speech, which Konstantin knew so well, he began to tell his brother the whole story of Kritsky's life; how he had been driven from the university, because he had tried to found an aid society and Sunday-schools among the students; how afterwards he had been appointed teacher in one of the public schools, only to be dismissed; and how finally he had been tried for something or other.
"Were you at the University of Kief?" asked Konstantin of Kritsky, in order to break the awkward silence that followed.
"Yes, I was at Kief," replied Kritsky, curtly, with a frown.
"And this woman," cried Nikolaï Levin, pointing to the girl, "is the companion of my life, Marya Nikolayevna. I took her from a house," — he said, stretching out his neck, — "but I love her, and I esteem her; and all who want to know me," he added, raising his voice and scowling, "must love her and esteem her. She is just the same as my wife, just the same. So now you know with whom you have to do. And if you think that you lower yourself, there's the door!" [1] And again his eyes looked at them all questioningly.
"I do not understand how I should lower myself."
"All right, Masha, bring us up enough for three, — some vodka and wine. .... No, wait; .... no matter, though; ....go!"
CHAPTER XXV
"As you see," continued Nikolaï Levin, frowning, and speaking with effort. It was evidently hard for him to make up his mind what to do or say. "But do you see?" ....and he pointed to the corner of the room, where lay some iron bars attached to straps. "Do you see that? That is the beginning of a new work which
- ↑ He quotes the riming phrase: Tak vot Bog a vot porog (or, vot tebye Bog, a vot tebye porog) which expanded may mean, "Stay if you like and God be with you, but yonder is the threshold!"
