Page:The Novels of Ivan Turgenev (volume XI).djvu/192

Rh rapid, and rather vigorous, thump on the shoulder. He started. Before him in a light, grey-green barege dress, in a white tulle hat, and suède gloves, stood Maria Nikolaevna, fresh and rosy as a summer morning, though the languor of sound unbroken sleep had not yet quite vanished from her movements and her eyes.

'Good-morning,' she said. 'I sent after you to-day, but you 'd already gone out. I've only just drunk my second glass—they're making me drink the water here, you know—whatever for, there's no telling am I not healthy enough? And now I have to walk for a whole hour. Will you be my companion? And then we 'll have some coffee.'

'I've had some already,' Sanin observed, getting up; 'but I shall be very glad to have a walk with you.'

'Very well, give me your arm then; don't be afraid: your betrothed is not here—she won't see you.'

Sanin gave a constrained smile. He experienced a disagreeable sensation every time Maria Nikolaevna referred to Gemma. However, he made haste to bend towards her obediently. Maria Nikolaevna's arm slipped slowly and softly into his arm, and glided over it, and seemed to cling tight to it.