172 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



not fall in with him. These Gorzans are a vindic- 

 tive race. You fancy he has no suspicion that you 

 abetted Asamat. I will lay you a bet he recog- 

 nized Bela. I know he took a great liking to her 

 a year ago : he told me so himself; and also, 

 that, when he should have raised the means to 

 make her father the necessary presents, he would 

 probably become her suitor.' This made Petchorin 

 thoughtful. ' Yes,' he said, ' we must be more cau- 

 tious. Bela, from this day forth, you must not show 

 yourself on the ramparts.' 



I had a long explanation with him in the evening. 

 I was vexed at his change of conduct towards the poor 

 girl : for, besides his spending half his time in field- 

 sports, his behaviour was cold, he seldom showed her 

 marks of fondness, and she was manifestly beginning 

 to fall away in flesh : her little face became smaller, 

 and her large eyes grew dim. If he asked her, ' What 

 ails you Bela; are you fretting ?' she would answer, 

 ' No.' ' Is there any thing you wish for ? ' ' No.' 

 ( Are you grieving for your brother and sister ? '* I 

 have no brother and sister.' It often happened that 

 for whole days together you could not get 4 word out 



of her, but yes and no. 



* * # * 



Kasbitch did not show himself again ; only I could 



