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 short time ago wanted to leave even before this, and now he does not want to go at all," replied Varenka, smiling.

"Well, well!" cried Kitty, looking at Varenka with a gloomy expression.

"Now for some reason Anna Pavlovna imagines that he does not want to go because you are here. Of course this was unfortunate; but you have been the unwitting cause of a family quarrel, and you know how irritable these invalids are."

Kitty grew still more melancholy, and kept silent; and Varenka went on speaking, trying to smooth it over, and put things in a better light, though she foresaw that the result would be either tears or reproaches, she knew not which.

"So it is better for you not to go there ....and you will not be angry...."

"But it was my fault, it was my fault," said Kitty, speaking rapidly, and snatching Varenka's parasol away from her, and not looking at her.

Varenka was amused at her friend's childish anger, but she was afraid of offending her.

"How is it your fault? I don't understand!"

"My fault because it was all pretense, it was all hypocrisy, and because it did not come from the heart. What business had I to meddle in the affairs of a stranger? And so I have been the cause of a quarrel, and I have been doing what no one asked me to do, simply because it was all hypocrisy, hypocrisy," said she.

"But why do you call it hypocrisy?" asked Varenka, gently.

"Akh! How stupid, how wretched! It was none of my business. .... Hypocrisy!" mechanically opening and shutting the sunshade.

"But it was your idea?"

"So as to seem better to others, to myself, to God,—to deceive every one. No, I will not fall so low again. I may be wicked, but at least I will not be a liar and deceiver!"

"But who is a liar?" asked Varenka, in a reproachful tone. "You speak as if ...."