The Schoolmaster and other stories - Penn State University

The Schoolmaster & other storiesthen when she was living she was cruel! I recall it allnow! It’s all clear to me now!”As the examining magistrate talked he shrugged hisshoulders, then clutched at his head. He got back intothe carriage, then walked again. The new idea the doctorhad imparted to him seemed to have overwhelmedhim, to have poisoned him; he was distracted, shatteredin body and soul, and when he got back to the town hesaid good-bye to the doctor, declining to stay to dinnerthough he had promised the doctor the evening beforeto dine with him.BETROTHEDIIT WAS TEN O’CLOCK in the evening and the full moon wasshining over the garden. In the Shumins’ house anevening service celebrated at the request of the grandmother,Marfa Mihalovna, was just over, and nowNadya—she had gone into the garden for a minute—could see the table being laid for supper in the diningroom,and her grandmother bustling about in her gorgeoussilk dress; Father Andrey, a chief priest of thecathedral, was talking to Nadya’s mother, NinaIvanovna, and now in the evening light through the windowher mother for some reason looked very young;Andrey Andreitch, Father Andrey’s son, was standingby listening attentively.It was still and cool in the garden, and dark peaceful32