Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume X).djvu/146

Rh 'Do you see the little path?' Alice said to me, 'where the moon shines dimly and where are two birch-trees overhanging? Will you go there?' But I felt so shattered and exhausted that I could only say in reply: 'Home! home!' 'You are at home,' replied Alice. I was in fact standing at the very door of my house — alone. Alice had vanished. The yard-dog was about to approach, he scanned me suspiciously — and with a bark ran away. With difficulty I dragged myself up to my bed and fell asleep without undressing.

the following morning my head ached, and I could scarcely move my legs; but I cared little for my bodily discomfort; I was devoured by regret, overwhelmed with vexation.

I was excessively annoyed with myself. 'Coward!' I repeated incessantly; 'yes — Alice was right. What was I frightened of? how could I miss such an opportunity? . . . I might have seen Caesar himself — and I was senseless with terror, I whimpered and turned away, like a child at the sight of the rod. Razin, now —