her work.

"'I have seen him more than once. I have not only seen him, but
wonder now, my dear--I have visited him in his dwelling!'

"'The maiden shook her head, her eyes were dimmed with the shade of
pensiveness; a thrill of jealousy, in spite of herself, darted to
her heart. 'What! and didst thou not fear to go to him?' she
said--'Is he not a heretic?'

"'If thou knewest it, Nastenka, what wouldst thou not do for love?'

"'Love?' ... exclaimed Anastasia, and her heart bounded violently in
her breast.

"'Ah if I were not afraid, I would disclose to thee the secret of my
soul.'

"'Speak, I pray thee, speak! Fear not; see! I call the Mother of God
to witness, thy words shall die with me.'

"And the maiden, with a quivering hand, signed a large cross.

"'If so, I will confide in thee what I have never disclosed but to
God. It is not over one blue sea alone that the mist lieth, and the
darksome cloud: it is not over one fair land descendeth the gloomy
autumn night; there was a time when my bosom was loaded with a heavy
sorrow, my rebellious heart lay drowned in woe and care: I loved thy
brother, Ivan Vassilievitch. (The maiden's heart was relieved, she
breathed more freely.) Thou knowest not, my life, my child, what kind
of feeling is that of love, and God grant that thou mayest never know!
The dark night cometh, thou canst not close thine eyes: the bright
dawn breaketh, thou meetest it with tears, and the day is all
weary--O, so weary! There are many men in the fair world, but thou
see'st only one, in thy bower, in the street, in the house of God. A
stone lieth ever on thy breast, and thou canst not shake it off.'

"Then Selinova wept sincere tears. Her companion listened to her with
eager sympathy: the feelings just depicted were her own.

* * * * *

"There was a deep silence. It was broken by the young widow.

"'Nastenka, my life?' she began in a tone of such touching, such
lively interest, as called for her reluctant confidence.

"The daughter of Obrazetz glanced at her with eyes full of tears, and
shook her head.

"'Confide in me, as I have confided in thee,' continued Selinova,
taking her hand and pressing it to her bosom. 'I have lived longer in
the world than thou ... believe me, 'twill give thee ease ... 'tis
clear from every symptom, my love, what thou ailest.'

"And Anastasia, sobbin