Raisky advanced noiselessly over the grass. Vera was standing with her back to him, her face turned towards the ikon, unconscious of his approach. On the grass by the chapel lay her straw hat and sunshade. Her hands did not make the sign of the Cross, her lips uttered no prayers, her whole body appeared motionless, as if she hardly breathed; her whole being was at prayer.
Involuntarily Raisky too held his breath. Is she begging for happiness, or is she confiding her sorrow to the Crucified?
Suddenly she awoke from her prayer, turned and started when she caught sight of Raisky.
“What are you doing here?” she said severely.
“Yakob met me and said you were here; so I came. Grandmother....”
“Since you mention Grandmother, I will point out that she has been watching me for some time. Do you know the reason?” she asked, looking straight into his eyes.
“No, it was not her idea to watch me. Tell me without concealing anything, have you communicated to her your suppositions about love and a letter written on blue paper?”
“Then of love. I must know what you said?”
“We were speaking of you. Grandmother has her own questionings as to why you are so serious one moment and so gay the next. I said (it is a long time ago) that perhaps you were in love.”
“Chiefly because of your evident excitement.”
“Grandmother’s peace of mind is dear to me; dearer, perhaps, than you think.”
“She told me herself that she believed in your boundless love for her.”
“Thank God! I am grateful to you for repeating this to me. Go to Grandmother and destroy this curiosity of hers about my being in love, in ecstasy. It cannot be difficult for you, and you will fulfil my wishes if you love me.”
“What would I not do to prove it to you. Later in the evening....”
“No, this minute. When I come to dinner her eyes are to look on me as before, do you understand?”
“Well, I will go!” promised Raisky, but did not stir.
For answer she pointed in the direction of the house.
“One word more,” she said, detaining him. “You must never, never talk about me to Grandmother, do you understand?”
She motioned him to be gone, and when turning into an avenue he looked round for a moment, she had vanished. She had, as Grandmother said, disappeared like a ghost. A moment later there was the report of a gun from the precipice. Raisky wondered who was playing tricks there, and went towards the house.