Nicholas tries to help resolve the Rostóv financial difficulties, but his efforts are ineffective.
Summary:
Nicholas, who was called home because his mother hoped he could help with the family finances, briefly and unsuccessfully tries to help. Soon after arriving, he goes to see their steward Mitenka. Nicholas looks briefly at the books, and then throws Mitenka out, literally kicking him while calling him a thief and a robber. Mitenka hides in the bushes. Later, his father explains to Nicholas that he was mistaken about a sum of 700 rubles which Nicholas incorrectly believed Mitenka had stolen. Later, when asked by his mother about 2,000 rubles owed to them by Borís’ mother Anna, Nicholas advises against trying to collect the money. After these brief efforts, Nicholas ceases to involve himself in the Rostóv finances. His brief efforts accomplished nothing, and Nicholas never again meddled in family finances.
quote from the chapter:
Next day the old count called his son aside and, with an embarrassed smile, said to him:
But you know, my dear boy, it’s a pity you got excited! Mítenka has told me all about it.
I knew, thought Nicholas, that I should never understand anything in this crazy world.
You were angry that he had not entered those 700 rubles. But they were carried forward-and you did not look at the other page.
Papa, he is a blackguard and a thief! I know he is! And what I have done, I have done; but, if you like, I won’t speak to him again.
No, my dear boy (the count, too, felt embarrassed. He knew he had mismanaged his wife’s property and was to blame toward his children, but he did not know how to remedy it). No, I beg you to attend to the business. I am old. I…
No, Papa. Forgive me if I have caused you unpleasantness. I understand it all less than you do.
Book 7, Chapter 2
Nicholas tries to help resolve the Rostóv financial difficulties, but his efforts are ineffective.
Summary:
Nicholas, who was called home because his mother hoped he could help with the family finances, briefly and unsuccessfully tries to help. Soon after arriving, he goes to see their steward Mitenka. Nicholas looks briefly at the books, and then throws Mitenka out, literally kicking him while calling him a thief and a robber. Mitenka hides in the bushes. Later, his father explains to Nicholas that he was mistaken about a sum of 700 rubles which Nicholas incorrectly believed Mitenka had stolen. Later, when asked by his mother about 2,000 rubles owed to them by Borís’ mother Anna, Nicholas advises against trying to collect the money. After these brief efforts, Nicholas ceases to involve himself in the Rostóv finances. His brief efforts accomplished nothing, and Nicholas never again meddled in family finances.
quote from the chapter:
Next day the old count called his son aside and, with an embarrassed smile, said to him:
But you know, my dear boy, it’s a pity you got excited! Mítenka has told me all about it.
I knew, thought Nicholas, that I should never understand anything in this crazy world.
You were angry that he had not entered those 700 rubles. But they were carried forward-and you did not look at the other page.
Papa, he is a blackguard and a thief! I know he is! And what I have done, I have done; but, if you like, I won’t speak to him again.
No, my dear boy (the count, too, felt embarrassed. He knew he had mismanaged his wife’s property and was to blame toward his children, but he did not know how to remedy it). No, I beg you to attend to the business. I am old. I…
No, Papa. Forgive me if I have caused you unpleasantness. I understand it all less than you do.
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