Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/86



passed two weeks. During these weeks there took place an event which had been desired by Iván Ilích and his wife. Petríshchev made a formal proposal. This happened in the evening. On the following day Praskóvya Fédorovna entered her husband's room, wondering how she should announce Fédor Petróvich's proposal to Iván Ilích, but that very night Iván Ilích had taken a turn for the worst. Praskóvya Fédorovna found him on the same divan, but in a new position. He was lying on his back and groaning and looking in front of him with an arrested glance.

She began to speak of the medicines. He transferred his look to her. She did not finish saying what she had begun,—such malice, especially to her, was expressed in this glance.

"For Christ's sake, let me die in peace," he said.

She wanted to go away, but just then her daughter entered, and she went up to him to greet him. He looked at his daughter in the same way as at his wife, and in reply to her questions about his health he said dryly to her that he would soon free them all from himself. Both grew silent and, after sitting awhile, went out.

"In what way is it our fault?" Líza said to her mother. "It is as though we had done something. I am sorry for papa, but why does he torment us?"

The doctor arrived at the usual hour. Iván Ilích answered him, "Yes, no," without taking his glance of fury from him, and finally said: