On his part, Alex was delighted, all day he thought about his new znakomke; night image of dark beauty and a dream haunted his imagination. Dawn barely worked, he was dressed. Without giving himself time to charge the gun, he went out into the field with his faithful Sbogar and ran to the place of the promised date. About half an hour passed in intolerable waiting for him; Finally he saw between the bushes glimpsed a blue sundress and rushed to meet cute Akulina. She smiled at the delight of his gratitude; but Alex immediately noticed on her face traces of sadness and anxiety. He wanted to know the reason. Lisa confessed, that the act it seemed to her frivolous, she regretted it, that this time, not like it does not contain the word, but that this meeting will be the last and that she asked him to stop dating, that to anything good can not bring them. All this, of course, it was said on the peasant dialect; but thoughts and feelings, unusual in a simple girl, struck Alexei. He used all his eloquence, in order to avert Akulina of its intention; I assured her of the innocence of their desires, He promised never to give her cause for repentance, obey her in everything, He implored her not to deprive him of the one consolation: form with her alone, at least every other day, at least twice a week. He spoke the language of true passion, and at that moment was just in love. Lisa listened to him in silence. "Give me your word, - she said at last, - that you will never look for me in the village, or to ask about me. Give me your word not to look for others with dating me, except, I myself will appoint ". Alex swore it was Good Friday, but she stopped him with a smile. "I do not need an oath, - Lisa said, - rather one of your promises'. After they talked amicably, walking together in the woods, until Lisa said to him,: it's time. They broke up, and Alex, left alone, could not understand, how a simple village girl in two visits had time to take on him the true power. His relations with Akulina had the charm of novelty for him, and although the strange peasant prescriptions seemed to him a painful, but the idea did not keep his word did not come even to his head. The thing is, Alexei, despite the fatal ring, a mysterious correspondence and gloomy disappointment, He was kind and passionate guy and had a pure heart, able to feel the pleasure of innocence.
If I listened to one of his hunting, by all means and in all details would describe goodbye young people, increasing mutual inclination and credulity, classes, conversations; but I know, that most of my readers would not share with me my pleasure. these details, at all, It must seem cloying, so, I miss them, said briefly, that has not passed yet, and two months, and my Alexei was already in love without memory, and Lisa was not indifferent, although his silent. Both were happy to present and gave little thought to the future.
The idea of indissoluble bonds often flashed in their minds, but they never talked about with each other.
The reason is clear: Alexey, whatever it was attached to his cute Akulina, still remember the distance, existing between them and the poor peasant woman; and Lisa knew, what hatred existed between their fathers, and did not dare to hope for mutual reconciliation. Besides her vanity was secretly podstrekaemo dark, of romantic hope of seeing at last tugilovskogo landlord at the feet of the daughter of a blacksmith priluchinskogo. Suddenly an important event was almost no place of their mutual relations.
In one clear, cold morning (from those, What is rich, our Russian autumn) Ivan Petrovich went Berastau stroll on horseback, just in case, taking with him a pair of three greyhounds, stirrups and a few yards of boys with rattles. At the same time, Grigory Murom, soblaznyas good weather, skimpy ordered to ride his mare and trotted around his anglicized possessions. Approaching the woods, he saw his neighbor, proudly sitting on horseback, in chekmene, lined with fox fur, and waiting for the hare, which the boys cry and clappers were driven out of the bush. If Grigory could have foreseen this meeting, then of course he had a turn towards; but he did hit a Berestova unexpectedly and suddenly found himself on his pistol-shot distance. There was nothing. Muromskyy, formed as a European, I pulled up to his opponent and politely greeted him. Berastau replied with the same zeal, What is the chain with Bear bows on the orders of their masters Leader. At that time the hare jumped out of the woods and ran field. Birch bark and squire shouted in all throat, Let the dog track and rode at full gallop. horse Muromsky, there has never been on the hunt, frightened and suffered. Muromskyy, proclaimed himself an excellent rider, I gave her the will and the inner case has been satisfied, delivered him from an unpleasant companion. but the horse, galloped up to the ravine, she had never seen by, suddenly rushed towards, and Muromsky not remained sitting. Dovolno severe fallen on the ground merzluyu, he lay, cursing his skimpy mare, which, as though coming to his senses, immediately stopped, once I felt riderless. Ivan Petrovich galloped up to him, inquiring, if he does not hurt himself. Meanwhile, the groom led the horse is guilty, holding it by the bridle. He helped Muromsky climb to the saddle, Berastau and invited him to his. Muromsky could not refuse, For I felt obliged, and thus Berastau returned home in glory, hunted hare and leading his opponent wounded and almost a prisoner of war.
Neighbors, breakfasting, We chatted quite amiably. Murom asked Berestova droshkies, He admitted for, that from injury he was not able to get to the top of the house. Berastau accompanied him to the porch, and Muromsky left not before, like taking with him my word of honor the next day (and Alexei Ivanovich) come dine in a friendly in Priluchino. Thus ancient feuds and a deep-seated, it seemed, I was ready to cease from fearfulness skimpy fillies.
Lisa ran out to meet Grigory. "What does it mean, dad? - she said with surprise, - why are you limping? Where is your horse? Whose droshky?"-" I did not guess, my dear#», - I answered her Grigory Ivanovich and told all, what happened. Lisa could not believe my ears. Grigory, not giving her time to recover, announced, that tomorrow will be his dinner, both Berestovs. "What are you saying! - she said, poblednev. - Berestovы, father and son! Tomorrow we dine! Not, dad, as you please: I have no reason not show ". - "What are you, lost her mind? - said Father, - Do you long become so shy, or you to them nourish a hereditary hatred, how romanicheskaya heroine? Full, Do not be fooled ... "-" There is no, dad, no way, for all the treasures not manifest myself before I Berestovs ". Grigory shrugged and more with her did not argue, for he knew, which is contrary to it will not take anything, and went to rest on his walks a noteworthy.
Lizaveta Grigorievna went to her room and called Nastya. Both long we talked about tomorrow's visit. Alex thought that, if he finds in his well-bred young lady Akulina? What opinion will he have of her behavior and rules, its discretion? On the other hand, Lisa really wanted to see, what impression would be made on his appointment as the sudden ... All of a sudden flashed through her mind. She immediately handed it to Nastya; Both were delighted her as a discovery and put it to perform without fail.
The next day at breakfast Gregory Ivanovich asked his daughter, Is it still intends to hide from Berestovs. "Dad, - replied Lisa, - I'll take them, if you please, only persuasion: as if I was not in front of them, what would I have done, you scold me will not and do not give any sign of surprise or displeasure ". - "Again, some leprosy! - said laughing Grigory. - Well, Good, Good; I agree, do, what you want, My black-eyed minx ". With these words he kissed her on the forehead, and Lisa ran to get ready.
