the sake of gain."

And she was indeed disinterested. In Perm Foma purchased for her
different new things and what-not. She was delighted, but later, having
examined them, she said sadly:

"Don't squander your money too freely. See that your father does not get
angry. I love you anyway, without all this."

She had already told him that she would go with him only as far as
Kazan, where she had a married sister. Foma could not believe that she
would leave him, and when, on the eve of their arrival at Kazan, she
repeated her words, he became gloomy and began to implore her not to
forsake him.

"Do not feel sorry in advance," she said. "We have a whole night before
us. You will have time to feel sorry when I bid you good-bye, if you
will feel sorry at all."

But he still tried to persuade her not to forsake him, and,
finally--which was to be expected--announced his desire to marry her.

"So, so!" and she began to laugh. "Shall I marry you while my husband
is still alive? My darling, my queer fellow! You have a desire to marry,
eh? But do they marry such women as I am? You will have many, many
mistresses. Marry then, when you have overflowed, when you have had your
fill of all sweets and feel like having rye bread. Then you may marry!
I have noticed that a healthy man, for his own peace, must not marry
early. One woman will not be enough to satisfy him, and he'll go to
other women. And for your own happiness, you should take a wife only
when you know that she alone will suffice for you."

But the more she spoke, the more persistent Foma became in his desire
not to part with her.

"Just listen to what I'll tell you," said the woman, calmly. "A splinter
of wood is burning in your hand, and you can see well even without its
light--you had better dip it into water, so that there will be no smell
of smoke and your hand will not be burned."

"I do not understand your words."

"Do understand. You have done me no wrong, and I do not wish to do you
any. And, therefore, I am going away."

It is hard to say what might have been the result of this dispute if an
accident had not interfered with it. In Kazan Foma received a telegram
from Mayakin, who wrote to his godson briefly: "Come immediately on the
passenger steamer." Foma's heart contracted nervously, and a few hours
later, gloomy and pale, his teeth set together, he stood on the deck
of the steamer, which was leaving the harbour, and clinging to the rail
with his han