But is that necessary ?" "What do you mean ?" "Mamma likes him," continued Lisa, "he is kind; I have nothing against him." "You hesitate, however." "Yes--and perhaps--you, your words are the cause of it.

Do you remember what you said three days ago?
But that is weakness." "O my child!" cried Lavretsky suddenly, and his voice was shaking, "don't cheat yourself with sophistries, don't call weakness the cry of your heart, which is not ready to give itself without love.

Do not take on yourself such a fearful responsibility to this man, whom you don't love, though you are ready to belong to him." "I'm obeying, I take nothing on myself," Lisa was murmuring.
"Obey your heart; only that will tell you the truth," Lavretsky interrupted her.

"Experience, prudence, all that is dust and ashes! Do not deprive yourself of the best, of the sole happiness on earth." "Do you say that, Fedor Ivanitch?
You yourself married for love, and were you happy ?" Lavretsky threw up his arms.
"Ah, don't talk about me! You can't even understand all that a young, inexperienced, badly brought-up boy may mistake for love! Indeed though, after all, why should I be unfair to myself?
I told you just now that I had not had happiness.

No! I was not happy!" "It seems to me, Fedor Ivanitch," Lisa murmured in a low voice--when she did not agree with the person whom she was talking, she always dropped her voice; and now too she was deeply moved--"happiness on earth does not depend on ourselves." "On ourselves, ourselves, believe me" (he seized both her hands; Lisa grew pale and almost with terror but still steadfastly looked at him): "if only we do not ruin our lives.