“Good,” replied Ivan Petrovitch; “I see that you are an obedient son; that is very consoling to me.... On my side, I do not wish to compel you; I do not want to force you to enter ... at once ... into the civil service, but, in the meanwhile, I intend you to get married.”
“To whom, father?” asked Alexei in astonishment.
“To Lizaveta Gregorievna Mouromsky,” replied Ivan Petrovitch. “She is a charming bride, is she not?”
“Father, I have not thought of marriage yet.”
“You have not thought of it, and therefore I have thought of it for you.”
“As you please, but I do not care for Liza Mouromsky in the least.”
“You will get to like her afterwards. Love comes with time.”
“I do not feel capable of making her happy.”
“Do not distress yourself about making her happy. What? Is this how you respect your father’s wish? Very well!”
“As you please. I do not wish to marry, and I will not marry.”