‘Your brother was joking. I never cared for any lady; at any rate, I
don’t care for one now.’
‘And what do you like in women?’ she asked, throwing back her head with
innocent curiosity.
‘What a strange question!’ I cried.
Acia was a little disconcerted.
‘I ought not to ask you such a question, ought I? Forgive me, I’m used
to chattering away about anything that comes into my head. That’s why
I’m afraid to speak.’
‘Speak, for God’s sake, don’t be afraid,’ I hastened to intervene; ‘I’m
so glad you’re leaving off being shy at last.’
Acia looked down, and laughed a soft light-hearted laugh; I had never
heard such a laugh from her.
‘Well, tell me about something,’ she went on, stroking out the skirt of
her dress, and arranging the folds over her legs, as though she were
settling herself for a long while; ‘tell me or read me something, just
as you read us, do you remember, from _Oniegin_.…’