She continued to look at him with the same silent, mysterious smile.
She made an effort to raise herself, he helped her and felt that she had put her arms round his neck, and was pressing her cheek close to his with a child-like fondness quite new to him.
“You got frightened, thought you had finished me, eh? Nonsense! it is not quite so easy to kill a woman. We are like cats, with nine lives. A lover’s blow does no harm.”
“Forgive me, forgive me, Afrossinia!”
She looked into his eyes, smiled, and fondled his hair with the tenderness of a mother.
“Ah, my boy, my foolish little boy! Now I come to look at you, you are quite a little boy. You know and understand none of us women. Ah, you foolish boy, you really thought that I did not love you. Come, let me whisper a word into your ear.”
She brought her lips close to his ear and whispered passionately:
“I love you, love you as my own soul, my life, my joy, how can I live on earth apart from you? Rather would I see my soul parted from my body. Do you believe me now?”
“I believe you, I believe you!” he cried, and laughed for joy.
She nestled closer to him.