CHAPTER I 



Panassovka — ^Metchmkofi'e parents — Country life in Little BuBsia. 



In Little Russia, in the steppe region of the province 

 of KharkofE, is situated the land of Panassovka, which 

 belonged to the MetchnikofE family. It is now sold, 

 it has passed into strange hands, but it was once the 

 patrimony of lUa Ivanovitch, father of Elie Metch- 

 nikofE. 



The country around Panassovka is neither beautiful 

 nor rich : steppes, hillocks covered with low grasses 

 and wild wormwood ; a poor village, meagre vegeta- 

 tion, no river ; the whole impression is a melancholy 

 one. But what boundless space ! What soft, sUver 

 grey colouring ! And, in the mornings and evenings, 

 what fresh, cool air, and what a delicious aroma of 

 wormwood leaves ! 



The house of Panassovka, a little way from the 

 village, is situated on a hiU which slopes gently 

 towards a pond. It is like that of any other middle- 

 class landowner in Little Russia. It has only one 

 storey and two flights of steps on the principal fa§ade, 

 opening into a deserted courtyard with no view but 

 the high road. On the other side a semicircular 

 terrace, with columns and steps, leads to the garden, 

 composed of a few meagre flower-beds and fruit trees, 

 reaching to the pond. On the bank, a distillery and 

 a very well-kept kitchen garden. 



