By the way, I imagine there must always be something special, a kind of pride in the feeling of a person who knows and says that he is poor.”
“I have never experienced anything of that sort, thanks to my sister. I referred to my position just now only because it happened to come up in our conversation.”
“Well, but you must admit that even you have something of that pride I spoke of just now.”
“For instance?”
“For instance, surely you — excuse my question — you wouldn’t be willing to marry a rich man?”
“If I loved him very much . . . no, probably even then I wouldn’t marry him.”
“There, you see!” cried Arkady, and after a moment’s pause he added, “And why wouldn’t you marry him?”
“Because even in the ballads unequal matches are always unlucky.”
“Perhaps you want to dominate, or . . .”
“Oh, no! What’s the good of that?
On the contrary, I’m ready to obey; only inequality is difficult.
But to keep one’s self-respect and to obey — that I can understand; that is happiness; but a subordinate existence . . . no, I’ve had enough of that as it is.”
“Had enough of that,” repeated Arkady after Katya. “You’re not Anna Sergeyevna’s sister for nothing; you’re just as independent as she is; but you’re more reserved.
I’m sure you would never be the first to express your feelings, however strong or sacred . . .”
“Well, what would you expect?” asked Katya.
“You are equally intelligent; you have as much character, if not more, than she . . .”
“Don’t compare me with my sister, please,” interrupted Katya hurriedly; “it puts me too much at a disadvantage.
You seem to forget that my sister is beautiful and clever and . . . you in particular, Arkady Nikolaich, ought not to say such things and with such a serious face too.”
“What does that mean? ‘You in particular.’ And what makes you conclude that I’m joking?”
“Of course you’re joking.”
“Do you think so?
But what if I’m convinced of what I say?
If I find that I’ve not even put it strongly enough?”
“I don’t understand you.”
“Really?
Well, now I see that I certainly overestimated your powers of observation.”
“How is that?”
Arkady made no answer and turned away, but Katya searched for a few more crumbs in the basket and began throwing them to the sparrows; but she moved her arm too vigorously and the birds flew away without stopping to pick them up.
“Katerina Sergeyevna,” began Arkady suddenly, “it is probably a matter of indifference to you; but you should know, I would not exchange you, neither for your sister, nor for anyone else in the world.”
He got up and walked quickly away, as if he were frightened by the words which had burst from his lips.
Katya let her two hands drop together with the basket, on to her knees, and with bowed head she gazed for some time after Arkady.
Gradually a crimson flush spread a little to her cheeks, but her lips did not smile, and her dark eyes had a look of perplexity and of some other still undefined feeling.
“Are you alone?” sounded the voice of Anna Sergeyevna, quite close to her. “I thought you came into the garden with Arkady.”
Katya slowly raised her eyes to her sister (elegantly, almost elaborately dressed, she was standing on the path and tickling Fifi’s ears with the tip of her parasol) and slowly answered,
“I’m alone.”
“So I see,” answered the other sister with a laugh. “I suppose he has gone back to his room.”
“Yes.”
“Were you reading together?”
“Yes.”
Anna Sergeyevna took Katya under the chin and raised her face.
“You didn’t quarrel, I hope.”
“No,” said Katya, quietly moving away her sister’s hand.
“How solemnly you answer.
I thought I should find him here and was going to suggest a walk with him.
He keeps on asking me about it.
They have brought your new shoes from the town; go and try them on; I noticed yesterday that your old ones are quite worn out.
Really you don’t pay enough attention to these things; but all the same you’ve got such lovely little feet!
And your hands are good . . . only rather large; so you must make the most of your feet.
But you’re not a flirt.”
Anna Sergeyevna went farther down the path, her beautiful dress rustling slightly as she walked. Katya rose from the bench, and taking Heine with her, also went off — only not to try on the new shoes.