ving offence to Fedor Ivanitch. At
last curiosity prevailed. "Why," she reflected, "she too is a relation,"
and, taking up her position in an arm-chair, she said to the footman,
"Show her in." A few moments passed; the door opened, Varvara Pavlovna
swiftly and with scarcely audible steps, approached Marya Dmitrievna,
and not allowing her to rise from her chair, bent almost on her knees
before her.

"I thank you, dear aunt," she began in a soft voice full of emotion,
speaking Russian; "I thank you; I did not hope for such condescension on
your part; you are an angel of goodness."

As she uttered these words Varvara Pavlovna quite unexpectedly took
possession of one of Marya Dmitrievna's hands, and pressing it lightly
in her pale lavender gloves, she raised it in a fawning way to her full
rosy lips. Marya Dmitrievna quite lost her head, seeing such a handsome
and charmingly dressed woman almost at her feet. She did not know where
she was. And she tried to withdraw her hand, while, at the same time,
she was inclined to make her sit down, and to say something affectionate
to her. She ended by raising Varvara Pavlovna and kissing her on her
smooth perfumed brow.

Varvara Pavlovna was completely overcome by this kiss.

"How do you do, bonjour," said Marya Dmitrievna. "Of course I did not
expect... but, of course, I am glad to see you. You understand, my dear,
it's not for me to judge between man and wife"...

"My husband is in the right in everything," Varvara Pavlovna interposed;
"I alone am to blame."

"That is a very praiseworthy feeling" rejoined Marya Dmitrievna, "very.
Have you been here long? Have you seen him? But sit down, please."

"I arrived yesterday," answered Varvara Pavlovna, sitting down meekly.
"I have seen Fedor Ivanitch; I have talked with him."

"Ah! Well, and how was he?"

"I was afraid my sudden arrival would provoke his anger," continued
Varvara Pavlovna, "but he did not refuse to see me."

"That is to say, he did not... Yes, yes, I understand," commented Marya
Dmitrievna. "He is only a little rough on the surface, but his heart is
soft."

"Fedor Ivanitch has not forgiven me; he would not hear me. But he was so
good as to assign me Lavriky as a place of residence."

"Ah! a splendid estate!"

"I am setting off there to-morrow in fulfilment of his wish; but I
esteemed it a duty to visit you first."

"I am very, very much obliged to you, my dear. Relations ought never to
forget one anothe