Chapter 19

           StepanArkadyevitchwasabouttogoawaywhenKorneycameintoannounce:

           “SergeyAlexyevitch!”

           “Who’sSergeyAlexyevitch?”StepanArkadyevitchwasbeginning,butherememberedimmediately.

           “Ah,Seryozha!”hesaidaloud.“SergeyAlexyevitch!Ithoughtitwasthedirectorofadepartment.Annaaskedmetoseehimtoo,”hethought.

           Andherecalledthetimid,piteousexpressionwithwhichAnnahadsaidtohimatparting:“Anyway,youwillseehim.Findoutexactlywhereheis,whoislookingafterhim.AndStiva...ifitwerepossible!Coulditbepossible?”StepanArkadyevitchknewwhatwasmeantbythat“ifitwerepossible,”—ifitwerepossibletoarrangethedivorcesoastoletherhaveherson....StepanArkadyevitchsawnowthatitwasnogoodtodreamofthat,butstillhewasgladtoseehisnephew.

           AlexeyAlexandrovitchremindedhisbrother-in-lawthattheyneverspoketotheboyofhismother,andhebeggedhimnottomentionasinglewordabouther.

           “Hewasveryillafterthatinterviewwithhismother,whichwehadnotforeseen,”saidAlexeyAlexandrovitch.“Indeed,wefearedforhislife.Butwithrationaltreatment,andsea-bathinginthesummer,heregainedhisstrength,andnow,bythedoctor’sadvice,Ihavelethimgotoschool.Andcertainlythecompanionshipofschoolhashadagoodeffectonhim,andheisperfectlywell,andmakinggoodprogress.