. The wind had not fallen and the long tangled branches
were tossing hither and thither like loosened tresses. The clouds, still
high, flew quickly over the sky, every now and again obscuring the
sun and making everything of an even hue. Suddenly it would make its
appearance again and brilliant patches of light would flash out once
more through the branches, crossing and recrossing, a tangled pattern of
light and shade. The roar of the trees seemed to be filled with a kind
of festive joy, like to the violent joy with which passion breaks into
a sad, troubled heart. It was just such a heart that Nejdanov carried in
his bosom. He leaned against the trunk of a tree and waited. He did not
really know what he was feeling and had no desire to know, but it seemed
to him more awful, and at the same time easier, than at Markelov's.
Above everything he wanted to see her, to speak to her. The knot that
suddenly binds two separate existences already had him in its grasp.
Nejdanov thought of the rope that is flung to the quay to make fast a
ship. Now it is twisted about the post and the ship stops... Safe in
port! Thank God!

He trembled suddenly. A woman's dress could be seen in the distance
coming along the path. It was Mariana. But whether she was coming
towards him or going away from him he could not tell until he noticed
that the patches of light and shade glided over her figure from below
upwards. So she was coming towards him; they would have glided from
above downwards had she been going away from him. A few moments longer
and she was standing before him with her bright face full of welcome and
a caressing light in her eyes. A glad smile played about her lips. He
seized the hand she held out to him, but could not say a single word;
she also was silent. She had walked very quickly and was somewhat out
of breath, but seemed glad that he was pleased to see her. She was the
first to speak.

"Well," she began, "tell me quickly what you've decided."

Nejdanov was surprised.

"Decided? Why, was it necessary to decide anything just now?"

"Oh, you know what I mean. Tell me what you talked about, whom you've
seen--if you've met Solomin. Tell me everything, everything. But wait
a moment; let us go on a little further. I know a spot not quite so
conspicuous as this."

She made him come with her. He followed her obediently over the tall
thin grass.

She led him to the place she mentioned, and they sat down on the trunk
of a bir