“Yes, Princess,” said Nikoláy at last with a sad smile, “it doesn’t seem long ago since we first met at Boguchárovo, but how much water has flowed since then! In what distress we all seemed to be then, yet I would give much to bring back that time⁠ ⁠… but there’s no bringing it back.”

Princess Márya gazed intently into his eyes with her own luminous ones as he said this. She seemed to be trying to fathom the hidden meaning of his words which would explain his feeling for her.

“Yes, yes,” said she, “but you have no reason to regret the past, Count. As I understand your present life, I think you will always recall it with satisfaction, because the self-sacrifice that fills it now⁠ ⁠…”

“I cannot accept your praise,” he interrupted her hurriedly. “On the contrary I continually reproach myself.⁠ ⁠… But this is not at all an interesting or cheerful subject.”