Then, when I
was left alone with poor mother, all this seemed so wrong in spirit,
something not worth the price she is paying for it. But directly I heard
you were here in Geneva, Kirylo Sidorovitch, I felt that you were the
only person who could assist me...."
"In comforting a bereaved mother? Yes!" he broke in in a manner which
made her open her clear unsuspecting eyes. "But there is a question of
fitness. Has this occurred to you?"
There was a breathlessness in his utterance which contrasted with the
monstrous hint of mockery in his intention.
"Why!" whispered Natalia Haldin with feeling. "Who more fit than you?"
He had a convulsive movement of exasperation, but controlled himself.
"Indeed! Directly you heard that I was in Geneva, before even seeing me?
It is another proof of that confidence which...."
All at once his tone changed, became more incisive and more detached.
"Men are poor creatures, Natalia Victorovna. They have no intuition of
sentiment. In order to speak fittingly to a mother of her lost son one
must have had some experience of the filial relation. It is not the case
with me--if you must know the whole truth. Your hopes have to deal here
with 'a breast unwarmed by any affection,' as the poet says.... That
does not mean it is insensible," he added in a lower tone.
Pages:
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437