d in the lock.

Nejdanov went up to the window and looked out into the garden... One
old, very old, apple tree particularly attracted his attention. He shook
himself, stretched, opened his portmanteau, but took nothing out of it;
he became lost in thought...

A quarter of an hour later Mariana returned with a beaming,
freshly-washed face, brimming over with gaiety, and a few minutes later
Tatiana, Pavel's wife, appeared with the samovar, tea things, rolls, and
cream.

In striking contrast to her gipsy-like husband she was a typical
Russian--buxom, with masses of flaxen hair, which she wore in a
thick plait twisted round a horn comb. She had coarse though pleasant
features, good-natured grey eyes, and was dressed in a very neat though
somewhat faded print dress. Her hands were clean and well-shaped,
though large. She bowed composedly, greeted them in a firm, clear
accent without any sing-song about it, and set to work arranging the tea
things.

Mariana went up to her.

"Let me help you, Tatiana. Only give me a napkin."

"Don't bother, miss, we are used to it. Vassily Fedotitch told me to.
If you want anything please let us know. We shall be delighted to do
anything we can."

"Please don't call me miss, Tatiana. I am dressed like a lady, but I
am... I am quite--"

Tatiana's penetrating glance disconcerted Mariana; she ceased.

"And what are you then?" Tatiana asked in her steady voice.

"If you really want to know... I am certainly a lady by birth. But I
want to get rid of all that. I want to become like all simple women."

"Oh, I see! You want to become simplified, like so many do nowadays."

"What did you say, Tatiana? To become simplified?"

"Yes, that's a word that has sprung up among us. To become simplified
means to be like the common people. Teaching the people is all very
well in its way, but it must be a difficult task, very difficult! I hope
you'll get on."

"To become simplified!" Mariana repeated. "Do you hear, Aliosha, you and
I have now become simplified!"

"Is he your husband or your brother?" Tatiana asked, carefully washing
the cups with her large, skilful hands as she looked from one to the
other with a kindly smile.

"No," Mariana replied; "he is neither my husband nor my brother."

Tatiana raised her head.

"Then you are just living together freely? That also happens very often
now. At one time it was to be met with only among nonconformists, but
nowadays other folks do it too.