And Sanin listened ecstatically, enjoying the very sound of her voice, as the day before he had gloated over her handwriting.
'Mamma is very much distressed,' Gemma began again, and her words flew very rapidly one after another; 'she refuses to take into consideration that I dislike Herr Klüber, that I never was betrothed to him from love, but only because of her urgent entreaties. . . She suspects—you, Dimitri; that's to say, to speak plainly, she's convinced I 'm in love with you, and she is more unhappy about it because only the day before yesterday nothing of the sort had occurred to her, and she even begged you to advise me. . . . It was a strange request, wasn't it? Now she calls you . . . Dimitri, a hypocrite and a cunning fellow, says that you have betrayed her confidence, and predicts that you will deceive me.. . .'
'But, Gemma,' cried Sanin, 'do you mean to say you didn't tell her?. . .'
'I told her nothing! What right had I without consulting you?'
Sanin threw up his arms. 'Gemma, I hope that now, at least, you will tell all to her and take me to her. . . . I want to convince your mother that I am not a base deceiver!'
Sanin's bosom fairly heaved with the flood of generous and ardent emotions.
132
