Chapter 22

           AlexeyAlexandrovitchhadforgottentheCountessLidiaIvanovna,butshehadnotforgottenhim.Atthebitterestmomentofhislonelydespairshecametohim,andwithoutwaitingtobeannounced,walkedstraightintohisstudy.Shefoundhimashewassittingwithhisheadinbothhands.

           “J’aiforcélaconsigne,”shesaid,walkinginwithrapidstepsandbreathinghardwithexcitementandrapidexercise.“Ihaveheardall!AlexeyAlexandrovitch!Dearfriend!”shewenton,warmlysqueezinghishandinbothofhersandgazingwithherfinepensiveeyesintohis.

           AlexeyAlexandrovitch,frowning,gotup,anddisengaginghishand,movedherachair.

           “Won’tyousitdown,countess?I’mseeingnoonebecauseI’munwell,countess,”hesaid,andhislipstwitched.

           “Dearfriend!”repeatedCountessLidiaIvanovna,nevertakinghereyesoffhis,andsuddenlyhereyebrowsroseattheinnercorners,describingatriangleonherforehead,heruglyyellowfacebecamestilluglier,butAlexeyAlexandrovitchfeltthatshewassorryforhimandwaspreparingtocry.Andhetoowassoftened;hesnatchedherplumphandandproceededtokissit.

           “Dearfriend!”shesaidinavoicebreakingwithemotion.“Yououghtnottogivewaytogrief.Yoursorrowisagreatone,butyououghttofindconsolation.”

           “Iamcrushed,Iamannihilated,Iamnolongeraman!”saidAlexeyAlexandrovitch,lettinggoherhand,butstillgazingintoherbrimmingeyes.“MypositionissoawfulbecauseIcanfindnowhere,Icannotfindwithinmestrengthtosupportme.