CHAPTER III 



Journey to Slaviansk The coach attacked by peasants. 



IN 1850 the children were taken to the baths of 

 Slaviansk. On a warm summer day the heavy 

 " berlin " coach, drawn by six horses with a postilion, 

 rolled along the high road, across the steppes, followed 

 at a distance by a " tarantass." l 



In the spacious, antique coach, with its dusty 

 hood, sat Emilia Lvovna, with her three children ; 

 the valet, Petrushka, dozed on the box, next to the 

 coachman. The tarantass was occupied by Dmitri 

 Ivanovitch and a cousin. 



The heat was oppressive. At the start every one 

 was excited ; Emilia Lvovna was trying to remember 

 if anything had been forgotten and was discussing 

 with Katia the details of their installation at Slaviansk. 

 The boys hung out of the windows, gazing at the 

 horses, at the tarantass, and making all sorts of 

 comments. Ilia was so restless and talkative that 

 he was constantly being told, " Do be quiet ! Keep 

 still ! " 



By degrees, however, children and " grown-ups " 

 began to feel drowsy, owing to the monotony of the 

 road, the heat, and the swinging of the carriage. The 

 tarantass had disappeared, for Dmitri Ivanovitch 

 wished to visit an aunt whose house was not far from 



1 Ungainly open carriage on high wheels and without springs. 

 12 



