Poor People (Translated by Hugh Aplin 2002) by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Author:Fyodor Dostoevsky [Dostoevsky, Fyodor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature
ISBN: 9781847492340
Publisher: Oneworld Classics
Published: 1846-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

4th August

Dear Makar Alexeyevich!

For God’s sake, Makar Alexeyevich, borrow some sum of money just as quickly as you can; I wouldn’t have asked you for help in the present circumstances for anything, but if you only knew what my position is! There’s no way we can remain in this apartment. The most dreadfully unpleasant things have happened to me, and if you only knew what a state of upset and agitation I’m in now! Imagine, my friend: this morning we’re visited by an unknown man of advanced years, almost an old man, wearing his medals. I was surprised, and didn’t understand what he wanted of us. Fedora had gone out to the shop at the time. He began questioning me about how I lived and what I did and, without waiting for a reply, he announced to me that he was the uncle of that officer; that he was very angry with his nephew for his bad behaviour and for getting us a bad name throughout the building; he said his nephew was just a little boy and a windbag, and that he was prepared to take me under his wing; he advised me not to listen to young men, added that he commiserated with me like a father, that he had paternal feelings for me and was prepared to help me in everything. I’d turned completely red, didn’t even know what to think, but was in no hurry to thank him. He forcibly took hold of my hand, gave my cheek a tweak, said that I was very pretty and that he was extremely pleased with the fact that I had dimples on my cheeks (God knows what he said!), and finally he tried to kiss me, saying that he was already an old man (he was so disgusting!). At that point Fedora came in. He became rather embarrassed and started saying once more that he felt respect for me because of my modesty and moral behaviour and that he very much wished that I wouldn’t shun him. Then he called Fedora aside and under some strange pretext tried to give her a sum of money. Naturally, Fedora didn’t take it. Finally he got ready to go home, repeated all his assurances once again, said that he would come and see me once again and bring me some earrings (he himself seemed very embarrassed); he advised me to change my apartment and recommended a splendid apartment to me, one he had his eye on and which would cost me nothing; he said he had taken a great liking to me, since I was an honest and sensible girl, he advised me to beware of profligate youths, and finally announced that he knew Anna Fyodorovna, and that Anna Fyodorovna had instructed him to tell me that she would be visiting me herself. At that point everything became clear. I don’t know what came over me; for the first time in my life I was experiencing such a situation; I was beside myself; I absolutely covered him in shame.

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