“As you can see. Alexei Ivanych is, of course, an intelligent man, and from a good family, and he has means; but when I think that I’d have to kiss him before the altar in front of everybody…Not for anything! Not for all the blessings in the world!”
Marya Ivanovna’s words opened my eyes and explained many things to me. I understood the persistent maligning with which Shvabrin pursued her. He had probably noticed our mutual inclination and was trying to draw us away from each other. The words that had given rise to our quarrel seemed still more vile to me, now that I saw them, not as coarse and indecent mockery, but as deliberate slander. The wish to punish the insolent maligner grew still stronger in me, and I started waiting impatiently for a convenient occasion.
I did not have to wait long. The next day, as I sat over an elegy and gnawed my pen while waiting for a rhyme, Shvabrin knocked at my window. I set down the pen, took up my sword, and went out to him.
“Why put it off?” said Shvabrin. “We’re not being watched. Let’s go down to the river. Nobody will interfere with us there.”
We set off in silence. Having gone down the steep path, we stopped by the river and drew our swords. Shvabrin was more skillful than I, but I was stronger and bolder, and Monsieur Beaupré, who had once been a soldier, had given me several lessons in fencing, which I made use of. Shvabrin had not expected to find me such a dangerous opponent. For a long time we could not do each other any harm; finally, noticing that Shvabrin was weakening, I stepped up my attack and almost drove him into the river. Suddenly I heard my name uttered loudly. I turned and saw Savelyich running to me down the hillside path…At that same moment I felt a sharp stab in my chest under the right shoulder; I fell down and lost consciousness.
CHAPTER FIVE Love
Ah, you, maiden, pretty maiden,
Don’t go marrying so young.
Ask your father, ask your mother,
Father, mother, and all your kin;
Store up, maiden, wit and wisdom,
Wit and wisdom your dowry be.
FOLK SONG
If you find a better one, you’ll forget me,
If you find a worse one, you’ll remember me.
DITTO
On coming to, I could not collect my senses for a while and did not understand what had happened to me. I was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room, and felt a great weakness. Before me stood Savelyich with a candle in his hand. Someone was carefully unwinding the bandages that bound my chest and shoulder. My thoughts gradually cleared. I remembered my duel and realized that I had been wounded. Just then the door creaked.
“Well? How is he?” whispered a voice that made me tremble.
“Still in the same condition,” Savelyich answered with a sigh, “still unconscious, for the fifth day now.”
I wanted to turn, but could not.
“Where am I? Who’s here?” I said with effort.
Marya Ivanovna came up to my bed and bent over me.
“Well? How are you feeling?” she said.
“Thank God,” I replied in a weak voice. “Is it you, Marya Ivanovna? Tell me…” I had no strength to go on and fell silent. Savelyich gasped. Joy showed on his face.
“He’s come around! He’s come around!” he repeated. “Thank the Lord! Well, dearest Pyotr Andreich, how you frightened me! Just fancy—five days!”
Marya Ivanovna interrupted him.
“Don’t talk to him much, Savelyich,” she said. “He’s still weak.”
She went out and quietly closed the door. My thoughts were in turmoil. So I was in the commandant’s house, Marya Ivanovna had come to me. I wanted to ask Savelyich some questions, but the old man shook his head and stopped his ears. I closed my eyes in vexation and soon sank into sleep.
On waking up, I called Savelyich and instead of him saw Marya Ivanovna standing there; her angelic voice greeted me. I cannot express the sweet feeling that came over me at that moment. I seized her hand and clung to it, pouring out tears of tenderness. Masha did not pull it away…and suddenly her lips touched my cheek, and I felt their ardent and fresh kiss. Fire ran through me.
“Dear, good Marya Ivanovna,” I said to her, “be my wife, consent to make my happiness.”
She came to her senses.
“For God’s sake, calm down,” she said, taking her hand from me. “You’re still in danger: the wound may open. Look after yourself, if only for my sake.” With those words she went out, leaving me in drunken ecstasy. Happiness resurrected me. She’ll be mine! She loves me! This thought filled the whole of my being.
After that I grew better by the hour. I was treated by the regimental barber, for there was no other doctor in the fortress, and, thank God, he did not get too clever. Youth and nature speeded my recovery. The commandant’s whole family took care of me. Marya Ivanovna never left my side. Naturally, at the first good opportunity I took up my interrupted declaration, and Marya Ivanovna listened to me more patiently. Without any affectation, she confessed to me her heartfelt inclination and said that her parents would of course be glad of her happiness.
