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Kister's loving heart had attached itself to Avdey for the very reason that all the rest avoided him. But the good-hearted youth did not know himself how great his good-heartedness was. 'My duty, he went on, 'is to warn Marya Sergievna. But how? What right have I to interfere in other people's affairs, in other people's love? How do I know the nature of that love?
'The master has told me to get you some vodka, and to have a drink with you, said Kister's servant to Artiomka the postillion. Masha came with such a bright and grateful face to meet Kister, when he came into the drawing-room, she pressed his hand so warmly and affectionately, that his heart throbbed with delight, and a weight seemed rolled from his mind.
Has he so long ceased to be my friend?... But, after all, was he ever my friend? What a disenchantment! What a lesson! All the past turned round and round before Kister's eyes. 'Yes, I did like him, he whispered at last. 'Why has my liking cooled so suddenly?... And do I dislike him? No, why did I ever like him? I alone?
Avdey Ivanovitch would come sometimes to Kister, light a pipe and quietly sit down in an arm-chair. Lutchkov was not in Kister's company abashed by his own ignorance; he relied and with good reason on his German modesty. 'Well, he would begin, 'what did you do yesterday? Been reading, I'll bet, eh? 'Yes, I read.... 'Well, and what did you read?
She could not yet be sure herself what the feeling exactly was that Lutchkov excited in her, but everything she did not like in him she set down to the influence of misfortune, of loneliness. The friends began to pay frequent visits to the Perekatovs'. Kister's position became more and more painful. He did not regret his action... no, but he desired at least to cut short the time of his trial.
'The devil's made friends with the baby, they said.... Kister was warm in his praises of his friend on all hands; no one disputed his opinion, because they were afraid of Lutchkov; Lutchkov himself never mentioned Kister's name before the others, but he dropped his intimacy with the perfumed adjutant.
His servant handed him a note. 'From whom? 'From the Perekatovs. Artiomka the postillion brought it. Kister's hands began to tremble. 'He had orders to give you their greetings. He had orders to wait for your answer. Am I to give Artiomka some vodka? Kister slowly unfolded the note, and read as follows: 'DEAR GOOD FYODOR FEDORITCH, I want very, very much to see you. Come to-day, if you can.
His devotion to Masha increased daily; she too felt warmly towards him; but to be nothing more than a go-between, a confidant, a friend even it's a dreary, thankless business! Coldly idealistic people talk a great deal about the sacredness of suffering, the bliss of suffering... but to Kister's warm and simple heart his sufferings were not a source of any bliss whatever.
Lutchkov mentioned the cause of Kister's absence; the parents expressed their regret, but Masha looked incredulously at Avdey, and felt faint with expectation.
Masha did not, however, say a single word, and she promptly left the room. Sergei Sergeitch was sitting on the sofa, playing patience. Conversation sprang up. Sergei Sergeitch had not yet succeeded with his usual skill in bringing the conversation round from all extraneous topics to his dog, when Masha reappeared, wearing a plaid silk sash, Kister's favourite sash.
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