human
What shall I do with him, father? continued Arína, turning to the prince.
gpt
You yourself see what he is. He is not a bad man;[40] doesn't get drunk, and is peaceable; wouldn't hurt a little child. It's a sin to say hard things of him. There's nothing bad about him, and God knows what has taken place in him to make him so bad to himself. You see he himself does not like it. Would you believe it, father,[41] my heart bleeds when I look at him, and see what suffering he undergoes. You see, whatever he is, he is my son. I pity him. Oh, how I pity him!... You see, it isn't as though he had done any thing against me or his father or the authorities. But, no: he's a bashful man, almost like a child. How can he bear to be a widower? Help us out, benefactor, she said once more, evidently desirous of removing the unfavorable impression which her bitter words might have left upon the prince.
human
Father, your excellency, I --She went on to say in a confidential whisper,
gpt
My wit does not go far enough to explain him. It seems as though bad men had spoiled him.
human
If we could find the men, we might cure him.
gpt
What nonsense you talk, Arína! How can he be spoiled?
human
My father, they spoil him so that they make him a no-man forever! Many bad people in the world! Out of ill-will they take a handful of earth from out of one's path, or something of that sort; and one is made a no-man forever after. Isn't that a sin? I think to myself, Might I not go to the old man Danduk, who lives at Vorobyevka? He knows all sorts of words; and he knows herbs, and he can make charms; and he finds water with a cross. Wouldn't he help me? said the woman.
gpt
Maybe he will cure him.
human
What abjectness and superstition!
gpt
What's to be done with him? To leave him in this situation is impossible, both for myself and for the others and for him,--impossible,
human
I cannot bear to see him in this plight; but how extricate him? He renders nugatory all my best plans for the management of the estate. If such peasants are allowed, none of my dreams will ever be realized, he went on, experiencing a feeling of despite and anger against the peasant in consequence of the ruin of his plans.
gpt
To send him to Siberia, as Yakof suggests, against his will, would that be good for him? or to make him a soldier? That is best. At least I should be quit of him, and I could replace him by a decent peasant.