'What for?... Why, I've said good-bye to you.'
'Wait a little,' repeated Akulina.
Viktor lay down again and began whistling. Akulina never took her eyes off him. I could see that she was gradually being overcome by emotion; her lips twitched, her pale cheeks faintly glowed.
'Viktor Alexandritch,' she began at last in a broken voice, 'it's too bad of you... it is too bad of you, Viktor Alexandritch, indeed it is!'
'What's too bad?' he asked frowning, and he slightly raised his head and turned it towards her.
'It's too bad, Viktor Alexandritch. You might at least say one kind word to me at parting; you might have said one little word to me, a poor luckless forlorn.'...
'But what am I to say to you?'
'I don't know; you know that best, Viktor Alexandritch. Here you are going away, and one little word.... What have I done to deserve it?'
'You're such a queer creature! What can I do?'
'One word at least.'