"
Smolin listened to the old man's words with a covetous smile on
his lips, and cast at Lubov glances which seemed to invite her to
refute her father. Somewhat embarrassed, she said:
"And yet, papa, the majority of the merchant class is uneducated
and savage."
"Yes," remarked Smolin with regret, nodding his head
affirmatively, "that is the sad truth."
"Take Foma, for instance," went on the girl.
"0h!" exclaimed Mayakin. "Well, you are young folks, you can have
books in your hands."
"And do you not take interest in any of the societies?" Smolin
asked Lubov. "You have so many different societies here."
"Yes," said Lubov with a sigh, "but I live rather apart from
everything."
"Housekeeping!" interposed the father. "We have here such a store
of different things, everything has to be kept clean, in order,
and complete as to number."
With a self-satisfied air he nodded first at the table, which was
set with brilliant crystal and silverware, and then at the
sideboard, whose shelves were fairly breaking under the weight of
the articles, and which reminded one of the display in a store
window.
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