But she did not have
a chance to express her impressions in full. Soloviev was hurrying
to a business appointment. And immediately, coming to meet
Soloviev, having barely exchanged greetings with him in the
doorway, came Simanovsky. Liubka's face sadly lengthened and her
lips pouted. For this pedantic teacher and coarse male had become
very repugnant to her of late.
This time he began a lecture on the theme that for man there exist
no laws, no rights, no duties, no honour, no vileness; and that
man is a quantity self-sufficient, independent of anyone and
anything.
"It's possible to be a God, possible to be an intestinal worm, a
tape worm--it's all the same."
He already wanted to pass on to the theory of amatory emotions;
but, it is to be regretted, he hurried a trifle from impatience:
he embraced Liubka, drew her to him and began to squeeze her
roughly. "She'll become intoxicated from caressing. She'll give
in!" thought the calculating Simanovsky. He sought to touch her
mouth with his lips for a kiss, but she screamed and snorted spit
at him. All the assumed delicacy had left her.
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