The Precipice by Ivan Goncharov

Author:Ivan Goncharov
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Precipice considered Goncharov's best work where he was able to realize his artistic ambition to the full. Dreams and aspirations of Raisky sounding like a sonorous chord, praising a Woman, Motherland, God and love.Ivan Goncharov was a Russian novelist best known for his novels Oblomov (ISBN: 9781910150597), and The Precipice (ISBN: 9781910150603)., Fyodor Dostoyevsky, among others, considered Goncharov an author of high stature.Gocharov, Oblomov, Woman, Motherland, God, love, satire, humour, Russian classic, social order, nobility, superfluous man, symbolism
Publisher: Sovereign Classic
Published: 2014-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIX

After leaving Raisky, Vera listened for a while to make sure he was not following her, and then, pushing the branches of the undergrowth aside with her parasol, made her way by the familiar path to the ruined arbour, whose battered doorway was almost barricaded by the fallen timbers. The steps of the arbour and the planks of the floor had sunk, and rotten planks cracked under her feet. Of its original furniture there was nothing left but two moss-grown benches and a crooked table.

Mark was already in the arbour, and his rifle and huntsman’s bag lay on the table. He held out his hand to Vera, and almost lifted her in over the shattered steps. By way of welcome he merely commented on her lateness.

“The weather detained me,” she said. “Have you any news?”

“Did you expect any?”

“I expect every day that you will be sent for by the military or the police.”

“I have been more careful since Raisky played at magnanimity and took upon himself the fuss about the books.”

“I don’t like that about you, Mark, your callousness and malice towards everyone except yourself. My cousin made no parade of what he had done; he did not even mention it to me. You are incapable of appreciating a kindness.”

“I do appreciate it in my own way.”

“Just as the wolf in the fable appreciated the kindness of the crane. Why not thank him with the same simplicity with which he served you. You are a real wolf; you are for ever disparaging, detracting, or blaming someone, either from pride or....”

“Or what?”

“Or by way of cultivating the ‘new strength.’”

“Scoffer!” he laughed, as he sat down beside her. “You are young, and still too inexperienced to be disillusioned of all the charm of the good old times. How can I instruct you in the rights of mankind?”

“And how am I to cure you of the slandering of mankind?”

“You have always a retort handy, and nobody could complain of dullness with you, but,” he said, clutching meditatively at his head, “if I....”

“Am locked up by the police,” she finished. “That seems to be all that your fate still lacks.”

“But for you, I should long ago have been sent off somewhere. You are a disturbing element.”

“Are you tired of living peaceably, and already craving for a storm? You promised me to lead a different life. What have you not promised me? And I was so happy that they even noticed my delight at home. And now you have relapsed into your old mood,” she protested, as he seized her hand.

“Pretty hand!” he said, kissing it again and again without any objection from her, but when he sought to kiss her cheek she drew back.

“You refuse again. Is your reserve never to end? Perhaps you keep your caresses for....”

She drew her hand away hastily.

“You know I do not like jests of that kind. You must break yourself of this tone, and of wolfish manners generally; that would be the first step towards unaffected manhood.”

“Tone and manners! You are a child still occupied with your ABC.

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