.. don't be afraid to tell the truth, no matter
what it may be ... They told me just now, there in the house, that
you're sick with a certain disease ... you know, that which is
called the evil sickness. If you believe in me even to some
extent, tell me, my darling, tell me, is that so or not?"
She turned red, covered her face with her hands, fell down on the
divan and burst into tears.
"My dearie! Vassil Vassilich! Vasinka! Honest to God! Honest to
God, now, there never was anything of the kind! I always was so
careful! I was awfully afraid of this. I love you so! I would have
told you without fail." She caught his hands, pressed them to her
wet face and continued to assure him with the absurd and touching
sincerity of an unjustly accused child.
And he at once believed her in his soul.
"I believe you, my child," he said quietly, stroking her hair.
"Don't excite yourself, don't cry. Only let us not again give in
to our weakness. Well, it has happened--let it have happened; but
let us not repeat it any more.'
"As you wish," prattled the girl, kissing now his hands, now the
cloth of his coat.
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