One of the greatest Russian writers, Chekhov was both a brilliant dramatist and accomplished author of short fiction. Penguin publishes the widest available range of his plays, letters and stories, including three new volumes of short fiction from which these two tales are taken. Offering a compelling insight into human nature, they describe the joy and sorrow found when two people come together with different expectations and desires.

He didn't know whether it was by chance or Varvara's doing, but Podgorin found himself alone with Nadehhda. However, the mere suspicion that he was being watched, that they wanted something from him, disturbed and inhibited him. In Nadezhda's company he felt as if they had both been put in a cage together.

'Let's go into the garden,' she said.

They went out - he feeling discontented and annoyed that he didn't know what to say, she overjoyed, proud to be near him, and obviously delighted that he was going to spend another three days with them. And perhaps she was filled with sweet fancies and hopes. He didn't know if she loved him, but he did know that she had grown used to him, that she had long been attached to him, that she considered him her teacher, that she was now experiencing the same kind of feelings as her sister Tatyana once had: all she could think of was love, of marrying as soon as possible and having a husband, children, her own place. She had still preserved that readiness for friendship which is usually so strong in children and it was highly probable that she felt for Podgorin and respected him as a friend and that she wasn't in love with him, but with her dreams of a husband and child.
'It's getting dark,' he said.

'Yes, the moon rises late now.'

They kept to the same path, near the house. Podgorin didn't want to go deep into the garden - it was dark there and he would have to take Nadezhda by the arm and stay very close to her. Shadows were moving on the terrace and he felt that Tatyana and Varvara were watching him.

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Cloud, Castle, Lake - Vladimir Nabokov
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