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Though she pleased me at that moment； I somehow felt a vague
desire to show her； by word or deed； some small unfriendliness。
〃I tell you what； Dimitri；〃 I said to my friend as I moved nearer
to Varenika； so that she might overhear what I was going to say；
〃it seems to me that； even if there had been no mosquitos here；
there would have been nothing to commend this spot； whereas 〃
and here I slapped my cheek； and in very truth annihilated one of
those insects〃it is simply awful。〃
〃Then you do not care for nature？〃 said Varenika without turning
her head。
〃I think it a foolish； futile pursuit；〃 I replied； well satisfied
that I had said something to annoy her； as well as something
original。 Varenika only raised her eyebrows a little； with an
expression of pity； and went on gazing in front of her as calmly
as before。
I felt vexed with her。 Yet； for all that； the rusty； paint…
blistered parapet on which she was leaning； the way in which the
dark waters of the pond reflected the drooping branch of the
overhanging birch tree （it almost seemed to me as though branch
and its reflection met）； the rising odour of the swamp； the
feeling of crushed mosquito on my cheek； and her absorbed look
and statuesque posemany times afterwards did these things
recur with unexpected vividness to my recollection。
XXVII
DIMITRI
WHEN we returned to the house from our stroll； Varenika declined
to sing as she usually did in the evenings； and I was conceited
enough to attribute this to my doing； in the belief that its
reason lay in what I had said on the bridge。 The Nechludoffs
never had supper； and went to bed early； while to…night； since
Dimitri had the toothache （as Sophia Ivanovna had foretold）； he
departed with me to his room even earlier than usual。 Feeling
that I had done all that was required of me by my blue collar and
gilt buttons； and that every one was very pleased with me； I was
in a gratified； complacent mood； while Dimitri； on the other
hand； was rendered by his quarrel with his sister and the
toothache both taciturn and gloomy。 He sat down at the table； got
out a couple of notebooksa diary and the copy…book in which it
was his custom every evening to inscribe the tasks performed by
or awaiting himand； continually frowning and touching his cheek
with his hand； continued writing for a while。
〃Oh； DO leave me alone！〃 he cried to the maid whom Sophia
Ivanovna sent to ask him whether his teeth were still hurting
him； and whether he would not like to have a poultice made。 Then；
saying that my bed would soon be ready for me and that he would
be back presently； he departed to Lubov Sergievna's room。
〃What a pity that Varenika is not good…looking and； in general；
Sonetchka！〃 I reflected when I found myself alone。 〃How nice it
would be if； after I have left the University； I could go to her
and offer her my hand！ I would say to her； 'Princess； though no
longer young； and therefore unable to love passionately； I will
cherish you as a dear sister。 And you；' I would continue to her
mother； 'I greatly respect； and you； Sophia Ivanovna； I value
highly。 Therefore say to me； Varenika （since I ask you to be my
wife）； just the simple and direct word YES。' And she would give
me her hand； and I should press it； and say； 'Mine is a love
which depends not upon words； but upon deeds。' And suppose；〃 next
came into my head； 〃that Dimitri should suddenly fall in love
with Lubotshka （as Lubotshka has already done with him）； and
should desire to marry her？ Then either one or the other of us
would have to resign all thought of marriage。 Well； it would be
splendid； for in that case I should act thus。 As soon as I had
noticed how things were； I should make no remark； but go to
Dimitri and say； 'It is no use； my friend； for you and I to
conceal our feelings from one another。 You know that my love for
your sister will terminate only with my life。 Yet I know all； and
though you have deprived me of all hope； and have rendered me an
unhappy man； so that Nicolas Irtenieff will have to bewail his
misery for the rest of his existence； yet do you take my sister；'
and I should lay his hand in Lubotshka's。 Then he would say to
me； 'No； not for all the world！' and I should reply； 'Prince
Nechludoff； it is in vain for you to attempt to outdo me in
nobility。 Not in the whole world does there exist a more
magnanimous being than Nicolas Irtenieff。' Then I should salute
him and depart。 In tears Dimitri and Lubotshka would pursue me；
and entreat me to accept their sacrifice； and I should consent to
do so； and； perhaps； be happy ever afterwardsif only I were in
love with Varenika。〃 These fancies tickled my imagination so
pleasantly that I felt as though I should like to communicate
them to my friend； yet； despite our mutual vow of frankness； I
also felt as though I had not the physical energy to do so。
Dimitri returned from Lubov Sergievna's room with some toothache
capsules which she had given him； yet in even greater pain； and
therefore in even greater depression； than before。 Evidently no
bedroom had yet been prepared for me； for presently the boy who
acted as Dimitri's valet arrived to ask him where I was to sleep。
〃Oh； go to the devil！〃 cried Dimitri； stamping his foot。 〃Vasika；
Vasika； Vasika！〃 he went on； the instant that the boy had left
the room； with a gradual raising of his voice at each repetition。
〃 Vasika； lay me out a bed on the floor。〃
〃No； let ME sleep on the floor；〃 I objected。
〃Well； it is all one。 Lie anywhere you like；〃 continued Dimitri
in the same angry tone。 〃Vasika； why don't you go and do what I
tell you？ 〃
Evidently Vasika did not understand what was demanded of him； for
he remained where he was。
〃What is the matter with you？ Go and lay the bed； Vasika； I tell
you！〃 shouted Dimitri； suddenly bursting into a sort of frenzy；
yet Vasika still did not understand； but； blushing hotly； stood
motionless。
〃So you are determined to drive me mad； are you？〃and leaping
from his chair and rushing upon the boy； Dimitri struck him on
the head with the whole weight of his fist； until the boy rushed
headlong from the room。 Halting in the doorway； Dimitri glanced
at me； and the expression of fury and pain which had sat for a
moment on his countenance suddenly gave place to such a boyish；
kindly； affectionate； yet ashamed； expression that I felt sorry
for him； and reconsidered my intention of leaving him to himself。
He said nothing； but for a long time paced the room in silence；
occasionally glancing at me with the same deprecatory expression
as before。 Then he took his notebook from the table； wrote
something in it； took off his jacket and folded it carefully；
and； stepping into the corner where the ikon hung； knelt down and
began to say his prayers； with his large white hands folded upon
his breast。 So long did he pray that Vasika had time to bring a
mattress and spread it； under my wh