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"Perhaps it may all be very good; but why should I worry myself

about establishing dispensaries which I shall never make use of,

and schools to which I shall never send my children, to which

even the peasants don't want to send their children, and to which

I've no very firm faith that they ought to send them?" said he.

Sergey Ivanovitch was for a minute surprised at this unexpected

view of the subject; but he promptly made a new plan of attack.

He was silent for a little, drew out a hook, threw it in again,

and turned to his brother smiling.

"Come, now.... In the first place, the dispensary is needed. We

ourselves sent for the district doctor for Agafea Mihalovna."

"Oh, well, but I fancy her wrist will never be straight again."

"That remains to be proved.... Next, the peasant who can read and

write is as a workman of more use and value to you."