Page 850 sur 2288

"It's too violent a transition," he said, "to go from such

company to old Madame Vrede. And besides, you will only give her

a chance for talking scandal, while here you arouse none but such

different feelings of the highest and most opposite kind," he

said to her.

Anna pondered for an instant in uncertainty. This shrewd man's

flattering words, the naive, childlike affection shown her by

Liza Merkalova, and all the social atmosphere she was used to,-it

was all so easy, and what was in store for her was so difficult,

that she was for a minute in uncertainty whether to remain,

whether to put off a little longer the painful moment of

explanation. But remembering what was in store for her alone at

home, if she did not come to some decision, remembering that

gesture-terrible even in memory-when she had clutched her hair in

both hands-she said good-bye and went away.

Chapter 19