XV.
Marya Alekséyevna was greatly surprised to see her daughter and Lopukhóf coming in together. She forthwith proceeded to subject them to the keenest inspection.
"I called to tell you, Marya Alekséyevna, that I have an engagement for day after to-morrow evening, and so I am going to give the lesson to-morrow instead. Permit me to sit down. I am very tired and unwell. I should like to rest."
"Why, what's the matter, Dmitri Sergéitch? Indeed, you look very bad!"
("Is it a love-scrape, or did they meet by chance? If it were a love affair, he'd have been gay. Or can they have fallen in love and quarrelled, because she would not give in to his wishes? Then, of course, he'd have been angry; only, if they'd quarrelled, he wouldn't have escorted her. And then, again, she went straight to her room, she didn't look at him, and there was no signs of a quarrel. No, evidently they must have met by chance. But the deuce knows 'em! Got to watch 'em with both eyes.")
"There is nothing special the matter with me, Marya Alekséyevna; but Viéra Pavlova looked rather pale, or at least I thought so."
"What? Viérotchka? She's often so."
"Well, maybe it only seemed so to me. I must confess that my head swims, it is so full of thoughts."
"Why, what's the matter, Dmitri Sergéitch? You ain't had a fallin' out with you sweetheart, have you?"
"No, Marya Alekséyevna; I am content with my sweetheart! It's her parents that I have to quarrel with."
"What do you mean, bátiushka? Dmitri Sergéitch, how is it possible to quarrel with her parents? I didn't think that of you, bátiushka!"
"It can't be helped, Marya Alekséyevna; it's such a family. They expect a man to do God knows what things beyond his power."
"That's a different thing, Dmitri Sergéitch. You can't satisfy everybody; you've got to set limits, that's a fact. If such is the case, that is, if the quarrel's about money, I can't blame you."
"Allow me to be rude, Marya Alekséyevna; I am so
