for any one. Once I used to envy the flies; I thought it's for
them it's good to be alive but one night I heard a fly complaining in
a spider's web--no, I think, they too have their troubles. There's no
help, Fedya; but remember your promise all the same. Good-bye."

Lavretsky went down the back staircase, and had reached the gates when a
man-servant overtook him.

"Marya Dmitrievna told me to ask you to go in to her," he commenced to
Lavretsky.

"Tell her, my boy, that just now I can't--" Fedor Ivanitch was
beginning.

"Her excellency told me to ask you very particularly," continued the
servant. "She gave orders to say she was at home."

"Have the visitors gone?" asked Lavretsky.

"Certainly, sir," replied the servant with a grin.

Lavretsky shrugged his shoulders and followed him.

Chapter XLIII

Marya Dmitrievna was sitting alone in her boudoir in an easy-chair,
sniffing eau de cologne; a glass of orange-flower-water was standing on
a little table near her. She was agitated and seemed nervous.

Lavretsky came in.

"You wanted to see me," he said, bowing coldly.

"Yes," replied Marya Dmitrievna, and she sipped a little water: "I heard
that you had gone straight up to my aunt; I gave orders that you should
be asked to come in; I wanted to have a little talk with you. Sit down,
please," Marya Dmitrievna took breath. "You know," she went on, "your
wife has come."

"I was aware of that," remarked Lavretsky.

"Well, then, that is, I wanted to say, she came to me, and I received
her; that is what I wanted to explain to you, Fedor Ivanitch. Thank God
I have, I may say, gained universal respect, and for no consideration in
the world would I do anything improper. Though I foresaw that it would
be disagreeable to you, still I could not make up my mind to deny myself
to her, Fedor Ivanitch; she is a relation of mine--through you; put
yourself in my position, what right had I to shut my doors on her--you
will agree with me?"

"You are exciting yourself needlessly, Mary Dmitrievna," replied
Lavretsky; "you acted very well, I am not angry. I have not the least
intention of depriving Varvara Pavlovna of the opportunity of seeing her
friends; I did not come in to you to-day simply because I did not care
to meet her--that was all."

"Ah, how glad I am to hear you say that, Fedor Ivanitch," cried Marya
Dmitrievna, "but I always expected it of your noble sentiments. And as
for my being excited--that's not to