Then at lastthe tears came. She sank into a chair, and buried her face in her hands. Hershoulders shook convulsively. In a moment Dirk was on his knees beside her,with his arms round her, kissing her, calling her all sorts of pet names, andthe facile tears ran down his own cheeks. Presently she released herself anddried her eyes.

"Leaveme alone, " she said, not unkindly; and then to me, trying to smile:"What must you think of me?"

Stroeve,looking at her with perplexity, hesitated. His forehead was all puckered, andhis red mouth set in a pout. He reminded me oddly of an agitated guinea-pig.

"Thenit's No, darling?" he said at last.

She gave a gestureof lassitude. She was exhausted.

"Thestudio is yours. Everything belongs to you. If you want to bring him here, howcan I prevent you?"

A suddensmile flashed across his round face.

"Thenyou consent? I knew you would. Oh, my precious. "

Suddenly shepulled herself together. She looked at him with haggard eyes. She clasped herhands over her heart as though its beating were intolerable.

最后，她终于落下眼泪来。她瘫在一把椅子上，两手捂着脸，肩膀抽搐着。戴尔克一下子跪在她身边，搂着她，又是亲吻，又是呼叫她各式各样亲昵的名字，廉价的泪水也从他的面颊上淌下来。没有过一会，她就从他的怀抱里挣脱出来，揩干了眼泪。

“让我好好地待一会吧，”她说，语气平顺多了。接着，她强笑着对我说：“我刚才那样，真不知道你会把我当成怎样个人了。”

施特略夫困惑地望着她，不知怎样才好。他紧皱着眉头，撅着通红的嘴巴。他那副怪样子使我联想到一只慌乱的豚鼠。

“那么你不答应吗，亲爱的？”最后他说。

她有气无力地挥了一下手。她已经精疲力尽了。

“画室是你的。这个家都是你的。如果你要让他搬到这里来，我怎么拦得住呢？”

施特略夫的一张胖脸马上绽露出笑容。

“这么一说你同意了？我知道你不会不答应的。噢，我的亲爱的。”

但是她立刻又克制住自己。她用一对暗淡无神的眼睛望着他，十指交叠着按在胸口，仿佛心跳得叫她受不了似的。