Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume VII).djvu/142

Rh For instance, when you want to celebrate your marriage with Alexey—he'll arrange that too with Zosim. You remember I told you there was a priest. But I suppose there's no need of him for a while? No?'

'No.'

'No, then,' Solomin went up to the door that separated the two rooms—Nezhdanov's and Marianna's—and bent down over the lock.

'What are you looking at there?' asked Marianna.

'Does it lock?'

'Yes,' whispered Marianna.

Solomin turned to her. She did not raise her eyes.

'Then, there's no need to find out what are Sipyagin's intentions?' he observed cheerfully; 'no need, eh?'

Solomin was about to go away.

'Vassily Fedotitch '

'What is it?'

'Tell me, please, why is it you, who are always so silent, are so talkative with me? You don't know how much it pleases me.'

'Why is it?'—Solomin took both her little soft hands in his big rough ones—'Why?—Well, it must be because I like you so much. Good-bye.'

He went out. Marianna stood a little,