suited his natural indolence. Basilia directed the affairs of the
garrison, as she did her household, and commanded through the fortress
as she did in her own kitchen. Marie soon lost her shyness, and as we
became better acquainted I found that she was a girl full of affection
and intelligence. Little by little I became deeply attached to this
good family.

I was promoted, and ranked as an officer. Military service did not
oppress me. In this fortress, blessed by God, there was no duty to
do, no guard to mount, nor review to pass. Occasionally, for his
own amusement, the Commandant drilled his soldiers. He had not yet
succeeded in teaching them which was the right flank and which the
left.

Alexis had some French books, and in my idleness I set work to read, so
that a taste for literature awoke within me. I read every morning, and
essayed some translations, even metrical compositions. Almost every
day I dined at the Commandant's, where, as a general thing, I spent the
rest of the day. In the evening, Father Garasim came with his wife,
Accoulina, the greatest gossip of the place. Of course Alexis and I
met daily, yet gradually his society displeased me. His perpetual
jokes upon the Commandant's family, and above all his biting remarks
about Marie, rendered his conversation very disagreeable to me. I had
no other society than this family in the fortress, and I desired no
other. All predictions to the contrary, the Bashkirs did not revolt,
and peace reigned around us.

I have already said that I busied myself somewhat with literature.
One day I happened to write a little song, of which I was proud. It is
well known that authors, under pretext of asking advice, willingly seek