The Young Couple at Bagrovo

This chapter illustrates Aleksei Stepanych Bagrov and his wife Sofya Nikolavna's time at Bagrovo. It was clear to the entire family that Stepan Mikhailych Bagrov was content with his new daughter-in-law and that he liked everything she said. Being a clever woman and knowing in advance what awaited her in her husband's family, Sofya Nikolavna had naturally drawn up a plan of action beforehand. However, she had never been out of the town and had no idea of life led by the rural landowners of modest means who were scattered among various remote locations of the enormous country. Nothing pleased her and everything was repulsive: the house, the garden, the grove, and the island. She could not like the people either, beginning with the family and ending with the peasant children—except for Stepan Mikhailych. This put a strain on the young couple but Sofya Nikolavna's sensitive nerves eventually relaxed, and she was able to look around with greater impartiality, to get to know and understand the particular world in which she found herself. Finally, the day of their departure arrived and they looked forward to their future life in Ufa.