evna; "you may tell that to others but
not to me. Nothing, who was on her knees just to this minute? and
whose eyelashes are still wet with tears? Nothing, indeed! why, look
at yourself, what have you done with your face, what has become of your
eyes?--Nothing! do you suppose I don't know all?"

"It will pass off, auntie; give me time."

"It will pass of, but when? Good God! Merciful Saviour! can you have
loved him like this? why, he's an old man, Lisa, darling. There, I don't
dispute he's a good fellow, no harm in him; but what of that? we are all
good people, the world is not so small, there will be always plenty of
that commodity."

"I tell you, it will all pass away, it has all passed away already."

"Listen, Lisa, darling, what I am going to say to you," Marfa Timofyevna
said suddenly, making Lisa sit beside her, and straightening her hair
and her neckerchief. "It seems to you now in the mist of the worst of it
that nothing can ever heal your sorrow. Ah, my darling, the only thing
that can't be cured is death. You only say to yourself now: 'I won't
give in to it--so there!' and you will be surprised yourself how soon,
how easily it will pass of. Only have patience."

"Auntie," returned Lisa, "it has passed off already, it is all over."

"Passed! how has it passed? Why, your poor little nose has grown sharp
already and you say it is over. A fine way of getting over it!"

"Yes, it is over, auntie, if you will only try to help me," Lisa
declared with sudden animation, and she flung herself on Marfa
Timofyevna's neck. "Dar auntie, be a friend to me, help me, don't be
angry, understand me"...

"Why, what is it, what is it, my good girl? Don't terrify me, please; I
shall scream directly; don't look at me like that; tell me quickly, what
is it?"

"I--I want," Lisa hid her face on Marfa Timofyevna's bosom, "I want to
go into a convent," she articulated faintly.

The old lady almost bounded off the bed.

"Cross yourself, my girl, Lisa, dear, think what you are saying; what
are you thinking of? God have mercy on you!" she stammered at last. "Lie
down, my darling, sleep a little, all this comes from sleeplessness, my
dearie."

Lisa raised her head, her cheeks were glowing.

"No, auntie," she said, "don't speak like that; I have made up my mind,
I prayed, I asked counsel of God; all is at an end, my life with you is
at an end. Such a lesson was not for nothing; and it is not the first
time that I have thought o