Chapter 25

           WhenAlexeyAlexandrovitchcameintotheCountessLidiaIvanovna’ssnuglittleboudoir,decoratedwitholdchinaandhungwithportraits,theladyherselfhadnotyetmadeherappearance.

           Shewaschangingherdress.

           Aclothwaslaidonaroundtable,andonitstoodachinateaserviceandasilverspirit-lampandteakettle.AlexeyAlexandrovitchlookedidlyaboutattheendlessfamiliarportraitswhichadornedtheroom,andsittingdowntothetable,heopenedaNewTestamentlyinguponit.Therustleofthecountess’ssilkskirtdrewhisattentionoff.

           “Wellnow,wecansitquietly,”saidCountessLidiaIvanovna,slippinghurriedlywithanagitatedsmilebetweenthetableandthesofa,“andtalkoverourtea.”

           Aftersomewordsofpreparation,CountessLidiaIvanovna,breathinghardandflushingcrimson,gaveintoAlexeyAlexandrovitch’shandsthelettershehadreceived.

           Afterreadingtheletter,hesatalongwhileinsilence.

           “Idon’tthinkIhavetherighttorefuseher,”hesaid,timidlyliftinghiseyes.

           “Dearfriend,youneverseeevilinanyone!”

           “Onthecontrary,Iseethatallisevil.Butwhetheritisjust....”

           Hisfaceshowedirresolution,andaseekingforcounsel,support,andguidanceinamatterhedidnotunderstand.

           “No,”CountessLidiaIvanovnainterruptedhim;“therearelimitstoeverything.Icanunderstandimmorality,”shesaid,notquitetruthfully,sinceshenevercouldunderstandthatwhichleadswomentoimmorality;“butIdon’tunderstandcruelty:towhom?toyou!Howcanshestayinthetownwhereyouare?No,thelongeronelivesthemoreonelearns.