‘You are for me in the future,’ answered Insarov, ‘so it is bright for me.’
‘And for me too! But do you remember, when I was here, not the last time—no, not the last time,’ she repeated with an involuntary shudder, ‘when we were talking, I spoke of death, I don’t know why; I never suspected then that it was keeping watch on us. But you are well now, aren’t you?’
‘I’m much better, I’m nearly well.’
‘You are well, you are not dead. Oh, how happy I am!’
A short silence followed.
‘Elena?’ said Insarov.
‘Well, my dearest?’
‘Tell me, did it never occur to you that this illness was sent us as a punishment?’
Elena looked seriously at him.
‘That idea did come into my head, Dmitri. But I thought: what am I to be punished for? What duty have I transgressed, against whom have I sinned? Perhaps my conscience is not like other people’s, but it was silent; or perhaps I am guilty towards you? I hinder you, I stop you.’