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From the Life of the Elder Zossima 163money, and so I flung myself into a life of pleasure and plungedheadlong into all the recklessness of youth.I was fond of reading, yet strange to say, the Bible was theone book I never opened at that time, though I always carried itabout with me and was never separated from it; in very truth Iwas keeping that book “for the day and the hour, for the monthand the year,” though I knew it not.After four years of this life, I chanced to be in the town ofK. where our regiment was stationed at the time. We found thepeople of the town hospitable, rich, and fond of entertainments.I met with a cordial reception everywhere, as I was of a livelytemperament and was known to be well off, which always goes along way in the world. And then an incident happened that wasthe beginning of everything.I formed an attachment to a beautiful and intelligent younggirl of noble and lofty character, the daughter of people muchrespected. They were well-to-do people of influence and position.They always gave me a cordial and friendly reception. Ifancied that the young lady looked on me with favor, and myheart was aflame at such an idea. Later on I saw and fully realizedthat I perhaps was not so passionately in love with her at all butonly recognized the elevation of her mind and character, whichI could not indeed have helped doing. I was prevented, however,from making her an offer at the time by my selfishness; I wasloath to part with the allurements of my free and licentious bachelorlife in the heyday of my youth and with my pockets full ofmoney. I did drop some hint as to my feelings, however, though Iput off taking any decisive step for a time. Then, all of a sudden,we were ordered off for two months to another district.On my return two months later, I found the young lady alreadymarried to a rich neighboring landowner, a very amiable man,