Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VII).djvu/122

Rh 'Alyosha, you know that when you tell me as an honest man—and I shall believe you, for you really are an honest man—when you tell me that you love me with that love well, that love that gives one a right to another person's life,—when you tell me that, I am yours.'

Nezhdanov blushed and turned a little away.

'When I tell you that'

'Yes, then! But you see yourself you do not tell me so now, Oh, yes, Alyosha, you certainly are an honest man. There, let us talk of matters of more importance.'

'But you know I love you, Marianna!'

'I don't doubt that and I shall wait. There, I've not quite put your writing-table to rights yet. Here's something still wrapped up, something stiff.'

Nezhdanov jumped up from his chair.

'Let that be, Marianna. Please leave that alone.'

Marianna turned her head over her shoulder to look at him, and raised her eyebrows in amazement.

'Is it a mystery? A secret? You have a secret?'

'Yes yes,' said Nezhdanov, and greatly disconcerted he added, by way of explanation, 'It's  a portrait.'