Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/140

 124 "Hsss!"

Katerina Lvovna lay down in silence, and remained thus till morning. She wanted to say to herself: "I don't love him," and felt that she loved him more passionately than ever, and before her eyes she saw the whole time, how he lay there with one trembling hand under the other woman's head and with the other embracing her hot shoulders.

The poor woman wept and prayed against her wish that, the hand might be at that moment under her head, and that the other arm might be embracing her own hysterically shaking shoulders.

"Well, in any case, give me my handkerchief," said the soldier's wife Fiona, the next morning arousing her.

"So it was you!"

"Give it me, please."

"Why do you part us?"

"How do I part you? As if this is love or interest? Why do you get cross?"

Katerina Lvovna thought for a moment, and then taking the torn handkerchief from under her pillow she threw it at Fiona, and turned to the wall.

She felt better.

"Faugh!" she said to herself. "Is it possible that I am jealous of this painted wash-tub? The devil take her! To compare myself with her makes me sick."