Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Anton ChekhovTO A. S. SUVORIN.MELIHOVO, April 21, 1894Of course it is very nice in the country; in fine weather Russia isan extraordinarily beautiful and enchanting country, especially forthose who have been born and spent their childhood in the country.But you will never buy yourself an estate, as you don’t knowwhat you want. To like an estate you must make up your mind tobuy it; so long as it is not yours it will seem comfortless and full ofdefects. My cough is considerably better, I am sunburnt, and theytell me I am fatter, but the other day I almost fell down and I fanciedfor a minute that I was dying. I was walking along the avenuewith the prince, our neighbour, and was talking when all at oncesomething seemed to break in my chest, I had a feeling of warmthand suffocation, there was a singing in my ears, I remembered thatI had been having palpitations for a long time and thought—“theymust have meant something then.” I went rapidly towards the verandahon which visitors were sitting, and had one thought—that itwould be awkward to fall down and die before strangers; but I wentinto my bedroom, drank some water, and recovered.So you are not the only one who suffers from staggering!I am beginning to build a pretty lodge ….325