Chapter 35 - Page 2

afterwards took some fancy or
knight-errantry or another into his head. But, as I say, it is a
hole-and-corner business. I am only just beginning to understand
my father "--the fact that Woloda called Papa "my father" instead
of "Papa" somehow hurt me--"and though I can see that he is kind
and clever, he is irresponsible and frivolous to a degree that--
Well, the whole thing is astonishing. He cannot so much as look
upon a woman calmly. You yourself know how he falls in love with
every one that he meets. You know it, and so does Mimi."

"What do you mean?" I said.

"What I say. Not long ago I learnt that he used to be in love
with Mimi herself when he was a young man, and that he used to
send her poetry, and that there really was something between
them. Mimi is heart-sore about it to this day"--and Woloda burst
out laughing.

"Impossible!" I cried in astonishment.

"But the principal thing at this moment," went on Woloda,
becoming serious again, and relapsing into French, "is to think
how delighted all our relations will be with this marriage! Why,
she will probably have children!"

Woloda's prudence and forethought struck me so forcibly that I
had no answer to make. Just at this moment Lubotshka approached
us.

"So you know?" she said with a joyful face.

"Yes," said Woloda. "Still, I am surprised at you, Lubotshka. You
are no longer a baby in long clothes. Why should you be so
pleased because Papa is going to marry a piece of trash?"

At this Lubotshka's face fell, and she became serious.

"Oh, Woloda!" she exclaimed. "Why 'a piece of trash' indeed? How
can you dare to speak of Avdotia like that? If Papa is going to
marry her she cannot be 'trash.'"

"No, not trash, so to speak, but--"

"No 'buts' at all!" interrupted Lubotshka, flaring up. "You have
never heard me call the girl whom you are in love with 'trash!'
How, then, can you speak so of Papa and a respectable woman?
Although you are my elder brother, I won't allow you to speak
like that! You ought not to!"

"Mayn't I even express an opinion about--"

"No, you mayn't!" repeated Lubotshka. "No one ought to criticise
such a father as ours. Mimi has the right to, but not you,
however much you may be the eldest brother."

"Oh you don't understand anything," said Woloda contemptuously.
"Try and do so. How can it be a good thing that a 'Dunetchka' of
an Epifanov should take the place of our dead Mamma?"

For a moment Lubotshka was silent. Then the tears suddenly came