Part 18 (2/2)
As she uttered these words Varvara Pavlovna quite unexpectedly took possession of one of Marya Dmitrievna's hands, and pressing it lightly in her pale lavender gloves, she raised it in a fawning way to her full rosy lips. Marya Dmitrievna quite lost her head, seeing such a handsome and charmingly dressed woman almost at her feet. She did not know where she was. And she tried to withdraw her hand, while, at the same time, she was inclined to make her sit down, and to say something affectionate to her. She ended by raising Varvara Pavlovna and kissing her on her smooth perfumed brow.
Varvara Pavlovna was completely overcome by this kiss.
”How do you do, bonjour,” said Marya Dmitrievna. ”Of course I did not expect... but, of course, I am glad to see you. You understand, my dear, it's not for me to judge between man and wife”...
”My husband is in the right in everything,” Varvara Pavlovna interposed; ”I alone am to blame.”
”That is a very praiseworthy feeling” rejoined Marya Dmitrievna, ”very.
Have you been here long? Have you seen him? But sit down, please.”
”I arrived yesterday,” answered Varvara Pavlovna, sitting down meekly.
”I have seen Fedor Ivanitch; I have talked with him.”
”Ah! Well, and how was he?”
”I was afraid my sudden arrival would provoke his anger,” continued Varvara Pavlovna, ”but he did not refuse to see me.”
”That is to say, he did not... Yes, yes, I understand,” commented Marya Dmitrievna. ”He is only a little rough on the surface, but his heart is soft.”
”Fedor Ivanitch has not forgiven me; he would not hear me. But he was so good as to a.s.sign me Lavriky as a place of residence.”
”Ah! a splendid estate!”
”I am setting off there to-morrow in fulfilment of his wish; but I esteemed it a duty to visit you first.”
”I am very, very much obliged to you, my dear. Relations ought never to forget one another. And do you know I am surprised how well you speak Russian. C'est etonnant.”
Varvara Pavlovna sighed.
”I have been too long abroad, Marya Dmitrievna, I know that; but my heart has always been Russian, and I have not forgotten my country.”
”Ah, ah; that is good. Fedor Ivanitch did not, however, expect you at all. Yes; you may trust my experience, la patri avant tout. Ah, show me, if you please-what a charming mantle you have.”
”Do you like it?” Varvara Pavlovna slipped it quickly off her shoulders; ”it is a very simple little thing from Madame Baudran.”
”One can see it at once. From Madame Baudran? How sweet, and what taste!
I am sure you have brought a number of fascinating things with you. If I could only see them.”
”All my things are at your service, dearest auntie. If you permit, I can show some patterns to your maid. I have a woman with me from Paris--a wonderfully clever dressmaker.”
”You are very good, my dear. But, really, I am ashamed”...
”Ashamed!” repeated Varvara Pavlovna reproachfully. ”If you want to make me happy, dispose of me as if I were your property.”
Marya Dmitrievna was completely melted.
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