A sweet sense of repose filled Sophia Pietrovna’s soul. The most difficult and delicate thing was already said. The tormenting question was settled and done with. Now she could breathe easily and look straight at Ilyin. She looked at him, and the egotistical sense of superiority that a woman feels over her lover caressed her pleasantly. She liked the way this big strong man with a virile angry face and a huge black beard sat obediently at her side and hung his head. They were silent for a little while. “Nothing is yet settled and done with,” Ilyin began. “You are reading me a sermon. ‘I love and respect my husband ... the sanctity of the home....’ I know all that for myself and I can tell you more. Honestly and sincerely I confess that I consider my conduct as criminal and immoral. What else? But why say what is known already? Instead of sermonizing you had far better tell me what I am to do.” “I have already told you. Go away.” “I have gone. You know quite well. I have started five times and half-way there I have come back again. I can show you the through tickets. I have kept them all safe. But I haven’t the power to run away from you. I struggle frightfully, but what in Heaven’s name is the use? If I cannot harden myself, if I’m weak and faint-hearted. I can’t fight nature. Do you understand? I cannot! I run away from her and she holds me back by my coattails. Vile, vulgar weakness.” Ilyin blushed, got up, and began walking by the bench: “How I hate and despise myself. Good Lord, I’m like a vicious boy--running after another man’s wife, writing idiotic letters, degrading myself. Ach!” He clutched his head, grunted and sit down. “And now comes your lack of sincerity into the bargain,” he continued with bitterness. “If you don’t think I am playing a nice game--why are you here? What drew you? In my letters I only ask you for a straightforward answer: Yes, or No; and instead of giving it me, every day you contrive that we shall meet ‘by chance’ and you treat me to quotations from a moral copy-book.” Madame Loubianzev reddened and got frightened. She suddenly felt the kind of awkwardness that a modest woman would feel at being suddenly discovered naked. “You seem to suspect some deceit on my side,” she murmured. “I have always given you a straight answer; and I asked you for one to-day.” “Ah, does one ask such things? If you had said to me at once ‘Go away,’ I would have gone long ago, but you never told me to. Never once have you been frank. Strange irresolution. My God, either you’re playing with me, or....”