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Updated: June 28, 2025
Though, with his characteristic impudence, he had made up his mind to go into the country to visit a woman whom he hardly knew, who had never invited him; but with whom, according to information he had gathered, such talented and intimate friends were staying, he was nevertheless trembling to the marrow of his bones; and instead of bringing out the apologies and compliments he had learned by heart beforehand, he muttered some absurdity about Evdoksya Kukshin having sent him to inquire after Anna Sergyevna's health, and Arkady Nikolaevitch's too, having always spoken to him in the highest terms.... At this point he faltered and lost his presence of mind so completely that he sat down on his own hat.
He slapped Arkady on the back, and called him loudly 'nephew'; vouchsafed Bazarov who was attired in a rather old evening coat a sidelong glance in passing absent but condescending and an indistinct but affable grunt, in which nothing could be distinguished but 'I ... and 'very much'; gave Sitnikov a finger and a smile, though with his head already averted; even to Madame Kukshin, who made her appearance at the ball with dirty gloves, no crinoline, and a bird of Paradise in her hair, he said 'enchanté. There were crowds of people, and no lack of dancing men; the civilians were for the most part standing close along the walls, but the officers danced assiduously, especially one of them who had spent six weeks in Paris, where he had mastered various daring interjections of the kind of 'zut, 'Ah, fichtr-re, 'pst, pst, mon bibi, and such.
They were pursued by a nervously malicious, but somewhat faint-hearted laugh from Madame Kukshin; her vanity had been deeply wounded by neither of them having paid any attention to her. She stayed later than any one at the ball, and at four o'clock in the morning she was dancing a polka-mazurka with Sitnikov in the Parisian style. This edifying spectacle was the final event of the Governor's ball.
One need but glance at him in the Russian church, when, leaning against the wall on one side, he sinks into thought, and remains long without stirring, bitterly compressing his lips, then suddenly recollects himself, and begins almost imperceptibly crossing himself.... Madame Kukshin, too, went abroad.
'Bazarov, Kirsanov, he announced abruptly in imitation of Bazarov. 'Delighted, answered Madame Kukshin, and fixing on Bazarov a pair of round eyes, between which was a forlorn little turned-up red nose, 'I know you, she added, and pressed his hand too. Bazarov scowled.
You're interested in the woman question, I suppose? And in the schools too? What does your friend do? What is his name? Madame Kukshin shed her questions one after another with affected negligence, not waiting for an answer; spoilt children talk so to their nurses. 'My name's Arkady Nikolaitch Kirsanov, said Arkady, 'and I'm doing nothing. Evdoksya giggled. 'How charming! What, don't you smoke?
By the way, Yevgeny Vassilyitch, you positively must come to know a lady here, who is really capable of understanding you, and for whom your visit would be a real festival; you have heard of her, I suppose? 'Who is it? Bazarov brought out unwillingly. 'Kukshina, Eudoxie, Evdoksya Kukshin. She's a remarkable nature, émancipée in the true sense of the word, an advanced woman. Do you know what?
'Whom do you mean? put in Evdoksya. 'Pretty women. 'What? Do you adopt Proudhon's ideas, then? Bazarov drew himself up haughtily. 'I don't adopt any one's ideas; I have my own. 'Damn all authorities! shouted Sitnikov, delighted to have a chance of expressing himself boldly before the man he slavishly admired. 'But even Macaulay, Madame Kukshin was beginning ...
The small gentleman's house in the Moscow style, in which Avdotya Nikitishna, otherwise Evdoksya, Kukshin, lived, was in one of the streets of X , which had been lately burnt down; it is well known that our provincial towns are burnt down every five years.
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