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so true； she could not have been expected to preserve her mental
and moral balance。 At war with herself； she could not give to
others that feeling of peace which was not her own。 It was only
later； when united at last with the man of her choice that she
developed those uncommon gifts of mind and heart which compelled
the respect and admiration even of our foes。 Meeting with calm
fortitude the cruel trials of a life reflecting all the national
and social misfortunes of the community； she realised the highest
conceptions of duty as a wife； a mother and a patriot； sharing
the exile of her husband and representing nobly the ideal of
Polish womanhood。 Our Uncle Nicholas was not a man very
accessible to feelings of affection。 Apart from his worship for
Napoleon the Great； he loved really； I believe； only three people
in the world： his motheryour great…grandmother； whom you have
seen but cannot possibly remember； his brother； our father； in
whose house he lived for so many years； and of all of us； his
nephews and nieces grown up round him； your mother alone。 The
modest； lovable qualities of the youngest sister he did not seem
able to see。 It was I who felt most profoundly this unexpected
stroke of death falling upon the family less than a year after I
had become its head。 It was terribly unexpected。 Driving home
one wintry afternoon to keep me company in our empty house； where
I had to remain permanently administering the estate and
attending to the complicated affairs（the girls took it in turn
week and week about）driving； as I said； from the house of the
Countess Tekla Potochka； where our invalid mother was staying
then to be near a doctor； they lost the road and got stuck in a
snowdrift。 She was alone with the coachman and old Valery； the
personal servant of our late father。 Impatient of delay while
they were trying to dig themselves out； she jumped out of the
sledge and went to look for the road herself。 All this happened
in '51； not ten miles from the house in which we are sitting now。
The road was soon found； but snow had begun to fall thickly
again； and they were four more hours getting home。 Both the men
took off their sheepskin…lined great…coats and used all their own
rugs to wrap her up against the cold； notwithstanding her
protests； positive orders and even struggles； as Valery
afterwards related to me。 'How could I；' he remonstrated with
her； 'go to meet the blessed soul of my late master if I let any
harm come to you while there's a spark of life left in my body？'
When they reached home at last the poor old man was stiff and
speechless from exposure； and the coachman was in not much better
plight； though he had the strength to drive round to the stables
himself。 To my reproaches for venturing out at all in such
weather； she answered characteristically that she could not bear
the thought of abandoning me to my cheerless solitude。 It is
incomprehensible how it was that she was allowed to start。 I
suppose it had to be！ She made light of the cough which came on
next day； but shortly afterwards inflammation of the lungs set
in； and in three weeks she was no more！ She was the first to be
taken away of the young generation under my care。 Behold the
vanity of all hopes and fears！ I was the most frail at birth of
all the children。 For years I remained so delicate that my
parents had but little hope of bringing me up； and yet I have
survived five brothers and two sisters； and many of my
contemporaries； I have outlived my wife and daughter tooand
from all those who have had some knowledge at least of these old
times you alone are left。 It has been my lot to lay in an early
grave many honest hearts； many brilliant promises； many hopes
full of life。〃
He got up brusquely； sighed； and left me； saying： 〃We will dine
in half an hour。〃 Without moving I listened to his quick steps
resounding on the waxed floor of the next room； traversing the
ante…room lined with bookshelves； where he paused to put his
chibouk in the pipe…stand before passing into the drawing…room
（these were all en suite）； where he became inaudible on the thick
carpet。 But I heard the door of his study…bedroom close。 He was
then sixty…two years old and had been for a quarter of a century
the wisest； the firmest； the most indulgent of guardians；
extending over me a paternal care and affection； a moral support
which I seemed to feel always near me in the most distant parts
of the earth。
As to Mr。 Nicholas B。； sub…lieutenant of 1808； lieutenant of 1813
in the French Army； and for a short time Officier d'Ordonnance of
Marshal Marmont； afterwards Captain in the 2nd Regiment of
Mounted Rifles in the Polish Armysuch as it existed up to 1830
in the reduced kingdom established by the Congress of ViennaI
must say that from all that more distant past； known to me
traditionally and a little de visu； and called out by the words
of the man just gone away； he remains the most incomplete figure。
It is obvious that I must have seen him in '64； for it is certain
that he would not have missed the opportunity of seeing my mother
for what he must have known would be the last time。 From my
early boyhood to this day； if I try to call up his image； a sort
of mist rises before my eyes； a mist in which I perceive vaguely
only a neatly brushed head of white hair （which is exceptional in
the case of the B。 family； where it is the rule for men to go
bald in a becoming manner； before thirty） and a thin； curved；
dignified nose； a feature in strict accordance with the physical
tradition of the B。 family。 But it is not by these fragmentary
remains of perishable mortality that he lives in my memory。 I
knew； at a very early age； that my grand…uncle Nicholas B。 was a
Knight of the Legion of Honour and that he had also the Polish
Cross for valour Virtuti Militari。 The knowledge of these
glorious facts inspired in me an admiring veneration； yet it is
not that sentiment； strong as it was； which resumes for me the
force and the significance of his personality。 It is overborne
by another and complex impression of awe； compassion and horror。
Mr。 Nicholas B。 remains for me the unfortunate and miserable （but
heroic） being who once upon a time had eaten a dog。
It is a good forty years since I heard the tale； and the effect
has not worn off yet。 I believe this is the very first； say；
realistic； story I heard in my life； but all the same I don't
know why I should have been so frightfully impressed。 Of course
I know what our village dogs look lik