THE DARLING AND OTHER STORIES

ANTON TCHEKHOV

Translated by CONSTANCE GARNETT

CONTENTS

[THE DARLING]
[ARIADNE]
[POLINKA]
[ANYUTA]
[THE TWO VOLODYAS]
[THE TROUSSEAU]
[THE HELPMATE]
[TALENT]
[AN ARTIST'S STORY]
[THREE YEARS]

THE DARLING

OLENKA, the daughter of the retired collegiate assessor, Plemyanniakov, was sitting in her back porch, lost in thought. It was hot, the flies were persistent and teasing, and it was pleasant to reflect that it would soon be evening. Dark rainclouds were gathering from the east, and bringing from time to time a breath of moisture in the air.