162 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



shouted out something in his own tongue, shook his 

 naghika (whip) at us, and was off. 



About four hours afterwards Petchorin came back 

 from hunting. Bela -threw herself on his neck ; and 

 not one word of complaint did she utter, not one 

 word of reproach for his long absence. But for my 

 part, I could not help expostulating with him. 

 " For God's sake," said I, " only think ! Kasbitch was 

 just now on the other side of the stream, and we 

 fired at him : it was the greatest chance that you did 

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

 tive race. You fancy he has no suspicion that you 

 abetted Asamat. I will take 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 behavior 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 



