Part 31 (1/2)

XLII.

The next day was Sunday. Lavretsky was not awakened by the bells which clanged for early Ma.s.s, for he had not closed his eyes all night; but they reminded him of another Sunday, when he went to church at Liza's request. He rose in haste. A certain secret voice told him that to-day also he would see her there. He left the house quietly, telling the servant to say to Varvara Pavlovna, who was still asleep, that he would be back to dinner, and then, with long steps, he went where the bell called him with its dreary uniformity of sound.

He arrived early; scarcely any one was yet in the church. A Reader was reciting the Hours in the choir. His voice, sometimes interrupted by a cough, sounded monotonously, rising and falling by turns. Lavretsky placed himself at a little distance from the door. The wors.h.i.+ppers arrived, one after another, stopped, crossed themselves, and bowed in all directions. Their steps resounded loudly through the silent and almost empty s.p.a.ce, and echoed along the vaulted roof. An infirm old woman, wrapped in a threadbare hooded cloak, knelt by Lavretsky's side and prayed fervently. Her toothless, yellow, wrinkled face expressed intense emotion. Her bloodshot eyes gazed upwards, without moving, on the holy figures displayed upon the iconostasis. Her bony hand kept incessantly coming out from under her cloak, and making the sign of the cross--with a slow and sweeping gesture, and with steady pressure of the fingers on the forehead and the body. A peasant with a morose and thickly-bearded face, his hair and clothes all in disorder, came into the church, threw himself straight down on his knees, and immediately began crossing and prostrating himself, throwing back his head and shaking it after each inclination. So bitter a grief showed itself in his face and in all his gestures, that Lavretsky went up to him and asked him what was the matter. The peasant sank back with an air of distrust; then, looking at him coldly, said in a hurried voice, ”My son is dead,” and again betook himself to his prostrations.

”What sorrow can they have too great to defy the consolations of the Church?” thought Lavretsky, and he tried to pray himself. But his heart seemed heavy and hardened, and his thoughts were afar off. He kept waiting for Liza; but Liza did not come. The church gradually filled with people, but he did not see Liza among them. Ma.s.s began, the deacon read the Gospel, the bell sounded for the final prayer.

Lavretsky advanced a few steps, and suddenly he caught sight of Liza.

She had come in before him, but he had not observed her till now.

Standing in the s.p.a.ce between the wall and the choir, to which she had pressed as close as possible, she never once looked round, never moved from her place. Lavretsky did not take his eyes off her till the service was quite finished; he was bidding her a last farewell. The congregation began to disperse, but she remained standing there. She seemed to be waiting for Lavretsky to go away. At last, however, she crossed herself for the last time, and went out without turning round.

No one but a maid-servant was with her.

Lavretsky followed her out of the church, and came up with her in the street. She was walking very fast, her head drooping, her veil pulled low over her face.

”Good-day, Lizaveta Mikhailovna,” he said in a loud voice, with feigned indifference. ”May I accompany you?”

She made no reply. He walked on by her side.

”Are you satisfied with me?” he asked, lowering his voice. ”You have heard what took place yesterday, I suppose?”

”Yes, yes,” she answered in a whisper; ”that was very good;” and she quickened her pace.

”Then you are satisfied?”

Liza only made a sign of a.s.sent.

”Fedor Ivanovich,” she began, presently, in a calm but feeble voice, ”I wanted to ask you something. Do not come any more to our house. Go away soon. We may see each other by-and-by--some day or other--a year hence, perhaps. But now, do this for my sake. In G.o.d's name, I beseech you, do what I ask!”

”I am ready to obey you in every thing, Lizaveta Mikhailovna. But can it be that we must part thus? Is it possible that you will not say a single word to me?”

”Fedor Ivanovich, you are walking here by my side. But you are already so far, far away from me; and not only you, but--”

”Go on, I entreat you!” exclaimed Lavretsky. ”What do you mean?”

”You will hear, perhaps--But whatever it may be, forget--No, do not forget me--remember me.”

”I forget you?”

”Enough. Farewell. Please do not follow me.”

”Liza--” began Lavretsky.

”Farewell, farewell!” she repeated, and then, drawing her veil still lower over her face, she went away, almost at a run.

Lavretsky looked after her for a time, and then walked down the street with drooping head. Presently he ran against Lemm, who also was walking along with his hat pulled low over his brows, and his eyes fixed on his feet.