"It is necessary to think of that. I must think of it."
Then, raising his head, he closely scrutinised his daughter and
the bridegroom, and, rising from his chair, he said sternly and
brusquely: "I am going away for awhile to my little cabinet. You
surely won't feel lonesome without me."
And he went out with bent back and drooping head, heavily
scraping with his feet.
The young people, thus left alone, exchanged a few empty phrases,
and, evidently conscious that these only helped to remove them
further from each other, they maintained a painful, awkward and
expectant silence. Taking an orange, Lubov began to peel it with
exaggerated attention, while Smolin, lowering his eyes, examined
his moustaches, which he carefully stroked with his left hand,
toyed with a knife and suddenly asked the girl in a lowered
voice:
"Pardon me for my indiscretion. It is evidently really difficult
for you, Lubov Yakovlevna, to live with your father. He's a man
with old-fashioned views and, pardon me, he's rather hard-
hearted!"
Lubov shuddered, and, casting at the red-headed man a grateful
look, said:
"It isn't easy, but I have grown accustomed to it.
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