thee
astray. Why, she began by living her life, living a gay life; do thou
live thy life also. Let me, at least, die in peace, and then do what thou
wilt. And who ever heard of any one going into a convent, all on account
of such a goat's beard--the Lord forgive me!--on account of a man? Come,
if thy heart is so heavy, go away on a journey, pray to a saint, have a
prayer-service said, but don't put the black cowl on thy head, my dear
little father, my dear little mother...."

And Marfa Timofeevna began to weep bitterly.

Liza comforted her, wiped away her tears, but remained inflexible. In her
despair, Marfa Timofeevna tried to resort to threats: she would tell
Liza's mother everything; but even that was of no avail. Only as a
concession to the old woman's urgent entreaties, did Liza consent to
defer the fulfilment of her intention for six months; in return, Marfa
Timofeevna was compelled to give her her word that she would help her,
and obtain the permission of Marya Dmitrievna if, at the end of six
months, she had not changed her mind.

* * * * *

With the advent of the first cold weather, Varvara Pavlovna, despite
her promise to shut herself up in the depths of the country, after
providing herself with money, removed to Petersburg, where she hired a
modest but pretty apartment, which had been found for her by Panshin,
who had quitted the Government of O * * * before her. During the
latter part of his sojourn in O * * * he had completely fallen out of
favour with Marya Dmitrievna; he had suddenly ceased to call upon her
and hardly ever quitted Lavriki. Varvara Pavlovna had enslaved him,
precisely that,--enslaved him; no other word will express her unlimited,
irrevocable, irresponsible power over him.

Lavretzky passed the winter in Moscow, but in the spring of the
following year the news reached him that Liza had entered the B * * *
convent, in one of the most remote corners of Russia.

EPILOGUE

Eight years have passed. Spring has come again.... But first, let us say a
few words about the fate of Mikhalevitch, Panshin, Mme. Lavretzky--and
take our leave of them. Mikhalevitch, after long peregrinations, has
finally hit upon his real vocation: he has obtained the post of head
inspector in a government institution. He is very well satisfied with his
lot, and his pupils "adore" him, although they mimic him. Panshin has
advanced greatly in rank, and already has a direct