"My dear, my darling sister," he said touchingly and falsely;
"that which has happened to-day must never more be repeated. In
everything only I alone am guilty, and, if you desire, I am ready
to beg forgiveness of you on my knees. Understand--oh, understand,
that all this came about against my will, somehow elementally,
suddenly, unexpectedly. And I myself didn't think that it would be
like that! You understand, for a very long time ... I have not
known woman intimately ... A repulsive, unbridled beast awoke
within me ... and ... But, Lord, is my fault so great, then? Holy
people, anchorites, recluses, ascetics, stylites, hermits in
deserts, are no match for me in fortitude of spirit--yet even they
fell in the struggle with the temptation of the diabolical flesh.
But then, I swear by whatever you wish, that this won't be
repeated any more ... Isn't that so?"
Liubka was stubbornly trying to pull his hand away from hers. Her
lips had become a little stuck out and the lowered lids began to
wink frequently.
"Ye-es," she drawled, like a child that stubbornly refuses to
"make up.
Pages:
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347