"Come, come! What's the matter?" said Sanine, as he took hold of her
hand.
"Oh! don't! What an awful thing life is!" she exclaimed, as her head
sank lower, and she covered her face with her hands, while the soft
plait of hair, slipping over her shoulder, hung down in front.
"For shame!" said Sanine. "What's the use of crying about such
trifles?"
"Are there really no other ... better men, then?" murmured Lida.
Sanine smiled.
"No, certainly not. Man is vile by nature. Expect nothing good from
him.... And then the harm that he does to you will not make you
grieve."
Lida looked up at him with beautiful tear-stained eyes.
"Do you expect nothing good from your fellow-men, either?"
"Of course not," replied Sanine, "I live alone."