Page:The Career of a Nihilist.djvu/20

“‘Dear Brother,—I am charged by our friends to answer your letter, and to tell you how thoroughly we agree with you as to your return to Russia. We can assure you that the desire to see you among us has been much oftener felt than you suppose. But we always hesitated to recall you, knowing too well the dangers to which you especially will be exposed. We always postponed your recall until a moment of urgent need. That moment has now arrived. Of course you know through the papers of our recent victories. But you probably do not know how dearly they were bought. Our League has had heavy losses. Several of our best people have perished. The gendarmes believe they have crushed us altogether. Of course we shall pull through. There are more than ever ready to join us, but they have not been tried. We cannot spare your services any longer. Therefore come. We all expect you,—the old friends who have never forgotten you, and the new ones who are as anxious as ourselves to welcome you. Come as quickly as you can.’”

Lena paused. She was really glad for Audrey's sake, for they were very good friends. Raising her head, she wrapt him in a look full of sympathy.

But she could only see his close-cut black hair, stiff as a horse's mane. Audrey had drawn out his chair, and was leaning over the back of it, his chin in his hand, absorbed in contemplation of some knots in the deal floor. Whether he was shunning the glare of the lamp, or was shy of meeting her eyes, Lena did not stop to inquire. She went on with her reading.

The letter dealt with abstract matters at some length. It pointed to the considerable changes which had taken place of late in the domain of practical politics, and in the immediate objects which the party proposed to attain.

“‘All this,’” the writer concluded, “‘will probably surprise and perhaps offend you at first, but I have no doubt that in a short time you, as a practical worker, will accept it.’”

Here Lena had to turn over the page, and was brought up short by the nonsense of the pretended letter. She had forgotten for the moment that it had to be washed away before the real one could appear. The first words she inadvertently read, affected her like the intrusion of farce into a serious drama.

She took the phial and the brush, and rapidly moistened