LIFE OF ELIE METCHNIKOFF 9 



drawing-room, saying, " Are they going to fight ? '* 

 He ran about the house all day, following his mother 

 as she attended to her various duties ; he examined 

 the provisions, tasted everything, and even went to 

 the " dievitshia " to see what the maids were doing. 

 He tried to sew or to embroider, exasperated every- 

 body, and ended by being turned out. He would then 

 look for something else to do, go to see whether the 

 table was laid, inquire about the menu, and ask the 

 queerest questions. He could only be kept quiet 

 when his curiosity was awakened by the observation 

 of some natural object such as an insect or a butterfly 

 that he was trying to catch, or by watching the 

 " grown-ups " at their card games. But, of all things, 

 music fascinated him most, and he would remain for 

 hours sitting by the piano listening without a move- 

 ment. He was very much spoilt by his mother, who 

 had a weakness for her Benjamin, and who also wished 

 to make up for the very obvious preference shown for 

 Kolia by the great-aunt. 



Moreover, Ilia was a frail little boy and often 

 suffered from his eyes ; the doctor advised that he 

 should not be allowed to cry or to rub his eyes, and, 

 in order to avoid this, he was permitted to have his 

 own way in everything. He was much too intelligent 

 not to understand the advantage that the situation 

 offered and was quick to profit by it. In the face of 

 the least semblance of refusal or reproach, he would 

 begin to rub his eyes and announce in a whining tone 

 that he was going to cry. He was therefore very much 

 spoilt and very capricious ; his mother said he was 

 " neurotic " ; his sister, who often had differences 

 with him, called him a " little beast." In reality. Ilia 

 was very good-hearted, tender, and loving ; he was 



