Part Two: Chapter 1

by Leo Tolstoy

　　At the end of the winter, in the Shtcherbatskys' house, aconsultation was being held, which was to pronounce on the stateof Kitty's health and the measures to be taken to restore herfailing strength. She had been ill, and as spring came on shegrew worse. The family doctor gave her cod liver oil, then iron,then nitrate of silver, but as the first and the second and thethird were alike in doing no good, and as his advice when springcame was to go abroad, a celebrated physician was called in. Thecelebrated physician, a very handsome man, still youngish, askedto examine the patient. He maintained, with peculiarsatisfaction, it seemed, that maiden modesty is a mere relic ofbarbarism, and that nothing could be more natural than for a manstill youngish to handle a young girl naked. He thought itnatural because he did it every day, and felt and thought, as itseemed to him, no harm as he did it and consequently heconsidered modesty in the girl not merely as a relic ofbarbarism, but also as an insult to himself.

　　There was nothing for it but to submit, since, although all thedoctors had studied in the same school, had read the same books,and learned the same science, and though some people said thiscelebrated doctor was a bad doctor, in the princess's householdand circle it was for some reason accepted that this celebrateddoctor alone had some special knowledge, and that he alone couldsave Kitty. After a careful examination and sounding of thebewildered patient, dazed with shame, the celebrated doctor,having scrupulously washed his hands, was standing in the drawingroom talking to the prince. The prince frowned and coughed,listening to the doctor. As a man who had seen something oflife, and neither a fool nor an invalid, he had no faith inmedicine, and in his heart was furious at the whole farce,specially as he was perhaps the only one who fully comprehendedthe cause of Kitty's illness. "Conceited blockhead!" he thought,as he listened to the celebrated doctor's chatter about hisdaughter's symptoms. The doctor was meantime with difficultyrestraining the expression of his contempt for this oldgentleman, and with difficulty condescending to the level of hisintelligence. He perceived that it was no good talking to theold man, and that the principal person in the house was themother. Before her he decided to scatter his pearls. At thatinstant the princess came into the drawing room with the familydoctor. The prince withdrew, trying not to show how ridiculoushe thought the whole performance. The princess was distracted,and did not know what to do. She felt she had sinned againstKitty.

　　"Well, doctor, decide our fate," said the princess. "Tell meeverything."

　　"Is there hope?" she meant to say, but her lips quivered, and shecould not utter the question. "Well, doctor?"

　　"Immediately, princess. I will talk it over with my colleague,And then I will have the honor of laying my opinion before you."

　　"So we had better leave you?"

　　"As you please."

　　The princess went out with a sigh.

　　When the doctors were left alone, the family doctor began timidlyexplaining his opinion, that there was a commencement oftuberculous trouble, but...and so on. The celebrated doctorlistened to him, and in the middle of his sentence looked at hisbig gold watch.

　　"Yes," said he. "But..."

　　The family doctor respectfully ceased in the middle of hisobservations.

　　"The commencement of the tuberculous process we are not, as youare aware, able to define; till there are cavities, there isnothing definite. But we may suspect it. And there areindications; malnutrition, nervous excitability, and so on. Thequestion stands thus: in presence of indications of tuberculousprocess, what is to be done to maintain nutrition?"

　　"But, you know, there are always moral, spiritual causes at theback in these cases," the family doctor permitted himself tointerpolate with a subtle smile.

　　"Yes, that's an understood thing," responded the celebratedphysician, again glancing at his watch. "Beg pardon, is theYausky bridge done yet, or shall I have to drive around?" heasked. "Ah! it is. Oh, well, then I can do it in twentyminutes. So we were saying the problem may be put thus: tomaintain nutrition and to give tone to the nerves. The one is inclose connection with the other, one must attack both sides atonce."

　　"And how about a tour abroad?" asked the family doctor.

　　"I've no liking for foreign tours. And take note: if there isan early stage of tuberculous process, of which we cannot becertain, a foreign tour will be of no use. What is wanted ismeans of improving nutrition, and not for lowering it." And thecelebrated doctor expounded his plan of treatment with Sodenwaters, a remedy obviously prescribed primarily on the groundthat they could do no harm.

　　The family doctor listened attentively and respectfully.

　　"But in favor of foreign travel I would urge the change ofhabits, the removal from conditions calling up reminiscences.And then the mother wishes it," he added.

　　"Ah! Well, in that case, to be sure, let them go. Only, thoseGerman quacks are mischievous.... They ought to be persuaded....Well, let them go then."

　　He glanced once more at his watch.

　　"Oh! time's up already," And he went to the door. The celebrateddoctor announced to the princess (a feeling of what was due fromhim dictated his doing so) that he ought to see the patient oncemore.

　　"What! another examination!" cried the mother, with horror.

　　"Oh, no, only a few details, princess."

　　"Come this way."

　　And the mother, accompanied by the doctor, went into the drawingroom to Kitty. Wasted and flushed, with a peculiar glitter inher eyes, left there by the agony of shame she had been putthrough, Kitty stood in the middle of the room. When the doctorcame in she flushed crimson, and her eyes filled with tears. Allher illness and treatment struck her as a thing so stupid,ludicrous even! Doctoring her seemed to her as absurd asputting together the pieces of a broken vase. Her heart wasbroken. Why would they try to cure her with pills and powders?But she could not grieve her mother, especially as her motherconsidered herself to blame.

　　"May I trouble you to sit down, princess?" the celebrated doctorsaid to her.

　　He sat down with a smile, facing her, felt her pulse, and againbegan asker her tiresome questions. She answered him, and all atonce got up, furious.

　　"Excuse me, doctor, but there is really no object in this. Thisis the third time you've asked me the same thing."

　　The celebrated doctor did not take offense.

　　"Nervous irritability," he said to the princess, when Kitty hadleft the room. "However, I had finished..."

　　And the doctor began scientifically explaining to the princess,as an exceptionally intelligent woman, the condition of the youngprincess, and concluded by insisting on the drinking ofthe waters, which were certainly harmless. At the question:Should they go abroad? the doctor plunged into deep meditation,as though resolving a weighty problem. Finally his decision waspronounced: they were to go abroad, but to put no faith inforeign quacks, and to apply to him in any need.

　　It seemed as though some piece of good fortune had come to passafter the doctor had gone. The mother was much more cheerfulwhen she went back to her daughter, and Kitty pretended to bemore cheerful. She had often, almost always, to be pretendingnow.

　　"Really, I'm quite well, mamma. But if you want to go abroad,let's go!" she said, And trying to appear interested in theproposed tour, she began talking of the preparations for thejourney.