Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/119

 I had guarded my maiden honour like the apple of my eye; you have ruined me for nothing,—you have deceived me. You have not taken pity on an orphan (weeping); you have abandoned me. You have killed me, but I wish you no evil. God be with you! If you find some one better, you will forget me; if some one worse, you will think of me— You will think of me, Nikíta! Good-bye, if it has to be so. I have loved you so much! Good-bye for the last time. (Wants to embrace him, and grasps his head.)

(tearing himself away). Oh, what a bother you are! If you do not go away, I will, and you can stay here.

(crying aloud). You are a beast! (In the door.) God will not give you happiness! (Goes away weeping.)

(coming out of the storeroom). You are a dog, Nikita!

. How so?

. How she wept! (Weeps.)

. What is the matter with you?

. What? You have wronged her. You will wrong me the same way, you dog! (Goes into the storeroom.)

(after a silence). It is a muddle. I love women like sugar; but when you have sinned with them it is terrible!