“Not yet.”
“Ought you to say it then? Is it honourable?”
“I shall tell her to-morrow.”
“What if she will not give her blessing?”
“I won’t obey.”
“But I will. I will take no step without your Mother’s and Grandmother’s consent,” she said, turning to go.
“As far as I am concerned, I am sure of my Mother’s consent. I will hurry now to Kolchino, and my Mother will send you her consent to-morrow. Marfa Vassilievna, give me your hand.”
“What will Grandmother say? If she does not forgive me I shall die of shame,” she said, and she hurried into the house.
“Heavens, what will Grandmother say?” she wondered, shutting herself up in her room, and shaking with fever. How should she tell her grandmother, and should she tell Veroshka first. She decided in favour of her grandmother, and when the house was quiet slipped to her room like a mouse.
The two talked low to one another for a long time. Tatiana Markovna made the sign of the cross over her darling many times, until she fell asleep on her shoulder. Then she carefully laid the girl’s head on the pillow, rose, and prayed with many tears. But more heartily than for Marfinka’s happiness she prayed for Vera, with her grey head bowed before the cross.