All that night also, Lavretsky did not sleep. He was not unhappy, he was not agitated; on the contrary, he was perfectly calm; but he could not sleep. He was not even recalling the past. He simply looked at his present life. His heart beat firmly and equably, the hours flew by, he did not even think about sleeping. Only at times there came into his head the thought, "Surely this is not true, this is all nonsense." And then he would stop short, and presently let his head fall back and again betake himself to gazing into the stream of his life. XXVII. Madame Kalitine did not receive Lavretsky over cordially, when he paid her a visit next day. "Ah! he's making a custom of it," she thought. She was not of herself disposed to like him very much, and Panshine, who had got her thoroughly under his influence, had praised him the evening before in a very astutely disparaging manner. As she did not treat him as an honored guest, nor think it necessary to trouble herself about one who was a relation, almost a member of the family circle, before half an hour had elapsed he went out into the garden. There he and Liza strolled along one of the alleys, while Lenochka and Shurochka played around the flower-pots at a little distance from them. Liza was as quiet as usual, but more than usually pale. She took the folded leaf of the newspaper from her pocket, and handed it to Lavretsky. "That is terrible news," she said. Lavretsky made no reply. "But, after all, perhaps it may not be true." "That is why I asked you not to mention it to any one." Liza walked on a little farther. "Tell me," she began, "are not you sorry?--not at all sorry?" "I don't know myself what I feel," answered Lavretsky. "But you loved her once?" "I did." "Very much?" --"Yes." "And yet you are not sorry for her death?" "It is not only now that she has become dead for me." "You are saying what is sinful. Don't be angry with me. You have called me your friend. A friend may say anything. And it really seems terrible to me. The expression on your face yesterday was not good to see. Do you remember your complaining about her not long ago? And at that very time, perhaps, she was already no longer among the living. It is terrible. It is just as if it had been sent you as a punishment." Lavretsky laughed bitterly. "You think so?--at all events I am free now." Liza shuddered. "Do not speak so any more. What use is your freedom to you? You should not be thinking of that now, but of forgiveness--" "I forgave her long ago," interrupted Lavretsky, with an impatient gesture. "No, I don't mean that," answered Liza, reddening; "you have not understood me properly. It is you who ought to strive to get pardoned." "Who is there to pardon me?" "Who? Why God. Who can pardon us except God?" Lavretsky grasped her hand. "Ah! Lizaveta Mikhailovna!" he exclaimed, "believe me, I have already been punished enough--I have already expiated all, believe me."