May 11th

I met up with an old friend from the army today, Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin. I first met the man at the front when I was wounded in the leg. Pechorin was of average height and had a strong physique; he also had fair hair even though his eyebrows and moustache where black. Pechorin is an interesting fellow. He has some unusual traits; some of which are quite aggravating. Don’t get me wrong for the most part the man’s presence is welcome, but at time it seems like those cold eyes of his are staring right into my soul. Anyways, we embraced like old friends and I told him about life in the regiment. When he asked me about spa life I responded with “It’s a pretty dull life we lead here” (73) we then shifted the conversation to the female society. That’s when Princess Mary and her mother Princess Ligovskoy walked by. After being ridiculed pointlessly by Pechorin the ladies had become level with us. That is when with the aid of my crutch I struck a dramatic pose and answered a statement Pechorin had made about me having it down for the whole human race. In French spoke this quite loudly “Mon Cher, je haïs les hommes pour ne pas les mépiser, car autrement la vie serait une farce trop dégoutante.”(75) That’s when the young princess shot me an interesting look that I couldn’t distinguish. At least the look was not of scorn which can be considered a victory. After the Princesses had moved passed us Pechorin had began describing Mary as if she where a horse. “You talk about a pretty woman like she where an English thoroughbred” (75) I told him in such a way to get back at him for his previous comments. Just then he mocked my earlier speech before quickly turning and walking away.

After the encounter with Pechorin I wondered around the well alone. I had been watching the Princess Marry for some time now. Tonight she wore a high-necked grey dress, with a silk scarf around her. She was certainly beautiful to say the least. She also had an interesting angelic quality to the way she walked. I was standing near the well itself when suddenly I dropped my glass on the gravel. I staggered around trying my best to pick it up. Of course I couldn’t due to my injured leg so I continued to struggle but as hard as I tried I couldn’t get that glass. This is when Princess Mary came and picked it up in a gesture of great charm. She then blushed deeply and quickly left without giving me time to thank her. After the Princess had left Pechorin reappeared. I told him that “She’s an absolute angel,” (76) before he again decided it was necessary to ridicule me for my foolishness. We then walked back down the hill in silence. On our way I saw the Princess sitting at the window I tugged Pechorin’s arm and gave her a sweet tender look. It seemed to have worked as she smiled back. This was a great end to a day of joy and success.