Ivan Turgenev

“ Why isn't it all decided, all settled between us? Am I not your wife? Can a wife be parted from her husband?'
'Wives don't go into war,' he said with a half-mournful smile.
'Oh yes, when they can't stay behind, and I cannot stay here?'
'Elena, my angel! . . but think, I have, perhaps, to leave Moscow in a fortnight. I can't think of university lectures, or finishing my work.'
'What!' interrupted Elena, 'you have to go soon? If you like, I will stop at once this minute with you for ever, and not go home, shall I? Shall we go at once?'
Insarov clasped her in his arms with redoubled warmth. ”

“ Elena opened the door a little, listened, turned round to Insarov, nodded her head, and glided out of the room.
For a minute Insarov stood before the closed door, and he too listened. The door downstairs into the court slammed. He went up to the sofa, sat down, and covered his eyes with his hands. Never before had anything like this happened to him. 'What have I done to deserve such love?' he thought. ”

“ Elena pushed back the hair that fell over on his forehead.
'O Dmitri! how glorious it will be for us two to set off together!'
'Yes,' said Insarov, 'but there, when we get there——'
'Well?' put in Elena, 'and won't it be glorious to die together too? but no, why should we die? We will live, we are young. How old are you? Twenty-six?'
'Yes, twenty-six.'
'And I am twenty. There is plenty of time before us. Ah, you tried to run away from me? You did not want a Russian's love, you Bulgarian! ”