a hero of our time-第33章
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＇1＇ i。e。 serfs。
Werner left； fully convinced that he had put me on my guard。
I gathered from his words that various ugly rumours were already being spread about the town on the subject of Princess Mary and myself： Grushnitski shall smart for this！
CHAPTER XIII
18th June。
I HAVE been in Kislovodsk three days now。 Every day I see Vera at the well and out walking。 In the morning； when I awake； I sit by my window and direct my lorgnette at her balcony。 She has already been dressed long ago； and is waiting for the signal agreed upon。 We meet； as though unexpectedly； in the garden which slopes down from our houses to the well。 The life…giving mountain air has brought back her colour and her strength。 Not for nothing is Narzan called the 〃Spring of Heroes。〃 The inhabitants aver that the air of Kislovodsk pre… disposes the heart to love and that all the romances which have had their beginning at the foot of Mount Mashuk find their consummation here。 And； in very fact； everything here breathes of solitude； everything has an air of secrecy the thick shadows of the linden avenues； bending over the torrent which falls； noisy and foaming； from flag to flag and cleaves itself a way between the mountains now becoming clad with verdure the mist…filled； silent ravines； with their rami… fications straggling away in all directions the freshness of the aromatic air； laden with the fragrance of the tall southern grasses and the white acacia the never…ceasing； sweetly…slumber… ous babble of the cool brooks； which； meeting at the end of the valley； flow along in friendly emulation； and finally fling themselves into the Podkumok。 On this side； the ravine is wider and becomes converted into a verdant dell； through which winds the dusty road。 Every time I look at it； I seem to see a carriage coming along and a rosy little face looking out of the carriage…window。 Many carriages have already driven by but still there is no sign of that particular one。 The village which lies behind the fortress has become populous。 In the restaurant； built upon a hill a few paces distant from my lodgings； lights are beginning to flash in the evening through the double row of poplars； noise and the jingling of glasses resound till late at night。
In no place are such quantities of Kakhetian wine and mineral waters drunk as here。
〃And many are willing to mix the two；
But that is a thing I never do。〃
Every day Grushnitski and his gang are to be found brawling in the inn； and he has almost ceased to greet me。
He only arrived yesterday； and has already succeeded in quarrelling with three old men who were going to take their places in the baths before him。
Decidedly； his misfortunes are developing a warlike spirit within him。
CHAPTER XIV
22nd June。
AT last they have arrived。 I was sitting by the window when I heard the clattering of their carriage。 My heart throbbed。 。 。 What does it mean？ Can it be that I am in love？ 。 。 。 I am so stupidly constituted that such a thing might be expected of me。
I dined at their house。 Princess Ligovski looked at me with much tenderness； and did not leave her daughter's side 。 。 。 a bad sign！ On the other hand； Vera is jealous of me in re… gard to Princess Mary however； I have been striving for that good fortune。 What will not a woman do in order to chagrin her rival？ I re… member that once a woman loved me simply because I was in love with another woman。 There is nothing more paradoxical than the fe… male mind； it is difficult to convince a woman of anything； they have to be led into convincing themselves。 The order of the proofs by which they demolish their prejudices is most original； to learn their dialectic it is necessary to over… throw in your own mind every scholastic rule of logic。 For example； the usual way：
〃This man loves me； but I am married： therefore I must not love him。〃
The woman's way：
〃I must not love him； because I am married； but he loves me therefore〃 。 。 。
A few dots here； because reason has no more to say。 But； generally； there is something to be said by the tongue； and the eyes； and； after these； the heart if there is such a thing。
What if these notes should one day meet a woman's eye？
〃Slander！〃 she will exclaim indignantly。
Ever since poets have written and women have read them （for which the poets should be most deeply grateful） women have been called angels so many times that； in very truth； in their sim… plicity of soul； they have believed the compli… ment； forgetting that； for money； the same poets have glorified Nero as a demigod。 。 。
It would be unreasonable were I to speak of women with such malignity I who have loved nothing else in the world I who have always been ready to sacrifice for their sake ease； am… bition； life itself。 。 。 But； you see； I am not endeavouring； in a fit of vexation and injured vanity； to pluck from them the magic veil through which only an accustomed glance can penetrate。 No； all that I say about them is but the result of
〃A mind which coldly hath observed；
A heart which bears the stamp of woe。〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Pushkin： Eugene Onyegin。
Women ought to wish that all men knew them as well as I because I have loved them a hundred times better since I have ceased to be afraid of them and have comprehended their little weaknesses。
By the way： the other day； Werner compared women to the enchanted forest of which Tasso tells in his 〃Jerusalem Delivered。〃＇2＇
〃So soon as you approach；〃 he said； 〃from all directions terrors； such as I pray Heaven may preserve us from； will take wing at you： duty； pride； decorum； public opinion； ridicule； con… tempt。 。 。 You must simply go straight on without looking at them； gradually the monsters disappear； and； before you； opens a bright and quiet glade； in the midst of which blooms the green myrtle。 On the other hand； woe to you if； at the first steps； your heart trembles and you turn back！〃
＇2＇ Canto XVIII； 10：
〃Quinci al bosco t' invia； dove cotanti
Son fantasmi inganne vole e bugiardi〃 。 。 。
CHAPTER XV
24th June。
THIS evening has been fertile in events。 About three versts from Kislovodsk； in the gorge through which the Podkumok flows； there is a cliff called the Ring。 It is a naturally formed gate； rising upon a lofty hill； and through it the setting sun throws its last flaming glance upon the world。 A numerous cavalcade set off thither to gaze at the sunset through the rock…window。 To tell the truth； not one of them was thinking about the sun。 I rode beside Princess Mary。 On the way home； we had to ford the Podkumok。 Mountain streams； even the smallest； are danger… ous； especially so； because the bottom is a perfect kaleidoscope： it changes every day owing to the pressure of the current； where yesterday there was a rock； to…day there is a cavity。 I took Prin… cess Mary's horse by the bridle and led it into the water； which came no higher than its knees。 We began to move slowly in a slanting direction against the current。 It is a well…known fact that； in crossing rapid streamlets； you should never look at the water； because； if you do； your head begins to whirl directly。 I forgot to warn Princess Mary of that。
We had reached the middle and were right in the vortex； when suddenly she reeled in her saddle。
〃I feel ill！〃 she said in a faint voice。
I bent over to her rapidly and threw my arm around her supple waist。
〃Look up！〃 I whispered。 〃It is nothing； just be brave！ I am with you。〃
She grew better； she was about to disengage herself from my arm； but I clasped her tender； soft figure in a still closer embrace； my cheek almost touched hers； from which was wafted flame。
〃What are you doing to me？ 。 。 。 Oh； Heaven！〃 。 。 。
I paid no attention to her alarm and confusion； and my lips touched her tender cheek。 She shud… dered； but said nothing。 We were riding behind the others： nobody saw us。
When we made our way out on the bank； the horses were all put to the trot。 Princess Mary kept hers back； I remained beside her。 It was evident that my silence was making her uneasy； but I swore to myself that I would not speak a single word out of curiosity。 I wanted
