hours generally allotted to study。 Although I observed that the street was lined with straw under the windows of Grandmamma's room； and that some men in blue stockings ＇Undertaker's men。＇ were standing at our gate； the reason never dawned upon me why we were being sent out at that unusual hour。 Throughout the drive Lubotshka and I were in that particularly merry mood when the least trifle； the least word or movement； sets one off laughing。
A pedlar went trotting across the road with a tray； and we laughed。 Some ragged cabmen； brandishing their reins and driving at full speed； overtook our sledge； and we laughed again。 Next； Philip's whip got caught in the side of the vehicle； and the way in which he said； 〃Bother the thing！〃 as he drove to disentangle it almost killed us with mirth。 Mimi looked displeased； and said that only silly people laughed for no reason at all； but Lubotshkaher face purple with suppressed merrimentneeded but to give me a sly glance； and we again burst out into such Homeric laughter； when our eyes met； that the tears rushed into them and we could not stop our paroxysms； although they nearly choked us。 Hardly； again； had we desisted a little when I looked at Lubotshka once more； and gave vent to one of the slang words which we then affected among ourselveswords which always called forth hilarity； and in a moment we were laughing again。
Just as we reached home； I was opening my mouth to make a splendid grimace at Lubotshka when my eye fell upon a black coffin…cover which was leaning against the gateand my mouth remained fixed in its gaping position。
〃Your Grandmamma is dead；〃 said St。 Jerome as he met us。 His face was very pale。
Throughout the whole time that Grandmamma's body was in the house I was oppressed with the fear of death； for the corpse served as a forcible and disagreeable reminder that I too must die some daya feeling which people often mistake for grief。 I had no sincere regret for Grandmamma； nor； I think； had any one else； since； although the house was full of sympathising callers； nobody seemed to mourn for her from their hearts except one mourner whose genuine grief made a great impression upon me； seeing that the mourner in question wasGasha！ She shut herself up in the garret； tore her hair and refused all consolation； saying that； now that her mistress was dead； she only wished to die herself。
I again assert that； in matters of feeling； it is the unexpected effects that constitute the most reliable signs of sincerity。
Though Grandmamma was no longer with us； reminiscences and gossip about her long went on in the house。 Such gossip referred mostly to her will； which she had made shortly before her death； and of which； as yet； no one knew the contents except her bosom friend； Prince Ivan Ivanovitch。 I could hear the servants talking excitedly together； and making innumerable conjectures as to the amount left and the probable beneficiaries： nor can I deny that the idea that we ourselves were probably the latter greatly pleased me。
Six weeks later； Nicolawho acted as regular news…agent to the houseinformed me that Grandmamma had left the whole of her fortune to Lubotshka； with； as her trustee until her majority； not Papa； but Prince Ivan Ivanovitch！
XXIV。 MYSELF
Only a few months remained before I was to matriculate for the University； yet I was making such good progress that I felt no apprehensions； and even took a pleasure in my studies。 I kept in good heart； and learnt my lessons fluently and intelligently。 The faculty I had selected was the mathematical oneprobably； to tell the truth； because the terms 〃tangent；〃 〃differentials；〃 〃integrals；〃 and so forth； pleased my fancy。
Though stout and broad…shouldered； I was shorter than Woloda； while my ugliness of face still remained and tormented me as much as ever。 By way of compensation； I tried to appear original。 Yet one thing comforted me； namely； that Papa had said that I had 〃an INTELLIGENT face。〃 I quite believed him。
St。 Jerome was not only satisfied with me； but actually had taken to praising me。 Consequently； I had now ceased to hate him。 In fact； when； one day； he said that； with my 〃capacities〃 and my 〃intellect；〃 it would be shameful for me not to accomplish this； that； or the other thing； I believe I almost liked him。
I had long ago given up keeping observation on the maidservants' room； for I was now ashamed to hide behind doors。 Likewise； I confess that the knowledge of Masha's love for Basil had greatly cooled my ardour for her； and that my passion underwent a final cure by their marriagea consummation to which I myself
contributed by； at Basil's request； asking Papa's consent to the union。
When the newly…married couple brought trays of cakes and sweetmeats to Papa as a thank…offering； and Masha； in a cap with blue ribbons； kissed each of us on the shoulder in token of her gratitude； I merely noticed the scent of the rose pomade on her hair； but felt no other sensation。
In general； I was beginning to get the better of my youthful defects； with the exception of the principal onethe one of which I shall often again have to speak in relating my life's historynamely； the tendency to abstract thought。
XXV。 WOLODA'S FRIENDS
Although； when in the society of Woloda's friends； I had to play a part that hurt my pride； I liked sitting in his room when he had visitors； and silently watching all they did。 The two who came most frequently to see him were a military adjutant called Dubkoff and a student named Prince Nechludoff。 Dubkoff was a little dark…haired； highly…strung man who； though short of stature and no longer in his first youth； had a pleasing and invariably cheerful air。 His was one of those limited natures which are agreeable through their very limitations； natures which cannot regard matters from every point of view； but which are nevertheless attracted by everything。 Usually the reasoning of such persons is false and one…sided； yet always genuine and taking； wherefore their narrow egotism seems both amiable and excusable。 There were two other reasons why Dubkoff had charms for Woloda and myselfnamely； the fact that he was of military appearance； and； secondly （and principally）； the fact that he was of a certain agean age with which young people are apt to associate that quality of 〃gentlemanliness〃 which is so highly esteemed at their time of life。 However； he was in very truth un homme comme il faut。 The only thing which I did not like about it all was that； in his presence； Woloda always seemed ashamed of my innocent behaviour； and still more so of my youthfulness。 As for Pr