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Tatiana Markovna spent the nights in the old house on the divan opposite Vera's bed and watched her sleep. But it nearly always happened that they were both observing one another, so that neither of them found refreshing sleep. On the morning after a sleepless night of this kind, Tatiana Markovna sent for Tiet Nikonich.
"Well, it's time I was going to work. Best regards, Anna Markovna. Best wishes, Isaiah Savvich." "Perhaps you'll have one more little glass for a stirrup cup?" the nearly blind Isaiah Savvich thrusts himself over the table. "Tha-ank you. I can't. Full to the gills. Honoured, I'm sure! ..." "Thanks for your company. Drop in some time." "Always glad to be your guest, sir. Au revoir!"
This woman, who stands regularly in the porch of the Church of the Ascension, has been saying that Tiet Nikonich loved Tatiana Markovna, and she him." "I know that," he interrupted impatiently. "That is no crime." "And she was sought in marriage by the late Count Sergei Ivanovich " "I have heard that, too.
"Shall we give him Marfinka, Marfa Egorovna?" "He hasn't deserved it, Tatiana Markovna. And it is really too early. Perhaps in two years' time...." He flew to his mother and shut her mouth with a kiss. Then he received from Tatiana Markovna the sign of the cross, and a kiss on the forehead. "Where is Marfa Vassilievna?" he shouted joyfully.
"And Vera loves you too?" asked Raisky, who wanted to know if Vera loved anybody else except the pope's wife. "Yes, she loves me," answered Tatiana Markovna with conviction, "but in her own fashion. She never shows it, and never will, though she loves me and would be ready to die for me." "And you love Vera?" "Ah, how I love her!" she sighed, and tears stood in her eyes.
If you are determined that Boris shall know, I will whisper a word about your past to him. Since I have seen your anguish, why should you suffer a longer martyrdom? I will not listen. It is not my place to sit in judgment on you. Let me hold your grey hairs sacred." Tatiana Markovna sighed, and embraced Vera. "As you will.
But she does not tell us what she reads, nor show us the book, nor even say where she got it." "She hides herself from everybody, does my strange child," sighed Tatiana Markovna. "God only knows what will become of her. Now, Marfinka, don't waste your brother's time any longer with your chatter about trifles. We will talk about serious matters, about the estate."
They say you find fault with everybody," he went on, heedless of Tatiana Markovna's efforts to interrupt. "My Grandmother tells me that you lectured one man for not having attended Mass." Tatiana Markovna went hot all over, and taking off her cap, put it down behind her. "I am glad she told you that. I like to have my doings correctly reported. Yes, I do lecture people sometimes.
"Why, Vera, I meant to give you pleasure." "No, you wanted to punish me for something. In future I would rather be put for a week on bread and water," and kneeling on the footstool at her aunt's feet she added, "Good-night, Grandmother." Tatiana Markovna stooped to kiss her and whispered. "I did not want to punish you, but to guard you against getting into trouble yourself."
I will read him a lesson." Mother and aunt had gone a long way into the future, and when they were about as far as the christening of the third child, Marfa Egorovna noticed in the garden among the bushes a head which was now hidden, then again cautiously raised to reconnoitre. She recognised her son, and pointed him out to Tatiana Markovna.