[Vania]

But what feelings she had then, when Erast, embracing her for the last time, for the last time clasping her to his heart, said: "Farewell, Liza!...". What a touching picture! The sunrise, like a crimson sea, inundated the eastern sky. Erast stood under the branches of the tall oak, holding in his arms his pale, despondent, bereaved friend, who, bidding him farewell, said farewell to her own soul. All Nature attended in silence.

Liza sobbed - Erast wept - he left her - she fell - she got up on her knees, lifted her hands to the sky and watched Erast, who was moving away - farther - farther - and finally disappeared - the sun rose, and Liza, abandoned, pitiful, lost all her feelings and consciousness.

She came to—and the world seemed to her doleful and sad. All the pleasures of Nature had disappeared for her together with the one dear to her heart. Oh! she thought, Why have I been abandoned in this wasteland? What keeps me from flying after dear Erast? I am not afraid of war; I am only afraid without my friend. I want to live with him, to die with him, or to save his precious life by my own death. Wait, wait, my dear! I am flying to you! She was ready to run after Erast; but the thought: I have mother! stopped her. Liza heaved a sigh, and with bowed head set off quietly for her cabin. From this hour hence her days were days of grief and sorrow, which had to be hidden from her tender mother : thus her heart suffered even more! Her heart found relief only in those moments when Liza, alone in the depths of
the forest, could freely pour forth her tears and moan over the absence of her dear one. The sad turtledove would often join its plaintive voice to her moaning. But sometimes—though they were very rare—a golden ray of hope, a ray of solace brightened the gloom of her .sorrow. When he returns to me, how happy I will be! How everything will change! Her gaze brightened at the thought and her cheeks became rosy, and Liza smiled like a May morning after a stormy night. About two months passed in this way.

One day Liza had to go into Moscow in order to buy some rosewater with which her mother treated her eyes. On one of the big streets she met a magnificent coach, and in the coach she caught sight of Erast. "Oh!" Liza cried out, and she raced toward it; but the coach passed by and turned into a courtyard, Erast stepped out and was about to go into the entrance of a huge house, when suddenly he found himself—in Liza's embrace. He turned pale—then, answering not a word to her exclamation, took her by the arm, led her into his study, shut the door, and said to her: "Liza! Things have changed: I am engaged to marry; you must leave me alone now, and for your own peace of mind forget me. I loved you, and I love you now; that is, I wish all the best for you. Here are a hundred rubles—take them"—he put the money in her pocket—"allow me to kiss you for the last time—and go on home". Before Liza was even able to come to her senses, he led her out of his study and said to the servant, "See this girl to the street".

At this moment my heart, is surging with blood. I forget the man in Erast—I am ready to damn him—but my tongue will not move. I look up to the sky, and a tear trickles down my face. Oh! Why am I not writing a novel, instead of this sorrowful story of something that really happened ?

And did Erast betray Liza, when he told her that he was entering the army? No, he was in fact in the army; but instead of battling the enemy, he played cards and gambled away nearly all his estate. Soon peace was concluded, and Erast returned to Moscow burdened with debts. There remained only one way by which he could repair his circumstances—marry an elderly, rich widow who had long been in love with him. He decided on this, and moved into her house, after having cast a sincere sigh for his Liza. But is this any justification ?

Liza found herself on the street and in such a state no pen could describe. He, he has driven me out? He loves another? I am lost!—These were her thoughts, her feelings! A cruel fainting spell interrupted them for a while. A kindly woman who was coming along the street stopped Over Liza, who Was lying on the ground, and tried to revive her. The poor thing opened her eyes, stood up with the help of this kind woman, thanked her and set off, whither she did not know. I can live no more, thought Liza, no more!... Oh, if only the sky would fall on me! If only the earth would swallow up a poor girl!... No! The sky will not fall, the earth will not tremble! Woe is me! She walked out of the city and suddenly found herself on the bank of a deep pond, under the shade of the ancient oaks, which several weeks before were the dumb witnesses to her raptures. The recollection rent her soul; a most terrible, heartfelt torment showed on her face. But within a few minutes she was lost deep in thought. She looked about herself, caught sight of her neighbor's daughter (a fifteen-year-old girl) coming along the road. She called to her, took the hundred rubles from her pocket and, giving them to her, said: "Dearest Aniuta, my dear little friend! Take this money to my mother—it isn't stolen—tell her that Liza is guilty before her; that I have hidden from her my love for a certain cruel man—for E... Why know his name? Say that he has deceived me—ask her to forgive me—God will be her help—kiss her hand just as I am now kissing yours—tell her that poor Liza told you to kiss her—say that I..." At this point Liza threw herself into the water. Aniuta screamed, began to sob, but could not save her. She ran to the village—people gathered and they pulled Liza out; but she was already dead.

Thus she ended her life, she who was so beautiful in soul and body. When we are there, in the new life, we will see each other, and I will recognize you, tender Liza !

They buried her next to the pond, under the somber oak, and placed a wooden cross on her grave. I often sit here, lost in thought, resting against the receptacle of Liza's dust; the pond stirs before my eyes, and the leaves rustle over my head.

Liza's mother heard of the terrible death of her daughter, and her blood froze from horror—her eyes closed forever. The cabin became deserted. The wind moans in it, and superstitious villagers, hearing this noise at night, say : There the dead girl is groaning; there poor Liza is moaning !".

Erast was miserable to the end of his life. Having learned of Liza's fate, he could not find any solace, and he considered himself to be her murderer. I made his acquaintance a year before his death. He told me this story himself and led me to Liza's grave.—Perhaps now they have become reconciled !