y best friend here. You may rely on
him absolutely, as you would on me. Have you told Tatiana about the
samovar?" he added in an undertone.

"It will soon be ready," Pavel replied; "and cream and everything."

"Tatiana is Pavel's wife and just as reliable as he is," Solomin
continued. "Until you get used to things, my dear lady, she will look
after you."

Mariana flung her cloak on to a couch covered with leather, which was
standing in a corner of the room.

"Will you please call me Mariana, Vassily Fedotitch; I don't want to be
a lady, neither do I want servants... I did not go away from there to be
waited on. Don't look at my dress--I hadn't any other. I must change all
that now."

Her dress of fine brown cloth was very simple, but made by a St.
Petersburg dressmaker. It fitted beautifully round her waist and
shoulders and had altogether a fashionable air.

"Well, not a servant if you like, but a help, in the American fashion.
But you must have some tea. It's early yet, but you are both tired, no
doubt. I have to be at the factory now on business, but will look in
later on. If you want anything, ask Pavel or Tatiana."

Mariana held out both her hands to him quickly.

"How can we thank you enough, Vassily Fedotitch?" She looked at him with
emotion. Solomin stroked one of her hands gently. "I should say it's
not worth thanking for, but that wouldn't be true. I had better say
that your thanks give me the greatest of pleasure. So we are quits. Good
morning. Come along, Pavel."

Mariana and Nejdanov were left alone.

She rushed up to him and looked at him with the same expression with
which she had looked at Solomin, only with even greater delight,
emotion, radiance: "Oh, my dear!" she exclaimed. "We are beginning a new
life... at last! At last! You can't believe how this poor little room,
where we are to spend a few days, seems sweet and charming compared to
those hateful palaces! Are you glad?"

Nejdanov took her hands and pressed them against his breast.

"I am happy, Mariana, to begin this new life with you! You will be my
guiding star, my support, my strength--"

"Dear, darling Aliosha! But stop--we must wash and tidy ourselves a
little. I will go into my room... and you... stay here. I won't be a
minute--"

Mariana went into the other room and shut the door. A minute later she
opened it half-way and, putting her head through, said: "Isn't Solomin
nice!" Then she shut the door again and the key turne