Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/310

278 that I felt insulted, I scarcely looked at you. I examined the table and the window sills attentively. . .Where was my cigarette-case, anyway?. . .I was just going out, when you raised your head and, looking at me with your eyes full of contempt and hatred, you said hoarsely:

"Now I'll never, never love you any more." Then, after a little thought, you tried to say something else, but could not find what to say and said the first thing that came to your head:

"And I'll never buy you anything."

"Don't have to," said I indifferently, shrugging my shoulders, "I wouldn't have accepted anything from a bad boy like you, anyway."

"And I'll take away that Japanese penny I gave you," said you in a high, broken voice, making your last attempt to sting me.

"Now that would be very bad, indeed. To give and then take away again. Still, it's your business."

After that your mother and grandma came into the room, pretending to look for something. Then they would shake their heads and begin to talk of the bad boys who grow up without minding their elders, and whom nobody loves because of that. They always ended by advising you to go to me and ask my forgiveness., "Otherwise uncle will be angry and will go away to Moscow." grandma was saying sadly. "And will never come to see us."

"Let him stay away," you answered in a very low voice, lowering your head.

"And I'll die," said grandma still more sadly, never realizing what a cruel means she was employing to force you to break your pride.

"All right," answered you in a whisper.

"Fine, splendid," said I, feeling another attack of anger. "A fine fellow for you," repeated I, looking out into the dark street.

And, having waited until the elderly maid, who was always silent and sad because of a realization that she was the widow of a machinist, had lit the lamp, I added:

"A fine child!"

"Don't pay any attention to him," said your mother, regulating the lamp-flame. "I wouldn't speak with him at all."

And we pretended to have forgotten all about you.