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Now, then, who had taken the pains to accuse me to my father? The General, Andrew Karlovitch? He did not trouble hiht it worth while to report my duel to him My suspicions fell on Alexis He only would find soht be my dismissal from the fortress and separation fro to Marie She met me on the doorstep

"What has happened to you? how pale you are!"

"All's over," I replied, handing herread the letter she returned it, and said in a tre voice: "It was not my destiny Your parents do not wish me in their family; may the will of God be done! He knows better than hat is best for us There is nothing to be done in the matter, Peter; you, at least,her hand "You love o and throw ourselves at your parents' feet They are siive us their benediction; ill marry; and in time, I am sure, ill soften my father My mother will intercede for us, and he will pardon me"

"No, Peter, I will not marry you without the benediction of your parents You would not be happy without their blessing Let us submit to the will of God If you meet another bride, if you love her, may God be with you! I, Peter, I will pray for both of you" Tears interrupted her, and she went away; I wished to follow her into the house, but I was not ed in melancholy, when Saveliitch came to interrupt, "see if I am a spy on my master, and if I try to embroil father and son"

I took the paper from his hand; it was his reply toat the old man's letter I was in no condition to write to my father, and to calm my mother his letter seemed sufficient

From that day, Marie scarcely spoke to me, and even tried to avoid me The Commandant's house became insupportable, and I accustomed myself, little by little, to remain alone inmy persistency she let me alone I saw Ivan Mironoff only when the service required it I had but rare intervieith Alexis, for whoht I discovered in him a secret enave myself up to a melancholy which was fed by solitude and inaction Love burned on in silence and torturedand literature; I let myself become completely depressed; and I feared that I should either become a lunatic or rush into dissipation, when events occurred that had great influence onand healthy tone to my mind