No, he isn't wanted," rejoined the old man with an almost child-like
smile.

Two days later Fedor Ivanitch set off to the town to see the Kalitins.

Chapter XXIV

He found them all at home, but he did not at once disclose his plan to
them; he wanted to discuss it first with Lisa alone. Fortune favoured
him; they were left alone in the drawing-room. They had some talk; she
had had time by now to grow used to him--and she was not shy as a rule
with any one. He listened to her, watched her, and mentally repeated
Lemm's words, and agreed with them. It sometimes happens that two people
who are acquainted, but not on intimate terms with one another, all
of sudden grow rapidly more intimate in a few minutes, and the
consciousness of this greater intimacy is at once expressed in their
eyes, in their soft and affectionate smiles, and in their very gestures.
This was exactly what came to pass with Lavretsky and Lisa. "So he is
like that," was her thought, as she turned a friendly glance on him;
"so you are like that," he too was thinking. And so he was not very
much surprised when she informed him, not without a little faltering,
however, that she had long wished to say something to him, but she was
afraid of offending him.

"Don't be afraid; tell me," he replied, and stood still before her.

Lisa raised her clear eyes to him.

"You are so good," she began, and at the same time, she thought: "Yes,
I am sure he is good"... "you will forgive me, I ought not dare to speak
of it to you... but--how could you... why did you separate from your
wife?"

Lavretsky shuddered: he looked at Lisa, and sat down near her.

"My child," he began, "I beg you, do not touch upon that wound; your
hands are tender, but it will hurt me all the same."

"I know," Lisa went on, as though she did not hear him, "she has been to
blame towards you. I don't want to defend her; but what God has joined,
how can you put asunder?"

"Our convictions on that subject are too different, Lisaveta Mihalovna,"
Lavretsky observed, rather sharply; "we cannot understand one another."

Lisa grew paler: her whole frame was trembling slightly; but she was not
silenced.

"You must forgive," she murmured softly, "if you wish to be forgiven."

"Forgive!" broke in Lavretsky. "Ought you not first to know whom you are
interceding for? Forgive that woman, take her back into my home, that
empty, heartless creature! And who told you she wants to return to me?
She i