The
passive, almost imperceptible, but firmly evasive resistance of
Liubka irritated and excited him. What particularly incensed him
was the fact that she, who had formerly been so accessible to all,
ready to yield her love in one day to several people in
succession, to each one for two roubles, was now all of a sudden
playing at some pure and disinterested inamoration!
"Nonsense," he thought. "This can't be. She's making believe, and,
probably, I don't strike the right tone with her."
And with every day he became more exacting, captious, and stern.
Hardly consciously, more probably through habit, he relied on his
usual influence, intimidating the thought and subduing the will,
which rarely betrayed him.
Once Liubka complained about him to Lichonin:
"He's too strict with me, now, Vassil Vassilievich; and I don't
understand anything he says, and I don't want to take lessons with
him any more."
Somehow or other, Lichonin lamely quieted her down; but still he
had an explanation with Simanovsky. The other answered him with
sang froid:
"Just as you wish, my dear fellow; if my method displeases you or
Liubka, then I'm even ready to resign.
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