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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
AFTER THE DANCE
〃AND you say that a man cannot； of himself； understand what is
good and evil； that it is all environment； that the environment swamps the
man。 But I believe it is all chance。 Take my own case 。 。 。〃
Thus spoke our excellent friend； Ivan Vasilievich； after a conversation
between us on the impossibility of improving individual character without
a change of the conditions under which men live。 Nobody had actually
said that one could not of oneself understand good and evil； but it was a
habit of Ivan Vasilievich to answer in this way the thoughts aroused in his
own mind by conversation； and to illustrate those thoughts by relating
incidents in his own life。 He often quite forgot the reason for his story in
telling it； but he always told it with great sincerity and feeling。
He did so now。
〃Take my own case。 My whole life was moulded； not by
environment； but by something quite different。〃
〃By what； then？〃 we asked。
〃Oh； that is a long story。 I should have to tell you about a great many
things to make you understand。〃
〃Well； tell us then。〃
Ivan Vasilievich thought a little； and shook his head。
〃My whole life；〃 he said； 〃was changed in one night； or； rather；
morning。〃
〃Why； what happened？〃 one of us asked。
〃What happened was that I was very much in love。 I have been in
love many times； but this was the most serious of all。 It is a thing of the
past； she has married daughters now。 It was Varinka B。〃 Ivan
Vasilievich mentioned her surname。 〃Even at fifty she is remarkably
handsome； but in her youth； at eighteen； she was exquisitetall； slender；
graceful； and stately。 Yes； stately is the word； she held herself very erect；
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
by instinct as it were； and carried her head high； and that together with her
beauty and height gave her a queenly air in spite of being thin； even bony
one might say。 It might indeed have been deterring had it not been for her
smile； which was always gay and cordial； and for the charming light in her
eyes and for her youthful sweetness。〃
〃What an entrancing description you give； Ivan Vasilievich！〃
〃Description； indeed！ I could not possibly describe her so that you
could appreciate her。 But that does not matter； what I am going to tell
you happened in the forties。 I was at that time a student in a provincial
university。 I don't know whether it was a good thing or no； but we had no
political clubs； no theories in our universities then。 We were simply young
and spent our time as young men do； studying and amusing ourselves。 I
was a very gay； lively； careless fellow； and had plenty of money too。 I had
a fine horse； and used to go tobogganing with the young ladies。 Skating
had not yet come into fashion。 I went to drinking parties with my
comradesin those days we drank nothing but champagneif we had no
champagne we drank nothing at all。 We never drank vodka； as they do
now。 Evening parties and balls were my favourite amusements。 I danced
well； and was not an ugly fellow。〃
〃Come； there is no need to be modest；〃 interrupted a lady near him。
〃We have seen your photograph。 Not ugly； indeed！ You were a
handsome fellow。〃
〃Handsome； if you like。 That does not matter。 When my love for
her was at its strongest； on the last day of the carnival； I was at a ball at the
provincial marshal's； a good…natured old man； rich and hospitable； and a
court chamberlain。 The guests were welcomed by his wife； who was as
good…natured as himself。 She was dressed in puce…coloured velvet； and
had a diamond diadem on her forehead； and her plump； old white
shoulders and bosom were bare like the portraits of Empress Elizabeth； the
daughter of Peter the Great。
〃It was a delightful ball。 It was a splendid room； with a gallery for
the orchestra； which was famous at the time； and consisted of serfs
belonging to a musical landowner。 The refreshments were magnificent；
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
and the champagne flowed in rivers。 Though I was fond of champagne I
did not drink that night； because without it I was drunk with love。 But I
made up for it by dancing waltzes and polkas till I was ready to dropof
course； whenever possible； with Varinka。 She wore a white dress with a
pink sash； white shoes； and white kid gloves； which did not quite reach to
her thin pointed elbows。 A disgusting engineer named Anisimov robbed
me of the mazurka with herto this day I cannot forgive him。 He asked
her for the dance the minute she arrived； while I had driven to the hair…
dresser's to get a pair of gloves； and was late。 So I did not dance the
mazurka with her； but with a German girl to whom I had previously paid a
little attention； but I am afraid I did not behave very politely to her that
evening。 I hardly spoke or looked at her； and saw nothing but the tall；
slender figure in a white dress； with a pink sash； a flushed； beaming；
dimpled face； and sweet； kind eyes。 I was not alone； they were all looking
at her with admiration； the men and women alike； although she outshone
all of them。 They could not help admiring her。
〃Although I was not nominally her partner for the mazurka； I did as a
matter of fact dance nearly the whole time with her。 She always came
forward boldly the whole length of the room to pick me out。 I flew to
meet her without waiting to be chosen； and she thanked me with a smile
for my intuition。 When I was brought up to her with somebody else； and
she guessed wrongly； she took the other man's hand with a shrug of her
slim shoulders； and smiled at me regretfully。
〃Whenever there was a waltz figure in the mazurka； I waltzed with her
for a long time； and breathing fast and smiling； she would say； 'Encore'；
and I went on waltzing and waltzing； as though unconscious of any bodily
existence。〃
〃Come now； how could you be unconscious of it with your arm round