[27] Turgenieff labelled this story and “A Reckless Character,” “Fragments from My Own Memoirs and Those of Other People.”  In a foot-note he begs the reader not to mistake the “I” for the author’s own personality, as it was adopted merely for convenience of narration.—­TRANSLATOR.

[28] The Russian expression is:  “A black cat had run between them.”—­TRANSLATOR.

[29] In Russia a partial second story, over the centre, or the centre and ends of the main story, is called thus.—­TRANSLATOR.

[30] In Russian houses the “hall” is a combined ball-room, music-room, play-room, and exercising-ground; not the entrance hall.—­TRANSLATOR.

[31] We should call such a watch a “turnip.”—­TRANSLATOR.

[32] The author is slightly sarcastic in the name he has chosen for this family, which is derived from telyega, a peasant-cart.—­TRANSLATOR.

[33] St. Petersburg.—­TRANSLATOR.

[34] Both these are bad omens, according to superstitious Russians.—­TRANSLATOR.

[35] Priests and monks in Russia wear their hair and beards long to resemble the pictures of Christ.  Missionaries in foreign lands are permitted to conform to the custom of the country and cut it short.—­TRANSLATOR.

[36] “Had been educated on copper coins” is the Russian expression.  That is, had received a cheap education.—­TRANSLATOR.

[37] The nickname generally applied by the Little Russians to the Great Russians.—­TRANSLATOR.

[38] The racing-drozhky is frequently used in the country.  It consists of a plank, without springs, mounted on four small wheels of equal size.  The driver sits flat on the plank, which may or may not be upholstered.—­TRANSLATOR.

[39] The baptismal cross.—­TRANSLATOR.

[40] The bath-besom is made of birch-twigs with the leaves attached, and is soaked in hot water (or in beer) to keep it soft.  The massage administered with the besom is delightful.  The peasants often use besoms of nettles, as a luxury.  The shredded linden bark is used as a sponge.—­TRANSLATOR.

[41] The great manoeuvre plain, near which the Moscow garrison is lodged, in the vicinity of Petrovsky Park and Palace.  Here the disaster took place during the coronation festivities of the present Emperor.—­TRANSLATOR.

[42] It is very rarely that a bishop performs the marriage ceremony.  All bishops are monks; and monks are not supposed to perform ceremonies connected with the things which they have renounced.  The exceptions are when monks are appointed parish priests (as in some of the American parishes, for instance), and, therefore, must fulfil the obligations of a married parish priest; or when the chaplain-monk on war-ships is called upon, at times, to minister to scattered Orthodox, in a port which has no settled priest.—­TRANSLATOR.

[43] The Order of St. George, with its black and orange ribbon, must be won by great personal bravery—­like the Victoria Cross.—­TRANSLATOR.