Summary

Marya considers Hanov’s good looks, as well as his apparently upper-class bearing and disposition. She wonders why he has chosen to live in the countryside, which Marya finds a terrible place to live. She wonders why Hanov has not at least used money to build a smoother road for his own use, rather than riding across the same bumpy one as everyone else. Hanov’s disposition, however, appears to be generally cheerful. Marya decides that Hanov must be fundamentally naive in some way. The two carts reach a steep and uneven incline. Hanov walks alongside his cart and cheerfully remarks on the poor state of the road. Semyon, irritated, says that Hanov could have simply stayed home. Hanov replies that his life at home is dull.

Marya looks again at Hanov and sees that, despite his lively attitude, there is a slightly...