Summary

In Chapter 1, Alexei Fyodorovich Laptev waits inside a church for Yulia Sergeevna. When she emerges, he tells her that he is on his way to her house to see her father. Yulia’s father, Dr. Sergei Borisych, is looking after Nina Fyodorovna, Laptev’s cancer-ridden sister. As they walk, Yulia commiserates with Laptev over his sister’s poor health. When they arrive at Yulia’s home, her father appears dishevelled. He is humming to himself. Laptev chats with the doctor about Nina, desperate to keep the conversation going to prevent Yulia from leaving. She eventually does leave, saying that it is time for her to go. Laptev departs shortly after, feeling depressed.

Once home, Laptev heads to his sister’s room. Nina is reading to her ten-year-old daughter Sasha, her eldest. Seventeen years ago, Nina married a landowner called Panaurov against her father...