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One¡¡circumstance¡¡which¡¡almost¡¡aroused¡¡Tientietnikov£»¡¡which¡¡almost¡¡brought¡¡about¡¡a¡¡revolution¡¡in¡¡his¡¡character£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡came¡¡very¡¡near¡¡to¡¡falling¡¡in¡¡love¡£¡¡Yet¡¡even¡¡this¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡nothing¡£¡¡Ten¡¡versts¡¡away¡¡there¡¡lived¡¡the¡¡general¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡expressing¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡highly¡¡uncomplimentary¡¡terms¡¡concerning¡¡Tientietnikov¡£¡¡He¡¡maintained¡¡a¡¡General¡like¡¡establishment£»¡¡dispensed¡¡hospitality¡¡£¨that¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡when¡¡his¡¡neighbours¡¡came¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡him¡¡their¡¡respects£»¡¡though¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡never¡¡went¡¡out£©£»¡¡spoke¡¡always¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hoarse¡¡voice£»¡¡read¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡number¡¡of¡¡books£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡a¡¡daughtera¡¡curious£»¡¡unfamiliar¡¡type£»¡¡but¡¡full¡¡of¡¡life¡¡as¡¡life¡¡itself¡£¡¡This¡¡maiden's¡¡name¡¡was¡¡Ulinka£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡strangely¡¡brought¡¡up£»¡¡for£»¡¡losing¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡in¡¡early¡¡childhood£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡subsequently¡¡received¡¡instruction¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡an¡¡English¡¡governess¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡a¡¡single¡¡word¡¡of¡¡Russian¡£¡¡Moreover¡¡her¡¡father£»¡¡though¡¡excessively¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡treated¡¡her¡¡always¡¡as¡¡a¡¡toy£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡result¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡grew¡¡to¡¡years¡¡of¡¡discretion£»¡¡she¡¡became¡¡wholly¡¡wayward¡¡and¡¡spoilt¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡had¡¡any¡¡one¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡sudden¡¡rage¡¡which¡¡would¡¡gather¡¡on¡¡her¡¡beautiful¡¡young¡¡forehead¡¡when¡¡she¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡a¡¡heated¡¡dispute¡¡with¡¡her¡¡father£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡her¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡capricious¡¡beings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡Yet¡¡that¡¡rage¡¡gathered¡¡only¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡injustice¡¡or¡¡harsh¡¡treatment£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡because¡¡she¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡argue¡¡on¡¡her¡¡own¡¡behalf£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡justify¡¡her¡¡own¡¡conduct¡£¡¡Also£»¡¡that¡¡anger¡¡would¡¡disappear¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡any¡¡one¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡had¡¡formerly¡¡disliked¡¡fall¡¡upon¡¡evil¡¡times£»¡¡and£»¡¡at¡¡his¡¡first¡¡request¡¡for¡¡alms¡¡would£»¡¡without¡¡consideration¡¡or¡¡subsequent¡¡regret£»¡¡hand¡¡him¡¡her¡¡purse¡¡and¡¡its¡¡whole¡¡contents¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡her¡¡every¡¡act¡¡was¡¡strenuous£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡her¡¡whole¡¡personality¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡following¡¡hot¡foot¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡thoughtboth¡¡her¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡face¡¡and¡¡her¡¡diction¡¡and¡¡the¡¡movements¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡Nay£»¡¡the¡¡very¡¡folds¡¡of¡¡her¡¡frock¡¡had¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡striving£»¡¡until¡¡one¡¡would¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡all¡¡her¡¡self¡¡were¡¡flying¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡her¡¡words¡£¡¡Nor¡¡did¡¡she¡¡know¡¡reticence£º¡¡before¡¡any¡¡one¡¡she¡¡would¡¡disclose¡¡her¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡force¡¡could¡¡compel¡¡her¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡silence¡¡when¡¡she¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡Also£»¡¡her¡¡enchanting£»¡¡peculiar¡¡gaita¡¡gait¡¡which¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡her¡¡alonewas¡¡so¡¡absolutely¡¡free¡¡and¡¡unfettered¡¡that¡¡every¡¡one¡¡involuntarily¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡way¡£¡¡Lastly£»¡¡in¡¡her¡¡presence¡¡churls¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡become¡¡confused¡¡and¡¡fall¡¡to¡¡silence£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡roughest¡¡and¡¡most¡¡outspoken¡¡would¡¡lose¡¡their¡¡heads£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡not¡¡a¡¡word¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡whereas¡¡the¡¡shy¡¡man¡¡would¡¡find¡¡himself¡¡able¡¡to¡¡converse¡¡as¡¡never¡¡in¡¡his¡¡life¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡feel£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡her¡¡and¡¡known¡¡her¡¡at¡¡some¡¡previous¡¡periodduring¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡some¡¡unremembered¡¡childhood£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡and¡¡spending¡¡a¡¡merry¡¡evening¡¡among¡¡a¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡romping¡¡children¡£¡¡And¡¡for¡¡long¡¡afterwards¡¡he¡¡would¡¡feel¡¡as¡¡though¡¡his¡¡man's¡¡intellect¡¡and¡¡estate¡¡were¡¡a¡¡burden¡£
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At¡¡first¡¡the¡¡General¡¡used¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡him¡¡with¡¡hospitable¡¡civility£»¡¡but¡¡permanent¡¡concord¡¡between¡¡them¡¡proved¡¡impossible£»¡¡their¡¡conversation¡¡always¡¡merged¡¡into¡¡dissension¡¡and¡¡soreness£»¡¡seeing¡¡that£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡General¡¡could¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡contradicted¡¡or¡¡worsted¡¡in¡¡an¡¡argument£»¡¡Tientietnikov¡¡was¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡extreme¡¡sensitiveness¡£¡¡True£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡daughter's¡¡sake£»¡¡the¡¡father¡¡was¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡¡deferred¡¡to£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡peace¡¡was¡¡maintained£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡lasted¡¡only¡¡until¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡there¡¡arrived£»¡¡on¡¡a¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡General£»¡¡two¡¡kinswomen¡¡of¡¡histhe¡¡Countess¡¡Bordirev¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Princess¡¡Uziakin£»¡¡retired¡¡Court¡¡dames£»¡¡but¡¡ladies¡¡who¡¡still¡¡kept¡¡up¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡Court¡¡circles£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡were¡¡much¡¡fawned¡¡upon¡¡by¡¡their¡¡host¡£¡¡No¡¡sooner¡¡had¡¡they¡¡appeared¡¡on¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡than¡¡£¨so¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Tientietnikov£©¡¡the¡¡General's¡¡attitude¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡became¡¡coldereither¡¡he¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡him¡¡at¡¡all¡¡or¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡him¡¡familiarly£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡to¡¡a¡¡person¡¡having¡¡no¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡society¡£¡¡This¡¡offended¡¡Tientietnikov¡¡deeply£»¡¡and¡¡though£»¡¡when¡¡at¡¡length¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject£»¡¡he¡¡retained¡¡sufficient¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡compress¡¡his¡¡lips£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡and¡¡courteous¡¡tone£»¡¡his¡¡face¡¡flushed¡¡and¡¡his¡¡inner¡¡man¡¡was¡¡boiling¡£
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Upon¡¡this¡¡Tientietnikov's¡¡heart¡¡stood¡¡still¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡unused¡¡to¡¡receiving¡¡visitors£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡conceived¡¡the¡¡new¡¡arrival¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡Government¡¡official£»¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡question¡¡him¡¡concerning¡¡an¡¡abortive¡¡society¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡formerly¡¡belonged¡£¡¡£¨Here¡¡the¡¡author¡¡may¡¡interpolate¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that£»¡¡in¡¡Tientietnikov's¡¡early¡¡days£»¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡had¡¡become¡¡mixed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡very¡¡absurd¡¡affair¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡philosophers¡¡belonging¡¡to¡¡a¡¡regiment¡¡of¡¡hussars¡¡had£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡an¡¡aesthete¡¡who¡¡had¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡completed¡¡his¡¡student's¡¡course¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gambler¡¡who¡¡had¡¡squandered¡¡his¡¡all£»¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡society¡¡of¡¡philanthropic¡¡aims¡¡under¡¡the¡¡presidency¡¡of¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡old¡¡rascal¡¡of¡¡a¡¡freemason¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡gambler¡¡aforesaid¡£¡¡The¡¡scope¡¡of¡¡the¡¡society's¡¡work¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡extensive£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡lasting¡¡happiness¡¡to¡¡humanity¡¡at¡¡large£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Thames¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shores¡¡of¡¡Kamtchatka¡£¡¡But¡¡for¡¡this¡¡much¡¡money¡¡was¡¡needed£º¡¡wherefore¡¡from¡¡the¡¡noble¡minded¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡society¡¡generous¡¡contributions¡¡were¡¡demanded£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡forwarded¡¡to¡¡a¡¡destination¡¡known¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡authorities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡concern¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Tientietnikov's¡¡adhesion£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡about¡¡by¡¡the¡¡two¡¡friends¡¡already¡¡alluded¡¡to¡¡as¡¡¡¨embittered¡¨good¡hearted¡¡souls¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡wear¡¡and¡¡tear¡¡of¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡on¡¡behalf¡¡of¡¡science£»¡¡civilisation£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡future¡¡emancipation¡¡of¡¡mankind¡¡had¡¡ended¡¡by¡¡converting¡¡into¡¡confirmed¡¡drunkards¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡it¡¡need¡¡hardly¡¡be¡¡said¡¡that¡¡Tientietnikov¡¡soon¡¡discovered¡¡how¡¡things¡¡stood£»¡¡and¡¡withdrew¡¡from¡¡the¡¡association£»¡¡but£»¡¡meanwhile£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡had¡¡had¡¡the¡¡misfortune¡¡so¡¡to¡¡have¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡dealings¡¡not¡¡wholly¡¡creditable¡¡to¡¡gentlemen¡¡of¡¡noble¡¡origin¡¡as¡¡likewise¡¡to¡¡have¡¡become¡¡entangled¡¡in¡¡dealings¡¡with¡¡the¡¡police¡£¡¡Consequently£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡wondered¡¡at¡¡that£»¡¡though¡¡Tientietnikov¡¡had¡¡long¡¡severed¡¡his¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡the¡¡society¡¡and¡¡its¡¡policy£»¡¡he¡¡still¡¡remained¡¡uneasy¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡as¡¡to¡¡what¡¡might¡¡even¡¡yet¡¡be¡¡the¡¡result¡££©
However£»¡¡his¡¡fears¡¡vanished¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡guest¡¡saluted¡¡him¡¡with¡¡marked¡¡politeness¡¡and¡¡explained£»¡¡with¡¡many¡¡deferential¡¡pois