Part 10 (1/2)
[Footnote A: About _50_.]
”Ah, Fedia!” she began, as soon as she saw him
”You didn't see my family last night. Please to admire them now; we are all met together for tea. This is our second, our feast-day tea.
You may embrace us all. Only Shurochka wouldn't let you, and the cat would scratch you. Is it to-day you go?”
”Yes,” said Lavretsky, sitting down on a low chair. ”I have just taken leave of Maria Dmitrievna. I saw Lizaveta Mikhailovna too.”
”Call her Liza, my dear. Why should she be Mikhailovna for you? But do sit still, or you will break Shurochka's chair.”
”She was on her way to church,” continued Lavretsky. ”Is she seriously inclined?”
”Yes, Fedia, very much so. More than you or I, Fedia.”
”And do you mean to say you are not seriously inclined?” lisped Nastasia Carpovna. ”If you have not gone to the early ma.s.s to-day, you will go to the later one.”
”Not a bit of it. Thou shalt go alone. I've grown lazy, my mother,”
answered Marfa Timofeevna. ”I am spoiling myself terribly with tea drinking.”
She said _thou_ to Nastasia Carpovna, although she lived on a footing of equality with her--but it was not for nothing that she was a Pestof. Three Pestofs occur in the Sinodik[A] of Ivan the Terrible.
Marfa Timofeevna was perfectly well aware of the fact.
[Footnote A: ”_I.e._, in the list of the n.o.bles of his time, in the sixteenth century.]
”Tell me, please,” Lavretsky began again. ”Maria Dmitrievna was talking to me just now about that--what's his name?--Pans.h.i.+ne. What sort of a man is he?”
”Good Lord! what a chatter-box she is!” grumbled Marfa Timofeevna.
”I've no doubt she has communicated to you as a secret that he hangs about here as a suitor. She might have been contented to 'Whisper about it with her _popovich_[A] But no, it seems that is not enough for her. And yet there is nothing settled so far, thank G.o.d! but she's always chattering.”
[Footnote A: The priest's son. _i.e._, Gedeonovsky.]
”Why do you say 'Thank G.o.d?'” asked Lavretsky.
”Why, because this fine young man doesn't please me. And what is there in the matter to be delighted about, I should like to know?”
”Doesn't he please you?”
”No; he can't fascinate every one. It's enough for him that Nastasia Carpovna here is in love with him.”
The poor widow was terribly disconcerted.
”How can you say so, Marfa Timofeevna? Do not you fear G.o.d?” she exclaimed, and a blush instantly suffused her face and neck.
”And certainly the rogue knows how to fascinate her,” broke in Marfa Timofeevna. ”He has given her a snuff-box. Fedia, ask her for a pinch of snuff. You will see what a splendid snuff-box it is. There is a hussar on horseback on the lid. You had much better not try to exculpate yourself, my mother.”
Nastasia Carpovna could only wave her hands with a deprecatory air.
”Well, but about Liza?” asked Lavretsky. ”Is he indifferent to her?”