Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/356

 "I do not know what I want; only, if there is to be equality, let there be equality. If it has been discovered that match-making is degrading, this is a thousand times worse. There the rights and chances are equal, but here a woman is either a slave in the market, or a bait in a trap. Just try and tell a mother or the girl herself the truth that all that she is concerned in is to catch a husband, my God, what a storm you would raise! But this is all they are doing, and they have nothing else to do. What is terrible is to see at times extremely young, poor, innocent girls busy themselves with it. Then again, if it were done openly, but no, deception is practised.—'Ah, the origin of species, how interesting that is! Ah, Lili is interested in painting! Shall you be at the exposition? How instructive! And sleigh-riding, and the theatre, and the symphony? Ah, how remarkable! My Lili goes into ecstasies over music. Why do you not share her convictions? And rowing?'—But the only thought which occupies them is: Take me, take me, my Lili! No, me! Well, just try!'—Oh, what an abomination, what a lie!" he concluded, and, finishing what there was left of the tea, he began to clear away the cups and the dishes.