N. then traveled without purpose and without a plan, and on his way stopped in the quiet German town of N. Once N. N., having come to a student party, he met in a crowd with two Russians - a young artist who called himself Gagin, and his sister Anna, whom Gagin called Asya. avoided the Russians abroad, but he liked the new acquaintance right away. Gagin invited N. to his home, to the apartment in which he and his sister were staying. was fascinated by his new friends. Asya, at first N.N. went wild, but soon she was already talking to him. Evening came, it was time to go home. Leaving the Gagins, N. felt happy.

Many days have passed. Asya's pranks were varied, every day she seemed new, another - either a well-bred young lady, then a playful child, then a simple girl. regularly visited the Gagins. Some time later, Asya stopped naughty, looked upset, avoided N. Gagin he treated her kindly and condescendingly, and in N. the suspicion grew that Gagin was not Asya's brother. A strange case confirmed his suspicions. N. accidentally overheard the Gagins' conversation, in which Asya told Gagin that she loved him and did not want to love anyone else. it was very bitter.

The next few days N. spent in nature, avoiding the Gagins.But a few days later he found at home a note from Gagin, who asked him to come. Gagin met N. in a friendly manner, but Asya, seeing the guest, burst out laughing and ran away. Then Gagin told a friend the story of his sister.

Gagin's parents lived in their village. After the death of Gagin's mother, his father raised his son himself. But one day, Uncle Gagin arrived, who decided that the boy should study in St. Petersburg. Father opposed, but lost, and Gagin went to school, and then to the Guards regiment. Gagin often came and once, already in his early twenties, he saw the little girl Asya in his house, but did not pay any attention to her, having heard from her father that she was an orphan and was taken by him “to feed”.

Gagin did not stay with his father for a long time and only received letters from him, when suddenly one day the news came of his deadly illness. Gagin arrived and found his father dying. He bequeathed his son to take care of his daughter, Gagin's sister - Asa. Soon, his father died, and the servant told Gagin that Asya was the daughter of Gagin's father and Tatiana's maid. Gagin's father became very attached to Tatyana and even wanted to marry her, but Tatyana did not consider herself a mistress and lived with her sister with Asya. When Asya was nine years old, she lost her mother. Father took her to the house and brought up himself. She was ashamed of her origin and at first was afraid of Gagin, but then she fell in love. He, too, became attached to her, brought her to Petersburg, and, no matter how bitter it was to do it, he gave him to a boarding school. She didn’t have friends there, the young ladies didn’t love her, but now she is seventeen, she finished studying, and together they went abroad. And so ... she's naughty and still fooling around ...

After the story Gagina N.N. it became easy. Asya, who met them in the room, suddenly asked Gagin to play a waltz for them, and N. and Asya danced for a long time. Asya waltz beautifully, and N. long afterwards recalled this dance.

The whole next day Gagin, N. and Asya were together and had fun like children, but the next day Asya was pale, she said that she was thinking about her death. Everyone except Gagin was sad.

Once N. brought a note from Asya, in which she asked him to come. Soon Gagin came to N. and said that Asya was in love with N. Yesterday she had a fever all evening, she ate nothing, cried and admitted that she loved N. She wants to leave ...

N. told a friend about the note that Asya had sent him. Gagin understood that his friend would not marry Asa, so they agreed that N. would be honest with her, and Gagin would stay at home and not show that he knew about the note.

Gagin left, and N.'s head went round. Another note informed N. about the change of place with Asya. Arriving at the appointed place, he saw the mistress, Frau Louise, who led him into the room where Asya was waiting.

Asya was trembling. he hugged her, but immediately remembered Gagin and began to accuse Asya of telling her brother everything. Asya listened to his speech and suddenly sobbed. confused, and she rushed to the door and disappeared.

N. rushed around the city in search of Asi. He was gnawed by annoyance at himself. Thinking, he headed for the Gagins' house. Gagin came out to meet him, worried that Asya was still gone. he was looking for Asya throughout the city, he repeated a hundred times that he loved her, but could not find her anywhere. However, going up to the Gagins' house, he saw a light in Asya’s room and calmed down.He made a firm decision - to go tomorrow and ask Asya's hand. was happy again.

The next day, N. saw a maid at the house, who said that the owners had left, and handed him a note from Gagin, where he wrote that he was convinced of the need for separation. When N. N. walking past the house to Frau Louise, she handed him a note from Asya, where she wrote that if N. had said one word, she would have stayed. But apparently, it’s better ...

N. looked everywhere for the Gagins, but could not find. He knew many women, but the feeling woke up in him by Asya never repeated again. Longing for her remained with N. for life.