d, and lost no time in
taking his departure.

"You too leave me, Alexis Ivanovitch," said the Grandmother. "All my
bones are aching, and I still have an hour in which to rest. Do not be
hard upon me, old fool that I am. Never again shall I blame young
people for being frivolous. I should think it wrong even to blame that
unhappy General of yours. Nevertheless, I do not mean to let him have
any of my money (which is all that he desires), for the reason that I
look upon him as a perfect blockhead, and consider myself, simpleton
though I be, at least wiser than HE is. How surely does God visit old
age, and punish it for its presumption! Well, good-bye. Martha, come
and lift me up."

However, I had a mind to see the old lady off; and, moreover, I was in
an expectant frame of mind--somehow I kept thinking that SOMETHING was
going to happen; wherefore, I could not rest quietly in my room, but
stepped out into the corridor, and then into the Chestnut Avenue for a
few minutes' stroll. My letter to Polina had been clear and firm, and
in the present crisis, I felt sure, would prove final. I had heard of
De Griers' departure, and, however much Polina might reject me as a
FRIEND, she might not reject me altogether as a SERVANT. She would need
me to fetch and carry for her, and I was ready to do so. How could it
have been otherwise?

Towards the hour of the train's departure I hastened to the station,
and put the Grandmother into her compartment--she and her party
occupying a reserved family saloon.

"Thanks for your disinterested assistance," she said at parting. "Oh,
and please remind Prascovia of what I said to her last night. I expect
soon to see her."

Then I returned home. As I was passing the door of the General's suite,
I met the nursemaid, and inquired after her master. "There is nothing
new to report, sir," she replied quietly. Nevertheless I decided to
enter, and was just doing so when I halted thunderstruck on the
threshold. For before me I beheld the General and Mlle.
Blanche--laughing gaily at one another!--while beside them, on the
sofa, there was seated her mother. Clearly the General was almost out
of his mind with joy, for he was talking all sorts of nonsense, and
bubbling over with a long-drawn, nervous laugh--a laugh which twisted
his face into innumerable wrinkles, and caused his eyes almost to
disappear.

Afterwards I learnt from Mlle. Blanche herself that, after dismissing
the Prince and hearing of th