IthoughtofastudentofKazanwhomIhadknowninthedaysofthepast，ofayoungfellowfromViatkawho，pale-browed，andsententiousofdiction，mightalmosthavebeenbrothertotheex-
soldierhimself。AndonceagainIheardhimdeclarethat“beforeallthingsmustIlearnwhetherornotthereexistsaGod；pre-
eminentlymustImakeabeginningthere。“
AndIthought，too，ofacertainaccoucheusenamedVelikovawhohadbeenacomely，butreputedlygay，woman。AndIrememberedacertainoccasionwhen，onahilloverlookingtheriverKazanandtheArskiPlain，shehadstoodcontemplatingthemarshesbelow，andthefarbluelineoftheVolga；untilsuddenlyturningpale，shehad，withtearsofjoysparklinginherfineeyes，criedunderherbreath，butsufficientlyloudlyforallpresenttohearher:
“Ah，friends，howgraciousandhowfairisthislandofours！