different man. I told you so the day
after your return, and you yourself, at that moment, agreed with me in
your! heart. But you want to reinstate yourself in public opinion; it is
not enough for you to live in my house, you want to live with me under
the same roof--isn't that it?"

"I want your forgiveness," pronounced Varvara Pavlovna, not raising her
eyes.

"She wants your forgiveness," repeated Marya Dmitrievna.

"And not for my own sake, but for Ada's," murmured Varvara Pavlovna.

"And not for her own sake, but for your Ada's," repeated Marya
Dmitrievna.

"Very good. Is that what you want?" Lavretsky uttered with an effort.
"Certainly, I consent to that too."

Varvara Pavlovna darted a swift glance at him, but Marya Dmitrievna
cried: "There, God be thanked!" and again drew Varvara Pavlvona forward
by the arm. "Take her now from my arms--"

"Stop a minute, I tell you," Lavretsky interrupted her, "I agree to
live with you, Varvara Pavlovna," he continued, "that is to say, I will
conduct you to Lavriky, and I will live there with you, as long as I can
endure it, and then I will go away--and will come back again. You see,
I do not want to deceive you; but do not demand anything more. You
would laugh yourself if I were to carry out the desire of our respected
cousin, were to press you to my breast, and to fall to assuring you that
... that the past had not been; and the felled tree can bud again. But I
see, I must submit. You will not understand these words... but that's
no matter. I repeat, I will live with you... or no, I cannot promise
that... I will be reconciled with you, I will regard you as my wife
again."

"Give her, at least your hand on it," observed Marya Dmitrievna, whose
tears had long since dried up.

"I have never deceived Varvara Pavlovna hitherto," returned Lavretsky;
"she will believe me without that. I will take her to Lavriky; and
remember, Varvara Pavlovna, our treaty is to be reckoned as broken
directly you go away from Lavriky. And now allow me to take leave."

He bowed to both the ladies, and hurriedly went away.

"Are you not going to take her with you!" Marya Dmitrievna cried after
him.... "Leave him alone," Varvara Pavlovna whispered to her. And at
once she embraced her, and began thanking her, kissing her hands and
calling her saviour.

Marya Dmitrievna received her caresses indulgently; but at heart she was
discontented with Lavretsky, with Varvara Pavlovna, and with the whol