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But today that satisfaction was embittered by Matrona

Philimonovna's advice and the unsatisfactory state of the

household. He read, too, that Count Beist was rumored to have

left for Wiesbaden, and that one need have no more gray hair, and

of the sale of a light carriage, and of a young person seeking a

situation; but these items of information did not give him, as

usual, a quiet, ironical gratification. Having finished the

paper, a second cup of coffee and a roll and butter, he got up,

shaking the crumbs of the roll off his waistcoat; and, squaring

his broad chest, he smiled joyously: not because there was

anything particularly agreeable in his mind-the joyous smile was

evoked by a good digestion.

But this joyous smile at once recalled everything to him, and he

grew thoughtful.

Two childish voices (Stepan Arkadyevitch recognized the voices of

Grisha, his youngest boy, and Tanya, his eldest girl) were heard

outside the door. They were carrying something, and dropped it.