"What is it? Tell me."

"My father, whatever his answer, must never know that I have consented to
your making this application to him; no one must know that you are
following my instructions; the world must remain ignorant of the
confession I have just made to you; and, lastly, you must not ask me,
whatever happens, to help you in any other way than with my good wishes."

"Whatever you please. I will do everything you wish me to do. Do you
not grant me a thousand times more than I dared hope, and if your father
refuses me, do I not know myself that you are sharing my grief?" cried
Foedor.

"Yes; but that will not happen, I hope," said Vaninka, holding out her
hand to the young officer, who kissed it passionately.

"Now be hopeful and take courage;" and Vaninka retired, leaving the young
man a hundred times more agitated and moved than she was herself, woman
though she was.

The same day Foedor asked for an interview with the general. The general
received his aide-de-camp as usual with a genial and smiling countenance,
but with the first words Foedor uttered his face darkened. However, when
he heard the young man's description of the love, so true, constant, and
passionate, that he felt for Vaninka, and when he heard that this passion
had been the motive power of those glorious deeds he had praised so
often, he held out his hand to Foedor, almost as moved as the young
soldier.