“Very good!  That is what you want?” Lavretsky just managed to say.  “Well, I consent even to that.”

Varvara Pavlovna shot a quick glance at him.  Maria Dmitrievna exclaimed, “Thank God!” again took Varvara by the arm, and again began, “Take, then, from my hands—­”

“Stop, I tell you!” broke in Lavretsky.  “I will consent to live with you, Varvara Pavlovna,” he continued; “that is to say, I will take you to Lavriki, and live with you as long as I possibly can.  Then I will go away; but I will visit you from time to time.  You see, I do not wish to deceive you; only do not ask for more than that.  You would laugh yourself, if I were to fulfil the wish of our respected relative, and press you to my heart—­if I were to assure you that—­that the past did not exist, that the felled tree would again produce leaves.  But I see this plainly—­one must submit.  These words do not convey the same meaning to you as to me, but that does not matter.  I repeat, I will live with you—­or, no, I cannot promise that; but I will no longer avoid you; I will look on you as my wife again—­”

“At all events, give her your hand on that,” said Maria Dmitrievna, whose tears had dried up long ago.

“I have never yet deceived Varvara Pavlovna,” answered Lavretsky.  “She will believe me as it is.  I will take her to Lavriki.  But remember this, Varvara Pavlovna.  Our treaty will be considered at an end, as soon as you give up stopping there.  And now let me go away.”

He bowed to both of the ladies, and went out quickly.

“Won’t you take her with you?” Maria Dmitrievna called after him.

“Let him alone,” said Varvara to her in a whisper, and then began to express her thanks to her, throwing her arms around her, kissing her hand, saying she had saved her.

Maria Dmitrievna condescended to accept her caresses, but in reality she was not contented with her; nor was she contented with Lavretsky, nor with the whole scene which she had taken so much pains to arrange.  There had been nothing sentimental about it.

According to her ideas Varvara Pavlovna ought to have thrown herself at her husband’s feet.

“How was it you didn’t understand what I meant?” she kept saying.  “Surely I said to you, ‘Down with you!’”

“It is better as it is, my dear aunt.  Don’t disturb yourself—­all has turned out admirably,” declared Varvara Pavlovna.

“Well, anyhow he is—­as cold as ice,” said Maria Dmitrievna.  “It is true you didn’t cry, but surely my tears flowed before his eyes.  So he wants to shut you up at Lavriki.  What!  You won’t be able to come out even to see me!  All men are unfeeling,” she ended by saying, and shook her head with an air of deep meaning.

“But at all events women can appreciate goodness and generosity,” said Varvara Pavlovna.  Then, slowly sinking on her knees, she threw her arms around Maria Dmitrievna’s full waist, and hid her face in that lady’s lap.  That hidden face wore a smile, but Maria Dmitrievna’s tears began to flow afresh.