Some distance away, listening to them with tranquil contentment on their peaceful faces, sat their parents—the father, a stern, stately old man with kindly eyes; the mother, gentle and serene, wearing the white lace cap of renunciation on her smooth gray hair. As I passed them with faltering step the mother turned and looked at me. What did she read in my face that wakened such a look of tenderness and pity in hers?... She smiled at me, and that smile seemed to stop my heart, so guileless was it, so maternal and so kind.
For an instant a wild thought possessed me: to stop, to fall upon my knees before this gentle, unknown woman and implore her help.
What if I cried out to her: “Help me, have pity upon me! I am an unhappy creature whom the Fates pursue.... I am distraught, I am demented—to-morrow I shall have murder on my soul. Keep me near you ... save me! Unless you help me I am lost....”
But the Furies that pursued me laughed aloud and lashed me forward.
And now Nicolas Naumoff, who had noticed my flight, came running down the staircase to follow me....
I crossed the hall rapidly and went out into the dusk.
All in this merry morn of Spring, Come out and dance with me.
[[Listen]]