Chapter 9 village girl

Dusinka!Look good in any way you dress up. Bogdanovich① ① Bogdanovich (1743-1830), a Russian poet, the verses here are quoted from the second part of his long poem "Dushinka". Ivan Petrovich Berestov's estate is located in a remote province of our country.As a young man he served in the Guards, and when he was discharged at the beginning of 1797 he returned to the country, where he never left.He married a poor noblewoman who died of dystocia while he was on the hunting grounds away from the estate.The business of running the estate soon brought him relief.He designed and built a house of his own, set up a tweed mill, tripled his income, and considered himself the most intelligent man in the neighbourhood, which the neighboring landowners could not object to, for they often carried The whole family and a group of dogs came to his house as guests.Usually he wears a cotton velvet jacket, and on holidays he changes into a homemade dress.He kept his own books, and read nothing but the Privy Council Gazette.Generally speaking, everyone liked him, although he was considered haughty.There was only one close neighbor who did not get along with him, a true Russian gentleman named Grigory Ivanovitch Muromsky.He squandered most of his fortune in Moscow, and when his wife died, he returned to his last estate.Here he didn't change his bad habits of a dissolute and wealthy lord, but just changed it in a new way.He cultivated an English garden, and spent almost the rest of his fortune.His grooms were dressed like English riders.He hired an English lady as a governess for his daughter.The work in his fields is copied from English farming methods:

Copying foreign methods will not grow Russian crops①.Although Grigory Ivanovich's expenses were greatly reduced, his income did not increase, and even in the country he figured out a way of taking out new debts.Everyone thought he was not stupid, because he was the first person in the province to think of mortgaging his estate to the Guardianship.In the eyes of ordinary people at that time, this method was very complicated and risky. ① Quoted from the poet Shakhovsky's "Satire". ②Guardian House is the organ of Tsarist Russia to manage and care for orphans, widows and illegitimate children.

Among his critics, Berestov was considered the most powerful.Disgust with the new order was a prominent feature of Berestov's character.Talking about his neighbor as a British fan, he can't calm down, and he is constantly looking for opportunities to criticize and find fault.If he showed a visitor around his estate, and the visitor praised how well it was run, he would reply: "Yes, sir!" He said with a sly sneer, "I am here with my neighbor Grigory Ivanovich." It's completely different there. It's no wonder that we didn't lose our fortunes by copying the British method! But we used the old Russian method to fill our stomachs." These words and similar jokes were embellished and vivid due to the enthusiasm of the neighbors. The shadow reached Grigory Ivanovitch's ears.The British fan, like our journalist, cannot bear this kind of criticism.He lost his temper and called the fastidious critic a bear and a bumpkin.

Such was the relationship between the two landowners when Berestov's son returned to his father in the country.His son was studying in a certain university and planned to join the army, but his father disagreed.Young people feel themselves totally unfit for civil service.Father and son refused to give in to each other, and young Alexei lived the life of a country master for a while, growing a mustache in case of emergencies. ①At that time, officers must have mustaches. Alexei was a good one.It would be a pity if his well-proportioned figure had never been taut in a military uniform, if instead of showing off on a steed, he would lie on his desk copying!Seeing him take the lead in the hunt and go on a rampage regardless of the road, the neighbors all said with one voice that this kid will never be made into an effective section chief.The ladies frequently hate him, and some of them never get tired of watching him.Alexey paid little attention to them, though.They thought he was so psychic probably because he was in a relationship.Sure enough, the address copied from one of his letters spread among the people: "Moscow, opposite the Alekseyev Monastery, home of the coppersmith Savelyev, Akulina Alexeyer To Vna Kulochkina, I beg you to deliver this letter to A.H.P.

It is impossible for my readers who have never stayed in the countryside to imagine how beautiful the ladies in the county are!They grow in the fresh air and under the shade of the apple trees in their garden, and they learn the knowledge of the world and life from little books.Solitude, freedom, and reading, these three develop early on the affections of their hearts and erotic desires which our lazy beauties do not understand.The sound of a bell is an adventure to a lady from the provinces, a ride into the city is like the beginning of an era in life, and a visit from a guest leaves a lasting, sometimes a lifetime, memory.Of course, anyone can laugh at their eccentricities.However, the ridicule of superficial observers cannot obliterate their fundamental advantages, the main one being: unique temperament and sui generis ①.Without this, according to Jean-Poli, human greatness ceases to exist.The women in the two capitals may be better educated, but the old habits of the upper class will soon wear down their characters and mold their souls into a pattern, just like producing batches of gold and silver hairpins.By saying this, I don’t mean to criticize or criticize them, but “our observations continue to be effective”, ③ as the ancient commentators said.

① The original text is French: Personality. ② Jean-Pili (1763-1825), German writer. ③The original text is Latin. It is not difficult to guess what reaction Alexey will have in the circle of our ladies.He was the first to appear to them despondent and disillusioned, the first to complain to them that the joys of life were gone and the flowers of youth were withered, and besides he wore a black skull ring.All this seems too new in the provinces, and it is really extraordinary.How could the ladies of the family not imagine him? But it was Lisa, the daughter of our Brit fan, (or, as Gregory Ivanovich called it: Bessie) who interested him most.The two fathers had no contact with each other, and she hadn't seen Alexei yet!At this time, all the girls in the neighborhood talked about him but talked about the wind.She was seventeen years old, with a pair of lively black eyes, which adorned her dark little face very attractively.She is the only daughter under her father's knee, so she is spoiled by spoils.Her lively willfulness and endless pranks amused her father, but made her governess Miss Rackson pessimistic and disappointed.The lady was a prim, forty-year-old girl with a powdered and thrush face, who read Pamela twice a year, got a salary of four thousand rubles, and complained that in this savage Russia it was suffocating!

①The novels of British writer Richardson (1689-1761). Lisa was served by Nastya, the handmaiden, who was a little older but acted like her young lady.Lisa liked her very much, told her all the secrets in her heart, and conspired with her to come up with many tricks.In a word, Nastya was a truly remarkable figure in the village of Prilucheno, far above any sweet maid in German tragedy. "Let me be a guest today." Naska said one day when she was dressing the lady. "Okay! Where are you going as a guest?" "To the village of Dugilovo, to the Berestovs'. Today is the name day of their cook's wife, and yesterday she invited me to dinner."

"Look!" said Lisa, "the two masters are quarreling, and the servants are entertaining each other." "What do we have to do with the gentlemen?" Nastya retorted, "and I am your maid, not your father's. You have never quarreled with Master Berestov. Only two If the master is willing, let them make trouble!" "Nastya! Just find a way to see Alexey Berestov! Come back and tell me what he looks like and what he is like. " Nastya agreed, and Lisa waited impatiently for her return all day.Nasca came back in the evening. "Ah! Lizaveta Grigoryevna!" she said as she entered the room. "I have seen Master Berestov, and I have seen enough. We have been together all day."

"What's going on? Tell me! Tell me from the beginning!" "All right! Here we go, with me, with Aksinya Egolovna, with Renila, with Dunica..." "Okay, okay! I see. Then?" "Listen to me! I'll tell you everything, from the beginning. We're going there just in time for the banquet. The house is full of people. People from Karpinskoye, Zakharev People from the village of Skoye, the housekeeper and some daughters also came, and the Hrubinsky family..." "Come on! Where's Berestov?" "Don't worry! We'll be seated right away. The housekeeper is the chief, and I'll sit next to her. Her daughter is very angry, so I don't care!"

"Oh, Nastya! It's not good for you to talk about trivial things!" "You are impatient, madam! When we got up from the table... We ate for three hours, and what a feast! Fried pies, parfaits, blue, red, and flowery Let's go... After we finished eating, we got up and went to play hide-and-seek in the garden, when the young master came." "Well? Said he was good-looking, really?" "Very good-looking, indeed a handsome man! Well-proportioned, tall, with a blush..." "Really? But I thought he was pale! What do you think of him?" Frowning, quiet and not talking much? "

"What's the matter with you? I've never seen such a deadly character in my mother's womb! He wants to play hide-and-seek with us." "Play hide-and-seek with you! Never!" "Just so. Guess what else he's up to? Kiss whoever he catches!" "Say what you want! Nasja, you are spreading rumors!" "Say what you want! I'm not lying anyway. I managed to break free of him. He's been messing around with us all day." "Then why, when they say he's in love, doesn't look at anyone?" "Then I don't know, madam! But he's seen enough of me, and Tanya, and the housekeeper's daughter, and Basha from Korbinskoe. It's really a crime to say it, he won't let anyone off, what a naughty ghost!" "That's very interesting! But have you heard how he is at home?" "They say the young master is a good man: good-hearted and carefree. Not at all: he likes chasing girls too much. But, I don't think it's a crime, and he'll be honest then." of." "I want to see him too!" said Lisa, with a sigh. "Then what's the problem? The village of Dugilovo is not far from us, only three versts. You can go for a walk there, or go for a ride, and you will definitely meet him. He comes every morning. Take a gun and go hunting." "No, that's not good. He thought I was going to pursue him! Besides, our two fathers had a quarrel, so I couldn't get acquainted with him anyway... Oh, yes! Naska! Guess what?" What? I can dress up as a peasant girl!" "That's kind! You can put on a thick coat and a long waistcoat and go to the village of Dugilovo. I guarantee that Lebestov will not spare you." "I speak the native language quite well, too. Ouch! Nastya, my dear Nastya! What a great idea!" Liza lay down to sleep, planning to carry out the cheerful scheme at once. The next day she started to carry out her plan, sent people to the market to buy sackcloth, blue cotton and copper buttons, and Nastya was a helper, cut a long gown and a long waistcoat, and called all the maids to come Sewing, everything is ready by evening.Lisa put on her new clothes, stood in front of the dressing mirror and thought to herself, she felt that she had never been so cute as she is now.She repeatedly practiced the role she wanted to play, stepped forward and bowed deeply, then shook her head frequently, like a clay kitten, said a few words in a peasant accent, smiled, and covered her with her sleeves. Don't worry, this rehearsal was finally praised by Naska.There was only one thing that bothered her: she tried to walk across the yard barefoot, but the grass roots stinged her delicate feet, and the sand and gravel were even more unbearable.Naska came to help again. She measured the size of the young lady's feet, and ran to the field to find the shepherd Trofim, asking him to make a pair of bark shoes according to the size.The next day, Lisa woke up before dawn.The whole family is still sound asleep.Naska was waiting for the shepherd at the door.The horn sounded to get up, and the cattle of the village jostled past the master's house.Trofim went up to Nastya, handed her a pair of small, brightly colored bark shoes, and accepted her half-rouble wages.Lisa quietly dressed herself as a peasant girl, and whispered in Naska's ear how to hide it from Miss Junkson, then walked up the back steps and walked through the vegetable garden to the field. The morning glow is shining in the east, and the golden clouds seem to be waiting for the sun, like a group of courtiers waiting for the emperor to come to court.The day was clear, and the fresh morning air, the dew, the breeze, and the singing of the birds filled Lisa's heart with infantile joy.She was afraid of running into acquaintances, and she seemed to be flying rather than walking.Lisa slowed down as she approached the grove that bordered her father's domain.She should wait here for Alexei.Her heart was pounding, and she didn't know why, but it was the fear we experience as teenagers when we are mischievous that constitutes its chief charm.Lisa stepped into the shade of the wood.A muffled, rustling sound welcomed the girl.The mood of joy and jerk eased down.She gradually indulged in sweet fantasies.She thought... But can you describe exactly what a young lady of seventeen, alone in the woods at six o'clock in the morning on a spring day, thinks?Then, she walked forward, thinking about it in her mind, and there were two rows of towering trees beside the road.Suddenly, a beautiful hunting dog jumped out and barked at her.Lisa was terrified and cried out.Then someone shouted: "Stay still! Sporgar! Come here..." A young hunter came out from behind a bush. "Don't be afraid, dear!" he said to Lisa, "my dog ​​doesn't bite." ①The original text is French. Lisa had come to her senses from her panic, and immediately acted accordingly. "No, sir!" she said, pretending to be frightened and ashamed, "I'm afraid! You see how fierce it looks, it's about to pounce again!" Alexey (whom the reader has recognized) now looked the young peasant girl up and down attentively. "You're so scared, then I'll see you off," he said to her, "will you allow me to walk next to you, please?" "Who said no?" Lisa replied, "It's up to you, anyway, the road is public." "Where are you from?" "From the village of Priruchino. I'm the daughter of Tippy Vasili, and I'm here to pick mushrooms." (Lisa carries a small basket hanging from a rope.) "Master! You are from the village of Dudinovo, yes?" "Exactly," answered Alexey. "I am the master's servant." Alexey wants to bring their relationship to an equal footing.Lisa, however, looked at him and laughed. "You lie," she said, "don't take me for a fool. You can see that you are the master." "On what basis do you think so?" "According to everything." "How do you know?" "You can't even tell the difference between the young master and the servant? They dress differently, speak differently, and don't even call a dog in our language." Alexey grew fond of Lisa.He was used to pretty peasant girls, and he wanted to hug her, but Liza jumped away from him and immediately assumed a dignified and indifferent look.This, though it amused Alexey, stopped him from making any further advances. "If you want us to be friends in the future," she said solemnly, "then please be gentle." "Who taught you to be so eloquent?" Alexey laughed. "Could it be my friend, your lady's maid, Naschenja, who taught you? That's how culture spreads!" Lisa felt that she had exceeded her role and immediately changed it. "Where do you think you are?" she said. "Have I never been to the master's house? Don't be surprised: I've seen everything and heard everything. But!" She went on: "It's all the same. You nagging, you forgot to pick mushrooms. Alright! Master, you go this way, I'm going this way, please forgive me..." Lisa tried to move away, but Alexey took her hand. "What's your name, my little one?" "My name is Akulina," Liza replied, trying to free her fingers from his grasp. "Let me go, sir! I must go home." "Oh? My good friend Akulina! I must visit your father, the blacksmith Vasili, and visit your house." "What's the matter with you?" Lisa hurriedly stopped her, "Don't go! For Christ's sake, don't go! If the family finds out that I talked to your young master alone in the woods, then I will suffer. No wonder my father, the blacksmith Vasili, didn't beat me to death!" "But I must see you again." "Okay! I'll pick mushrooms again when I have time." "when?" "Tomorrow is fine." "My dear Akulina, I really want to kiss you, but I dare not. Then tomorrow, at this hour, isn't it?" "Yes Yes." "You won't lie to me, will you?" "Will not." "Then you swear." "Well! I swear on Holy Friday that I will come." A pair of young people broke up.Liza walked out of the woods, across the fields, into the garden, and hurried into the barn, where Nastya was waiting for her.There, she changed her clothes, answered the questions of the impatient maid, and then went to the drawing room.The dining table in the living room has been set, and breakfast is already served.Miss Ranxon, powdered and girdled like a goblet, was cutting sandwiches into tiny pieces with a knife.The father praised his daughter for getting up early and taking a walk. "There's nothing healthier than getting up at dawn," he said. Then he cited several examples of longevity, which he read from British magazines.He said that anyone who lives to be a hundred years old does not drink alcohol and gets up at dawn no matter in winter or summer.Lisa didn't listen to him.Her mind drifted away, and her conscience began to torment her as she recalled all the events of that morning's meeting, and the whole conversation between Akulina and the young hunter.In vain she tried to convince herself that their conversation was not indecent, that no evil could be brought about by this naughty act, but conscience overcame reason and spoke up.She had promised to go again tomorrow, and this incident particularly troubled her.She could have broken her solemn oath altogether.But if Alexey waited for her, he would go to the village to find the daughter of the blacksmith Vasily, the real Akulina, the plump, pockmarked girl, and then she would see through her frivolous tricks.Thinking of this, Lisa was afraid, so she had to make up her mind to go to the woods tomorrow morning pretending to be Akulina. From Alexey's point of view, he was a treasure, thinking of the new girl all day long, and sleeping at night, followed by the shadow of the dark beauty.At dawn, he got dressed.Before he had time to reload the shotgun, he went to the field, followed by the faithful Sporgar, and then galloped to the agreed place.He waited impatiently for her for half an hour or so.Finally, a long blue vest flashed in the bushes, and he saw it, and ran towards Akulina.She smiled in return for his grateful ecstasy.But Alexey immediately saw signs of worry and uneasiness in her face.He wants to know why.Lisa admitted that she thought her behavior was frivolous, she regretted it, and today she didn't want to break her promise, and this meeting was the last time, and she asked him to cut off this kind of communication that was of no benefit to them.All this, of course, is spoken in the peasant dialect.But those thoughts and feelings were so uncommon for a peasant girl that Alexey was taken aback.He was eloquent and eloquent, trying to win Akulina back, saying that her wish was beyond reproach, promising her never to regret him, promising to obey her in everything, and begging her never to deprive him of his love. My only joy: meeting her alone, even if it's once every other day or twice a week, to take a step back.When he said this, he was really moved, and at this moment he really fell in love with her.Lisa listened to him without saying a word. "Promise me one thing," she said at last, "that you will never come to the village to find me, or ask me. Promise me that you will not see me any other time than I appoint." Alexey swears on Holy Friday, but she stops him with a smile. "I don't want you to swear," Liza said, "one word is enough." After this they talked in a friendly way, walking in the forest, and at last Lisa said that they parted when the time came.Left alone, Alexey wondered how an ordinary peasant girl could gain the power to manipulate him after only meeting him twice.The association with Akulina was a strange fascination for him, and although the instructions of this eccentric country girl weighed on him, the thought of breaking a promise never crossed his mind.For all his superstitious rings, all his secret correspondence, all his gloomy despair, Alexey was really a good-natured young man with a pure heart that felt the joy of chastity. heart of. If I let my pen go on, I must describe in detail how a pair of young people met, how their mutual admiration and trust grew, what they did, what they talked about. words, etc.; but I know that most of my readers will never share in my pleasures.Generally speaking, that kind of tireless description is inevitably too sweet.Therefore, I will omit it.To put it bluntly, in less than two months my Alexei was madly in love, and Liza was just as quiet as he, only a little quieter.They only covet the immediate happiness and rarely think about the future. The idea of ​​never being apart had crossed their minds often enough, but they never told each other.The reason is obvious: no matter how much Alexey fell in love with the lovely Akulina, he would never forget the distance between himself and the poor girl; There is a feud that exists, and I dare not expect that they will be able to reconcile one day.Besides, her pride secretly encouraged her to have vague romantic hopes of seeing the young master of Dugilovo kneel at the feet of the blacksmith's daughter in Prirucheno.Suddenly, a major event happened, which almost changed the relationship between the two of them completely. One fine cold morning (these days are many in our Russian autumns), Ivan Petrovich Berestov went out for a walk on horseback, and on such occasions he always took three hounds, a groom and And a few boys with castanets in their hands.At that very moment, too, Grigory Ivanovich Muromsky, tempted by the fine weather, ordered the bald-tailed mare to be harnessed and galloped across his Anglicized fields.Running to the edge of the forest, he saw his neighbor sitting proudly on his horse in a Caucasian coat lined with fox fur. The man was waiting to shoot a rabbit. Blast out of the bushes.If Grigory Ivanovich had foreseen this unexpected situation, he would have turned his horse around and gone the other way.Quite unexpectedly, he ran into Berestov and found himself within the range of a pistol.There is no way.Muroms, basically a well-bred European, rode up to his old enemy and greeted him politely.Berestov returned the salute with the same enthusiasm as a bear on a chain salutes the gentlemen at the behest of its tamer. Just then, a rabbit jumped out of the woods and galloped across the field.Berestov and the groom yelled at the top of their voices and released several dogs, while they themselves followed at full speed on horseback.Muromsky's horse, which had never been on a hunting ground, was frightened and galloped.Muromsky, who usually boasted that he was a great rider, let his horse gallop now, secretly glad to take this opportunity to get rid of this unpleasant opponent.But his horse, unaware of the deep ditch ahead, swerved abruptly aside, and Muromsky lost his balance.He was thrown and fell hard on the frozen ground, where he lay there, cursing the bloody bald-tailed beast.The animal, feeling that it had lost its rider, came to its senses and stopped at once.Ivan Petrovitch rode up to him and asked him if he was hurt.Meanwhile, the groom took the bridle and led the troubled horse.He helped Muromsky into the saddle, and Berestov invited him to his house.Muromsky could not refuse, because he felt indebted.In this way, Berestov returned victorious, shot a rabbit, and captured the wounded enemy who was almost turned into a prisoner. The two neighbors talked very friendly over breakfast.Muromsky asked Berestov to lend him a carriage, because he admitted that he had fallen and could no longer ride a horse.Berestov saw off the guests all the way to the bottom of the steps, and Muromsky invited him to have lunch tomorrow (with Alexey Ivanovich) in the village of Prirucheno, and asked him to agree. Willing to leave later.In this way, the deep-rooted feud seemed to be blown away by the startle of the bald-tailed mare. Lisa ran out to meet Grigory Ivanovich. "What's the matter, Papa?" she said in amazement, "Why are you limping? where is your horseWhose carriage is this? " "You can guess it! My dear". ① Grigory Danvanovich replied, and told her everything that had happened. ①The original text is in English. Lisa couldn't believe her ears.Before she came to her senses, he announced that the Berestovs and sons were coming to lunch tomorrow. "What did you say?" she said, turning pale. "Berestovs and sons! Come to my house for dinner tomorrow? No, father! Whatever you do, I won't show up." "What? You're crazy," said the father disapprovingly. "Since when have you been so shy? Maybe you really have a generational grudge against them? You're like a romance heroine! Come on! Don't." naughty..." "No, father! If you gave me all the good things in the world, and many pearls, I would never show my face to the Berestovs." Grigory Ivanovitch could only shrug his shoulders and stop arguing with her, for he knew that there was no result in a fight with her, so he went to his room to rest, and during this memorable safari It's time to take a break from now on. Lizaveta Grigorievna went back to her boudoir and immediately called for Nastya.The two girls discussed for a long time about the guest coming tomorrow.What would Alexei think if he recognized the educated lady as his Akulina?What would be said of her conduct, character, and intelligence?Liza, on the other hand, wanted to see what impression this unexpected and sudden meeting would make on him... A bright idea flashed into her mind.She told Nasca immediately, and the two of them were as happy as if they had picked up a bunch of treasures, and decided to follow suit. The next day at breakfast Grigory Ivanovitch asked his daughter if she still insisted on avoiding the Berestovs. "Father!" Lisa replied, "if it is convenient for you, I will receive them, but I have to make one condition: no matter how I show my face in front of them, and no matter what I do, you must not scold me, nor A little surprised and dissatisfied." "Another idea!" said Grigory Ivanovitch, laughing. "That's all right! Yes, yes! I agree, do as you like. You black-eyed rascal!" He said As he spoke, he kissed her forehead.Lisa then ran away. Just at two o'clock in the afternoon, a six-horse family carriage drove into the yard and drove to the edge of the green grassy field.Old Berestov went up the steps, supported on either side by two liveried servants from the Muromskys.His son followed and walked into the restaurant together, where the banquet was already set.Muromsky couldn't be more hospitable to his neighbors, suggested that they visit the garden and the animal farm before dinner, and led them along the well-swept and sanded paths.Old Berestov regretted the labor and time spent on such a useless hobby, but out of politeness he didn't say a word.His son sympathized neither with the calculations of the prudent landowners nor with the vanity of the self-righteous Englishman.He waited eagerly for the appearance of his master's daughter, of whom he had already heard much, and though, as we know, his heart had other pleasures, there was always a young beauty Move his strength. Back in the living room, the three sat down.The two old men recalled the old days and the anecdotes of their official service, while Alexey wondered what kind of role he should play when Lisa appeared.He felt that indifference and indifference were the best policy in any situation, and with this in mind, he decided to do so.When the door opened, he turned his face away, with an indifferent and defiant expression, that kind of demeanor would shudder even a scheming woman in love.Unfortunately, it wasn't Lisa who came in, but the old Miss Rackson. She was powdered, her waist was tied, her eyes were lowered, and she bowed her knees slightly.As a result, Alexei's graceful military appearance was missed.Before he could brace himself for another fight, the door opened again and Lisa entered.Everyone stand up.Her father then introduced the guests, but he was suddenly taken aback, biting his lips in haste... Lisa, his black Lisa, white powdered to the ears, eyebrows painted blacker than Miss Jankson; curly hair The wig, which is much lighter in color than her own hair, is fluffy and tall, just like the powdered wig worn by Louis XIV; her waist cinched like an X; and all of her mother's unpawned diamond jewelry was put to use, sparkling between her fingers, around her neck, under her earlobes.It was impossible for Alexey to recognize this ridiculously radiant young lady as his Akulina.His father stepped forward to kiss her hand, and he had no choice but to follow. When he touched and melted her white and tender slender fingers, he felt her hand tremble.At the same time, he also had time to observe her little feet, which were deliberately played with, in an extremely shy manner, which looked lovely and charming.Those feet lessened his distaste for her other make-up a little.As for her snow-white skin and black eyebrows, because of his simple heart, he really didn't notice it at first glance, and he never doubted it afterwards.Grigory Ivanovitch remembered his promise, and tried not to look surprised.But his daughter's pranks amused him so much that he couldn't help laughing.But the hard-wired Miss England couldn't laugh.She guessed that Lisa's face powder and eyebrow cream were stolen from her drawer, so she was so angry that her pale face flushed.She glared angrily at the young naughty girl.But the troublemaker pretended not to see it, and planned to explain it to her in detail some time later. ① The original text is French: "weird style". ② Madame Pompadour (1721-1764) mistress of King Louis XV of France. Everyone sits at the table.Alexey continues to play the role of the insouciant brooder.Lisa was coy, she talked through her teeth, she seemed to be singing a ditty, and she spoke only French.Her father looked at her dreamily from time to time, not understanding what she was up to, but thought it was really interesting.Miss England was furious and said nothing.Only Ivan Petrovich seemed at home: he ate enough for two, drank quite a bit, told jokes until he laughed, and talked more and more cordially, and kept laughing. Finally they rose from the table and the guests left.Grigory Ivanovitch was now laughing heartily and asking a lot of questions. "How did you come up with the idea of ​​teasing them?" he asked Lisa. "Powder is just right for you, you know. I don't know the secrets of women's makeup, but if I were in your position, I'd wear it too." Powder, of course, don't rub too much, just a light layer will do." Lisa is elated with the success of her plot.She hugged Dad, promised to take his advice into consideration, and ran off to appease the pissed off Miss Rackson.The old lady finally opened the door for her and listened to her explanation.Lisa said that it was really embarrassing to ask her to show her dark skin in front of strangers, and she didn't dare to ask Miss Jackson...but she firmly believed that Miss had a good heart and would definitely forgive her...Rankson Mademoiselle, relieved, kissed Liza, and, as a token of reconciliation, gave her a small box of English perfume.Lisa readily accepted and couldn't be more grateful. 读者猜想得到，第二天早晨莉莎不会耽误林子里的幽会。 "少爷！你昨天去过我们东家屋里吧？"她立即问亚历克赛，"你觉得我们的小姐怎么样？" 西历克赛回答说，他没留神。 "多可惜？"莉莎说。 "为什么可惜？"亚历克赛问。 "因为我想问你，别人说的话是不是真的？……" "他们说什么？" "说什么我很象小姐，真的吗？" "乱弹琴！她跟你一比，简直是个丑八怪。" "哎哟，少爷！你这么说真罪过！我们的小姐白白净净，穿得好漂亮呵！我哪里能够跟她比呢？" 亚历克赛对她发誓，说她比所有白嫩的小姐都好看，为了使她完全放心，她便绘声绘影历数她小姐滑稽可笑之处，弄得莉莎忍不住哈哈大笑。 "不过嘛，"她叹口气说，"就算小姐有些可笑吧，可我跟她一比，终归是个不识字的傻丫头。" "嗯！"亚历克赛说，"这倒不必犯愁！你要愿意，我马上教你认字。" "这话当真？"莉莎说，"真的来试试看，好吗？" "来吧！亲爱的！咱们就开始。" 他俩坐下来。亚历克赛从兜里掏出一枝铅笔和一个小本本，阿库琳娜学字母，速度非常快。亚历克赛不能不为她的理解力感到惊讶。第二天早上她就已经想要动手试着写字了，起初铅笔不听她使唤，但过了几分钟，她描划的字就相当工整了。 "简直是奇迹！"亚历克赛说，"我的教学法真比伦康斯特教学法①还要快。" 上到第三课，阿库琳娜真的能够按音节勉强读出《贵族之女娜塔丽亚》②了，并且还不停地谈出心得体会来。亚历克赛着实惊叹不已。而整整一张纸，涂抹得密密麻麻，那是她从这本小说里摘录的好句子。 ①伦康斯特（1771年——1838年）英国教育家，他的教学主张互教互学。 ②俄国作家卡拉姆辛（1766——1828）的小说。 过了一个礼拜，他们便开始通信。邮局设在一个老橡树的洞里。纳斯嘉暗中当邮差。亚历克赛往那儿寄出粗大字体写成的信，又从那儿收到自己恋人用歪歪斜斜的字体写在普通蓝色纸张上的信。阿库琳娜显然在学习优美的文体，她的智力也显著地在发展和形成。 与此同时，伊凡·彼得洛维奇·别列斯托夫跟格利高里·伊凡诺维奇·穆罗姆斯基之间的交情越来越巩固，很快便发展成为友谊，这事自有其原因。穆罗姆斯基不时设想，在伊凡·彼得洛维奇死后，他的所有产业将转到亚历克赛·伊凡洛维奇手里，到那时亚历克赛·伊凡诺维奇将是本省最有钱的地主之一，而他又没有任何理由不跟莉莎结婚。至于老别列斯托夫，从他那方面说，虽则他在邻居身上也曾看出有点行为乖张（或者用他的话说，叫英国式的糊涂），但并不否认他有许多显著的长处，例如，罕见的随机应变的能力，而格利高里·伊凡诺维奇又是有权有势有名的普龙斯基伯爵的近亲，伯爵对亚历克赛的前程可能大有好处，而穆罗姆斯基（伊凡·彼得洛维奇这样想）大概也高兴借此有利可图的联姻机会把女儿嫁出去。开初两个老头子都在肚子里各打各的算盘，后来互相交换意见，一拍即合，于是约好按程序完成此事，各人从各自的方面立即着手促其实现。穆罗姆斯基面前有一道难题：劝说他的蓓西尽快跟亚历克赛混熟，而自从那次可堪纪念的午餐以后，她还没有见过他一面哩！看起来，他两人彼此并不太感兴趣，至少亚历克赛没有再到普里鲁琴诺村来过。而每当伊凡·彼得洛维奇赏光前来拜访的时候，莉莎便照例躲进自己闺房去了。格利高里·伊凡诺维奇想："不过，倘若亚历克赛每天来我这儿，那么，蓓西将理当爱上他的。天下事，都在情理之中。时间会安排一切。" 伊凡·彼得洛维奇却很少为自己的意图能否成功而担心。当天晚上，他就把儿子叫到书房，他抽着烟斗，沉默了一会，开口说道："阿略沙！你怎么好久不提要去服军役了呢？ 或者骠骑兵军服已经不那么吸引你了吧……" "不，爸爸！"亚历克赛恭恭敬敬地回答，"我看到，你不大喜欢我参加骠骑兵，而服从你就是我的天职。" "好！"伊凡·彼得洛维奇说，"我看你倒是个听话的儿子，这使我宽心。我不想挟制你，我不强迫你目前就去……担任文官职务，目前我要让你成亲。" "跟谁结婚呢，爸爸？"惊慌的儿子问。 "跟莉莎维塔·格利高里耶夫娜·穆罗姆斯卡娅结婚，" 伊凡·彼得洛维奇回答，"姑娘再好不过了，不是吗？" "爸爸！我还没考虑结婚。" "你没考虑，我替你考虑了，反复考虑了。" "那是您的事，可我一点也不喜欢莉莎·穆罗姆斯卡娅。" "以后会喜欢的。习惯忍耐，相亲相爱。" "我觉得我不能成全她的幸福。" "她的幸福用不着你担忧。怎么？你这就叫尊重父亲的意志？好家伙！" "随你怎么办，反正我不想结婚，也决不结婚。" "你得结婚！不然，我要诅咒你，上帝作证！我要把家产卖光，荡光，不给你留下一文钱。我限你考虑三天，这以前，看你胆敢在我跟前露脸！" 亚历克赛心里明白，倘使父亲脑袋瓜里起了某个念头，那么，照塔拉斯·斯柯季宁①的说法，就是用钉子也挖不掉。但是，亚历克赛脾气象父亲，要说服他也难办到。他回到自己房里，开动脑筋思考问题：关于父亲的权限，关于莎莉维塔·格利高里耶夫娜，关于父亲要使他变成叫化子的并非儿戏之辞，最后想到了阿库琳娜。他第一次看得清清楚楚：他真正火热地爱上了她。跟农家姑娘结婚，靠自己劳动过活——这个浪漫主义的念头在他脑子里产生了，这个决定性的行动他越是考虑周详，便越是发觉它入情入理。森林中的幽会由于季节多雨而中断了一段时间。他便给阿库琳娜写了一封信，字体极其清晰，语言热情奔放，向她宣布那威胁他们的危险，同时向她求婚。他当即把信投到树洞里，然后回家睡觉，心地坦然。 ①冯维辛的喜剧《绔裤少年》中的一个人物。 第二天，主意已定的亚历克赛一大早便去穆罗姆斯基家，想要跟他开诚布公谈谈。他希望说服那位老人宽容并把他拉到自己方面来。 "格利高里·伊凡诺维奇在家吗？"他问道，把马勒住停在普里鲁琴诺村宅第台阶下。 "不在家，"仆人回话，"格利高里·伊凡诺维奇一清早就出去了。" "真不凑巧！"亚历克赛心里想，"至少莉莎维塔·格利高里耶夫娜在家吧？" "她在家，大人！" 亚历克赛从马上跳下来，把缰绳交给仆人，不经通报便进去了。"一下子就解决，"他想，走向客厅，"我要跟她本人解释。" 他闯进客厅……愣住了！莉莎……不！是阿库琳娜，心爱的黑丫头阿库琳娜，她没穿长马甲，倒穿了一件雪白的晨衣，坐在窗前正在读他的信。她那样专注，连他走进来也没听见。亚历克赛快活得大叫起来。莉莎一惊，抬起头，惊叫一声便要跑。他扑过去一把抓住她。 "阿库琳娜！阿库琳娜！" 莉莎使劲想挣脱……"放开我！先生！你发疯了？①" ①The original text is French. "阿库琳娜！我的朋友阿库琳娜"他连连说，吻她的手。 老密斯冉克逊在一旁观看这一幕，她不晓得要如何设想才妙。恰好这时房门推开，格利高里·伊凡诺维奇进来。 "啊哈！"穆罗姆斯基说，"看起来，你们的事情完全弄好了……" 请读者恕我不再多费笔墨来描写结局了吧！