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ready； and everything on the washing…stand and dressing…table was ready
for use and properly laid out his soap； his tooth and hair brushes； his nail
scissors and files。 He washed his hands and face in a leisurely fashion；
cleaned and manicured his nails； pushed back the skin with the towel； and
sponged his stout white body from head to foot。 Then he began to brush
his hair。 Standing in front of the mirror； he first brushed his curly beard；
which was beginning to turn grey； with two English brushes； parting it
down the middle。 Then he combed his hair； which was already showing
signs of getting thin； with a large tortoise…shell comb。 Putting on his
underlinen； his socks； his boots； his trousers which were held up by
elegant bracesand his waistcoat； he sat down coatless in an easy chair to
rest after dressing； lit a cigarette； and began to think where he should go
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for a walk that morningto the park or to Littleports （what a funny name
for a wood！）。 He thought he would go to Littleports。 Then he must answer
Simon Nicholaevich's letter； but there was time enough for that。 Getting
up with an air of resolution； he took out his watch。 It was already five
minutes to nine。 He put his watch into his waistcoat pocket； and his purse…
… with all that was left of the hundred and eighty roubles he had taken for
his journey； and for the incidental expenses of his fortnight's stay with his
cousinand then he placed into his trouser pocket his cigarette…case and
electric cigarette…lighter； and two clean handkerchiefs into his coat pockets；
and went out of the room； leaving as usual the mess and confusion which
he had made to be cleared up by Stephen； an old man of over fifty。
Stephen expected Volgin to 〃remunerate〃 him； as he said； being so
accustomed to the work that he did not feel the slightest repugnance for it。
Glancing at a mirror； and feeling satisfied with his appearance； Volgin
went into the dining…room。
There； thanks to the efforts of the housekeeper； the footman； and
under…butlerthe latter had risen at dawn in order to run home to sharpen
his son's scythebreakfast was ready。 On a spotless white cloth stood a
boiling； shiny； silver samovar （at least it looked like silver）； a coffee…pot；
hot milk； cream； butter； and all sorts of fancy white bread and biscuits。 The
only persons at table were the second son of the house； his tutor （a
student）； and the secretary。 The host； who was an active member of the
Zemstvo and a great farmer； had already left the house； having gone at
eight o'clock to attend to his work。 Volgin； while drinking his coffee；
talked to the student and the secretary about the weather； and yesterday's
vint； and discussed Theodorite's peculiar behaviour the night before； as he
had been very rude to his father without the slightest cause。 Theodorite
was the grown…up son of the house； and a ne'er…do…well。 His name was
Theodore； but some one had once called him Theodorite either as a joke or
to tease him； and； as it seemed funny； the name stuck to him； although his
doings were no longer in the least amusing。 So it was now。 He had been
to the university； but left it in his second year； and joined a regiment of
horse guards； but he gave that up also； and was now living in the country；
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doing nothing； finding fault； and feeling discontented with everything。
Theodorite was still in bed： so were the other members of the household…
…Anna Mikhailovna； its mistress； her sister； the widow of a general； and a
landscape painter who lived with the family。
Volgin took his panama hat from the hall table （it had cost twenty
roubles） and his cane with its carved ivory handle； and went out。
Crossing the veranda； gay with flowers； he walked through the flower
garden； in the centre of which was a raised round bed； with rings of red；
white； and blue flowers； and the initials of the mistress of the house done
in carpet bedding in the centre。 Leaving the flower garden Volgin
entered the avenue of lime trees； hundreds of years old； which peasant
girls were tidying and sweeping with spades and brooms。 The gardener
was busy measuring； and a boy was bringing something in a cart。
Passing these Volgin went into the park of at least a hundred and twenty…
five acres； filled with fine old trees； and intersected by a network of well…
kept walks。 Smoking as he strolled Volgin took his favourite path past the
summer…house into the fields beyond。 It was pleasant in the park； but it
was still nicer in the fields。 On the right some women who were digging
potatoes formed a mass of bright red and white colour； on the left were
wheat fields； meadows； and grazing cattle； and in the foreground； slightly
to the right； were the dark； dark oaks of Littleports。 Volgin took a deep
breath； and felt glad that he was alive； especially here in his cousin's home；
where he was so thoroughly enjoying the rest from his work at the bank。
〃Lucky people to live in the country；〃 he thought。 〃True； what with
his farming and his Zemstvo； the owner of the estate has very little peace
even in the country； but that is his own lookout。〃 Volgin shook his head；
lit another cigarette； and； stepping out firmly with his powerful feet clad in
his thick English boots； began to think of the heavy winter's work in the
bank that was in front of him。 〃I shall be there every day from ten to two；
sometimes even till five。 And the board meetings 。 。 。 And private
interviews with clients。 。 。 。 Then the Duma。 Whereas here。 。 。 。 It is
delightful。 It may be a little dull； but it is not for long。〃 He smiled。 After
a stroll in Littleports he turned back； going straight across a fallow field
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which was being ploughed。 A herd of cows； calves； sheep； and pigs；
which belonged to the village community； w