present. Mashurina, who scarcely knew a word of German, was being
sent to Geneva to hand over to a person absolutely unknown to her a
piece of cardboard with a vine-branch sketched on it and two hundred and
seventy-nine roubles.)

"And where is Ostrodumov? Is he with you?"

"No, but he's quite near. Got stuck on the way. He'll be here when he's
wanted. Pemien can look after himself. There is no need to worry about
him."

"How did you get here?"

"In a cart of course. How else could I have come? Give me another match,
please."

Solomin gave her a light.

"Vassily Fedotitch!" A voice called out suddenly from the other side of
the door. "Can you come out?"

"Who is it? What do you want?"

"Do come, please," the voice repeated insistently. "Some new workmen
have come. They're trying to explain something, and Pavel Egoritch is
not there."

Solomin excused himself and went out. Mashurina fixed her gaze on
Mariana and stared at her for so long that the latter began to feel
uncomfortable.

"Excuse me," Mashurina exclaimed suddenly in her hard abrupt voice, "I
am a plain woman and don't know how to put these things. Don't be angry
with me. You need not tell me if you don't wish to. Are you the girl who
ran away from the Sipiagins?"

"Yes," Mariana replied, a little surprised.

"With Nejdanov?"

"Yes."

"Please give me your hand... and forgive me. You must be good since he
loves you."

Mariana pressed Mashurina's hand.

"Have you known him long?"

"I knew him in St. Petersburg. That was what made me talk to you. Sergai
Mihailovitch has also told me--"

"Oh Markelov! Is it long since you've seen him?

"No, not long. But he's gone away now."

"Where to?"

"Where he was ordered."

Mariana sighed.

"Oh, Miss Mashurina, I fear for him."

"In the first place, I'm not miss. You ought to cast off such manners.
In the second, you say... 'I fear,' and that you must also cast aside.
If you do not fear for yourself, you will leave off fearing for others.
You must not think of yourself, nor fear for yourself. I dare say it's
easy for me to talk like that. I am ugly, while you are beautiful. It
must be so much harder for you." (Mariana looked down and turned away.)
"Sergai Mihailovitch told me... He knew I had a letter for Nejdanov...
'Don't go to the factory,' he said, 'don't take the letter. It will
upset everything there. Leave them alone! They are both happy... Don't
interfere with them!' I should be gl