But the most horrible of all is that all
this has come to be a habit with them; it's all one to her, and
it's all one to him. The feelings have dulled, the soul has
dimmed. That's so, isn't it? And yet, in every one of them
perishes both a splendid sister and a sainted mother. Eh? Isn't
that the truth?"
"N-na? ...." mumbled Nijeradze and again shifted his eyes to one
side.
"And so I thought: wherefore words and superfluous exclamations!
To the devil with hypocritical speeches during conventions. To the
devil with abolition, regulation (suddenly, involuntarily, the
recent words of the reporter came to his mind), Magdalene asylums
and all these distributions of holy books in the establishments!
Here, I'll up and act as a really honest man, snatch a girl out of
this slough, implant her in real firm soil, calm her, encourage
her, treat her kindly."
"H-hm!" grunted Nijeradze with a grin.
"Eh, prince! You always have salacious things on your mind. For
you understand that I'm not talking about a woman, but about a
human being; not about flesh, but about a soul.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318