you do not repulse Nellie, perhaps then I shall forgive you, and at the judgement day I will stand before the throne of God and pray for your sins to be forgiven. Nellie knows what is in this letter. I have read it to her, I have told her all; she knows everything, everything.

But Nellie had not done her mother’s bidding. She knew all, but she had not gone to the prince, and had died unforgiving.
When we returned from Nellie’s funeral, Natasha and I went out into the garden. It was a hot, sunny day. A week later they were to set off. Natasha turned a long, strange look upon me.
“Vanya,” she said, “Vanya, it was a dream, you know.” “What was a dream?” I asked.
“All, all,” she answered, “everything, all this year. Vanya, why did I destroy your happiness?”
And in her eyes I read:

“We might have been happy together for ever.”