The Brothers Karamazov

(coco) #1

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  • Fiftyish.
    In brief there was every appearance of gentility on strait-
    ened means. It looked as though the gentleman belonged
    to that class of idle landowners who used to flourish in the
    times of serfdom. He had unmistakably been, at some time,
    in good and fashionable society, had once had good con-
    nections, had possibly preserved them indeed, but, after a
    gay youth, becoming gradually impoverished on the abo-
    lition of serfdom, he had sunk into the position of a poor
    relation of the best class, wandering from one good old
    friend to another and received by them for his companion-
    able and accommodating disposition and as being, after all,
    a gentleman who could be asked to sit down with anyone,
    though, of course, not in a place of honour. Such gentlemen
    of accommodating temper and dependent position, who
    can tell a story, take a hand at cards, and who have a dis-
    tinct aversion for any duties that may be forced upon them,
    are usually solitary creatures, either bachelors or widowers.
    Sometimes they have children, but if so, the children are
    always being brought up at a distance, at some aunt’s, to
    whom these gentlemen never allude in good society, seem-
    ing ashamed of the relationship. They gradually lose sight
    of their children altogether, though at intervals they receive
    a birthday or Christmas letter from them and sometimes
    even answer it.
    The countenance of the unexpected visitor was not so
    much good-natured, as accommodating and ready to as-
    sume any amiable expression as occasion might arise. He
    had no watch, but he had a tortoise-shell lorgnette on a

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