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"No," answered the child, "it is the cat's fault. Afimua says it will die." "I shall look after it myself. Afimua has no pity." Motionless, Raisky watched the scene without his presence being suspected. This must be his cousin, and how charming! But which one, Veroshka or Marfinka? Without waiting for the kibitka to turn in through the gate, he ran forward, and stood before the young girl.
When she saw her sister she stood still in amazement. "What is the matter with you, Veroshka? Aren't you well?" "Not quite. I offer you my congratulations." The sisters kissed one another. "How lovely you are, and how beautifully dressed!" said Vera, making a faint attempt to smile. Her lips framed one, but her eyes were like the eyes of a corpse that no one has remembered to close.
The catastrophe of the tale approached at last, and when the last word was read and the book shut there was silence. "What stupid nonsense," said Raisky at length, and Marfinka wiped away a tear. "What do you think, Veroshka?" asked Tatiana Markovna. Vera made no reply, but Marfinka decided it was a horrid book because the lovers had suffered so cruelly.
"If they had followed the advice of their parents, things would not have come to such a pass. What do you think, Veroshka?" Vera got up to go, but on the threshold she stopped. "Grandmother," she said, "why have you bothered me for a whole week with this stupid book?" And without waiting for an answer she glided away, but Tatiana Markovna called her back.
"What do you say, Veroshka? open your heart to me. Perhaps I can comprehend, and if you have grief, help to assuage it." "If trouble overtakes me, Grandmother, and I cannot conquer it myself, I will come to you and to none other, God only excepted. But do not make me suffer any more, or allow yourself to suffer." "Will it not be too late when trouble has once overtaken you?" whispered her aunt.
"Granny! Where? Why?" she asked her aunt in her caressing, coaxing way. "Don't tease me," said Tatiana Markovna. "Marfinka, you don't want to leave home?" asked Boris. "Not for anything in the world. How could such a thing be?" "What would Veroshka say about it?" "She would never be separated from the old house." "She loves the old house?" "Yes. She is only happy when she is here.
"God grant that you may follow her example," said Tatiana Markovna. "If you love me as I love you, Grandmother, you will bestow all your care and thought on Marfinka. Take no thought for me." "My heart aches for you, Veroshka." "I know, and that grieves me. Grandmother," she said with a despairing note, "it is killing me to think that your heart aches on my account."
She always wished to go through the accounts with him. "The accounts for Veroshka and Marfinka are separate, you see," she said. "You need not think that a penny of your money goes to them. See...." But he never listened.
"What will Grandmother say? If she does not forgive me I shall die of shame," she said, and she hurried into the house. "Heavens, what will Grandmother say?" she wondered, shutting herself up in her room, and shaking with fever. How should she tell her grandmother, and should she tell Veroshka first.
Veroshka said nothing, but when Boris reached the old house, she was already standing at the door, with her hand on the latch, as if she feared she might be driven away. Boris shuddered as he entered the ante-room, and cast an anxious glance into the neighbouring hall, supported by pillars. Veroshka had run on in front. "Where are you off to, Veroshka?"
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