Elena opened the book and inspected the handwriting inside briefly. "Oh, no no, Vasya." She lapsed back into English only, because she was so touched by the woman's sweet handwriting. "{I can't take this. Surely it's too precious to lend away.}" She set the book back down on the table in hope that he would take it. Elena couldn't stand the thought of losing the little book and she knew that was possible in such a large compound. Her fingers traced along the edge of the well-worn book and she opened it again to scan the sonnets written in her native language. "{You're sure you won't miss it for now?}"