صفحة 726 من 1294

Here was a girl of pride, character, virtue, of education and

breeding superior to his own (he felt that), and this creature

would be slavishly grateful all her life for his heroic

condescension, and would humble herself in the dust before him,

and he would have absolute, unbounded power over her!... Not long

before, he had, too, after long reflection and hesitation, made

an important change in his career and was now entering on a wider

circle of business. With this change his cherished dreams of

rising into a higher class of society seemed likely to be

realised.... He was, in fact, determined to try his fortune in

Petersburg. He knew that women could do a very great deal. The

fascination of a charming, virtuous, highly educated woman might

make his way easier, might do wonders in attracting people to

him, throwing an aureole round him, and now everything was in

ruins! This sudden horrible rupture affected him like a clap of

thunder; it was like a hideous joke, an absurdity.