[A House of Gentlefolk by Ivan Turgenev]@TWC D-Link book
A House of Gentlefolk

CHAPTER IV
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"I had no suspicion that you were here--nothing would have induced me to sing my song before you.

I know you are no lover of light music." "I did not hear it," declared the new-comer, in very bad Russian, and exchanging greetings with every one, he stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.
"Have you come, Monsieur Lemm," said Marya Dmitrievna, "to give Lisa her music lesson ?" "No, not Lisaveta Mihalovna, but Elena Mihalovna." "Oh! very well.

Lenotchka, go up-stairs with Mr.Lemm." The old man was about to follow the little girl, but Panshin stopped him.
"Don't go after the lesson, Christopher Fedoritch," he said.

"Lisa Mihalovna and I are going to play a duet of Beethoven's sonata." The old man muttered some reply, and Panshin continued in German, mispronouncing the words-- "Lisaveta Mihalovna showed me the religious cantata you dedicated to her--a beautiful thing! Pray, do not suppose that I cannot appreciate serious music--quite the contrary: it is tedious sometimes, but then it is very elevating." The old man crimsoned to his ears, and with a sidelong look at Lisa, he hurriedly went out of the room.
Marya Dmitrievna asked Panshin to sing his song again; but he protested that he did not wish to torture the ears of the musical German, and suggested to Lisa that they should attack Beethoven's sonata.

Then Marya Dmitrievna heaved a sigh, and in her turn suggested to Gedeonovsky a walk in the garden.


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