‘Let us be friends,’ whispered Irina.
‘Friends,’ repeated Litvinov dreamily.
‘Yes, friends ... or if that is too much to ask, then let us at least be friendly.... Let us be simply as though nothing had happened.’
‘As though nothing had happened,...’ repeated Litvinov again. ‘You said just now, Irina Pavlovna, that I was unwilling to forget the old days.... But what if I can’t forget them?’
A blissful smile flashed over Irina’s face, and at once disappeared, to be replaced by a harassed, almost scared expression.
‘Be like me, Grigory Mihalitch, remember only what was good in them; and most of all, give me your word.... Your word of honour....’
‘Well?’
‘Not to avoid me ... not to hurt me for nothing. You promise? tell me!’
‘Yes.’
‘And you will dismiss all evil thoughts of me from your mind.’