The Precipice

by Ivan Goncharov

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Excerpt: ...of your senses?" "Or into a house of detention for the rest of her life." "I'm much more likely to send you, so that you cease to beat her. What are you doing, spying here in this abominable way?" said Raisky between his teeth, as he cast a glance at Vera's window. In another moment he was gone. Raisky hardly slept at all that night, and he appeared next morning in his aunt's sitting-room with dry, weary eyes. The whole family had assembled for tea on this particular bright morning. Vera greeted him gaily, as he pressed her hand feverishly and looked straight into her eyes. She returned his gaze calmly and quietly. "How elegant you are this morning," he said. "Do you call a simple straw-coloured blouse elegant?" she asked. "But the scarlet band on your hair, with the coils of hair drawn across it, the belt with the beautiful clasp, and the scarlet-embroidered shoes.... You have excellent taste, and I congratulate you." "I am glad that I meet with your approval, but your enthusiasm is rather strange. Tell me the reason of this extraordinary tone." "Good, I will tell you. Let us go for a stroll." He saw that she gave him a quick glance of suspicion as he proposed an appointment with her for ten o'clock. After a moment's thought she agreed, sat down in a corner, and was silent. About ten o'clock she picked up her work and her parasol, and signed to him to follow her as she left the house. She walked in silence through the garden, and they sat down on a bench at the top of the cliff. "It was by chance," said Raisky, who was hardly able to restrain his emotion, "that I have learnt a part of your secret." "So it seems," she answered coldly. "You were listening yesterday." "Accidentally, I swear." "I believe you." "Vera, there is no longer any doubt that you have a lover. Who is he?" "Don't ask." "Who is there in the world who could desire your happiness more ardently than I do? Why have you confidence in him and not in me?" "Because I love him." "The man... Read Less

Excerpt: ...of your senses?" "Or into a house of detention for the rest of her life." "I'm much more likely to send you, so that you cease to beat her. What are you doing, spying here in this abominable way?" said Raisky between his teeth, as he cast a glance at Vera's window. In another moment he was gone. Raisky hardly slept at all that night, and he appeared next morning in his aunt's sitting-room with dry, weary eyes. The whole family had assembled for tea on this particular bright morning. Vera greeted him gaily, as he ... Read More