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No one ever claimed Roska, and as to Shurochka, she was even gladly given up to Marfa Timofeevna by her uncle, a drunken shoemaker, who never had enough to eat himself, and could still less provide food for his niece, whom he used to hit over the head with his last. As to Nastasia Carpovna, Marfa Timofeevna had made acquaintance with her on a pilgrimage, in a monastery.
"Don't try to deny it, please," continued Marfa Timofeevna. "Shurochka saw it all herself, and told me. I've had to forbid her chattering, but she never tells lies.". "I am not going to deny it, aunt," said Liza, in a scarcely audible voice. "Ah, ah! Then it is so, my mother. You made an appointment with him, that old sinner, that remarkably sweet creature!" "No." "How was it, then?"
He encountered no one in the vestibule; but suddenly the drawing-room door was flung open, and Shurochka, all rosy red, came running out of the room; and directly afterwards, with shrill cries, the whole of the youthful band rushed after her.
"Well, but about Liza?" asked Lavretsky. "Is he indifferent to her?" "She seems to like him and as to the rest, God knows. Another person's heart, you know, is a dark forest, and more especially a young girl's. Look at Shurochka there! Come and analyze her's. Why has she been hiding herself, but not going away, ever since you came in?"
We shall have done our game directly. Will you have some preserves? Shurochka, give him a pot of strawberries. You won't have any? Well, then, sit there as you are. But as to smoking, you mustn't. I cannot abide your strong tobacco; besides, it would make Matros sneeze." Lavretsky hastened to assure her that he had not the slightest desire to smoke.
"But I think " began Maria Dmitrievna, adding, however, "Well, just as you like." It was settled that Lenochka and Shurochka should go. Marfa Timofeevna refused to take part in the excursion. "It's a bore to me, my dear," she said, "to move my old bones; and there's nowhere, I suppose, in your house where I could pass the night; besides, I never can sleep in a strange bed.
Only Shurochka wouldn't let you, and the cat would scratch you. Is it to-day you go?" "Yes," said Lavretsky, sitting down on a low chair. "I have just taken leave of Maria Dmitrievna. I saw Lizaveta Mikhailovna too." "Call her Liza, my dear. Why should she be Mikhailovna for you? But do sit still, or you will break Shurochka's chair." "She was on her way to church," continued Lavretsky.
Shurochka was a fatherless and motherless girl, whose relations belonged to the lowest class of the bourgeoisie. Marfa Timofeevna had adopted her, as well as Roska, out of pity. She had found both the dog and the girl out in the streets. Both of them were thin and cold; the autumn rain had drenched them both.
By a fortunate chance he met Shurochka in the court-yard, and she brought him to Marfa Timofeevna. He found the old lady, contrary to her usual custom, alone. She was without her cap, and was sitting in a corner of the room in a slouching attitude, her arms folded across her breast.
At that moment Lavretsky became aware that Lenochka and Shurochka were standing by Liza's side, and were staring at him with intense astonishment. He dropped Liza's hands, saying hastily, "Forgive me," and walked away towards the house. "There is only one thing I have to ask you," he said, coming back to Liza.
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