Explore "Boris Lensky" by Ossip Schubin on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mascha's confession had more deeply shocked Nita than she thought. So much touching, childish simplicity spoke from every sad word. Another would have excused herself, would have ascribed her sin to circumstances, to her seducer. This poor little sinner took all upon herself. It had happened, she did not know how; she had lost her head from anxiety and remorse on his account.
Especially the conclusion of the confession had gone to Nita's heart. "Do you see," Maschenka had whispered still more softly than before, "formerly I knew nothing of all this; I had no suspicion; I was quite -- quite stupid. But since then I have listened when the 'big people" -- she is still so childish that she speaks of adults as big people -- -"spoke, and I have read the newspapers and all sorts of books in the endless nights in which I could not sleep. And now I know that I am what people call -- an abandoned woman. " And as Nita, with consoling caresses, assured her: