पृष्ठ 616 / 2288

"No, why not? I'll tell you simply," said Varenka, and, without

waiting for a reply, she went on: "Yes, it brings up memories,

once painful ones. I cared for someone once, and I used to sing

him that song."

Kitty with big, wide-open eyes gazed silently, sympathetically at

Varenka.

"I cared for him, and he cared for me; but his mother did not

wish it, and he married another girl. He's living now not far

from us, and I see him sometimes. You didn't think I had a love

story too," she said, and there was a faint gleam in her handsome

face of that fire which Kitty felt must once have glowed all over

her.

"I didn't think so? Why, if I were a man, I could never care for

anyone else after knowing you. Only I can't understand how he

could, to please his mother, forget you and make you unhappy; he

had no heart."

"Oh, no, he's a very good man, and I'm not unhappy; quite the

contrary, I'm very happy. Well, so we shan't be singing any more

now," she added, turning towards the house.