Chapter 19 Chapter 02

He cast us a quick and attentive glance.This glance alone is not enough to guess his purpose here: is it an enemy or a friend?But let me first describe his appearance in detail.He surprised me especially this evening. I've seen him in the past too.The man was about forty-five, no more, well-featured, and exceptionally handsome, and his facial expression was constantly changing according to the circumstances; His expression changed to one of very gloomy and dissatisfied, as if some clockwork had suddenly started.He has a good appearance, an oval face, slightly black, neat teeth, two small and thin lips, a straight nose bridge, a beautiful nose with a slight hook, and a full sky

, there is not a single trace of wrinkles on his forehead, a pair of big gray eyes-all these together make him almost a handsome man.His face, however, did not make a pleasant impression.The reason why this face is disgusting is that his face The facial expression does not seem to be his own, but always seems to be faked, carefully designed, and learned from somewhere, which makes you unable to help but have a blind belief that you will never be able to figure out his real expression.If you take a closer look at him, you will One wonders whether there is something sinister, cunning, and terribly selfish hidden beneath the mask that is always worn on one's head.Most striking of all were his large gray eyes, which were very handsome in appearance.It seems that only these eyes are not

Ken obeyed his will completely.He also wanted to look at people gently and kindly, but his eyes seemed to be divided into two, and there was a ray of cruelty, distrust, prying and malicious light between the gentle and kind eyes... pretty tall Tall, well-built, and slightly thin, he looked much younger than his actual age.His soft dark brown hair had barely begun to grey.His ears, arms, and legs were all very handsome.This is all a well-born beauty.he wears Very well-dressed, very elegant, and very modern, but with a touch of youthful air, which, however, suited him well.He was like Alyosha's brother.At least, no one can see that he is the father of such a big son.

He went up to Natasha, looked at her intently, and said: "My presence at such an hour and unannounced--it is strange and unconventional; but I hope, please believe me, that I am conscious of the commonness of my conduct. I also know who I'm dealing with; I know you are perceptive and magnanimous.Please grant me the next ten minutes, and I hope that you will understand my good intentions and will consider my presumptuous visit to be not superfluous. " When he said it, he was polite and his voice was strong, but there seemed to be a certain stubbornness in it. "Sit down, please," said Natasha, still not yet overwhelmed by her first panic and a certain terror.

He bowed slightly and sat down gracefully. "Please allow me to say a few words to him first," he said, pointing to his son. "Alyosha, you didn't wait for me to leave, and you didn't say good-bye to us, but as soon as you left, the servants told the countess that Katerina Fyodorovna was okay. comfortable.She was just about to run to see her, when suddenly Katerina Fyodorovna drove in herself, very distressed and very excited.She told us straight up that she couldn't be your wife.And she said she was going to a convent, Said that you had asked her for help and confessed to her that you loved Natalia Nikolaevna... This unbelievable confession of Katy, Linna Fyodorovna, and it happened again At such moments, needless to say, because you and her

That unearthly heartfelt conversation.Her demeanor was almost insane.You must know how surprised and scared I was.I passed by here just now and found that there is a light in the Zunfu," he continued to Natasha, "so I asked for the one in my mind a long time ago. Thoughts then completely dominated me, and I couldn't resist my spontaneous urge to come in and see her.What is the intention?I'll tell right away, but I have a request in advance, please don't be surprised by some of the sharp wording of my explanation .It all happened so suddenly..." "I hope I will understand what you are about to say and give it the...evaluation it deserves," Natasha stammered.

The Duke watched her intently, as if eager to study her thoroughly in the minute. "I count on you to be discerning," he went on, "and now I venture here precisely because I know with whom I have dealings. I have known you for a long time, though I have treated you unfairly before, and therefore You are ashamed. You Listen to me: you know, for a long time, there has been some unpleasantness between me and the present.I have no intention of defending myself; perhaps, I have wronged him even more than hitherto conceived, and if this is true, I myself have been deceived.I Suspicious and aware of this weakness.I am used to seeing the bad before the good in others--an unfortunate trait inherent in a hard heart.But I'm not used to hiding my shortcomings.I listened to the gossip on the street

, so after you left your two nobles, I was really worried for Alyosha for a while.But I didn't know you well then.Gradually I made some investigations, and I was greatly encouraged by the results of my investigations.After some observation and research, I finally Yu firmly believes that my suspicion is groundless. I learned that you have had a quarrel with the Zunfu, and I also know that your father strongly opposes your marriage with the child.Just from this alone, that you have such influence, you can say that you have the absolute power over Alyosha , but so far you have not used this power to force him to marry you--this alone is enough to show that you are a good wife.Nevertheless, I will confess to you that I was determined to prevent you from marrying your son as much as possible.

edge.I know I've spoken too frankly, but my frankness will do you good at the moment; and if you hear me out, you'll agree with yourself that it's true.I left Petersburg not long after you left home; but I left At the beginning he was no longer worried about Alyosha.I place my hope in your noble self-esteem.I understand that you yourself do not wish to marry until the discord between our families is over; Far will not forgive his union with you; and you will not be said that you want to find a duke for husband, to climb the dragon and fly, and marry our family.On the contrary, you will even dismiss us, maybe wait, someday R I will come to the door myself

Proposal, please be kind and agree to marry the dog.But anyway, I'm stubborn and mean to you.I don't intend to defend myself, but I don't want to hide why from you either.The reason for this is that you are neither well-born nor well-known assets.Although I have a little income, the more we are, the better our family is.What we need are famous and miscellaneous relatives and gold and silver treasures.Countess Linaida Fyodorovna's stepdaughter was wealthy, though not related to the country.just a little If there is any delay, other suitors will appear, and the girl will be snatched from us; but the moment will never come, and I decided to match Alyosha, even though he was still too young.You see, I have nothing to hide from you.you can despise my father

My dear, this father himself admits that he, out of self-interest and prejudice, has encouraged his son to do evil; for it is base and indecent to abandon a girl who has sacrificed everything for him, and whose self-sacrifice he is so sorry for.but i have no intention Justify yourself.The second reason for the proposed tie-in between the dog and Zinaida Fyodorovna's stepdaughter was that the girl was very worthy of love and respect.She was good-looking, well-bred, very good-natured, and very intelligent, though Still a child in many ways.Alyosha is weak, unintelligent, and terribly unreasonable. At twenty-two, he still has a childish temper. Unless he has one good point, it is a good heart--a quality that, in the case of other faults, is even worse. It's dangerous, I've noticed it a long time ago, my influence on him has begun to weaken, impetuous, young people's impulses have begun to be exposed, and even overwhelmed some due sense of responsibility.Maybe I love him so much, but I've come to realize that I'm the only one to point Guiding him is not enough.At the same time, he must be under the constant and benign influence of someone.He is obedient, weak, and sentimental by nature, and he doesn't like to command others, preferring to love and obey others.He's probably going to be like this for the rest of his life up.You can imagine my delight when I found out that Katerina Fyodorovna was just such an ideal girl as I wanted my son to marry.But I'm too late to rejoice; he's taken over by another influence - yours Cover, and unbreakable.A month ago, when I returned to Petersburg, I began to observe him carefully, and I was surprised to find that he has improved greatly.His frivolity and childishness were almost intact, but something of nobility was firmly established in him. sentiments; he began to be interested in not only childhood games, but those sublime, noble, serious things.His ideas are strange, unstable, and sometimes absurd; but desires, inclinations, but hearts—one changes Well, and that's the basis of everything; all the good things about him -- indisputably from you.You have remade him.To tell you the truth, it occurred to me then that you could make him happier than anyone else.but i got rid of this When I think about it, I don't want to think so.I must contrive to get him away from you; so I set to work, thinking I had achieved what I wanted to achieve.An hour ago I thought I was winning.But at the countess' house What happened, turned my wishful thinking a few times at once, and what surprised me first of all was something unexpected: the strange seriousness and firmness of Alyosha's attachment to you. , and the persistence and enduring of this nostalgia.I I repeat to you: you have completely remade him.I suddenly saw that this change in him was even bigger than I imagined.Today he suddenly acted in front of me that he is very intelligent, which I did not expect, and at the same time he showed a very Fan's boldness and carefulness.He chose the surest way out of the predicament.He touches and evokes the noblest feelings in the human heart, the feelings of forgiveness and repayment of evil with kindness.He surrenders to the woman he has harmed and asks her for sympathy and help.He touched the strong self-esteem of a woman who was already in love with him, confessed her directly to her as a rival, and at the same time aroused in her her sympathy for her rival, causing her to forgive him and promise to be unselfish with him. brother and sister Feelings.It's about making that confession without insulting or wronging the other person -- even those with scheming employees sometimes can't do that.But a fledgling, pure, and well-directed heart like his done.I firmly believe, Natalia Nikolaevna, that you have had no part in what he has done today, neither have said anything nor done any business.Perhaps you have only just heard of all this, and he told you.I don't Wrong?right? " "You are right," repeated Natasha, flushing, and a strange gleam in her eyes, as if inspired.The Duke's eloquence began to work. "I haven't seen Alyosha for five days," she added, "All of this is what he came up with, and he did it on his own initiative." "It must be so," said the duke, "but in spite of this, his unexpected insight, his sense of decision and duty, his noble and loyal sentiments--all this is because of your respect for him." cast a shadow ring.Just now, on the way home, I thought over and over again, and finally figured it out thoroughly. After thinking about it, I suddenly felt that I had no hesitation, and I should make a decisive decision.Our marriage with the Countess is blown, and cannot be revived; even if It might—and it certainly wouldn't.Now that I am convinced that only you can give him happiness, that he listens to you, that you are his backbone, that you have laid the foundations for his future happiness - how can I say anything about that!past, i don't I have concealed anything from you, and I have no intention of concealing it now; I am very fond of riches, money, fame, and even high office; not only aware, but always think, that many of these are prejudices, but I love these prejudices and have no intention of disclosing them. This Some things are considered dung.But there are also some situations that make people have to think otherwise.You can't use a ruler to measure everything..., besides, I love dogs very much.In short, I have come to one conclusion: Alyosha must not be separated from you, because there is no He is finished without you.Can you deny this?Likely, I have been doing this for a whole month, but I know now that I was absolutely right.Of course, in order to tell you this, I can also visit tomorrow , without bothering you almost in the middle of the night.But my haste may be enough to show you how earnestly, and above all, sincerely, I am in this endeavor.I'm not a child; I'm already this age, I can't Doing anything on a whim and rashly.When I came here, everything was decided and thought over.But I feel that it will take me a long time to convince you of my sincerity... Still, Closer to home!Shall I explain to you now why I came here?The purpose of my coming here is to fulfill my duty to you--I want to ask you solemnly and with my infinite respect for you For the happiness of becoming a dog, please agree to marry the dog.Oh, please don't think that I am a strict father who has finally decided to forgive his children, and Enkai especially agreed to their happy marriage.No!No!If you think I'd think so, You are scolding me, and please don’t think that based on the sacrifice you made to your child, I have already been sure that you will definitely get what you want; I want to say again, this statement is wrong!I'll be the first to say it out loud: he's not good enough for you, and... (He's kind and and aboveboard)--he would have affirmed it himself.But this is not enough.It's not just this that draws me here at this late hour... I'm here... (He rises from his seat respectfully and somewhat solemnly Wei Wei bows her body) The purpose of my coming here is to be your friend!I know I don't have the slightest right to do so, but the opposite!But - please allow me to work hard to earn this right!Allow me to be hopeful! " He lowered his eyebrows respectfully in front of Natasha, waiting for her reply.I had been watching him attentively as he spoke.He found this out. When he made this speech, his attitude was very cold, with the intention of showing off his eloquence and grandstanding, and even said some words with a certain kind of carelessness.The intonation in which he made these speeches sometimes even attracted him to The impulsiveness of our initial visit (and at the wrong time, especially since he was still in such a relationship with us) was incongruous.Some of his diction is also markedly affected, and when he says something (his speeches are very lengthy and oddly long), and he poses as if he is an oddball who, despite his mixed feelings, tries to hide his involuntary feelings with an air of humor, casualness, and joking.but all this i am I only realized it later; it was a different mood at the time.In those last words he uttered them with such fervor and emotion, and with such sincerity and respect for Natasha, that they won us all over.he There was even a flicker of something resembling a tear on his eyelashes.Natasha's noble heart was completely conquered.Following him, she also stood up slightly from her seat, silently and very excitedly stretched out her hand to him. He took the hand and kissed it tenderly and passionately.Alyosha was in high spirits, as if he was overjoyed. "What did I tell you, Natasha!" he cried, "you don't believe me! You don't believe that he is the noblest man in the world! Now you see it, you see it with your own eyes! . . . " He threw himself on his father and hugged him warmly.He embraced him equally warmly, but seemed ashamed of showing his affection, eager to cut short the touching scene of paternal filial piety. "That's enough," he said, picking up his top hat, "I must go. I only asked you for ten minutes, but I sat down for an hour," he added, smiling, "but I Although gone, but enthusiastically and reluctantly Looking forward to seeing you again as soon as possible.Can you allow me to visit you often? " "Of course, of course!" replied Natasha, "please come often! I hope to be able to ... like you as soon as possible ..." she added, a little embarrassed. "How sincere your feelings are, and how honest you are!" said the prince, smiling at what she had just said. "You don't even want to be polite. But your sincerity outweighs all the fake politeness. more precious.is not that right!I realize that it will take me a long, long time to win your favor! " "Okay. Don't praise me... that's enough!" Natasha whispered sheepishly.How beautiful she looked now! "That's it!" the duke decided. "But there are two more words, and a serious business. You can't imagine how unfortunate I am! You know, I can't come to see you tomorrow, I can't come tomorrow, and I can't come the day after tomorrow." .Tonight, I received a This letter is very important to me. He asked me to do something immediately, which I can't avoid no matter what.I will leave Petersburg early tomorrow morning.Please don't think that the reason why I came to see you so late is not because I don't have time tomorrow, but No time tomorrow, no time the day after tomorrow.Of course you don't think so, but you see, I'm short-sighted and always suspicious!Why do I feel that you must think so?Yes, in my life, my paranoia has added a lot to me. Don't worry, for example, the dispute between my humble servant and the Zunfu may all be caused by my unlucky character! ……Today is Tuesday.Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I am not in Petersburg.As for Saturday, I hope I will be able to come back, and Come see you today.Interview, can I come and stay with you all night? " "Yes, why don't you ask!" cried Natasha. "Saturday night, I'll be waiting for you! I'll be looking forward to seeing you!" "I'm so happy! I want to know more and more about you! But... I should go! But before I go, I must shake your hand," he turned to me admiringly Come on, continue, "I'm sorry! We're talking too much now A hammer here and a mallet here... I've had the pleasure of meeting you several times, and we even got introduced to each other once.Before I leave here, I cannot fail to express to you how pleasant it is to know you again. " "We did meet," I replied, taking the hand he extended to me, "but, sorry, I don't remember us being introduced to each other." "Last year at Duke P's mansion." "Sorry, I forgot. But, I assure you, I won't forget this time. Tonight is especially memorable for me." "Yes, you are right, and I feel the same way. I knew you were Natalya Nikolaevna and the boy's confidant. I hope to be the fourth of you three. I don't know." Do you think so? He turned and faced Na Tasha, added another sentence. "Yes, he is our best friend, and we should all be together!" Natasha replied affectionately.Poor girl!She was rather pleased to see that the duke had not forgotten to greet me.how she loves me! "You have only ever sat, and I have met many admirers of yours," continued the duke, "and I have known two ladies who most sincerely admired your step. They were both more than happy to make your acquaintance, and to learn from you personally. They is my good friend the countess and her stepdaughter, Katerina Feodorovna Fimonova.Allow me to hope that you will not refuse my vague offer to introduce you to these two ladies with pleasure. " "It's a great honor for me, although I live in seclusion now and rarely interact with people..." "But please tell me your address! Where does your lord live now? I will happily..." "I never receive visitors at my cottage, Duke, at least not yet." "But I, I am not entitled to exceptions...but..." "Forget it, since you must come, it's hard to turn down the hospitality. I live in the Krugan apartment in the so-and-so alley." "Krugan Apartments!" he cried, as if taken aback by something. "What! How long have you... lived there?" "No, not very long," I replied, looking intently at him. "The next one is number forty-four." "No. 44? Where do you live... just by yourself?" "Alone." "Y-yes! I know this apartment because... it seems. It's even better... I'll definitely visit you, I will! I have a lot to tell you, I have a lot to ask you. You can thank me in so many ways. you See, I asked for something from the start.But excuse me, bye!Hold your hand tightly again! " He shook hands with Alyosha and mine, kissed Natasha's little hand once more, and went out without asking Alyosha to go back with him. The three of us looked at each other in blank dismay, all this came so unexpectedly, so unexpected.We all felt that at that moment everything changed, a new and unpredictable situation began.Alyosha sat down beside Natasha in silence, Quietly kissed her hand.He looked up occasionally.Look at her face, it seems to be waiting to see what she said? "My dear Alyosha, you must see Katerina Fyodorovna tomorrow," she said at last. "I think so myself," he answered, "and I shall go." "Perhaps she will feel uncomfortable seeing you... what should I do?" "I don't know, my friend. I've thought of that too. I'll see the situation... and then decide what to do. Natasha, how about it? You know, our situation has changed now!" Alyosha endured Can't help opening the mouth. She smiled and raised her head to look at him long and affectionately. "How polite he is. To see you in such a poor place, to say nothing..." "No word for what?" "Well...I advise you to move...or say something else," he added with a flushed face. "Come on, Alyosha, follow where!" "That's why I say he's very polite, he's flattering you! Didn't I tell you . still like a child. And all of them They all look at me that way!How should I put it, in fact, I am also like this. " "Although you are a child, you can see things more deeply and thoroughly than all of us. You have a good heart, Alyosha!" "But he said I was too good-hearted to kill me. What did he mean? I don't understand. Listen to me, Natasha. Should I hurry back and see him? I'll be there in the morning." Come back to you." "Go, go, dear. It's good of you to think of that. Do see him, you hear? Come as early as you can tomorrow. Now you won't run away from me, just go away Five days, right?" She looked at him affectionately, Pidi added a sentence.We were all in a state of ecstasy. "Let's go together, shall we, Vanya?" Alyosha called, as he came out of the room. "No, he stays; I have something to tell you, Vanya. Watch out, tomorrow morning!" "Morning! Goodbye, Mafra!" Mafra was very excited.She heard and overheard everything the prince said, but she did not understand much.She wanted to find out, wanted to ask what happened.But now she looked serious, even haughty.She also more or less see it , many things have changed. We were left alone.Natasha took my hand and remained silent for several moments, as if trying to figure out what to say. "I'm tired!" she finally said in a weak voice, "I said: Aren't you going to our house tomorrow?" "must" "Tell my mother, don't tell him." "I never told him about you." "That's fine; he'll know if you don't tell me. Watch what he says? What's his attitude? Lord, Vanya! Is he really going to curse me for this marriage? No, no. possible!" "Everything should be on the Duke's initiative," I added hastily. "He should make peace with him, and then everyone will be happy." "Oh, my God! If only it could!" she cried prayerfully. "Don't worry, Natasha, everyone will be happy. It's the way it is." She looked up and looked at me attentively. "Vanya! What do you think of the Duke?" "If he's telling the truth, I think he's a very nice guy." "If he's telling the truth, what does that mean? Could it be that he's not telling the truth?" "I seem to feel the same way," I replied.I hinted and thought: "It can be seen that some kind of thought flashed through her mind, it's strange!" "You've been looking at him... staring at him..." "Yes, he looks a little odd; I think." "I feel the same way. Somehow he always talks like that... I'm tired, honey. Guess what? You go back too, and you leave them as early as you can tomorrow and come here. One more thing : I said to him, I want to I like him, isn't it a bit abrupt to say that? " "No... What's so abrupt?" "And... it doesn't look muddy? You know, the implication is that I don't like him right now." "On the contrary, that's a good thing to say. It's natural and responsive. You were so beautiful then! If he doesn't understand it in a high-society way, he's the devil." "You seem angry with him, Vanya? Then again, I'm too bad a man. Too suspicious, too vain! Please don't laugh; you know, I don't hide anything from you." .Alas, Vanya, my dear friend! If I Another misfortune, another disaster for me, you know, you will come here and stay by my side; maybe, then, you will be the only one who will come to see me!All these things, how can I repay you!Please don't ever curse me, Vanya! ..." I undressed and went to bed as soon as I got home, and my room was as damp and dark as the cellar.Many strange thoughts and feelings came one after another, which kept me awake for a long time. But, at this moment, there must be someone (he is sleeping peacefully in his comfortable couch) who is laughing--after all, if he will have the face to laugh at us!Probably, he is not even willing to give this little face!