Blizzard full content. Online reading of the book of the story Belkin's snowstorm. A. S. Pushkin "Snowstorm". Introduction

23.11.2019

In 1811, Gavrila Gavrilovich R. lived on his estate with his wife and daughter Masha. He was hospitable, and many enjoyed his hospitality, and some came for Marya Gavrilovna. But Marya Gavrilovna was in love with a poor army warrant officer named Vladimir, who was on vacation in his village next door. Young lovers, believing that the will of their parents hinders their happiness, decided to do without a blessing, that is, to get married in secret, and then throw themselves at the feet of their parents, who, of course, will be touched by the constancy of their children, forgive and bless them. This plan belonged to Vladimir, but Marya Gavrilovna finally succumbed to his persuasion to flee. A sleigh was supposed to come for her to take her to the neighboring village of Zhadrino, in which it was decided to get married and where Vladimir should already have been waiting for her.

On the evening appointed for the escape, Marya Gavrilovna was in great agitation, refused supper, citing a headache, and went to her room early. At the appointed time, she went out into the garden. On the road, Vladimir's coachman was waiting for her with a sleigh. A blizzard was raging outside.

Vladimir himself spent the whole day in trouble: he needed to persuade the priest, as well as find witnesses. Having settled these matters, he, driving himself in a small one-horse sleigh, went to Zhadrino, but as soon as he left the outskirts, a snowstorm arose, due to which Vladimir lost his way and wandered all night in search of a road. At dawn he had just reached Zhadrin and found the church locked.

And Marya Gavrilovna in the morning, as if nothing had happened, left her room and calmly answered her parents' questions about her well-being, but in the evening she became very feverish. In her delirium, she repeated the name of Vladimir, spoke of her secret, but her words were so incoherent that her mother did not understand anything, except that her daughter was in love with the neighboring landowner and that love must have been the cause of the illness. And the parents decided to give Masha for Vladimir. Vladimir answered the invitation with a chaotic and unintelligible letter, in which he wrote that his feet would not be in their house, and asked them to forget about him. A few days later he left for the army. This happened in 1812, and after a while his name was published among those who distinguished themselves and were wounded near Borodino. This news saddened Masha, and Gavrila Gavrilovich soon died, leaving her as his heiress. Suitors circled around her, but she seemed to be faithful to Vladimir, who died in Moscow from wounds.

"Meanwhile, the war with glory was over." The regiments were returning from abroad. In the estate of Marya Gavrilovna, a wounded hussar colonel Burmin appeared, who came on vacation to his estate, which was nearby. Marya Gavrilovna and Burmin felt that they liked each other, but something kept each from taking a decisive step. Once Burmin came for a visit and found Marya Gavrilovna in the garden. He announced to Marya Gavrilovna that he loved her, but could not become her husband, since he was already married, but did not know who his wife was, where she was and whether she was alive. And he told her an amazing story, how at the beginning of 1812 he was going from vacation to the regiment and during a heavy snowstorm he lost his way. Seeing a light in the distance, he went towards it and ran into an open church, near which a sleigh was standing and people were walking impatiently. They acted as if they were waiting for him. A young lady was sitting in the church, with whom Burmin was placed in front of the lectern. They were driven by unforgivable frivolity. When the wedding ceremony was over, the young people were offered to kiss, and the girl, looking at Burmin, with a cry of "not him, not him" fell unconscious. Burmin freely left the church and left. And now he does not know what happened to his wife, what her name is, and does not even know where the wedding took place. The servant who was with him at that time has died, so there is no way to find this woman.

Horses rush along the mounds,
Trampling deep snow...
Here, aside the temple of God
Seen alone.
…………………………
Suddenly a blizzard is all around;
Snow falls in tufts;
Black Raven, whistling its wing,
Hovering over the sleigh;
A prophetic groan says sadness!
The horses are hurried
Sensitively look into the dark distance,
Raising manes...

At the end of 1811, in an era memorable to us, the good Gavrila Gavrilovich R ** lived in his estate Nenaradovo. He was famous throughout the district for his hospitality and cordiality; the neighbors kept coming to him to eat, drink, play five kopecks in Boston with his wife, Praskovya Petrovna, and some in order to look at their daughter, Marya Gavrilovna, a slender, pale, and seventeen-year-old girl. She was considered a rich bride, and many predicted her for themselves or for their sons.

Marya Gavrilovna was brought up on French novels, and, consequently, she was in love. The subject chosen by her was a poor army ensign who was on leave in his village. It goes without saying that the young man burned with equal passion and that his amiable parents, noticing their mutual inclination, forbade their daughter to even think about him, and he was received worse than a retired assessor.

Our lovers were in correspondence, and every day they saw each other alone in the pine grove or at the old chapel. There they swore eternal love to each other, complained about fate and made various assumptions. Corresponding and talking in this way, they (which is quite natural) came to the following reasoning: if we cannot breathe without each other, and the will of cruel parents hinders our well-being, then can we not do without it? It goes without saying that this happy thought first occurred to the young man, and that Marya Gavrilovna's romantic imagination greatly liked it.

Winter came and stopped their visits; but the correspondence became all the more lively. Vladimir Nikolaevich in every letter implored her to surrender to him, to marry secretly, to hide for some time, then to throw herself at the feet of her parents, who, of course, would finally be touched by the heroic constancy and misfortune of their lovers, and would certainly say to them: Children! come into our arms.

Marya Gavrilovna hesitated for a long time; many escape plans were rejected. Finally she agreed: on the appointed day, she was to skip supper and retire to her room on the pretext of a headache. Her girl was in a conspiracy; both of them were to go out into the garden through the back porch, find a ready-made sledge behind the garden, get into it and drive five miles from Nenaradovo to the village of Zhadrino, straight to the church, where Vladimir was supposed to wait for them.

On the eve of the decisive day Marya Gavrilovna did not sleep all night; she packed, tied her linen and dress, wrote a long letter to one sensitive young lady, her friend, and another to her parents. She said goodbye to them in the most touching terms, excused her misdeed by the irresistible force of passion, and ended by saying that she would honor the most blessed moment of her life when she would be allowed to throw herself at the feet of her dearest parents. Having sealed both letters with a Tula signet, on which were depicted two flaming hearts with a decent inscription, she threw herself on the bed just before dawn and dozed off; but here, too, terrible dreams continually awakened her. It seemed to her that at the very moment she was getting into the sleigh to go to the wedding, her father stopped her, dragged her with excruciating speed over the snow and threw her into a dark, bottomless dungeon ... and she flew headlong with an inexplicable sinking heart; then she saw Vladimir lying on the grass, pale, bloodied. He, dying, begged her in a piercing voice to hasten to marry him ... other ugly, meaningless visions rushed before her one after another. At last she got up, paler than usual, and with an unfeigned headache. Her father and mother noticed her unease; their tender care and incessant questions: what is the matter with you, Masha? Are you sick, Masha? - tore her heart apart. She tried to calm them down, to appear cheerful, but she could not. Evening came. The thought that this was the last time she was spending the day in the midst of her family oppressed her heart. She was barely alive; she secretly said goodbye to all the persons, to all the objects that surrounded her. Served supper; her heart began to beat violently. She announced in a trembling voice that she did not feel like supper, and began to say goodbye to her father and mother. They kissed her and, as usual, blessed her: she almost cried. Arriving in her room, she threw herself into an armchair and burst into tears. The girl urged her to calm down and take heart. Everything was ready. Half an hour later, Masha had to leave her parents' house forever, her room, her quiet girlish life ... There was a snowstorm outside; the wind howled, the shutters shook and rattled; everything seemed to her a threat and a sad omen. Soon everything in the house calmed down and fell asleep. Masha wrapped herself in a shawl, put on a warm coat, picked up her box and went out onto the back porch. The maid carried two bundles behind her. They went down to the garden. The blizzard did not subside; the wind blew against her, as if trying to stop the young criminal. They made their way to the end of the garden. On the road, the sleigh was waiting for them. The horses, vegetating, did not stand still; Vladimir's coachman paced in front of the shafts, holding back the zealous. He helped the young lady and her girlfriend to sit down and put the bundles and the box, took the reins, and the horses flew. Having entrusted the young lady to the care of fate and the art of Tereshka the coachman, let us turn to our young lover.

In 1830, A. S. Pushkin finished writing the cycle of stories “The Tale of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin”. Snowstorm is one of five works from this popular collection of the great master. In the center of the story is the fate of a girl, the daughter of landlords, who is trying to overcome all the vicissitudes of fate in the name of her love. A summary of the story can be read below.

A. S. Pushkin "Snowstorm". Introduction

It happened in 1811. In the village of Nenaradovo lived a certain landowner Gavrila Gavrilovich with his wife and daughter. Their family was exemplary, the neighbors loved to visit them. Near the beautiful Marya Gavrilovna, who was eighteen years old, enviable suitors curled up. But the girl, who adored French love stories, refused everyone. There was a good reason for this. The fact is that Masha was secretly in love with the poor warrant officer Vladimir Nikolaevich. For the latter, this was not a mystery; her sympathy was mutual. Young lovers secretly met either in the grove or near the old chapel. They had to hide because of the dissatisfaction of the girl's parents with the choice of their daughter. Friendly and hospitable landowners refused Vladimir Nikolayevich a warm welcome in their home. Secret dates could not last long, and the couple decided to get married without their blessing. Then, some time after the wedding, the young intended to throw themselves at their feet and beg for forgiveness. In the meantime, it was agreed that Marya Gavrilovna would report sick in the evening and retire to her chambers. After the lights go out in the house, a trio of horses with a driver will be waiting for her. On it, she was supposed to go to the village of Zhadrino, located nearby. There, in the old church, the young people will be married in front of three witnesses. This is how Pushkin's story "The Snowstorm" begins. Further, completely unexpected events will occur. Throughout his story, the author keeps the reader in suspense.

A. S. Pushkin "Snowstorm". Development of events

Events began to unfold as planned. As soon as dinner was served, Masha said she was sick and went to her room. Parents did not notice anything unusual in the behavior of their daughter. Time passed, it got dark outside the window. There was a real blizzard outside. The wind covered the road, and it was no longer possible to see what was ahead, further than a meter. It was at this time that Maria, accompanied by her serf girl, left her father's house, got into a troika and went to Zhadrino. And Vladimir Nikolayevich, meanwhile, was also going on the road. He decided to ride alone in a cart with one horse, without taking any escort with him. As soon as the hero was on a snow-swept road, he realized what a stupid thing he had done, because nothing was visible ahead. Hoping for God's mercy, the ensign decided to move on. He soon got lost. The road was finally lost, the horse was drowning in the snow. Suddenly he saw a light and rode into its light. It turned out that Vladimir left for an unfamiliar village, and the village of Zhadrino, where his bride was supposed to be waiting, is on the sidelines. It was already impossible to get there at the appointed time. When the ensign arrived in this village, the church was already closed, there were no people anywhere. Turning around, he drove home.

A. S. Pushkin "Snowstorm". denouement

The next day after this event, the parents found Masha in the morning in a sick bed. The girl had a fever. In delirium, she called Vladimir Nikolaevich and tried to tell about the details of this terrible night. The doctor called by caring parents said that the cause of the illness was probably psychological. Then the girl's mother relented, deciding that, apparently, the fate of her daughter was a poor army ensign. She sent an invitation to Vladimir Nikolayevich to visit them at home. But, unexpectedly, he refused, asking not to disturb him anymore. Two weeks after these events, Masha recovered and did not seem to remember her failed fiancé. Soon Vladimir Nikolaevich was sent to the army. Masha found his name in the list of the wounded near Borodino. He died in a Moscow hospital. This was not the only loss in the life of the poor girl. Her father, Gavrila Gavrilovich, died some time later, leaving his daughter in good condition. The suitors circled around Masha, but she refused everyone. The girl treated only one of the young people in particular - the hussar colonel Burmin. It would seem that nothing could interfere with the happiness of these two people. However, there was a wall between them, a kind of reticence that prevented their rapprochement. Everything was resolved after a frank conversation between Masha and Burmin.

The colonel told the girl that he could not marry her, as he was married to another. A few years ago, in a snowstorm, he was brought to a certain village, where he decided to take refuge in a church. Lights were on, people were walking by. As soon as the young man entered, they rushed to him with the words: "At last you have come!" In the corner sat a pale young lady. She was placed with him in front of the altar, the priest performed. When the bride turned to kiss him, she screamed and fainted. The Colonel hurried out of the church. Several years have passed, and he still does not know who his married wife is and where she is. Hearing this story, Maria Gavrilovna cried out: “And you didn’t recognize me?” Burmin fell at her feet. With this episode, Pushkin ended his story "The Snowstorm".

An excerpt from Zhukovsky's ballad "Svetlana" in the epigraph of the work suggests that these two creations of great authors are very similar. There is a certain general mystical mood in them. All events in them are not accidental, but predetermined by fate.

"Snowstorm" - a work by A.S. Pushkin, written in 1830. Many works of the great classic are filled with special meaning, the author talks about the incomprehensible play of the Creator. "Snowstorm" was no exception. The work is full of philosophy and romantic thoughts of the author.

Ideology

The literary direction of the story is bright youthful sentimentalism. The central theme is the relationship between man and Rock, how people change by the will of fate, their idea of life and striving for the ideal.

The great classic was always interested in the role of chance, capricious fate beckoned with its intrigues and unpredictability. Pushkin believed in Rock, foreseeing that he himself would someday fall into the trap of fatal circumstances.

In the story "Snowstorm" Alexander Sergeevich specifically examines the life of the most ordinary people. They are not distinguished by a particularly brilliant mind, delightful appearance, and are not prone to heroic deeds. They do not have genius inclinations, special talents, incredible fortitude.

The history of the creation of the work

The Snowstorm, written by Pushkin in 1830, was the final work in the cycle. The author worked in the Boldin estate. This period of his work is often called "Boldino autumn". This is one of the most active periods in the life of a classic.

Researchers believe that work began in 1829. Pushkin nurtured the idea for a long time, and began to realize his fantasies only in Boldino. The work was published in 1831. The publication was not made public under Pushkin's name. The reasons are still not clear. Most likely, the Russian classic was afraid of overly aggressive criticism. The first film adaptation of Pushkin's brilliant creation falls on 1964.

Analysis of the work

Story line

The story begins in the distant 1811. The daughter of a respectable landowner, Marya Gavrilovna, suffers from passionate feelings for ensign Vladimir Nikolaevich. The young man is not rich, so the parents of a young girl are categorically against such an unprofitable union.

However, driven by love, Maria and Vladimir secretly see each other. After several dates, the girl agrees to a risky adventure: to get married and hide from everyone. On the night the escape was planned, a severe snowstorm begins.

Maria is the first to leave the house, heading for a nearby church. Behind her, her lover should also come to the appointed place. However, due to a strong snowstorm, the man loses his bearings, completely losing his way.

Marya is waiting for the groom in the church. At this time, the hussar Burmin comes here. He decides to play a trick on the girl and pretends to be her chosen one. The priest performs the ceremony, and only then Mary realizes with horror that she has become engaged to a complete stranger. The girl immediately returns home, and Vladimir, having reached the church only in the morning, learns that Marya has become the wife of another.

Maria is very worried, being at death. Parents manage to find Vladimir. They are ready to agree to the marriage, but Vladimir refuses. He leaves for the war, where he dies.

After the death of her father, Maria moves with her mother to another estate. There, a girl meets a man. She likes him very much. This is the same Burmin.

A young man confesses to a girl that he is married, telling a story about a wedding in a snowstorm. The girl with surprise tells him her story. Having learned the whole truth, the young hussar falls at the feet of his chosen one.

Heroes of the story

Marya is the main female image in the story "Snowstorm". The seventeen-year-old noblewoman is pale and slender, rich and spoiled by her parents. The girl is capable of strong love experiences. She is not alien to the spirit of adventurism and a certain courage. A dreamy and sentimental lady is ready to go against her parents and secretly marry her loved one. A sensitive and vulnerable young lady, living on happy ideas of mutual love, is having a hard time parting with Vladimir.

Burmin is a military hussar who mistakenly becomes Marya's husband. He is smart but careless. Quite sarcastic and impulsive. Driven by empty frivolity, he understood that he would make an unforgivable offense, but still pretends to be a groom at a secret wedding.

Vladimir is a young ensign from the poor class. He is romantic, full of impulses, not always prudent and reasonable. He perceives the erroneous wedding of Marya as the most serious betrayal. Considering that the girl does so deliberately, he leaves her forever.

The composition of the story

The basis of the plot is a curious marriage. For a man, this is an attempt to have fun, for a girl - the collapse of all her love hopes. The plot is conditionally divided into two lines:

Marya and Vladimir;
Marya and Burmin.

There is no prologue and epilogue, and the story itself begins with a small exposition, which describes the everyday life of the estate. The intermediate climax is the moment when Mary finds out about the fatal mistake in the church. At this point, one storyline smoothly transitions into another. The main culmination: after many years, Marya recognizes her "old" husband in the new gentleman.

The key symbol that predetermines the course of events is a blizzard. The raging elements changed the plans of a young couple to get engaged at night. On the other hand, bad weather symbolizes youth, full of passion, serenity, devoid of reason and order.

The story "Snowstorm" is a brilliant creation of Pushkin. The work is distinguished by strict completeness, proportionality, in fact, mathematical calculations of all elements of the composition. The author, purely on an intuitive level, could find that ideal form, through which he skillfully expressed his intention.

Horses rush along the mounds,
Trampling deep snow...
Here is a temple of God
Seen alone.

Suddenly a blizzard is all around;
Snow falls in tufts;
Black Raven, whistling its wing,
Hovering over the sleigh;
A prophetic groan says sadness!
The horses are hurried
Sensitively look into the dark distance,
Lifting manes...

Zhukovsky.

At the end of 1811, in an era memorable to us, the good Gavrila Gavrilovich R ** lived in his estate Nenaradovo. He was famous throughout the district for his hospitality and cordiality; every minute the neighbors went to him to eat, drink, play five kopecks in Boston with his wife, and some in order to look at their daughter, Marya Gavrilovna, a slender, pale and seventeen-year-old girl. She was considered a rich bride, and many predicted her for themselves or for their sons.

Marya Gavrilovna was brought up on French novels, and, consequently, she was in love. The subject chosen by her was a poor army ensign who was on leave in his village. By itself

it goes without saying that the young man burned with equal passion and that his amiable parents, noticing their mutual inclination, forbade their daughter to think about him, and he was received worse than a retired assessor.

Winter came and stopped their visits; but the correspondence became all the more lively. Vladimir Nikolaevich in every letter begged her to surrender to him, to marry secretly, to hide for some time, then to throw herself at the feet of her parents, who, of course, would finally be touched by the heroic constancy and misfortune of their lovers and would certainly say to them: “Children! come into our arms."

throw herself at the feet of her dearest parents. Having sealed both letters with a Tula seal, on which were depicted two flaming hearts with a decent inscription, she threw herself on the bed just before dawn and dozed off; but here, too, terrible dreams continually awakened her. It seemed to her that at the very moment she was getting into the sleigh to go to the wedding, her father stopped her, dragged her with excruciating speed over the snow and threw her into a dark, bottomless dungeon ... and she flew headlong with an inexplicable sinking heart; then she saw Vladimir lying on the grass, pale, bloodied. As he was dying, he begged her in a piercing voice to hasten to marry him... Other ugly, senseless visions rushed before her one after another. At last she got up, paler than usual, and with an unfeigned headache. Her father and mother noticed her unease; their tender care and incessant questions: what is the matter with you, Masha? Are you sick, Masha? - tore her heart apart. She tried to calm them down, to appear cheerful, but she could not. Evening came. The thought that this was the last time she was spending the day in the midst of her family oppressed her heart. She was barely alive; she secretly said goodbye to all the persons, to all the objects that surrounded her.

Served supper; her heart began to beat violently. She announced in a trembling voice that she did not feel like supper, and began to say goodbye to her father and mother. They kissed her and, as usual, blessed her: she almost cried. Arriving in her room, she threw herself into an armchair and burst into tears. The girl urged her to calm down and take heart. Everything was ready. In half an hour Masha had to leave her parents' house forever, her room, her quiet girlish life... There was a snowstorm outside; the wind howled, the shutters shook and rattled; everything seemed to her a threat and a sad omen. Soon everything in the house calmed down and fell asleep. Masha wrapped herself in a shawl, put on a warm coat, picked up her jewelry box, and went out onto the back porch. The maid carried two bundles behind her. They went down to the garden. The blizzard did not subside; the wind was blowing, as if

trying to stop the young criminal. They made their way to the end of the garden. On the road, the sleigh was waiting for them. The horses, vegetating, did not stand still; Vladimir's coachman paced in front of the shafts, holding back the zealous. He helped the young lady and her girlfriend to sit down and put the bundles and the box, took the reins, and the horses flew. Having entrusted the young lady to the care of fate and the art of Tereshka the coachman, let us turn to our young lover.

The whole day Vladimir was on the road. In the morning he was at the Zhadrinsk priest; forcibly agreed with him; then he went to look for witnesses among the neighboring landowners. The first to whom he appeared, a retired forty-year-old cornet Dravin, readily agreed. This adventure, he assured, reminded him of the old times and the pranks of the hussars. He persuaded Vladimir to stay and dine with him and assured him that the other two witnesses would not be involved. In fact, immediately after dinner, the surveyor Schmitt, in mustaches and spurs, and the son of the police captain, a boy of about sixteen, who had recently entered the uhlans, appeared. They not only accepted Vladimir's offer, but even swore to him that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for him. Vladimir embraced them with delight and went home to get ready.

It has been dark for a long time. He sent his reliable Tereshka to Nenaradovo with his troika and detailed instructions, and for himself he ordered a small one-horse sledge to be laid, and alone, without a coachman, went to Zhadrino, where Marya Gavrilovna was supposed to arrive in two hours. The road was familiar to him, and the drive was only twenty minutes.

But as soon as Vladimir left the outskirts in the field, the wind picked up and there was such a snowstorm that he could not see anything. In one minute the road skidded; the surroundings vanished into a cloudy and yellowish haze through which white flakes of snow flew; the sky merged with the earth. Vladimir found himself in a field and in vain wanted to get back on the road; the horse stepped at random and every minute either rode up a snowdrift or fell into a hole; the sleigh kept tipping over. Vladimir tried only not to lose the real direction. But it seemed to him that more than half an hour had already passed, and he

did not reach Zhadrinsky grove yet. Another ten minutes or so passed; the grove was nowhere to be seen. Vladimir rode through a field crossed by deep ravines. The blizzard did not subside, the sky did not clear up. The horse began to tire, and sweat rolled off him in hail, despite the fact that he was constantly waist-deep in snow.

Finally, he saw that he was going in the wrong direction. Vladimir stopped: he began to think, recall, think - and became convinced that he should have taken to the right. He drove to the right. His horse stepped a little. He had been on the road for over an hour. Zhadrino should have been nearby. But he rode, rode, and there was no end to the field. All snowdrifts and ravines; every minute the sleigh overturned, every minute he raised them. As time went; Vladimir began to get very worried.

Finally, something began to turn black on the side. Vladimir turned there. Approaching, he saw a grove. Thank God, he thought, it's close now. He rode near the grove, hoping at once to get on a familiar road or to drive around the grove: Zhadrino was immediately behind it. Soon he found his way and rode into the darkness of the trees bare in winter. The wind could not rage here; the road was smooth; the horse cheered up, and Vladimir calmed down.

But he rode and rode, but Zhadrin was nowhere to be seen; there was no end to the grove. Vladimir saw with horror that he drove into an unfamiliar forest. Despair took hold of him. He hit the horse; the poor animal began to trot, but soon began to pester, and after a quarter of an hour it was walking, despite all the efforts of the unfortunate Vladimir.

Little by little the trees began to thin out, and Vladimir rode out of the forest; Zhadrin was nowhere to be seen. It must have been around midnight. Tears sprang from his eyes; he went at random. The weather had calmed down, the clouds parted, and before him lay a plain covered with a white wavy carpet. The night was pretty clear. He saw a village not far away, consisting of four or five households. Vladimir went to her. At the first hut he jumped out of the sleigh, ran to the window and began to knock. A few minutes later the wooden shutter

stood up, and the old man stuck out his gray beard. "What do you want?" - "Is Zhadrino far?" - "Is Zhadrino far away?" - "Yes Yes! Is it far? - “Not far; ten versts will be. At this answer, Vladimir grabbed his hair and remained motionless, like a man sentenced to death.

“Where are you from?” continued the old man. Vladimir did not have the heart to answer questions. “Can you, old man,” he said, “get me horses to Zhadrin?” - "What kind of horses we have," answered the man. “But can’t I take at least a guide? I'll pay whatever he wants." - “Wait,” said the old man, lowering the shutter, “I will send those son; he sees you through." Vladimir began to wait. Not a minute later, he started knocking again. The shutter went up, the beard showed. "What do you want?" - "What about your son?" “Now he’s getting out, putting on his shoes. Ali are you cold? come warm up." - "Thank you, send your son as soon as possible."

The gates creaked; the guy came out with a club and went forward, now pointing, now looking for a road covered with snowdrifts. "What time is it now?" Vladimir asked him. “Yes, it will soon dawn,” answered the young man. Vladimir didn't say a word.

The roosters were crowing and it was already light when they reached Zhadrin. The church was closed. Vladimir paid the conductor and went to the yard to the priest. He was not in the yard of the troika. What news awaited him!

But let us return to the good landlords of Nenaradovo and see what they are doing.

But nothing.

The old people woke up and went into the living room. Gavrila Gavrilovich in a cap and a flannelette jacket, Praskovya Petrovna in a cotton-lined dressing gown. The samovar was brought in, and Gavrila Gavrilovich sent the girl to find out from Marya Gavrilovna how her health was and how she slept. The little girl came back, announcing that the young lady had supposedly slept badly, but that it was easier for her now and that she would come into the drawing-room in a moment. In fact, the door opened, and Marya Gavrilovna came up to greet papa and mama.

"What's your head, Masha?" asked Gavrila Gavrilovich. “Better, daddy,” Masha answered. "You're right, Masha, you lost your temper yesterday," said Praskovya Petrovna. “Maybe, mama,” Masha answered.

The day went well, but at night Masha fell ill. They sent to the city for a doctor. He arrived in the evening and found the patient delirious. A severe fever broke out, and the poor patient spent two weeks at the edge of the coffin.

No one in the house knew about the supposed escape. The letters she had written the day before were burned; her maid did not say anything to anyone, fearing the wrath of the masters. The priest, the retired cornet, the mustachioed land surveyor, and the little lancer were modest, and for good reason. Tereshka the coachman never said anything superfluous, even when drunk. Thus the secret was kept by more than half a dozen conspirators. But Marya Gavrilovna herself, in her incessant delirium, expressed her secret. However, her words were so inconsistent with anything that the mother, who did not leave her bed, could only understand from them that her daughter was mortally in love with Vladimir Nikolaevich and that love was probably the cause of her illness. She consulted with her husband, with some of the neighbors, and finally, unanimously, everyone decided that such was the fate of Marya Gavrilovna, that you couldn’t go round your betrothed, that poverty is not a vice, that to live not with wealth, but with a person, and the like. Moral proverbs are surprisingly useful in those cases when we can think up little of ourselves to justify ourselves.

Meanwhile, the young lady began to recover. Vladimir had not been seen in the house of Gavrila Gavrilovich for a long time. He was frightened by the usual reception. They decided to send for him and announce to him an unexpected happiness: consent to marriage. But what was the astonishment of the Nenarado landowners when, in response to their invitation, they received a half-crazy letter from him! He announced to them that his foot would never be in their house, and asked them to forget about the unfortunate man, for whom death remains the only hope. In a few

days they learned that Vladimir had gone to the army. This was in 1812.

For a long time they did not dare to announce this to the convalescent Masha. She never mentioned Vladimir. A few months later, having found his name among those distinguished and seriously wounded near Borodino, she fainted, and they were afraid that her fever would not return. However, thank God, the fainting had no consequences.

Another sadness visited her: Gavrila Gavrilovich died, leaving her the heiress of the entire estate. But the inheritance did not console her; she sincerely shared the grief of poor Praskovya Petrovna, swore never to part from her; they both left Nenaradovo, a place of sad memories, and went to live in a *** estate.

The suitors circled around the sweet and rich bride; but she gave no one the slightest hope. Her mother sometimes urged her to choose a friend; Marya Gavrilovna shook her head and thought. Vladimir no longer existed: he died in Moscow, on the eve of the entry of the French. His memory seemed sacred to Masha; at least she cherished everything that could remind him: books he had once read, his drawings, notes and poems he had transcribed for her. The neighbors, having learned about everything, marveled at her constancy and with curiosity expected the hero who was finally to triumph over the sad fidelity of this virgin Artemisa.

Meanwhile, the war with glory was over. Our regiments were returning from abroad. The people ran towards them. The music played conquered songs: Vive Henri-Quatre 1), Tyrolean waltzes and arias from Joconde. The officers, who had gone on a campaign almost as youths, returned, having matured in the quarrelsome air, hung with crosses. The soldiers were talking merrily among themselves, interfering every minute with German and French words. Unforgettable time! Time of glory and delight! How strongly the Russian heart beat at the word fatherland! How sweet were the tears of rendezvous! With which

1) Long live Henry the fourth (French)

unanimously, we united the feelings of national pride and love for the sovereign! And what a moment it was for him!

Women, Russian women were then incomparable. Their usual coldness is gone. Their delight was truly intoxicating when, meeting the winners, they shouted: Hurrah!

And they threw caps into the air.

Who among the officers of that time does not admit that he owed the best, most precious reward to a Russian woman? ..

During this brilliant time, Marya Gavrilovna lived with her mother in the *** province and did not see how both capitals celebrated the return of the troops. But in the districts and villages the general enthusiasm was perhaps even stronger. The appearance of an officer in these places was a real triumph for him, and his lover in a tailcoat felt bad in his neighborhood.

We have already said that, despite her coldness, Marya Gavrilovna was still surrounded by seekers. But everyone had to retreat when the wounded hussar colonel Burmin appeared in her castle, with George in his buttonhole and with interesting pallor, as the young ladies used to say. He was about twenty-six years old. He came on vacation to his estates, located in the neighborhood of the village of Marya Gavrilovna. Marya Gavrilovna distinguished him very much. With him, her usual thoughtfulness was revived. It was impossible to say that she was flirting with him; but the poet, noticing her behavior, would say:

Burmin was indeed a very nice young man. He had just the kind of mind that women like: a mind of propriety and observation, without any pretensions and nonchalantly mocking. His behavior with Marya Gavrilovna was simple and free; but whatever she said or did, his soul and eyes

1) If this is not love, what is? .. (Italian)

so they followed her. He seemed of a quiet and modest disposition, but rumor assured that he had once been a terrible rake, and this did not harm him in the opinion of Marya Gavrilovna, who (like all young ladies in general) gladly excused pranks that showed courage and ardor of character.

But more than anything (more than his tenderness, more pleasant conversation, more interesting pallor, more bandaged hand) the silence of the young hussar most of all incited her curiosity and imagination. She could not but confess that he liked her very much; probably, and he, with his mind and experience, could already notice that she distinguished him: how did she still not see him at her feet and still not hear his confession? What kept him? timidity, inseparable from true love, pride or coquetry of cunning red tape? It was a mystery to her. Thinking carefully, she decided that timidity was the only reason for this, and decided to encourage him with greater attentiveness and, depending on the circumstances, even tenderness. She was preparing the most unexpected denouement and impatiently awaited the minute of a romantic explanation. A mystery, of whatever kind it may be, is always painful for a woman's heart. Her military actions had the desired success: at least Burmin fell into such thoughtfulness and his black eyes fixed on Marya Gavrilovna with such fire that the decisive moment seemed to be at hand. The neighbors spoke of the wedding as if it were already over, and the kind Praskovya Petrovna was glad that her daughter had finally found a worthy groom.

The old woman was once sitting alone in the drawing-room, laying out grand solitaire, when Burmin entered the room and at once inquired after Marya Gavrilovna. “She is in the garden,” answered the old woman, “go to her, and I will wait for you here.” Burmin went, and the old woman crossed herself and thought: perhaps the matter will end today!

Burmin found Marya Gavrilovna by the pond, under a willow, with a book in her hands and in a white dress, the real heroine of the novel. After the first questions, Marya Gavrilovna purposely ceased to keep up the conversation,

thus increasing the mutual confusion, which could only be cured by a sudden and decisive explanation. And so it happened: Burmin, feeling the difficulty of his position, announced that he had long been looking for an opportunity to open his heart to her, and demanded a minute of attention. Marya Gavrilovna closed her book and lowered her eyes in agreement.

“I love you,” said Burmin, “I love you passionately...” (Marya Gavrilovna blushed and bowed her head still lower.) “I acted carelessly, indulging in a sweet habit, the habit of seeing and hearing you every day...” Gavrilovna remembered the first letter from St. Preux 1) .) “Now it is too late to oppose my fate; the memory of you, your dear, incomparable image, will henceforth be the torment and joy of my life; but I still have to fulfill a heavy duty, to reveal to you a terrible secret and put an insurmountable barrier between us ... "-" She always existed, - interrupted Marya Gavrilovna with liveliness, - I could never be your wife ... "-" I know - he answered her quietly, - I know that you once loved, but death and three years of lamentation ... Good, dear Marya Gavrilovna! don't try to deprive me of my last consolation: the thought that you would agree to make me happy if... be silent, for God's sake, be silent. You are torturing me. Yes, I know, I feel that you would be mine, but - I am the most unfortunate creature ... I am married!

Marya Gavrilovna looked at him with surprise.

I am married,” Burmin continued, “I have been married for the fourth year now and I don’t know who my wife is, where she is, and whether I should ever see her!

What are you talking about? - exclaimed Marya Gavrilovna, - how strange it is! Go on; I'll tell you later... but go on, do me a favor.

At the beginning of 1812, - said Burmin, - I hurried to Vilna, where our regiment was located. Arriving

1) Saint Preux (French).

one day at the station late in the evening, I ordered to get the horses in as soon as possible, when suddenly a terrible snowstorm arose, and the superintendent and the drivers advised me to wait. I obeyed them, but an incomprehensible uneasiness seized me; It felt like someone was pushing me. Meanwhile, the blizzard did not let up; I could not bear it, ordered to lay it again and went into the very storm. The coachman took it into his head to go by the river, which should have shortened our path by three versts. The shores were covered; The coachman drove past the place where they entered the road, and thus we found ourselves in an unfamiliar direction. The storm did not subside; I saw a light and ordered to go there. We arrived at the village; there was a fire in the wooden church. The church was open, a few sledges stood behind the fence; people were walking along the porch. "Here! here!" shouted several voices. I told the driver to drive up. “Have mercy, where did you hesitate? - someone told me, - the bride is in a swoon; pop doesn't know what to do; we were ready to go back. Come out soon." I silently jumped out of the sleigh and entered the church, dimly lit by two or three candles. The girl was sitting on a bench in a dark corner of the church; the other was rubbing her temples. “Thank God,” said this one, “you came by force. You almost killed the young lady. An old priest came up to me with a question: “Would you like me to start?” “Begin, begin, father,” I answered absently. The girl was raised. She seemed to me not bad... An incomprehensible, unforgivable frivolity... I stood beside her in front of the platter; the priest was in a hurry; three men and a maid supported the bride and were busy only with her. We got married. "Kiss," they told us. My wife turned her pale face towards me. I wanted to kiss her ... She cried out: “Ay, not him! not him!” - and fell unconscious. The witnesses fixed their frightened eyes on me. I turned around, walked out of the church without any obstacle, threw myself into the wagon and shouted: "Let's go!"

My God! cried Marya Gavrilovna, "and you don't know what happened to your poor wife?"

I don’t know,” answered Burmin, “I don’t know the name of the village where I got married; I don't remember from which station I left. At that time, I considered so little importance in my criminal leprosy that, having driven away from the church, I fell asleep and woke up the next day in the morning, at the third station already. The servant who was with me then died on the campaign, so that I have no hope of finding the one on whom I played so cruelly and who is now so cruelly avenged.

My God, my God! - said Marya Gavrilovna, seizing his hand, - so it was you! And you don't recognize me?

Burmin turned pale... and threw himself at her feet...

Reproduced from the publication: A. S. Pushkin. Collected works in 10 volumes. Moscow: GIHL, 1959-1962. Volume 5. Novels, stories.