' Eh ? ' ejaculated one of the boatmen.
' Alone in the garden with him,* muttered Alexandr— ' just as with me.'
The Count and Nadinka walked up to the trellis, and not looking at the river, turned round and walked slowly back to the avenue. He was bending over her, saying something in a low voice. She hung her head as she walked.
Adouev remained in the boat, open-mouthed, motionless, stretching out his hands to the shore, then he let them drop and sank into his seat. The boatmen went on rowing.
' Where are you going? ' Adouev screamed furiously at them, when he had recovered a little. ' Back again.'
' Go back ? ' repeated one of them, gazing at him open-mouthed.
' Yes, back; are you deaf? '
' But don't you want to go this way ? '
The other boatman began at once without speaking to row with his left oar alone, then pulled vigorously with both, and the boat was quickly darting along homewards. Alexandr pulled his hat down almost on to his shoulders and sank into gloomy meditation.
After this he did not go to the Lubetzky's for a fortnight.
A whole fortnight: what an age for a lover! But he kept expecting that they would send a servant to inquire what was the matter with him, whether he was ill, as this had always been done when he had been unwell, or perhaps had affected to be so. Nadinka at first would make such inquiries in her mother's name for form's sake, but afterwards, what did she not write on her own account ? Such tender reproaches, such fond anxiety! such impatience!
'No, now I will not make it up at once,' thought Alexandr: •' I will punish her. I will teach her how she
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108 A COMMON STORY
ought to behave with strange men; the reconciliation shall not come too easily ! '
And he pondered harsh plans of revenge, dreamed of repentance, of how he would magnanimously pardon and lay down principles for the future. But till no servant was sent to him, no confession was brought; it seemed as though he no longer existed for the Lubetzkys.
He grew thin and white. Jealousy is more agonising than any disfinyy, espULlilliy^ealousy on suspicion without proof. When the proof is plain, then jealousy is at an end, and, for the most part, love itself as well; then at least one knows what to do, but until then it is torture ! And Alexandr experienced it to the full.
At last he resolved to go in the morning, thinking he would find Nadinka alone and have an explanation with her.
He arrived. There was no one in the garden, no one in the drawing-room and the parlour. He went into the hall, opened the door into the court-yard.
What a spectacle met him there! Two grooms, in the Count's livery, were holding saddle-horses. On to one of them the Count and a servant were mounting Nadinka ; the other stood ready for the Count himself. On the steps was standing Maria Mihalovna. She was looking on at this scene with a frown of anxiety.
'Sit firmer, Nadinka,' she said, 'For Heaven's sake, Count, look at her ! Ah ! I'm frightened, hold on to the horse's ear, Nadinka; you see what a wicked thing she is to coax me into it.'
' Nonsense, maman? said Nadinka, gaily; ' of course I can ride now—look.'
She switched the horse, which sprang forward and plunged and reared.
' Ah, ah ! keep still !' shrieked Maria Mihalovna, waving her hand; ' leave off, it'll be the death of you! '
But Nadinka pulled the curb and the horse stood still.
' You see how she obeys me ! ' said Nadinka, stroking the horse's neck.
No one noticed Adouev. With a white face he looked at Nadinka without speaking, and as though in mockery of him, she had never looked so handsome as that moment. How well the hat with its green veil and the riding habit
became her I how well it defined her figure! Her face was animated by a shy pride and the delicious feeling of a new sensation. The colour came and went on her cheeks from delight. The horse plunged slightly and made the slender rider bow gracefully backwards and forwards. Her figure was shaken on the saddle like the stem of a flower quivering in the wind. Next the groom brought a horse up to the Count.
' Count! shall we go to the copse again ?' asked Nadinka.
' Again !' thought Adouev. ' Very well,' answered the Count. The horses were just starting.
' Nadyezhda Alexandrovna! ' cried Adouev, suddenly, in a strange voice.
All stood still, rooted to the ground, as though they had been changed to stone and looked in perplexity at Alexandr. This lasted for a minute.
' Ah! its Alexandr Fedoritch !' said the mother, the first to recover herself. The Count bowed affably. Nadinka quickly drew her veil back from her face, turned round and looked at him with dismay, her lips parted, then she swiftly turned her back, switched her horse, who dashed forward, and in two bounds had disappeared through the gates; the Count followed her.
' Gently, gently, for Heaven's sake, gently !' screamed the mother after them—' hold on ! Ah ! Lord have mercy on us ! she'll be off to a certainty; what a frightful thing it is!'
And all was gone; only the sound of the horses' hoofs could be heard, and the dust^was thrown up in a cloud from the road. Alexandr remained with Madame Lubetzky. He looked at her without speaking, as though asking her with his eyes, ' What does this mean ? ' She did not keep him long waiting for an answer.
' They have gone,' she said, ' out of sight now! Well, let the young people amuse themselves, and I will have a little chat with you, Alexandr Fedoritch. But why has there been no sight nor sound of you this fortnight past; have you grown tired of us ? '
tl I have been ill, Maria Mihalovna,' he replied, sullenly. ' Yes, one can see you have; you're so thin and pale 1
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Sit down directly, rest a little; but won't you let me tell them to cook some eggs, soft-boiled, for you ? it's a long time still till dinner.'
' Thanks, I don't want anything.'
' Why not ? they'll be ready in a minute; and they are capital eggs; the Finnish woman only brought them today.'
' Oh, no, thank you.'
' What's the matter with you ? I kept expecting and expecting you; what does it mean ? I thought; he doesn't come himself, nor send any French books? Do you remember, you promised me something: * Peau de Chagrin, 7 wasn't it ? I expect it and expect it. No ! is Alexandr Fedoritch tired of us, I thought; upon my word, he's tired of us.'
' I'm afraid, Maria Mihalovna, haven't you grown tired ofme?'
'It's too bad of you to be afraid of that, Alexandr Fedoritch! I love you as though you were one of the family. I can't tell of course about Nadinka, for she's still a child; what does she know ? how can she value people properly ! Every day I kept repeating to her : ' Why is it, I wonder, Alexandr Fedoritch doesn't call, why doesn't he come ?' and I was always expecting you. Would you believe that I would not sit down to dinner every day till five o'clock. I kept thinking he's sure to come in. And Nadinka said sometimes: * What is it, maman ? whom are you waiting for ? I'm hungry, and so is the Count, I think.''
'And the Count—has he been here often?' asked Alexandr.
' Yes, nearly every day, and sometimes twice in the same day; he is so kind, he has taken such a fancy to us. . . . 'Well,' said Nadinka, 'I want my dinner, and that's all about it! it's time to begin.' 'But since Alexandr Fedoritch,' said I, ' will be coming ?''
'' He won't come,' she said, ' would you like me to bet you a wager he won't? it's useless to wait.' Madame Lubetzky stabbed Alexandr with these words as with a knife.
' She—she said so ? ' he asked, trying to smile.
'Yes, that's just how she talked and hurried us. You know lam severe, though I do look good-tempered. I scolded
her: one time you're for waiting till five o'clock for him, and won't eat any dinner, and then you don't want to
