She is such a noblehearted girl.
She doesn’t like my father either. She says he’s cunning and mercenary.
I defended him; she didn’t believe me.
If I don’t succeed tomorrow with my father (and she feels convinced I shan’t) then she advises me to get Princess K. to support me.
Then no one would dare to oppose it.
We promised to be like brother and sister to each other.
Oh, if only you knew her story too, how unhappy she is, with what aversion she looks on her life with her stepmother, all her surroundings. She didn’t tell me directly, as though she were afraid even of me, but I guessed it from some words, Natasha, darling!
How delighted she would be with you if she could see you!
And what a kind heart she has!
One is so at home with her!
You are created to be sisters and to love one another.
I’ve been thinking so all along.
And really I should like to bring you two together, and stand by admiring you.
Don’t imagine anything, Natasha, little one, and let me talk about her.
I want to talk to you about her and to her about you.
You know I love you more than anyone, more than her. . . .You’re everything to me!”
Natasha looked at him caressingly, and as it were mournfully, and did not speak.
His words seemed like a caress, and yet a torment to her.
“And I saw how fine Katya was a long time ago, at least a fortnight,” he went on. “ I’ve been going to them every evening, you see.
As I went home I kept thinking of you both, kept comparing you.”
“Which of us came off best?” asked Natasha, smiling.
“Sometimes you and sometimes she.
But you were always the best in the long run.
When I talk to her I always feel I become somehow better, cleverer, and somehow finer.
But tomorrow, tomorrow will settle everything!”
“And aren’t you sorry for her?
She loves you, you know. You say you’ve noticed it yourself.”
“Yes, I am, Natasha.
But we’ll all three love one another, and then . . .”
“And then ‘goodbye’” Natasha brought out quietly, as though to herself.
Alyosha looked at her in amazement.
But our conversation was suddenly interrupted in the most unexpected way.
In the kitchen, which was at the same time the entry, we heard a slight noise as though someone had come in.
A minute later Mavra opened the door and began nodding to Alyosha on the sly, beckoning to him.
We all turned to her.
“Someone’s asking for you. Come along,” she said in a mysterious voice.
“Who can be asking for me now?” said Alyosha, looking at us in bewilderment.
“I’m coming!”
In the kitchen stood his father’s servant in livery.
It appeared that the prince had stopped his carriage at Natasha’s lodging on his way home, and had sent to inquire whether Alyosha were there.
Explaining this, the footman went away at once.
“Strange!
This has never happened before,” said Alyosha, looking at us in confusion. “What does it mean?”
Natasha looked at him uneasily.
Suddenly Mavra opened the door again.
“Here’s the prince himself!” she said in a hurried whisper, and at once withdrew.
Natasha turned pale and got up from her seat.
Suddenly her eyes kindled.
She stood leaning a little on the table, and looked in agitation towards the door, by which the uninvited visitor would enter.
“Natasha, don’t be afraid! You’re with me.