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Updated: June 17, 2025
Therefore he endeavoured to meet Lida elsewhere, either in the street, or at the house of a mutual friend. She, for her part, pitied him, and, in a way, blamed herself which caused her to treat him with exaggerated cordiality, so that Novikoff once more began to hope. "What do you say to this?" he asked, just as they were all going, "Let's arrange a picnic at the convent, shall we?"
"What nonsense!" exclaimed Novikoff testily. "I've got to see a patient..." "Who is quite able to die without your help," said Ivanoff. "For that matter, we can polish off the vodka without your help, either." "Suppose I get drunk?" thought Novikoff. "All right! I'll come," he said. As they went away, Yourii could hear at a distance Ivanoff's gruff bass voice and Sanine's careless, merry laugh.
Novikoff sighed, and sat down on the sofa. He liked to be quiet and think matters over. He only came to see Yourii because, at home, by himself, he was sad and worried. Lida's refusal still distressed him, and he could not be sure if he felt grieved or humiliated. As a straightforward, indolent fellow, he had so far heard nothing of the local gossip concerning Lida and Sarudine.
I have never asked anything of anybody, and therefore people ought to leave me alone." Both remained silent. "Well, how goes it, doctor?" asked Sanine, as he watched the tobacco- smoke rising in fantastic curves above his head. Novikoff, who was thinking of something else, did not answer at once. "Badly." "In what way?" "Oh! in every way.
I should rather think so!" exclaimed Lida. "Victor Sergejevitsch, suppose you go in? You're one of the brave ones." "Why?" asked Sarudine, somewhat perplexed. "I'll go!" exclaimed Yourii, blushing to think that the others would accuse him of showing off. "It's a wonderful place!" said Ivanoff by way of encouragement. "Aren't you going too?" asked Novikoff. "No, I'd rather stop here!"
Then Ivanoff, Novikoff, Captain Malinowsky, two other officers, and Sanine all appeared. "Hurrah!" cried Malinowsky, as he pushed his way in. His face was purple, he had fat, flabby cheeks and a moustache like two wisps of straw. "How are you, boys?" "Bang goes another twenty-five-rouble note!" thought Sarudine with some irritation.
Sarudine and Tanaroff went to the piano in the drawing-room, while Lida reclined lazily in the rocking-chair on the veranda. Novikoff, mute, walked up and down on the creaking boards of the veranda floor, furtively glancing at Lida's face, at her firm, full bosom, at her little feet shod in yellow shoes, and her dainty ankles.
Tears filled his eyes. "If you only knew how sad at heart I am," he murmured, striving to conquer his emotion. "My dear fellow, I know all about it everything," said Sanine kindly. "No! You can't know all!" said Novikoff, as he sat down beside the other. He thought that no one could possibly feel such sorrow as his.
On the bed and the chairs lay books, linen, surgical instruments and a portmanteau. "Going away?" asked Sanine, in surprise. "Where?" Novikoff avoided the other's glance and continued to overhaul the things, vexed at his own confusion. At last he said: "Yes, I've got to leave this place. I've had my official notice." Sanine looked at him and then at the portmanteau.
You will get to love Novikoff, and, if you don't, well, we'll travel together, my Lidotschka; one can live, can't one, anywhere, after all?" Lida sighed and strove to overcome her final scruples. "Perhaps ... everything will come right again," she murmured. "Novikoff... he's so good and kind ... nice-looking, too, isn't he? Yes ... no... I don't know what to say."
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