Part 5 (1/2)
”May I know to whom?” asked Vaninka coldly.
”To the son of the Councillor-in-Ordinary,” replied the general. ”What is your opinion of him?”
”He is a worthy and n.o.ble young man, I am told, but I can have formed no opinion except from hearsay. Has he not been in garrison at Moscow for the last three months?”
”Yes,” said the general, ”but in three months' time he should return.”
Vaninka remained silent.
”Have you nothing to say in reply?” asked the general.
”Nothing, father; but I have a favour to ask of you.”
”What is it?”
”I do not wish to marry until I am twenty years old.”
”Why not?”
”I have taken a vow to that effect.”
”But if circ.u.mstances demanded the breaking of this vow, and made the celebration of this marriage imperatively necessary?”
”What circ.u.mstances?” asked Vaninka.
”Foedor loves you,” said the general, looking steadily at Vaninka.
”I know that,” said Vaninka, with as little emotion as if the question did not concern her.
”You know that!” cried the general.
”Yes; he has told me so.”
”When?”
”Yesterday.”
”And you replied-?”
”That he must leave here at once.”
”And he consented?”
”Yes, father.”
”When does he go?”
”He has gone.”
”How can that be?” said the general: ”he only left me at ten o'clock.”