“Your school, of course, brings you into contact with the Headmaster of the National Schools. How do you manage to get along with him?” asked Rameyev. Trirodov smiled contemptuously. “Not at all,” he said. “A clumsy person, this fellow with his feminine voice,” went on Rameyev. “He’s an ambitious, cold-blooded man. He’s likely to do you an injury.” “I’m used to it,” answered Trirodov calmly. “We are all used to it.” “They might close your school,” suggested Piotr in a tone of sharp derision. “And again they might not,” asserted Trirodov. “But if they should?” persisted Piotr. “Let us hope for the best,” said Rameyev. Elisaveta looked affectionately at her father. But Trirodov said quietly in his own defence: “The school might be closed, but it is hard to prevent any one from living on the soil and running a farm. If the school should cease being a mere school and become an educational farm, it would succeed in replacing the large farms as they are now run by their proprietors.” “But that is Utopia,” said Piotr in some irritation. “Very well, then, we’ll establish Utopia,” said Trirodov, unruffled. “But as a beginning you hope to destroy what exists?” asked Piotr. “Why?” exclaimed Trirodov, astonished. Strangely agitated, Piotr said: “The comrades’ proposed division of land, if carried into force, would lead to a crushing of culture and science.” “I don’t understand this alarm for science and culture,” replied Trirodov. “Both one and the other are sufficiently strong to stand up for themselves.” “Nevertheless,” argued Piotr, “monuments of civilization are being demolished by this _Kham_[8] who is trying to replace us.” “It is not our monuments of civilization alone that are being destroyed,” retorted Trirodov patiently. “This is very sad, of course, and proper measures should be taken. But the sufferings of the people are so great.... The value of human life is, after all, greater than the value of such monuments.” In this peculiarly Russian manner the conversation quickly passed on to general themes. Trirodov, who took a large share in it, spoke with a calm assurance. They listened to him with deep attention. Of his five auditors only Piotr was not captivated. He was tormented by a feeling of hostility to Trirodov. He glanced at Trirodov with suspicion and hate. He was exasperated by Trirodov’s confident tone and facile speech. Piotr’s remarks addressed to the visitor were often caustic, even coarse. Rameyev looked vexed at Piotr now and then, but Trirodov appeared not to notice his sallies, and was simple, tranquil, and courteous. In the end Piotr was compelled to restrain himself and abandon his sharp manner. Then he grew silent altogether. After Trirodov’s departure Piotr left the room. It was evident that he did not wish to join in any discussion about the visitor. CHAPTER VIII