CHAPTER1THEENGAGEMENT
; 'shystericshadendedinafaintingfit, andthen "aterrible, awfulweaknesshadfollowed, ; , , , andwhatifitturnedtobrainfever!"
MadameHohlakovlookedgravelyalarmed."Thisisserious, serious," sheaddedateveryword, , andwasbeginningtodescribehisadventures, .
"Lise," shewhisperedalmostinhisear, "Lisehasgreatlysurprisedmejustnow, , too, , assoonasyouhadgone, shebegantobetrulyremorsefulforhavinglaughedatyouto-dayandyesterday, thoughshewasnotlaughingatyou, , almostreadytocry, , , AlexeyFyodorovitch, anddon', forshe'? Shesaidjustnowthatyouwereafriendofherchildhood, 'thegreatestfriendofherchildhood'—justthinkofthat—'greatestfriend'—andwhataboutme? Shehasverystrongfeelingsandmemories, and, what'smore, sheusesthesephrases, mostunexpectedwords, -tree, forinstance: 'sstandingtherestill; sothere'-treesarenotlikepeople, AlexeyFyodorovitch, theydon'tchangequickly.'Mamma,' shesaid, 'Irememberthispinetreeasinadream,' onlyshesaidsomethingsooriginalaboutitthatIcan', I', good-by! ! AlexeyFyodorovitch, I', cheerherup, ," shecried, goingtoherdoor, "hereI'vebroughtyouAlexeyFyodorovitch, , Iassureyou; onthecontrary, heissurprisedthatyoucouldsupposeso."
"Merci, , AlexeyFyodorovitch."
, , and, aspeoplealwaysdoinsuchcases, shebeganimmediatelytalkingofotherthings, asthoughtheywereofabsorbinginteresttoheratthemoment.
