If everything is really as he says, we ought to
try. It's our duty." She blushed, dropped into a chair, and lapsed
into silence.
"My dear, dear girl!" the mother thought, smiling. Sofya also
smiled, and Nikolay, looking tenderly into Sasha's face, laughed
quietly. The girl raised her head with a stern glance for all.
Then she paled, and her eyes flashed, and she said dryly, the
offense she felt evident in her voice:
"You're laughing. I understand you. You consider me personally
interested in the case, don't you?"
"Why, Sasha?" asked Sofya, rising and going over to her.
Agitated, pale, the girl continued:
"But I decline. I'll not take any part in deciding the question
if you consider it."
"Stop, Sasha," said Nikolay calmly.
The mother understood the girl. She went to her and kissed her
silently on her head. Sasha seized her hand, leaned her cheek on
it, and raised her reddened face, looking into the mother's eyes,
troubled and happy. The mother silently stroked her hair. She
felt sad at heart. Sofya seated herself at Sasha's side, her arm
over her shoulder, and said, smiling into the girl's eyes:
"You're a strange person."
"Yes, I think I've grown foolish," Sasha acknowledged.
Pages:
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419