“Very well, I will give you things!” said Pasha, wiping her eyes and bustling about.  “By all means.  Only they are not from Nikolay Petrovitch. . . .  I got these from other gentlemen.  As you please. . . .”

Pasha pulled out the upper drawer of the chest, took out a diamond brooch, a coral necklace, some rings and bracelets, and gave them all to the lady.

“Take them if you like, only I’ve never had anything from your husband.  Take them and grow rich,” Pasha went on, offended at the threat to go down on her knees.  “And if you are a lady . . . his lawful wife, you should keep him to yourself.  I should think so!  I did not ask him to come; he came of himself.”

Through her tears the lady scrutinized the articles given her and said: 

“This isn’t everything. . . .  There won’t be five hundred roubles’ worth here.”

Pasha impulsively flung out of the chest a gold watch, a cigar-case and studs, and said, flinging up her hands: 

“I’ve nothing else left. . . .  You can search!”

The visitor gave a sigh, with trembling hands twisted the things up in her handkerchief, and went out without uttering a word, without even nodding her head.

The door from the next room opened and Kolpakov walked in.  He was pale and kept shaking his head nervously, as though he had swallowed something very bitter; tears were glistening in his eyes.

“What presents did you make me?” Pasha asked, pouncing upon him.  “When did you, allow me to ask you?”

“Presents . . . that’s no matter!” said Kolpakov, and he tossed his head.  “My God!  She cried before you, she humbled herself. . . .”

“I am asking you, what presents did you make me?” Pasha cried.

“My God!  She, a lady, so proud, so pure. . . .  She was ready to go down on her knees to . . . to this wench!  And I’ve brought her to this!  I’ve allowed it!”

He clutched his head in his hands and moaned.

“No, I shall never forgive myself for this!  I shall never forgive myself!  Get away from me . . . you low creature!” he cried with repulsion, backing away from Pasha, and thrusting her off with trembling hands.  “She would have gone down on her knees, and . . . and to you!  Oh, my God!”

He rapidly dressed, and pushing Pasha aside contemptuously, made for the door and went out.

Pasha lay down and began wailing aloud.  She was already regretting her things which she had given away so impulsively, and her feelings were hurt.  She remembered how three years ago a merchant had beaten her for no sort of reason, and she wailed more loudly than ever.

VEROTCHKA

Ivan Alexeyitch Ognev remembers how on that August evening he opened the glass door with a rattle and went out on to the verandah.  He was wearing a light Inverness cape and a wide-brimmed straw hat, the very one that was lying with his top-boots in the dust under his bed.  In one hand he had a big bundle of books and notebooks, in the other a thick knotted stick.