Lavretzky went up-stairs, and found Marfa Timofeevna at cards also: she was playing _duratchki_ (fools) with Nastasya Karpovna. Roska barked at him; but both the old ladies welcomed him cordially, and Marfa Timofeevna, in particular, seemed to be in high spirits. "Ah! Fedya! Pray come in,"--she said:--"sit down, my dear little father. We shall be through our game directly. Wouldst thou like some preserves? Schurotchka, get him a jar of strawberries. Thou dost not want it? Well, then sit as thou art; but as for smoking--thou must not: I cannot bear thy tobacco, and, moreover, it makes Matros sneeze." Lavretzky made haste to assert that he did not care to smoke. "Hast thou been down-stairs?"--went on the old woman:--"whom didst thou see there? Is Panshin still on hand, as usual? And didst thou see Liza? No? She intended to come hither.... Yes, there she is; speak of an angel...." Liza entered the room and, on perceiving Lavretzky, she blushed. "I have run in to see you for a minute, Marfa Timofeevna," she began.... "Why for a minute?"--returned the old woman. "What makes all you young girls such restless creatures? Thou seest, that I have a visitor: chatter to him, entertain him." Liza seated herself on the edge of a chair, raised her eyes to Lavretzky,--and felt that it was impossible not to give him to understand how her interview with Panshin had ended. But how was that to be done? She felt both ashamed and awkward. She had not been acquainted with him long, with that man who both went rarely to church and bore with so much indifference the death of his wife,--and here she was already imparting her secrets to him.... He took an interest in her, it is true; she, herself, trusted him, and felt attracted to him; but, nevertheless, she felt ashamed, as though a stranger had entered her pure, virgin chamber. Marfa Timofeevna came to her assistance. "If thou wilt not entertain him,"--she began, "who will entertain him, poor fellow? I am too old for him, he is too clever for me, and for Nastasya Karpovna he is too old, you must give her nothing but very young men." "How can I entertain Feodor Ivanitch?"--said Liza.--"If he likes, I will play something for him on the piano,"--she added, irresolutely. "Very good indeed: that's my clever girl,"--replied Marfa Timofeevna,--"Go down-stairs, my dear people; when you are through, come back; for I have been left the 'fool,' and I feel insulted, and want to win back." Liza rose: Lavretzky followed her. As they were descending the staircase, Liza halted. "They tell the truth,"--she began:--"when they say that the hearts of men are full of contradictions. Your example ought to frighten me, to render me distrustful of marriage for love, but I...." "You have refused him?"--interrupted Lavretzky.