She will be genuinely grieved like a true friend, but secretly she will be pleased....

I shall give her a weapon against me for the rest of my life.

Oh, it's all over with me! Twenty years of such perfect happiness with her...

and now!" He hid his face in his hands.
"Stepan Trofimovitch, oughtn't you to let Varvara Petrovna know at once of what has happened ?" I suggested.
"God preserve me!" he cried, shuddering and leaping up from his place.

"On no account, never, after what was said at parting at Skvoreshniki--never!" His eyes flashed.
We went on sitting together another hour or more, I believe, expecting something all the time--the idea had taken such hold of us.