CHAPTER XXII
Two days had passed, and Raisky had had small opportunity of seeing Vera alone, though she came to dinner and to tea, and spoke of ordinary things. Raisky turned once more to his novel, or rather to the plan of it. He visited Leonti, and did not neglect the Governor and other friends. But in order to keep watch on Vera he wandered about the park and the garden. Two days were now gone, he thought, since he sat on the bench by the precipice, but there were still five days of danger. Marfinka’s birthday lay two days’ ahead, and on that day Vera would hardly leave the family circle. On the next Marfinka was to go with her fiancé and his mother to Kolchino, and Vera would not be likely to leave Tatiana Markovna alone. By that time the week would be over and the threatening clouds dispersed.
After dinner Vera asked him to come over to her in the evening, as she wished him to undertake a commission for her. When he arrived she suggested a walk, and, as she chose the direction of the fields he realised that she wished to go to the chapel, and took the field path accordingly.
As she crossed the threshold, she looked up at the thoughtful face of the Christ.
“You have sought more powerful aid than mine,” said Raisky. “Moreover, you will not now go there without me.”
She nodded in assent. She seemed to be seeking strength, sympathy and support from the glance of the Crucified, but His eyes kept their expression of quiet thought and detachment.
When she turned her eyes from the picture she reiterated, “I will not go.” Raisky read on her face neither prayer nor desire; it wore an expression of weariness, indifference and submission.
He suggested that they should return, and reminded her that she had a commission for him.