By his mother's wish he entered the army on completing the school course, and soon received a commission in one of the most brilliant regiments of the Horse Guards.

He did not come to show himself to his mother in his uniform, and his letters from Petersburg began to be infrequent.

Varvara Petrovna sent him money without stint, though after the emancipation the revenue from her estate was so diminished that at first her income was less than half what it had been before.

She had, however, a considerable sum laid by through years of economy.
She took great interest in her son's success in the highest Petersburg society.

Where she had failed, the wealthy young officer with expectations succeeded.