Pale, with knitted brow and quivering lips, he stared straight
into Taras's face and said in a dull voice: "True! I will go to
ruin and--amen! The sooner the better!"
Lubov sprang up from the chair with frightened face, and ran up
to Taras, who stood calmly in the middle of the room, with his
hands thrust in his pockets.
"Foma! Oh! Shame! You have been eavesdropping. Oh, Foma!" said
she in confusion.
"Keep quiet, you lamb!" said Foma to her.
"Yes, eavesdropping is wrong!" ejaculated Taras, slowly, without
lifting from Foma his look of contempt.
"Let it be wrong!" said Foma, with a wave of the hand. "Is it my
fault that the truth can be learned by eavesdropping only?"
"Go away, Foma, please!" entreated Lubov, pressing close to her
brother.
"Perhaps you have something to say to me?" asked Taras, calmly.
"I?" exclaimed Foma. "What can I say? I cannot say anything. It
is you who--you, I believe, know everything."
"You have nothing then to discuss with me?" asked Taras again.
"I am very pleased."
He turned sideways to Foma and inquired of Lubov:
"What do you think--will father return soon?"
Foma looked at him, and, feeling something akin to respect for
the man, deliberately left the house.
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