the paper, and not suitable for dividing into parts. Do as you think best,
however....

There are more than four signatures of print in the story. It's awful. I am
exhausted, and dragged the end, like a train of waggons on a muddy night in
autumn, at a walking pace with halts--that is why I am late with it....




August 18.


Speaking of Nikolay and the doctor who attends him, you emphasize that
"all that is done without love, without self-sacrifice, even in regard
to trifling conveniences." You are right, speaking of people generally,
but what would you have the doctors do? If, as your old nurse says, "The
bowel has burst," what's one to do, even if one is ready to give one's
life to the sufferer? As a rule, while the family, the relations, and
the servants are doing "everything they can" and are straining every
nerve, the doctor sits and looks like a fool, with his hands folded,
disconsolately ashamed of himself and his science, and trying to preserve
external tranquillity....

Doctors have loathsome days and hours, such as I would not wish my worst
enemy. It is true that ignoramuses and coarse louts are no rarity among
doctors, nor are they among writers, engineers, people in general; but
those loathsome days and hours of which I speak fall to the lot of doctors
only, and for that, truly, much may be forgiven them....