A Nobleman's Nest Part 22

"This is how we were to meet again,"--he said, at last.

Liza took her hands from her face.

"Yes,"--she said dully:--"we were promptly punished."

"Punished?"--said Lavretzky. "But what were you punished for?"

Liza raised her eyes to him. They expressed neither grief nor anxiety: they looked smaller and dimmer. Her face was pale; her slightly parted lips had also grown pale.

Lavretzky's heart shuddered with pity and with love.

"You wrote to me: 'All is at an end,'"--he whispered:--"Yes, all is at an end--before it has begun."

"We must forget all that,"--said Liza:--"I am glad that you came; I wanted to write to you, but it is better thus. Only, we must make use, as promptly as possible, of these minutes. It remains for both of us to do our duty. You, Feodor Ivanitch, ought to become reconciled to your wife."

"Liza!"

"I implore you to do it; in that way alone can we expiate ... everything which has taken place. Think it over--and you will not refuse me."

"Liza, for G.o.d's sake,--you are demanding the impossible. I am ready to do everything you command; but become reconciled to her _now_!... I agree to everything, I have forgotten everything; but I cannot force my heart to.... Have mercy, this is cruel!"

"I do not require from you ... what you think; do not live with her, if you cannot; but become reconciled,"--replied Liza, and again raised her hand to her eyes.--"Remember your little daughter; do this for me."

"Very well,"--said Lavretzky, through his teeth:--"I will do it; let us a.s.sume that thereby I am fulfilling my duty. Well, and you--in what does your duty consist?"

"I know what it is."

Lavretzky suddenly started.

"Surely, you are not preparing to marry Panshin?"--he asked.

Liza smiled almost imperceptibly.

"Oh, no!"--she said.

"Akh, Liza, Liza!"--cried Lavretzky:--"how happy we might have been!"

Again Liza glanced at him.

"Now you see yourself, Feodor Ivanitch, that happiness does not depend upon us, but upon G.o.d."

"Yes, because you...."

The door of the adjoining room opened swiftly, and Marfa Timofeevna entered, with her cap in her hand.

"I have found it at last,"--she said, taking up her stand between Lavretzky and Liza.--"I had mislaid it myself. That's what it is to be old, alack! However, youth is no better. Well, and art thou going to Lavriki thyself, with thy wife?"--she added, addressing Feodor Ivanitch.

"With her, to Lavriki?--I do not know,"--he said, after a pause.

"Thou art not going down-stairs?"

"Not to-day."

"Well, very good, as it pleases thee; but I think thou shouldst go down-stairs, Liza. Akh, gracious goodness!--and I have forgotten to give the bullfinch his food. Just wait, I'll be back directly...."

And Marfa Timofeevna ran out of the room, without putting on her cap.

Lavretzky went quickly up to Liza.

"Liza,"--he began in a beseeching voice:--"we are parting forever, my heart is breaking,--give me your hand in farewell."

Liza raised her head. Her weary, almost extinct gaze rested on him....

"No,"--she said, and drew back the hand which she had already put forward--"no. Lavretzky"--(she called him thus, for the first time)--"I will not give you my hand. To what end? Go away, I entreat you. You know that I love you,"--she added, with an effort:--"but no ... no."

And she raised her handkerchief to her eyes.

The door creaked.... The handkerchief slipped off Liza's knees.

Lavretzky caught it before it fell to the floor, hastily thrust it into his side pocket, and, turning round, his eyes met those of Marfa Timofeevna.

"Lizotchka, I think thy mother is calling thee,"--remarked the old woman.

Liza immediately rose, and left the room.

Marfa Timofeevna sat down again in her corner. Lavretzky began to take leave of her.

"Fedya,"--she suddenly said.

"What, aunty?"

"Art thou an honourable man?"

"What?"

"I ask thee: art thou an honourable man?"

"I hope so."

"H'm. But give me thy word of honour that thou art an honourable man."

"Certainly.--But why?"

"I know why. Yes, and thou also, my benefactor, if thou wilt think it over well,--for thou art not stupid,--wilt understand thyself why I ask this of thee. And now, farewell, my dear. Thanks for thy visit; and remember the word that has been spoken, Fedya, and kiss me. Okh, my soul, it is hard for thee, I know: but then, life is not easy for any one. That is why I used to envy the flies; here, I thought, is something that finds life good; but once, in the night, I heard a fly grieving in the claws of a spider,--no, I thought, a thundercloud hangs over them also. What is to be done, Fedya? but remember thy word, nevertheless.--Go."

Lavretzky emerged from the back entrance, and was already approaching the gate ... when a lackey overtook him.

"Marya Dmitrievna ordered me to ask you to be so good as to come to her,"--he announced to Lavretzky.