A House of Gentlefolk | Page 5

appear to regard everything
serious as trifling; he was a capital dancer; and dressed in the English
style. In a short time he gained the reputation of being one of the

smartest and most attractive young men in Petersburg.
Panshin was indeed very smart, not less so than his father; but he was
also very talented. He did everything well; he sang charmingly,
sketched with spirit, wrote verses, and was a very fair actor. He was
only twenty-eight, and he was already a kammer-yunker, and had a
very good position. Panshin had complete confidence in himself, in his
own intelligence, and his own penetration; he made his way with
light-hearted assurance, everything went smoothly with him. He was
used to being liked by every one, old and young, and imagined that he
understood people, especially women: he certainly understood their
ordinary weaknesses. As a man of artistic leanings, he was conscious of
a capacity for passion, for being carried away, even for enthusiasm, and
consequently, he permitted himself various irregularities; he was
dissipated, associated with persons not belonging to good society, and,
in general, conducted himself in a free and easy manner; but at heart he
was cold and false, and at the moment of the most boisterous revelry
his sharp brown eye was always alert, taking everything in. This bold,
independent young man could never forget himself and be completely
carried away. To his credit it must be said, that he never boasted of his
conquests. He had found his way into Marya Dmitrievna's house
immediately he arrived in O----, and was soon perfectly at home there.
Marya Dmitrievna absolutely adored him. Panshin exchanged cordial
greetings with every one in the room; he shook hands with Marya
Dmitrievna and Lisaveta Mihalovna, clapped Gedeonovsky lightly on
the shoulder, and turning round on his heels, put his hand on
Lenotchka's head and kissed her on the forehead.
"Aren't you afraid to ride such a vicious horse?" Marya Dmitrievna
questioned him.
"I assure you he's very quiet, but I will tell you what I am afraid of: I'm
afraid to play preference with Sergei Petrovitch; yesterday he cleaned
me out of everything at Madame Byelenitsin's."
Gedeonovsky gave a thin, sympathetic little laugh; he was anxious to
be in favour with the brilliant young official from Petersburg--the
governor's favourite. In conversation with Marya Dmitrievna, he often

alluded to Panshin's remarkable abilities. Indeed, he used to argue, how
can one help admiring him? The young man is making his way in the
highest spheres, he is an exemplary official, and not a bit of pride about
him. And, in fact, even in Petersburg Panshin was reckoned a capable
official; he got through a great deal of work; he spoke of it lightly as
befits a man of the world who does not attach any special importance to
his labours, but he never hesitated in carrying out orders. The
authorities like such subordinates; he himself had no doubt, that if he
chose, he could be a minister in time.
"You are pleased to say that I cleaned you out," replied Gedeonovsky;
"but who was it won twelve roubles of me last week and more?" . . .
"You're a malicious fellow," Panshin interrupted, with genial but
somewhat contemptuous carelessness, and, paying him no further
attention, he went up to Lisa.
"I cannot get the overture of Oberon here," he began. "Madame
Byelenitsin was boasting when she said she had all the classical music:
in reality she has nothing but polkas and waltzes, but I have already
written to Moscow, and within a week you will have the overture. By
the way," he went on, "I wrote a new song yesterday, the words too are
mine, would you care for me to sing it? I don't know how far it is
successful. Madame Byelenitsin thought it very pretty, but her words
mean nothing. I should like to know what you think of it. But, I think,
though, that had better be later on."
"Why later on?" interposed Marya Dmitrievna, "why not now?"
"I obey," replied Panshin, with a peculiar bright and sweet smile, which
came and went suddenly on his face. He drew up a chair with his knee,
sat down to the piano, and striking a few chords began to sing,
articulating the words clearly, the following song--
Above the earth the moon floats high Amid pale clouds; Its magic light
in that far sky Yet stirs the floods.
My heart has found a moon to rule Its stormy sea; To joy and sorrow it

is moved Only by thee.
My soul is full of love's cruel smart, And longing vain; But thou art
calm, as that cold moon, That knows not pain.
The second couplet was sung by Panshin with special power and
expression, the sound of