|
||||||||
Sure? Upon my word! She put aside his hand, but did not leave go of it, blushing hotly, and laughing a little happy laugh. I kiss his hand and he says, What a good thing. But her reproach was undeserved, Alyosha, too, was greatly over-come. I should like to please you always, Lise, but I dont know how to do it, he muttered, blushing too. Alyosha, dear, you are cold and rude. Do you see? He has chosen me as his wife and is quite settled about it. He is sure I was in earnest. What a thing to say! Why, thats impertinencethats what it is. Why was it wrong of me to feel sure? Alyosha asked, laughing suddenly. Ah, Alyosha, on the contrary, it was delightfully right, cried Lise, looking tenderly and happily at him. Alyosha stood still, holding her hand in his. Suddenly he stooped down and kissed her on her lips. Oh, what are you doing? cried Lise. Alyosha was terribly abashed. Oh, forgive me if I shouldnt. Perhaps Im awfully stupid. You said I was cold, so I kissed you. But I see it was stupid. Lise laughed, and hid her face in her hands. And in that dress! she ejaculated in the midst of her mirth. But she suddenly ceased laughing and became serious, almost stern. Alyosha, we must put off kissing. We are not ready for that yet, and we shall have a long time to wait, she ended suddenly. Tell me rather why you who are so clever, so intellectual, so observant, choose a little idiot, an invalid like me? Ah, Alyosha, I am awfully happy for I dont deserve you a bit. You do, Lise. I shall be leaving the monastery altogether in a few days. If I go into the world, I must marry. I know that. He told me to marry, too. Whom could I marry better than youand who would have me except you? I have been thinking it over. In the first place, youve known me from a child and youve a great many qualities I havent. You are more light-hearted than I am; above all, you are more innocent than I am. I have been brought into contact with many, many things already. Ah, you dont know, but I, too, am a Karamazov. What does it matter if you do laugh and make jokes, and at me, too? Go on laughing. I am so glad you do. You laugh like a little child, but you think like a martyr. Like a martyr? How? Yes, Lise, your question just now: whether we werent showing contempt for that poor man by dissecting his soulthat was the question of a sufferer. You see, I dont know how to express it, but any one who thinks of such questions is capable of suffering. Sitting in your invalid chair you must have thought over many things already. Alyosha, give me your hand. Why are you taking it away? murmured Lise in a failing voice, weak with happiness. Listen, Alyosha. What will you wear when you come out of the monastery? What sort of suit? Dont laugh, dont be angry, its very, very important to me. I havent thought about the suit, Lise; but Ill wear whatever you like. I should like you to have a dark blue velvet coat, a white piqué waistcoat, and a soft grey felt hat. Tell me, did you believe that I didnt care for you when I said I didnt mean what I wrote? No, I didnt believe it. Oh, you insupportable person, you are incorrigible. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||