he
sat down, laid one hand modestly on the other, and began to watch him
with her still beautiful, although slightly painted eyes.

For a long time Lavretzky did not speak: he felt that he could not
control himself; he perceived clearly, that Varvara Pavlovna was not in
the least afraid of him, but was assuming the air of being on the very
verge of falling into a swoon.

"Listen, madam,"--he began, at last, breathing heavily at times, grinding
his teeth:--"there is no necessity for our dissembling with each other; I
do not believe in your repentance; and even if it were genuine, it is
impossible for me to become reconciled to you, to live with you again."

Varvara Pavlovna compressed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "This is
disgust,"--she thought:--"of course! I am no longer even a woman to him."

"It is impossible,"--repeated Lavretzky, and buttoned up his coat to the
throat.--"I do not know why you have taken it into your head to come
hither: probably, you have no money left."

"Alas! you are insulting me,"--whispered Varvara Pavlovna.

"However that may be,--you are, unhappily, my wife, nevertheless. I
cannot turn you out ... and this is what I have to propose to you. You
may set out, this very day, if you like, for Lavriki, and live there;
the house is good, as you know; you will receive all that is necessary,
in addition to your allowance.... Do you agree?"

Varvara Pavlovna raised her embroidered handkerchief to her eyes.

"I have already told you,"--she said, her lips twitching nervously:--"that
I shall agree to anything whatever you may see fit to do with me: on this
occasion, nothing is left for me to do, except to ask you: will you permit
me, at least, to thank you for your magnanimity?"

"No gratitude, I beg of you; it is better so,"--hastily returned
Lavretzky.--"Accordingly,"--he went on, approaching the door:--"I may
count upon...."

"To-morrow I shall be at Lavriki,"--said Varvara Pavlovna, respectfully
rising from her seat.--"But, Feodor Ivanitch" (she no longer called him
Theodore)....

"What do you want?"

"I know that I have, as yet, in no way earned my forgiveness; may I hope,
at least, in time...."

"Ekh, Varvara Pavlovna,"--Lavretzky interrupted her:--"you are a
clever woman, and as I am not a fool, I know that that is quite
unnecessary for you. And I forgave you long ago; but there was always a
gulf between us."

"I shall know how to submit,"--replied Varvara Pavlovna, and bowed h