_Goes to MITYA_] No, Mitya, this can't be! Don't torture
yourself for nothing; stop! [Raises him up] Don't tear my soul! Already my
heart is all withered away within me! God be with you; good-by!

MITYA. Why did you deceive me and mock at me?

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Don't, Mitya! Why should I deceive you? Why? I fell in
love with you; so I told you, myself. But now we must not go against the
will of our parents. For it is the will of my father that I should marry; I
must submit to him--that is a girl's lot. It must be that that's the right
thing since it was so ordained of old. I don't want to go against my
father; I don't wish people to talk about me and make an example of me.
Although it may be I have broken my heart because of this--at any rate I
know that I am acting according to law; no one will dare to look me in the
face and jeer. Good-by! [_They kiss_]

MITYA. Well, now I know my fate! [_LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA seats herself on the
sofa and weeps_] Good-by! [_Bows to PELAGEYA EGOROVNA_] Good-by, Pelageya
Egorovna, you have been my benefactress! So long as I live I shall not
forget your goodness and kindness to me; you did not forget the orphan in a
strange land.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. Good-by, my dear; do not blame us in any way--that would
be a sin for you. God grant that you may live happily; we shall not forget
you. MITYA _bows and goes out_.

SCENE VII

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA, LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA _and later_ KORSHUNOV.

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. How I pity that boy, Lyubov dear! Oh, my child, oh,
dear! It never entered my head that you loved him. How could I guess
it, poor old woman that I am! What do I amount to? There, crying is our
business, and I haven't any authority over my daughter! But it would be a
good idea! I'd enjoy the sight of you in my old age. The boy is such an
honest fellow, with such a tender heart, and he would be fond of me in my
old age. And as I look at you, my child, how can you help being sad? And I
have no way to help you, my darling!

LYUBOV GORDEYEVNA. Well, mother, what's the use of thinking about what's
impossible, and only torturing ourselves?

_Seats herself and is silent; some one knocks; the voice of KORSHUNOV is
heard,_ "May I come in?"

PELAGEYA EGOROVNA. Come in, sir. KORSHUNOV. [_Entering_] Ah, there she is,
my bride! Where were you hiding yourself? He, he! I'll find you, I'll
find you anywhere. If you please, Pelageya Egorovna, permit me to talk
confidentially with your daughter