to get my medical school papers right away, to-morrow, if possible; so you will look us up a house."[1]
On Tuesday Lopukhóf got his papers, went to Mertsálof and said that the wedding would be on the next day. "At what time would be most convenient for you, Alekséi Petróvitch?"
It makes no difference to Alekséi Petróvitch, as he stays at home all day. "I think, though, that I shall have time to send Kirsánof to let you know."
On Wednesday, at eleven o'clock, Lopukhóf went to the boulevard, and after waiting for some time for Viérotchka began to get worried; but here she is, all out of breath.
"Viérotchka, my dear [drūg moï], has anything happened to you?"
"No, mílenki, nothing; I was late only because I overslept."
"That means—what time did you go to bed?"
"Mílenki, I didn't want to tell you; at seven o'clock, mílenki; but I was thinking all night long; no, it was earlier, it was six!"
"I want to ask you about something, my dear Viérotchka: we must get married soon, mustn't we? so that we may both be comfortable?"
"Yes, mílenki, we must; we must very soon!"
"Then in four days, in three—"
"Akh! if it could be so, mílenki; then you would be a smart boy!"
"In three days I will surely find a house; will buy everything for housekeeping, and then will it be possible for us to live in it together?"
"It will, my golubtchik, it certainly will!"
"But it will be necessary to get married first."
"Akh! I forgot, mílenki, that it was necessary to get married first!"
"Well, we can get married to-day; that was the very thing that I wanted to ask you about."
"Let us go right away and get married; and how have you managed everything? What a bright boy you are, mílenki!"
- ↑ Before entering the medical school or any department of the Russian universities, a student is obliged to deposit with the authorities the certificate of his birth and baptism, and the diploma from the gymnasium (attestat zriélosti). That gives him the authority to teach, and shortens his term of service in the army. Without a diploma from the medical school a man cannot practise medicine.
