you are doing," he said, greedily munching a piece of bread, and pouring out a second glass. "How are you living?"
"I live alone in the country, as I always have, and busy myself with farming," replied Konstantin, looking with terror at the eagerness with which his brother ate and drank, and trying to hide his impressions.
"Why don't you get married?"
"I have not come to that yet," replied Konstantin, turning red.
"Why so? For me—it's all over! I have wasted my life! This I have said, and always shall say, that, if they had given me my share of the estate when I needed it, my whole life would have been different."
Konstantin hastened to change the conversation.
"Did you know that your Vanyushka[1] is with me at Pokrovskoye as book-keeper?" he said.
Nikolaï craned out his neck and wondered.
"Yes, tell me what is doing at Pokrovskoye. Is the house just the same? and the birch trees and our study room? Is Filipp, the gardener, still alive? How I remember the summer-house and the divan! .... Just look here! don't let anything in the house be changed, but hurry up and get married and begin to live as you used to. Then I will come to visit you if your wife will be kind."
"Then come back with me now," said Konstantin. "How well we should get on together!"
"I would come if I knew I should not meet Sergeï Ivanuitch."
"You would not meet him; I live absolutely independent of him."
"Yes; but, whatever you say, you must choose between him and me," said Nikolaï, looking timorously in his brother's eyes.
This timidity touched Konstantin.
"If you want to hear my whole confession as to this matter, I will tell you that I take sides neither with you nor with him in your quarrel. You are both in the
- ↑ Vanyushka is the diminutive of Ivan, as Jack is of John.
