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Short Fiction · Chapter

XXVII explained

During the early luncheon hour on the terrace, three women await the possible arrival of Borya.

What happens

During the early luncheon hour on the terrace, three women await the possible arrival of Borya. The day is sultry, the garden is fragrant, and the marble Aphrodite smiles serenely. Glasha serves in a starched cap, while Borya's old nurse sits below, dozing and listening.

Themes in this chapter

  • Illusion vs. Reality

    The serene beauty of the garden and the marble Aphrodite contrasts with the anxious waiting for Borya, hinting at a fragile domestic peace.

Characters to notice

  • Borya

    Expected but not yet arrived; a fourth place is set for him at luncheon.

  • Glasha

    Serves at the table, wearing a newly-laundered cap with starched ribbons.

  • Fedosya

    Borya's old nurse, sitting in the garden below the terrace, warming herself in the sun and listening to the conversation.

Key passages

  • “The hour of the early luncheon came. All three sat at the table on the terrace. There was a fourth place laid, and a fourth chair, for who could tell whether Borya might not arrive at luncheon time!”

    It was time for the early lunch. The three women were seated on the terrace, with an extra place set just in case Borya showed up.

    Sets the scene of waiting and expectation.

  • “And the smile of the marble-white Aphrodite was even more clear and serene, as she let fall her draperies with a marvellous grace born of eternal movement.”

    The marble statue of Aphrodite smiled calmly, her robes falling in a graceful, timeless pose.

    Highlights the contrast between static beauty and the tension of the moment.

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