After a short period of adapting himself to the old conditions of life, Nicholas found it very pleasant to be at home again.

He felt that he had grown up and matured very much.

His despair at failing in a Scripture examination, his borrowing money from Gavril to pay a sleigh driver, his kissing Sonya on the sly--he now recalled all this as childishness he had left immeasurably behind.

Now he was a lieutenant of hussars, in a jacket laced with silver, and wearing the Cross of St.