d, dear. There is nothing strange in it. They say
Markelov was beaten by the peasants; he felt their blows--they crushed
his ribs. They did not beat me, they even drank with me--drank
my health--but they crushed my soul more completely than they did
Markelov's ribs. I was born out of joint, wanted to set myself right,
and have made matters worse. That is what you notice in my face."

"Alexai," Mariana said slowly, "it would be very wrong of you not to be
frank with me."

He clenched his hands.

"Mariana, my whole being is laid bare before you, and whatever I might
do, I tell you beforehand, nothing will really surprise you; nothing
whatever!"

Mariana wanted to ask him what he meant, but at that moment Solomin
entered the room.

His movements were sharper and more rapid than usual. His eyes were half
closed, his lips compressed, the whole of his face wore a drier, harder,
somewhat rougher expression.

"My dear friends," he began, "I must ask you not to waste time, but
prepare yourselves as soon as possible. You must be ready in an hour.
You have to go through the marriage ceremony. There is no news of
Paklin. His horses were detained for a time at Arjanov and then sent
back. He has been kept there. They've no doubt brought him to town by
this time. I don't think he would betray us, but he might let things out
unwittingly. Besides, they might have guessed from the horses. My cousin
has been informed of your coming. Pavel will go with you. He will be a
witness."

"And you... and you?" Nejdanov asked. "Aren't you going? I see you're
dressed for the road," he added, indicating Solomin's high boots with
his eyes.

"Oh, I only put them on... because it's rather muddy outside."

"But you won't be held responsible for us, will you?"

"I hardly think so... in any case... that's my affair. So you'll be
ready in an hour. Mariana, I believe Tatiana wants to see you. She has
something prepared for you."

"Oh, yes! I wanted to see her too..." Mariana turned to the door.

A peculiar expression of fear, despair, spread itself over Nejdanov's
face.

"Mariana, you're not going?" he asked in a frightened tone of voice.

She stood still.

"I'll be back in half an hour. It won't take me long to pack."

"Come here, close to me, Mariana."

"Certainly, but what for?"

"I wanted to have one more look at you." He looked at her intently.
"Goodbye, goodbye, Mariana!"

She seemed bewildered.

"Why... what nonsense I'm ta