‘“I see what is for your future good, better than you do yourself. The whole thing is nothing more than a passing romantic fancy, and it won’t be long before you yourself will give it up as a piece of folly.” ‘“No,” I exclaimed, “not before Annita or I am dead.” And with these words I left my father. ‘In bad spirits I went to my mother, and related the whole story to her; and although she as well would have preferred that I should marry Theodora, I believe that she would have forgiven Annita and me, and have given us her blessing. A mother is always ready to pardon her only son, and I am pretty sure that my mother would have taken my part, even if I had turned into a brigand or murderer. But her opinion was not of the slightest weight, against that of my father. ‘I told Annita that my father would not consent to our marrying, but I assured her, over and over again, that she, and nobody but she, should be my wife. ‘“And, Annita,” I asked, “what do you say?” ‘“I!” said Annita; “why, he may take my life before I consent to be married to any of his serfs. You may implicitly rely on me. Neither persuasion nor threat will ever influence me. I am yours, and never in this world will I belong to any other man.” ‘In this way time slipped by. Annita and I were happy in the consciousness of our mutual affection for each other, but we were unhappy because our parents took no share with us in it. My father was gloomy, and severe with everybody, and I seldom spoke to him. Annita had a good voice, and sang our national Russian songs beautifully; but her singing seemed to give my father pain, and to jar on his ears, for he left the room as soon as he heard her voice. ‘A short time afterwards, a letter came from a mercantile house at Novgorod, to say that I must go there to take part in arranging some complicated money matters connected with a patrimony which had come to me through the death of an uncle. Annita was in despair at my having to leave her, but I endeavoured to console her with the thought that it would not be for long, and that I would hurry as much as possible, and return as soon as I could. I also tried to comfort her with the reflection that I had now come in for property of my own, so that we could marry as soon as we wished, independently of my father, and go where we liked, and even, perhaps, make a trip to the country of her own childhood. ‘The business, however, took longer than I had expected, and six months elapsed before all was settled and I was able to return home. The nearer I approached my home, the more I hurried on, and at last I drove from station to station like a madman. ‘Do you believe in omens, Father Gurij? I expected some mishap, and I was terribly apprehensive; the nearer I approached my home, the more my fears increased. I reached home in the afternoon. My father and mother came to receive me. I saluted them, but I saw nothing of Annita. ‘“Where is Annita?” I asked. ‘“She is not at home,” answered my father.