derstand your letter?
Do you mean it, or is it a joke? [LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA _is silent_] Tell me,
Lyubov Gordeyevna! I am now in such perplexity that I cannot express it to
you. My position in your house is known to you; subordinate to everybody,
and I may say utterly despised by Gordey Karpych. I've had only one
feeling, that for you, and if I receive ridicule from you, then it would
have been better for me never to have lived in this world. You may trust
me! I am telling you the truth.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. No, Mitya dear, what I wrote to you was the truth, and
not a joke. And you, do you love me?

MITYA. Indeed, Lyubov Gordeyevna, I do not know how to express to you what
I feel. But at least let me assure you that I have a heart in my breast,
and not a stone. You can see my love from everything.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. But I thought that you loved Anna Ivanovna.

MITYA. That is not true!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Really, they told me so.

MITYA. If this were true, then what sort of a man should I be after acting
as I have? Could I declare with words what my heart does not feel! I think
such a thing would be dishonorable! I may not be worth your regard, but I'm
not the man to deceive you.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. It is impossible to believe you men; all men in the
world are deceivers.

MITYA. Let them be deceivers, but I am not.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. How can one know! Perhaps you also are deceiving me and
want to play a joke on me!

MITYA. It would be easier for me to die in this place than to hear such
words from you! [_Turns away._

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. No, Mitya, I didn't mean it. I know that you love me. I
only wanted to tease you. [MITYA _is silent_] Mitya dear! Mitya! Why are
you silent? Are you angry with me? I tell you I was only joking! Mitya!
Yes! Now, then, say something. [_Takes his hand._

MITYA. Oh, Lyubov Gordeyevna, I'm not in a joking humor! I'm not that sort
of man.

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Don't be angry.

MITYA. If you love me, then stop these jokes! They are not in place. Oh,
it's all the same to me now! [_Embraces her_] Maybe they can take you from
me by force, but I won't give you up of my free will. I love you more than
my life!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. [_Returning his embrace_] Mitya dear, what shall we do
now?

MITYA. What shall we do? We didn't fall in love with each other just to say
good-by!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Well, but what if they promise me to some one else?

MITYA. Look here, Lyubov, one word!