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110 "My dear, let me carry your bundle for you, since now I know what it is."

Again they walk in silence. Long they walk in perfect silence.

"My dear, you see as that lady and I tallied the matter over, we came to this conclusion: you cannot leave home without Marya Alekséyevna's consent. 'Tis impossible—no, no, take my arm; I am afraid you are ill!"

"No, it's nothing; only it's stifling under this veil." She drew back the veil. "Now it's all right; I feel better."

"How pale she is!—No, my dear, don't think about what I said. I did not express myself well. We'll arrange everything all right."

"How can we arrange things, my love? You say this only so as to console me. Nothing can be done!"

He has nothing to say. Again they walk in silence.

"How pale, how pale she is!—My dear, there is one way."

"What way, my pet [milui]?"

"I will tell you, my dear; but only when you get a little calmer. You will have to decide about it deliberately."

"Tell me now! I cannot get calm until I know."

"No! now you are too much excited, my dear. Now you could not decide an important question. In a little while. Soon! Here's the front door. Dō svedánya [good by], my dear. As soon as I see that you would give a deliberate answer, I'll tell you."

"When will that be?"

"Day after to-morrow, when I give the next lesson."

"Too long!"

"I will call on purpose to-morrow."

"No, sooner than that!"

"This evening."

"No, I will not let you go! Come in with me now. You say I am not calm; you say I cannot decide. Very well, take dinner with us; you will see that I shall be calm. After dinner mámenka takes a nap, and we can talk."

"But how can I come in? If we come in together, your mámenka's suspicions will be awakened again!"

"Suspicions! what do I care? No, my dear, and for this very reason it would be better for you to come in. We may have been seen, for I walked with my veil up."

"You are right."