“Who tied this horse to an apple-tree?” Kovrin heard his despairing, heart-rending cry.  “Who is the low scoundrel who has dared to tie this horse to an apple-tree?  My God, my God!  They have ruined everything; they have spoilt everything; they have done everything filthy, horrible, and abominable.  The orchard’s done for, the orchard’s ruined.  My God!”

When he came back to Kovrin, his face looked exhausted and mortified.

“What is one to do with these accursed people?” he said in a tearful voice, flinging up his hands.  “Styopka was carting dung at night, and tied the horse to an apple-tree!  He twisted the reins round it, the rascal, as tightly as he could, so that the bark is rubbed off in three places.  What do you think of that!  I spoke to him and he stands like a post and only blinks his eyes.  Hanging is too good for him.”

Growing calmer, he embraced Kovrin and kissed him on the cheek.

“Well, God bless you! . . .  God bless you! . . .” he muttered.  “I am very glad you have come.  Unutterably glad. . . .  Thank you.”

Then, with the same rapid step and preoccupied face, he made the round of the whole garden, and showed his former ward all his greenhouses and hot-houses, his covered-in garden, and two apiaries which he called the marvel of our century.

While they were walking the sun rose, flooding the garden with brilliant light.  It grew warm.  Foreseeing a long, bright, cheerful day, Kovrin recollected that it was only the beginning of May, and that he had before him a whole summer as bright, cheerful, and long; and suddenly there stirred in his bosom a joyous, youthful feeling, such as he used to experience in his childhood, running about in that garden.  And he hugged the old man and kissed him affectionately.  Both of them, feeling touched, went indoors and drank tea out of old-fashioned china cups, with cream and satisfying krendels made with milk and eggs; and these trifles reminded Kovrin again of his childhood and boyhood.  The delightful present was blended with the impressions of the past that stirred within him; there was a tightness at his heart; yet he was happy.

He waited till Tanya was awake and had coffee with her, went for a walk, then went to his room and sat down to work.  He read attentively, making notes, and from time to time raised his eyes to look out at the open windows or at the fresh, still dewy flowers in the vases on the table; and again he dropped his eyes to his book, and it seemed to him as though every vein in his body was quivering and fluttering with pleasure.

II

In the country he led just as nervous and restless a life as in town.  He read and wrote a great deal, he studied Italian, and when he was out for a walk, thought with pleasure that he would soon sit down to work again.  He slept so little that every one wondered at him; if he accidentally dozed for half an hour in the daytime, he would lie awake all night, and, after a sleepless night, would feel cheerful and vigorous as though nothing had happened.