Yourii did not perceive that he had already recovered his good humour.
Lialia's merry voice and her joy of living had speedily banished his
depression which he had imagined to be very real and deep. Lialia did
not believe in his melancholy, and therefore his remarks caused her no
concern.
Yourii looked at her, and said with a smile.
"I am never merry."
At this Lialia laughed, as though he had said something vastly droll.
"Very well, Knight of the Rueful Countenance, if you aren't you aren't.
Never mind, come with me, and I will introduce you to a charming young
man. Come!"
So saying she took her brother's hand, and laughingly led him along.
"Stop! Who is this charming young man?"
"My fiancé," cried Lialia, as, joyful and confused, she twisted sharply
round so that her gown was puffed out. Yourii knew already, from his
father's and sister's letters, that a young doctor recently established
in the town had been paying court to Lialia, but he was not aware that
their engagement was a fait accompli.
"You don't say so?" said he, in amazement. It seemed to him so strange
that pretty, fresh-looking little Lialia, almost a child, should
already have a lover, and should soon become a bride--a wife. It
touched him to a vague sense of pity for his sister. Yourii put his arm
round Lialia's waist and went with her into the dining-room where in
the lamp-light shone the large, highly polished samovar. At the table,
by the side of Nicolai Yegorovitch sat a well-built young man, not
Russian in type, with bronzed features and keen bright eyes.
He rose in simple, friendly fashion to meet Yourii.
"Introduce me."
"Anatole Pavlovitch Riasantzeff!" cried Lialia, with a gesture of comic
solemnity.
"Who craves your friendship and indulgence," added Riasantzeff, joking
in his turn.
With a sincere wish to become friends, the two shook hands. For a
moment it seemed as if they would embrace, but they refrained, merely
exchanging frank, amicable glances.
"So this is her brother, is it?" thought Riasantzeff, in surprise, for
he had imagined that a brother of Lialia, short, fair, and merry, would
be short, fair and merry too. Yourii, on the contrary was tall, thin
and dark, though as good-looking as Lialia, and with the same regular
features.
And, as Yourii looked at Riasantzeff, he thought to himself: "So this
is the man who in my little sister Lialia, as fresh and fair as a
spring morning, loves the woman; loves her just as I myself have loved
women." Somehow, it hurt him to look at Lialia and Riasantzeff, as if
he feared that they would read his thoughts.