Part 22 (1/2)
Lisa gave an almost imperceptible smile.
”Oh, no!” she said.
”Ah, Lisa, Lisa!” cried Lavretsky, ”how happy you might have been!”
Lisa looked at him again.
”Now you see yourself, Fedor Ivanitch, that happiness does not depend on us, but on G.o.d.”
”Yes, because you--”
The door from the adjoining room opened quickly and Marfa Timofyevna came in with her cap in her hand.
”I have found it at last,” she said, standing between Lavretsky and Lisa; ”I had laid it down myself. That's what age does for one, alack--though youth's not much better.”
”Well, and are you going to Lavriky yourself with your wife?” she added, turning to Lavretsky.
”To Lavriky with her? I don't know,” he said, after a moment's hesitation.
”You are not going down-stairs.”
”To-day,--no, I'm not.”
”Well, well, you know best; but you, Lisa, I think, ought to go down.
Ah, merciful powers, I have forgotten to feed my bullfinch. There, stop a minute, I'll soon--” And Marfa Timofyevna ran off without putting on her cap.
Lavretsky walked quickly up to Lisa.
”Lisa,” he began in a voice of entreaty, ”we are parting for ever, my heart is torn,--give me your hand at parting.”
Lisa raised her head, her wearied eyes, their light almost extinct, rested upon him.... ”No,” she uttered, and she drew back the hand she was holding out. ”No, Lavretsky (it was the first time she had used this name), I will not give you my hand. What is the good? Go away, I beseech you. You know I love you... yes, I love you,” she added with an effort; ”but no... no.”
She pressed her handkerchief to her lips.
”Give me, at least, that handkerchief.”
The door creaked... the handkerchief slid on to Lisa's lap. Lavretsky s.n.a.t.c.hed it before it had time to fall to the floor, thrust it quickly into a side pocket, and turning round met Marfa Timofyevna's eyes.
”Lisa, darling, I fancy your mother is calling you,” the old lady declared.
Lisa at once got up and went away.
Marfa Timofyevna sat down again in her corner. Lavretsky began to take leave of her.
”Fedor,” she said suddenly.
”What is it?”
”Are you an honest man?”