Chapter 17 fifteen

"Let's see what kind of mammal this person is," Bazarov said to Arkady the next day when the friends climbed the stairs of the hotel to visit Odintsova, who was staying there. "Sense of smell tells me something is wrong." "You astonish me," replied Arkady, "how can you say such a thing? You, you Bazarov, have such narrow morals..." "Look how stupid you are!" Bazarov interrupted him indifferently. "Don't you know that in our jargon 'bad' means 'wonderful'? That means wonderful. You today Having said that, her marriage was quite strange that time, but in my opinion, marrying a rich old man is not only not strange, but on the contrary, it shows that she is very knowledgeable. I don't listen to gossip in the city, I like to be like our knowledgeable old man This kind of marriage is reasonable, the governor thinks so."

Arkady did not answer, but knocked on the door.A young liveried servant ushered them into a large apartment.It was old and dull, like all hotel rooms in Russia, but there were many flowers.Soon Odintsova appeared, in an ordinary dressing gown, looking even younger in the sun.Arkady was surprised when he introduced Bazarov to her: Bazarov was a little embarrassed, which was unusual for him.But Odintsova was as peaceful as yesterday.Bazarov felt this too, and couldn't help feeling angry with himself: "What a coward, I'm afraid of a wife!" He sat down in a chair, his attitude was not much worse than that of Sitnikov, who was on the left of Ogin. Under the gaze of Wa's bright eyes, he deliberately pretended to be indifferent and started talking.

Anna Sergeyevna Odintsova's father, Sergei Nikolaevich Lokteev, was a well-known handsome man, speculator, and gambler, well-known both in Petersburg and in Moscow. Five years later, he ran out of money and had no choice but to move to the countryside. He died soon after, leaving only a small amount of property to his two daughters——Anna at the age of twenty and Katerina at the age of twelve.The mother of Anna and Katerina was born in the decaying family of the Duke of ×××, and died in Petersburg as early as her husband's prosperity.After the death of her father, Anna's situation was very difficult. The excellent education she received in Petersburg could not help her solve the problems of life arising from farming, housework and seclusion in the country. There was no acquaintance within a hundred miles, and no one to ask for advice. .Her father avoided socializing with other people during his lifetime. He looked down on others, and others looked down on him, each with their own opinions.But Anna did not panic, and at once called for her aunt, Princess Avdosia Stepanovna ×××, a fierce and haughty old woman.After the princess came to her niece's house, she occupied the best room, and from morning to evening she babbled about being fat and thin, and even went for a walk in the garden. in livery and a servant wearing a three-cornered hat.Anna patiently endured all kinds of eccentricities of her aunt, and educated her younger sister step by step.The flowers are blooming and falling, it seems that she has been determined to live her whole life in a remote village... But fate made another arrangement, and a certain Odintsov fell in love with her.The man was a rich man, about forty-six, depressive, chubby, sour, but not stupid or fierce.He falls in love with her and proposes to her.She agrees to be his wife.After six years of husband and wife, he left her all the property when he died.After losing her husband, Anna Sergeyevna did not leave the village for a whole year, and later she and her younger sister went abroad, but they only went to Germany, and because of loneliness, they returned to the city where she loved to live. The village of Nikoli, versts away.There was a beautiful and tidy house, a garden with a conservatory—the late Odintov spared no expense on this.Anna Sergeyevna seldom went to the city, mostly on business, and when she did, she stayed for a few days.People in the provincial capital didn't like her, and they often made irresponsible remarks about her marriage with Odintsov. There were many gossips, saying that she helped her father cheat in the casino. "You know what?" said a nosy person, "she is so-called sophisticated." Another person who praised the provincial capital for her witty words added: "And she has experienced hardships. "When these words reached her ears, she just pretended not to hear them. She is open-minded by nature and has her own opinions.

Odintsova leaned back on the soft chair, folded her hands and listened to Bazarov.And he was unconventional, talking and talking, obviously trying to attract the other party's attention.This made Arkady even more surprised. He couldn't figure out whether Bazarov had achieved his goal.From the expression on Anna Sergeyevna's face, it is difficult to know the impression she is getting. She keeps an expression of kindness and attention, and looks at you carefully with her bright and beautiful eyes, but only carefully. That's it, not excited.Bazarov's unnatural affectation at first displeased her, like an unpleasant smell or harsh voice, but she immediately understood that it was the result of his panic, and was rather proud of it.She hated vulgarity, but vulgarity could not be added to Bazarov.And that was not all that surprised Arkady!He had thought that Bazarov would talk about his views with Odintsova as if she were a brilliant woman, because she once said that she "would like to meet someone who believes in nothing", but Bazarov discussed Started medicine, homeopathy, botany.Odintsova did not waste time living in the country, read many excellent books, and could express herself in pure Russian.She also intended to turn the conversation to music, but finding that Bazarov did not recognize art, she slipped back to botany.Arkady was eager to try and talk about folk music.On the contrary, Odintsova regarded him only as a little brother, and valued his youthful kindness and simplicity—that was all.The conversation was calm and extensive, and lasted more than three hours.

The two friends finally got up to say goodbye.Anna Sergeyevna looked at them kindly, held out her hand, and said hesitantly with a charming smile: "Gentlemen, if you don't think the country is boring, please come to Nikoli village as a guest." "Thank you, Anna Sergeyevna," said Arkady cheerfully, "I consider it a great honor from you..." "What about you, Meshebazarov?" Bazarov bowed his thanks.Arkady was amazed again: his friend turned red. "Hey, you're still in the same position, is she 'eh-yo-yo'?" he asked as he walked down the road.

"Who knew? Look at her invincible look!" Bazarov paused for a while and added: "This is the grand duke's charming wife, a queen, only the long train and hair behind her are missing." A crown on the crown." "Our princess doesn't speak Russian so well as she does," sighed Arkady. "She ate our bread, reformed, my brother!" "But she is still a graceful beauty." "Yes, such a beautiful figure can be used as an anatomical specimen!" Bazarov said. "For God's sake don't say it, Yevgeny! It's outrageous."

"Don't be angry, my weak child, I said: first-rate. She should go down to the country and visit her." "when?" "Even the day after tomorrow. What are we going to do here? Drink champagne with Kukshenna? Listen to your relatives - high-ranking liberals singing high-profile? ... We will go the day after tomorrow. , my father's small farm is not far from her. Isn't the village of Nicoli just halfway to my father's farm?" "yes." "Optime, don't hesitate. Those who hesitate are either fools or very wise. I say, she has a beautiful figure!"

-------- ① Latin: very good. Two days later the two friends were on their way to Nikoli.The weather was fine and not too hot, and the three hired horses were well-fed, trotting and wagging their braided tails in cheerful harmony.Arkady gazed at the road and smiled unconsciously. "Congratulate me," Bazarov said suddenly, "today, June 20th, is the day of my guardian angel. I would like to see how the angel takes care of me. The house is waiting for me today," he said. Speaking of this, his voice lowered, "However, you can let them wait for two days, it's no big deal!"