CHAPTER II 



Metohnikoff's brothers and sister — Childish characteristics. 



The two elder children, Ivan and Leo, were educated 

 at Petersburg, whilst Katia, the only daughter, was 

 brought up at home. Like all other girls of noble 

 family, she was educated with the object of being 

 suitably married. She was a slender, pretty brunette, 

 like her mother, but less beautiful. Though sensitive 

 and intelligent, she interested herself in nothing but 

 the reading of French novels. There was a great 

 difference in age between Katia and her little brothers, 

 whilst there were only two years between them. 

 Kolia (Nicholas) was the old aunt's favourite, a fine, 

 handsome boy with velvety black eyes ; his slow and 

 grave movements had earned for him the nickname of 

 " Peaceful Papa." 



The youngest of the family, Ilia (Elie), on the 

 contrary, was full of life and spirits. Fair and slender, 

 with silky hair and a diaphanous, pink and white 

 complexion, he had small, grey-blue eyes, full of 

 kindliness and sparkle. Very highly strung and im- 

 pressionable, his temper was easily roused, and he was 

 so restless that he went by the name of " quicksilver." 

 He always wished to see everything, to know every- 

 thing, and found his way everywhere. When, after a 

 long silence, there was a sudden outburst of many 

 voices around the card-tables, he would rush to the 



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