Page:Pushkin - Russian Romance (King, 1875).djvu/62

50 benediction and consent to thy marriage with Maria Ivanovna, daughter of Mironoff, we received on the 15th of this month, and not only do I not intend to give thee my blessing or my consent, but, moreover, I mean to be up to thee, and punish thee for thy follies like a naughty boy, notwithstanding thy officer's rank; for thou hast proved that thou art as yet unworthy of wearing a sword, which was given thee for the defence of thy country, and not for fighting duels with such scamps as thou thyself art. I shall write without delay to Andrey Karlovitch to ask him to remove thee from the fortress of Byĕlogorsk, and send thee further away, so that thou shalt shake off such follies. Thy mother, upon hearing of thy duel, and that thou wast wounded, fell ill of grief, and is still confined to her bed. What is to become of thee? I pray to God to effect a change in thee though I dare not hope in His great mercy.

"Thy father, "."

The perusal of this letter, awakened in me a variety of sensations. The unkind expressions my father employed so liberally, wounded me deeply. The contempt with which he mentioned Maria Ivanovna, appeared to me as unbecoming as it was unjust. The prospect of being removed from the fortress of Byĕlogorsk, alarmed me; but the news of my mother's illness pained me most. I felt indignant towards Savelitch, never doubting that my parents had heard of my duel through him. Pacing to and fro in my little room, I stopped in front of him, and looking at him fiercely, said, "Thou dost not appear to