Vassilii tossed his dead cigarette away, and passed his hand again wearily over his eyes, brushing away what appeared suspiciously like a tear. Sighing heavily, as if the recollection of Natiónka stirred sad and painful memories, he murmured an apology. Then he went on, talking to himself rather than to me.
“I summoned courage at last to go to old Savischnoff. His isba was poorly furnished but clean, and the ikon was over the door—always a good sign. When we were alone I told him how I loved his daughter, and the effect of the announcement was almost magical.
“‘What! You love her? You love Natiónka?’ the old man gasped in a fierce whisper. ‘No, no, you must not,’ he urged. ‘What would the barin say? If he knew, he would kill my child.’
“I laughed at his consternation. ‘Have no fear,’ I said. ‘I shall marry her, and as my wife she will be under my protection.’
“‘No. A thousand times, no!’ he declared. ‘Think! It would bring ruin and death upon us.’
“‘Bah! Leave it all to me,’ I said. I was young, madly impetuous, and Natiónka was my idol. Little did I imagine that the drama would have such a dénouement.
“Our wedding took place on a day in bright autumn. I told the Count that I had grown tired of Nagorskoie, and intended to go to Nijni for a change. To this he raised no objection, and I set out alone with a tarantass. Twelve versts along the road I found Natiónka awaiting me, and we drove together to the village pope at Dinkova, who, according to previous arrangement, made us man and wife. Then we travelled on to Nijni, and after three weeks’ absence returned to Nagorskoie. We were still bound to keep our marriage secret, therefore Natiónka went home and we both led the same lives as before, spending whole days together in the solitude of the great pine forest, happy in each other’s love.
“She was charming. But, alas! how brief a paradise was ours.
“Standing one evening at our favourite spot in the wood, with my wife clasped to my breast, I was uttering words of passionate affection and tenderness.
“‘I want you to assume your proper position,’ I said. ‘Yet I confess, Natiónka, that I dare not tell my father.’