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You see, I knew that youseemed to care for me, but I pretended to believe that you didnt care for me to make iteasier for you. That makes it worse! Worse and better than all! Alyosha, I am awfully fond of you. Just before you came this morning, I tried my fortune. I decided I would ask you for my letter, and if you brought it out calmly and gave it to me (as might have been expected from you) it would mean that you did not love me at all, that you felt nothing, and were simply a stupid boy, good for nothing, and that I am ruined. But you left the letter at home and that cheered me. You left it behind on purpose, so as not to give it back, because you knew I would ask for it? That was it, wasnt it? Ah, Lise, it was not so a bit. The letter is with me now, and it was this morning, in this pocket. Here it is. Alyosha pulled the letter out laughing, and showed it her at a distance. But I am not going to give it to you. Look at it from here. Why, then you told a lie? You, a monk, told a lie! I told a lie if you like, Alyosha laughed, too. I told a lie so as not to give you back the letter. Its very precious to me, he added suddenly, with strong feeling, and again he flushed. It always will be, and I wont give it up to any one! Lise looked at him joyfully. Alyosha, she murmured again, look at the door. Isnt mamma listening? Very well, Lise, Ill look; but wouldnt it be better not to look? Why suspect your mother of such meanness? What meanness? As for her spying on her daughter, its her right, its not meanness! cried Lise, firing up. You may be sure, Alexey Fyodorovitch, that when I am a mother, if I have a daughter like myself I shall certainly spy on her! Really, Lise? Thats not right. Oh, my goodness! What has meanness to do with it? If she were listening to some ordinary worldly conversation, it would be meanness, but when her own daughter is shut up with a young man Listen, Alyosha, do you know I shall spy upon you as soon as we are married, and let me tell you I shall open all your letters and read them, so you may as well be prepared. Yes, of course, if so muttered Alyosha, only its not right. Ah, how contemptuous! Alyosha, dear, we dont quarrel the very first day. Id better tell you the whole truth. Of course, its very wrong to spy on people, and, of course, I am not right and you are, only I shall spy on you all the same. Do, then; you wont find out anything, laughed Alyosha. And Alyosha, will you give in to me? We must decide that too. I shall be delighted to, Lise, and certain to, only not in the most important things. Even if you dont agree with me, I shall do my duty in the most important things. Thats right; but let me tell you I am ready to give in to you not only in the most important matters, but in everything. And I am ready to vow to do so nowin everything, and for all my life! cried Lise fervently, and Ill do it gladly, gladly! Whats more Ill swear never to spy on you, never once, never to read one of your letters. For you are right and I am not. And though I shall be awfully tempted to spy, I know that I |
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