In the end it turned out that there was a deeper purpose at the
bottom of the whole affair. That scamp, Serge Ivanovich, understood
very well that in every respect Marusya was above the rest of the
village girls, and he made up his mind to marry her. To be sure, he
hated the Jews: they always managed to intrude where they were least
wanted; and he never missed an opportunity of insulting Anna and her
daughter. But that is just the way they all are: they will spit
to-day, to lick it off to-morrow. At the same time he knew well
enough that Marusya would not be willing to have him. Yet, in spite
of it all, he sent some friends with the formal message of a
proposal. As an inducement he promised to deed the whole property
to Anna and Marusya. Anna seemed willing enough to accept the
offer. Then Marusya turned to me. I began to side with Anna.
"You are a liar!" shouted Marusya, turning to me. And she was
right. Indeed, I did not wish at all to see Marusya marry Serve.
But I cannot tell why I had said the opposite. Then Marusya curtly
dismissed the representatives of the suitor.
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