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their parents or tutors。 Among such I could see the youngest Iwin
（accompanied by Frost） and Ilinka Grap （accompanied by his old
father）。 All youths of this class wore the early beginnings of
beards； sported prominent linen； sat quietly in their places； and
never opened the books and notebooks which they had brought with
them； but gazed at the professors and examination tables with
ill…concealed nervousness。 The second class of candidates were
young men in gymnasium uniforms。 Several of them had attained to
the dignity of shaving； and most of them knew one another。 They
talked loudly； called the professors by their names and surnames；
occupied themselves in getting their subjects ready； exchanged
notebooks； climbed over desks； fetched themselves pies and
sandwiches from the vestibule； and ate them then and there merely
lowering their heads to the level of a desk for propriety's sake。
Lastly； the third class of candidates （which seemed a small one）
consisted of oldish mensome of them in frock coats； but the
majority in jackets； and with no linen to be seen。 These
preserved a serious demeanour； sat by themselves； and had a very
dingy look。 The man who had afforded me consolation by being
worse dressed than myself belonged to this class。 Leaning forward
upon his elbows； and running his fingers through his grey；
dishevelled hair as he read some book or another； he had thrown
me only a momentary glanceand that not a very friendly one
from a pair of glittering eyes。 Then； as I sat down； he had
frowned grimly； and stuck a shiny elbow out to prevent me from
coming any nearer。 On the other hand； the gymnasium men were
over…sociable； and I felt rather afraid of their proximity。 One
of them did not hesitate to thrust a book into my hands； saying；
〃Give that to that fellow over there； will you？〃 while another
of them exclaimed as he pushed past me； 〃By your leave； young
fellow！〃 and a third made use of my shoulder as a prop when he
wanted to scramble over a desk。 All this seemed to me a little
rough and unpleasant； for I looked upon myself as immensely
superior to such fellows； and considered that they ought not to
treat me with such familiarity。 At length； the names began to be
called out。 The gymnasium men walked out boldly； answered their
questions （apparently） well； and came back looking cheerful。 My
own class of candidates were much more diffident； as well as
appeared to answer worse。 Of the oldish men； some answered well；
and some very poorly。 When the name 〃Semenoff 〃 was called out my
neighbour with the grey hair and glittering eyes jostled me
roughly； stepped over my legs； and went up to one of the
examiners' tables。 It was plain from the aspect of the professors
that he answered well and with assurance； yet； on returning to
his place； he did not wait to see where he was placed on the
list； but quietly collected his notebooks and departed。 Several
times I shuddered at the sound of the voice calling out the
names； but my turn did not come in exact alphabetical order；
though already names had begun to be called beginning with 〃I。〃
〃Ikonin and Tenieff！〃 suddenly shouted some one from the
professors' end of the hall。
〃Go on； Ikonin！ You are being called；〃 said a tall； red…faced
gymnasium student near me。 〃But who is this BARtenieff or
MORtenieff or somebody？ I don't know him。〃
〃It must be you；〃 whispered St。 Jerome loudly in my ear。
〃MY name is IRtenieff；〃 I said to the red…faced student。 〃Do you
think that was the name they were calling out？〃
〃Yes。 Why on earth don't you go up？ 〃 he replied。 〃Lord； what a
dandy！〃 he added under his breath； yet not so quietly but that I
failed to hear the words as they came wafted to me from below the
desk。 In front of me walked Ikonina tall young man of about
twenty…five； who was one of those whom I had classed as oldish
men。 He wore a tight brown frockcoat and a blue satin tie； and
had wisps of flaxen hair carefully brushed over his collar in the
peasant style。 His appearance had already caught my attention
when we were sitting among the desks； and had given me an
impression that he was not bad…looking。 Also I had noticed that
he was very talkative。 Yet what struck me most about his
physiognomy was a tuft； of queer red hairs which he had under his
chin； as well as； still more； a strange habit of continually
unbuttoning his waistcoat and scratching his chest under his
shirt。
Behind the table to which we were summoned sat three Professors；
none of whom acknowledged our salutations。 A youngish professor
was shuffling a bundle of tickets like a pack of cards； another
one； with a star on his frockcoat； was gazing hard at a gymnasium
student； who was repeating something at great speed about Charles
the Great； and adding to each of his sentences the word nakonetz
＇= the English colloquialism 〃you know。〃＇ while a third onean
old man in spectaclesproceeded to bend his head down as we
approached； and； peering at us through his glasses； pointed
silently to the tickets。 I felt his glance go over both myself
and Ikonin； and also felt sure that something about us had
displeased him （perhaps it was Ikonin's red hairs）； for； after
taking another look at the pair of us； he motioned impatiently to
us to be quick in taking our tickets。 I felt vexed and offended
firstly； because none of the professors had responded to our
bows； and； secondly； because they evidently coupled me with
Ikonin under the one denomination of 〃candidates；〃 and so were
condemning me in advance on account of Ikonin's red hairs。 I took
my ticket boldly and made ready to answer； but the professor's
eye passed over my head and alighted upon Ikonin。 Accordingly； I
occupied myself in reading my ticket。 The questions printed on it
were all familiar to me； so； as I silently awaited my turn； I
gazed at what was passing near me； Ikonin seemed in no way
diffidentrather the reverse； for； in reaching for his ticket；
he threw his body half…way across the table。 Then he gave his
long hair a shake； and rapidly conned over what was written on
his ticket。 I think he had just opened his mouth to answer when
the professor with the star dismissed the gymnasium student with
a word of commendation； and then turned and looked at Ikonin。 At
once the latter seemed taken back； and stopped short。 For about
two minutes there was a dead silence。
〃Well？〃 said the professor in the spectacles。
Once more Ikonin opened his mouth； and once more remained silent。
〃 Come！ You are not the only one to be examined。 Do you mean to
answer or do you not？〃 said the youngish professor； but Ikonin
did not even look at him。 He was gazing fixedly at his ticket and
uttered not a single word。 The professor in the spectacles
scanned him through his glasses； then over them； then without
them （for； indeed； he had time to take them off； to wipe their
lenses carefully； and to replace them）。 Still not a word from
Ikonin。 All at once； how