Expensive Lessons (Chekhov)
Short summary
Russia, late 19th century. Vorotov, a 26-year-old researcher, decided to learn French and German to help with his academic work. He hired a young Frenchwoman, Alice Osipovna Enquête, as his French teacher.
During their first lesson, Vorotov suggested they skip basic grammar and read literature instead. Alice reluctantly agreed, though she was clearly uncomfortable with this approach. As lessons continued, Vorotov paid less attention to learning and more to his attractive teacher.
Once, Vorotov tried to dismiss Alice but couldn't bring himself to do it when he saw her distress at potentially losing income. Later, he encountered her at a theater where she was happily socializing with friends, seemingly a different person from the cold, professional teacher he knew.
Eventually, Vorotov fell in love with Alice. During one lesson, overcome with emotion, he blocked her way and declared his feelings.
And Alice turned pale—probably from dismay, reflecting that after this declaration she could not come here again and get a rouble a lesson. With a frightened look in her eyes she said in a loud whisper: "Ach, you mustn't!"
Despite the awkward confession, Alice returned for the next lesson. Their sessions continued as before, with Vorotov learning nothing of French except the word "Mémoires" while Alice remained professionally distant.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Vorotov hires a French teacher
Vorotov, a 26-year-old cultivated man, realized that his inability to speak foreign languages was hindering his research work. Determined to overcome his laziness, he decided to learn French and German, and began looking for a teacher.
For a cultivated man to be ignorant of foreign languages is a great inconvenience. Vorotov became acutely conscious of it when, after taking his degree, he began upon a piece of research work.
One winter noon, as Vorotov was working in his study, his servant announced that a young lady was asking for him. The visitor introduced herself as Alice Osipovna Enquête, a French teacher sent by Vorotov's friend Pyotr Sergeitch.
Vorotov observed that she was a genuine Frenchwoman, elegant and young. Her face appeared cold and businesslike. She seemed surprised to learn that she would be teaching an adult man rather than children. They agreed on lessons every evening from seven to eight, at one rouble per lesson. Alice explained that her father had recently died of scarlet fever, and she supported herself and her mother by teaching.
The first lesson and conflicting teaching methods
The next evening, Alice arrived rosy from the frost. She opened her textbook, Margot, and began teaching the alphabet. Vorotov interrupted her, explaining that as someone who already knew Russian, Greek, and Latin well, he preferred to skip the basics and start reading an author directly, analyzing each word as he went.
Alice seemed perplexed by this suggestion, which she clearly found naive and ridiculous. Unable to scold an adult man, she merely shrugged her shoulders and agreed to his method. Vorotov selected a dog-eared French book, and they began with the title "Mémoires."
Vorotov spent fifteen minutes analyzing the word "mémoires" and another fifteen on "de," which wearied the young lady. She answered his questions languidly, clearly not understanding her pupil's approach. At eight o'clock precisely, she rose, said coldly, "Au revoir, monsieur," and left.
A failed attempt to dismiss the teacher
After several lessons, Vorotov became convinced that his teacher was charming and conscientious but poorly educated and incapable of teaching adults. He decided to end the lessons and prepared an envelope with seven roubles for her seventh visit.
When Alice arrived, Vorotov began awkwardly explaining that he needed to let her go. Seeing the envelope in his hand, Alice immediately understood his intention. For the first time, her cold, businesslike expression vanished. She blushed slightly and nervously fingered her gold chain.
Seeing the envelope, the French girl guessed what was meant, and for the first time during their lessons her face quivered and her cold, businesslike expression vanished. She coloured a little, and dropping her eyes...
Witnessing her distress, Vorotov realized how much a rouble meant to her. He quickly put the envelope back in his pocket and, making an excuse about needing to leave for ten minutes, went to another room. When he returned, still embarrassed, the lessons resumed as before.
Growing distraction and infatuation
Recognizing that he would gain nothing from the lessons, Vorotov gave Alice freedom to teach as she pleased. He no longer listened to her translations, instead gazing at her curly head, soft white hands, and neck, while breathing in the fragrance of her clothes.
He found himself thinking inappropriate thoughts about her and felt ashamed. At other times, he felt tenderness, then vexation that she remained so cold and businesslike with him, treating him merely as a pupil. He wondered how to gain her confidence and help her understand how poorly she taught.
He caught himself thinking very unsuitable thoughts, and felt ashamed, or he was moved to tenderness, and then he felt vexed and wounded that she was so cold and businesslike with him, and treated him as a pupil...
One day, Alice arrived in a smart pink dress, slightly décolleté, surrounded by such a fragrance that she seemed wrapped in a cloud. She apologized, saying she could stay only half an hour as she was going to a dance afterward. Looking at her throat and bare neck, Vorotov thought he understood why Frenchwomen had a reputation for being frivolous and easily seduced.
An unexpected encounter at the theatre
One day Alice came an hour early for her lesson, explaining that she wanted to leave at seven to attend the Little Theatre. After the lesson, Vorotov also dressed and went to the theatre. He told himself he was going simply for amusement, not to see Alice, unwilling to admit that a serious man preparing for a scholarly career would abandon his work just to meet a girl he barely knew.
Yet during the intervals, his heart raced as he searched the corridors for her. When he finally spotted the familiar pink dress and handsome shoulders, his heart quivered with joy, and he experienced jealousy for the first time.
Alice was walking with two unattractive-looking students and an officer. She was laughing, talking loudly, and flirting - a side of her Vorotov had never seen before. She appeared happy, warm, and sincere with these men who belonged to her own circle.
Vorotov felt a terrible gulf between himself and her social circle. When he bowed to her, she gave him only a chilly nod and walked quickly past, evidently not wanting her friends to know she gave lessons for money.
Declaration of love and rejection
After the theatre encounter, Vorotov realized he was in love with Alice. During subsequent lessons, he feasted his eyes on his elegant teacher and gave free rein to his imagination. Yet her face remained cold, and she continued to say "Au revoir, monsieur" precisely at eight o'clock each evening, showing no interest in him.
Vorotov composed mental declarations of love and remembered that Frenchwomen were supposedly frivolous and easily won. However, one glance at Alice's face extinguished these notions.
One evening, overcome with emotion, Vorotov blocked Alice's path as she was leaving and stammered a declaration of love. Alice turned pale, likely from dismay at the prospect of losing her income from the lessons. With frightened eyes, she whispered urgently that he mustn't speak this way.
Lessons continue despite the awkwardness
After his declaration, Vorotov spent a sleepless night tortured by shame. He blamed himself and feared that Alice would never return. He planned to find her address and write a letter of apology.
To his surprise, Alice came for the next lesson without requiring a letter. Though initially uncomfortable, she soon opened her book and began translating as usual. She continued to come, and four books were eventually translated.
Four books have already been translated, but Vorotov knows no French but the word Mémoires, and when he is asked about his literary researches, he waves his hand, and without answering, turns the conversation to the weather.