y yesterday
imagined he loved Katerina Sergyevna as a brother. What are you
intending to do now?'

'What do you advise me?' asked Anna Sergyevna, still laughing.

'Well, I suppose,' answered Bazarov, also with a laugh, though he felt
anything but cheerful, and had no more inclination to laugh than she
had; 'I suppose you ought to give the young people your blessing. It's
a good match in every respect; Kirsanov's position is passable, he's
the only son, and his father's a good-natured fellow, he won't try to
thwart him.'

Madame Odintsov walked up and down the room. By turns her face flushed
and grew pale. 'You think so,' she said. 'Well, I see no obstacles ...
I am glad for Katya ... and for Arkady Nikolaevitch too. Of course, I
will wait for his father's answer. I will send him in person to him.
But it turns out, you see, that I was right yesterday when I told you
we were both old people.... How was it I saw nothing? That's what
amazes me!' Anna Sergyevna laughed again, and quickly turned her head
away.

'The younger generation have grown awfully sly,' remarked Bazarov, and
he too laughed. 'Good-bye,' he began again after a short silence. 'I
hope you will bring the matter to the most satisfactory conclusion; and
I will rejoice from a distance.'

Madame Odintsov turned quickly to him. 'You are not going away? Why
should you not stay _now_? Stay ... it's exciting talking to you ...
one seems walking on the edge of a precipice. At first one feels timid,
but one gains courage as one goes on. Do stay.'

'Thanks for the suggestion, Anna Sergyevna, and for your flattering
opinion of my conversational talents. But I think I have already been
moving too long in a sphere which is not my own. Flying fishes can hold
out for a time in the air; but soon they must splash back into the
water; allow me, too, to paddle in my own element.'

Madame Odintsov looked at Bazarov. His pale face was twitching with a
bitter smile. 'This man did love me!' she thought, and she felt pity
for him, and held out her hand to him with sympathy.

But he too understood her. 'No!' he said, stepping back a pace. 'I'm a
poor man, but I've never taken charity so far. Good-bye, and good luck
to you.'

'I am certain we are not seeing each other for the last time,' Anna
Sergyevna declared with an unconscious gesture.

'Anything may happen!' answered Bazarov, and he bowed and went away.

'So you are thinking of making yourself a nest?' he said the s