idual bias。 Yet their instruction； alas！ contained no LIFEin the mouths of those teachers a dead language savoured merely of carrion。 Thus everything connected with the school underwent a radical alteration； and respect for authority and the authorities waned； and tutors and ushers came to be dubbed 〃Old Thedor；〃 〃Crusty；〃 and the like。 And sundry other things began to take placethings which necessitated many a penalty and expulsion； until； within a couple of years； no one who had known the school in former days would now have recognised it。
Nevertheless Tientietnikov； a youth of retiring disposition； experienced no leanings towards the nocturnal orgies of his companions； orgies during which the latter used to flirt with damsels before the very windows of the headmaster's rooms； nor yet towards their mockery of all that was sacred； simply because fate had cast in their way an injudicious priest。 No； despite its dreaminess； his soul ever remembered its celestial origin； and could not be diverted from the path of virtue。 Yet still he hung his head； for； while his ambition had come to life； it could find no sort of outlet。 Truly 'twere well if it had NOT come to life； for throughout the time that he was listening to professors who gesticulated on their chairs he could not help remembering the old preceptor who； invariably cool and calm； had yet known how to make himself understood。 To what subjects； to what lectures； did the boy not have to listen！to lectures on medicine； and on philosophy； and on law； and on a version of general history so enlarged that even three years failed to enable the professor to do more than finish the introduction thereto； and also the account of the development of some self…governing towns in Germany。 None of the stuff remained fixed in Tientietnikov's brain save as shapeless clots； for though his native intellect could not tell him how instruction ought to be imparted； it at least told him that THIS was not the way。 And frequently； at such moments he would recall Alexander Petrovitch； and give way to such grief that scarcely did he know what he was doing。
But youth is fortunate in the fact that always before it there lies a future； and in proportion as the time for his leaving school drew nigh； Tientietnikov's heart began to beat higher and higher； and he said to himself： 〃This is not life； but only a preparation for life。 True life is to be found in the Public Service。 There at least will there be scope for activity。〃 So； bestowing not a glance upon that beautiful corner of the world which never failed to strike the guest or chance visitor with amazement； and reverencing not a whit the dust of his ancestors； he followed the example of most ambitious men of his class by repairing to St。 Petersburg （whither； as we know； the more spirited youth of Russia from every quarter gravitatesthere to enter the Public Service； to shine； to obtain promotion； and； in a word； to scale the topmost peaks of that pale； cold； deceptive elevation which is known as society）。 But the real starting…point of Tientietnikov's ambition was the moment when his uncle （one State Councillor Onifri Ivanovitch） instilled into him the maxim that the only means to success in the Service lay in good handwriting； and that； without that accomplishment； no one could ever hope to become a Minister or Statesman。 Thus； with great difficulty； and also with the help of his uncle's influence； young Tientietnikov at length succeeded in being posted to a Department。 On the day that he was conducted into a splendid； shining halla hall fitted with inlaid floors and lacquered desks as fine as though this were actually the place where the great ones of the Empire met for discussion of the fortunes of the State； on the day that he saw legions of handsome gentlemen of the quill…driving profession making loud scratchings with pens； and cocking their heads to one side； lastly on the day that he saw himself also allotted a desk； and requested to copy a document which appeared purposely to be one of the pettiest possible order （as a matter of fact it related to a sum of three roubles； and had taken half a year to produce）well； at that moment a curious； an unwonted sensation seized upon the inexperienced youth； for the gentlemen around him appeared so exactly like a lot of college students。 And； the further to complete the resemblance； some of them were engaged in reading trashy translated novels； which they kept hurriedly thrusting between the sheets of their apportioned work whenever the Director appeared； as though to convey the impression that it was to that work alone that they were applying themselves。 In short； the scene seemed to Tientietnikov strange； and his former pursuits more important than his present； and his preparation for the Service preferable to the Service itself。 Yes； suddenly he felt a longing for his old school； and as suddenly； and with all the vividness of life； there appeared before his vision the figure of Alexander Petrovitch。 He almost burst into tears as he beheld his old master； and the room seemed to swim before his eyes； and the tchinovniks and the desks to become a blur； and his sight to grow dim。 Then he thought to himself with an effort： 〃No； no！ I WILL apply myself to my work； however petty it be at first。〃 And hardening his heart and recovering his spirit； he determined then and there to perform his duties in such a manner as should be an example to the rest。
But where are compensations to be found？ Even in St。 Petersburg； despite its grim and murky exterior； they exist。 Yes； even though thirty degrees of keen； cracking frost may have bound the streets； and the family of the North Wind be wailing there； and the Snowstorm Witch have heaped high the pavements； and be blinding the eyes； and powdering beards and fur collars and the shaggy manes of horseseven THEN there will be shining hospitably through the swirling snowflakes a fourth…floor window where； in a cosy room； and by the light of modest candles； and to the hiss of the samovar； there will be in progress a discussion which warms the heart and soul； or else a reading aloud of a brilliant page of one of those inspired Russian poets with whom God has dowered us； while the breast of each member of the company is heaving with a rapture unknown under a noontide sky。
Gradually； therefore； Tientietnikov grew more at home in the Service。 Yet never did it become； for him； the main pursuit； the main object in life； which he had expected。 No； it remained but one of a secondary kind。 That is to say； it served merely to divide up his time； and enable him the more to value his hours of leisure。 Nevertheless； just when his uncle was beginning to flatter himself that his nephew was destined to succeed in the profession； the said nephew elected to ruin his every hope。 Thus it befell。 Tientietnikov's friends （he had many） included among their number a couple of fellows of the species known as 〃embittered。〃 That is to say； though good…natured souls of that curiously restless type which cannot endure injustice； nor anything which it conceives to be such； they were thoroughly unbalanced of conduct themselves； and； while demanding general agreement with their views； treated those of others with the scantiest of ceremony。 Nevertheless these two associates exercised upon Tientietnikovboth by the fire of their eloquence and by the form of their noble dissatisfaction with societya very strong influence； with the result that； through arousing in him an innate tendency to nervous resentment； they led him also to notice trifles which before had escaped his attention。 An instance of this is seen in the fact that he conceived against Thedor Thedorovitch Lienitsin； Director of one of the Departments which was quartered in the splendid range of offices before mentioned； a dislike which proved the cause of his discerning n the man a host of hitherto unmarked imperfections。 Above all things did Tientietnikov take it into his head that； when conversing with his superiors； Lienitsin became； of the moment； a stick of luscious sweetmeat； but that； when conversing with his inferiors； he approximated more to a vinegar cruet。 Certain it is that； like all petty…minded individuals； Lienitsin made a note of any one who failed to offer him a greeting on festival days； and that he revenged himself upon any one whose visiting…card had not been handed to his butler。 Eventually the youth's aversion almost attained the point of hysteria； until he felt that； come what might； he MUST insult the fellow in some fashion。 To that task he applied himself con amore； and so thoroughly that he met with complete success。 That is to say； he seized on an occasion to address Lienitsin in such fashion that the delinquent received notice either to apologies or to leave the Service； and when of these alternatives he chose the latter his uncle came to him； and made a terrified appeal。 〃For God's sake remember what you are doing！〃 he cried。 〃To think that； after beginning your career so well； you should abandon it merely for the reason that you have not fallen in with the sort of Director whom you prefer！ What do you mean by it； what do you mean by it？ Were others to regard things in the same way； the Service would find itself without