United States or Albania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Every one in the house was very much surprised to hear of his intentions; even the servants looked at him with a puzzled air. Bassistoff did not conceal his sorrow. Natalya evidently avoided Rudin. She tried not to meet his eyes. He succeeded, however, in slipping his note into her hand.
All Rudin's thoughts seemed centred on the future; this lent him something of the impetuous dash of youth... Standing at the window, not looking at any one in special, he spoke, and inspired by the general sympathy and attention, the presence of young women, the beauty of the night, carried along by the tide of his own emotions, he rose to the height of eloquence, of poetry.... The very sound of his voice, intense and soft, increased the fascination; it seemed as though some higher power were speaking through his lips, startling even to himself.... Rudin spoke of what lends eternal significance to the fleeting life of man.
Unimagined splendours were revealed there to her earnest eyes from the pages of the book which Rudin held on his knee; a stream of divine visions, of new, illuminating ideas, seemed to flow in rhythmic music into her soul, and in her heart, moved with the high delight of noble feeling, slowly was kindled and fanned into a flame the holy spark of enthusiasm.
You are standing on the threshold of life.... To dwell on your future is both pleasant and not unprofitable.... Listen: you know I am your friend; I take almost a brother's interest in you. And so I hope you will not think my question indiscreet; tell me, is your heart so far quite untouched? Natalya grew hot all over and said nothing, Rudin stopped, and she stopped too.
The word "transitional" has been altogether overworked in dealing with Turgenev. Rudins are as common in Russia to-day as they were in 1850; for although Turgenev diagnosed the disease in a masterly fashion, he was unable to suggest a remedy. So late as 1894 Stepniak remarked, "it may be truly said that every educated Russian of our time has a bit of Dmitri Rudin in him."
A servant entered with a letter in his hand. 'From whom? asked Lezhnyov. 'From Rudin, Dmitri Nikolaitch. The Lasunsky's servant brought it. 'From Rudin? repeated Volintsev, 'to whom? 'To you. 'To me!... give it me! Volintsev seized the letter, quickly tore it open, and began to read.
'Well, shall I proceed to number three? asked Rudin. 'Please do. 'Very well. The third and last. I have only now got clear of number three. But am I not boring you, Mihail? 'Go on, go on. 'Well, began Rudin, 'once the idea occurred to me at some leisure moment I always had plenty of leisure moments the idea occurred to me; I have knowledge enough, my intentions are good.
The slight rattle of a racing droshky made Rudin raise his head. Lezhnyov was driving to meet him with his invariable trotting pony. Rudin bowed to him without speaking, and as though struck with a sudden thought, turned out of the road and walked quickly in the direction of Darya Mihailovna's house.
'Yes! youth! he continued, 'the whole aim of science is to reach consciously what is bestowed on youth for nothing. Natalya looked attentively at Rudin; she did not understand him. 'I have been talking all this morning with your mother, he went on; 'she is an extraordinary woman. I understand why all our poets sought her friendship. Are you fond of poetry? he added, after a pause.
Indeed, I myself, to begin with, have gained all that from him.... Sasha knows what Rudin did for me in my youth. I also maintained, I recollect, that Rudin's words could not produce an effect on men; but I was speaking then of men like myself, at my present age, of men who have already lived and been broken in by life.
Word Of The Day