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I am truly thankful. At dawn to-morrow we must get out the drosky. We will go to the Ratchinsky wood and have a look. We can get through all right by the upper road." From the right of the steps, his daughter Aganka skipped gaily on to the terrace and began beating the dust out of a sheep-skin coat with thin brown sticks.
It was cold and she commenced to dance for warmth, singing in a shrill voice: "The nightingale sings In the branches above The nightingale brings No rest to his love!" Ignat gave her an indulgent look; nevertheless he said sternly: "Come, come! That is sin ... it is Lent and you singing!" Aganka merely laughed.
His own weary eyes involuntarily saddened for a moment; then he said cheerily, in a louder tone than necessary: "Well, isn't that the right attitude? Isn't it the best way? Love while you can, Aganka, have a happy time." "Oh, yes, let her have a happy time by all means ... it is young blood's privilege." replied Ignat. The bells again rang out for the Gospel. The sky grew darker and darker.
Lydia walked with her usual brisk, even tread, carrying herself with the smooth, elastic bearing and graceful swing of her beautiful body that Ivanov remembered so well. She raised the piano-cover and began playing a dashing bravura that was strikingly out of place in the dismantled room, then she closed the piano-lid with a slam. Aganka entered with the tea on a tray.
Aganka turned round sharply, tossing her head. "Well, I am not a dead creature!" "You are not, my girl; indeed you are not only hold your tongue!" Ivanov glanced at her. She was like a little wild fawn with her fresh young body and sparkling eyes, always so ready to bewitch.
On entering the main avenue of the park, Ivanov noticed the glow of a cigarette suddenly disappearing down a side-walk; afterwards he encountered Aganka at a gate. "You!" he exclaimed. "On the run as usual? So you have made friends with a smoker this time?"
The clock struck eleven, then half-past, someone passed along the corridor, Aganka cleared up in the dining-room, Mintz walked to and fro in the drawing-room, then all became quiet. Lydia Constantinovna went to the window and gazed out for a long time. Then, quietly, she left her bedroom and crept down to Ivanov's study.
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