Lida had heard her
brother's last words, but did not know to what they referred.
"You seem to have soon become bored!" cried she, laughing. "Let us go
down to the river. It is charming there, now."
As she passed in front of the men, her shapely figure swayed slightly,
and there was a look of dark mystery in her eyes that seemed to say
something, to promise something.
"Go for a walk till supper-time," said Maria Ivanovna.
"Delighted," exclaimed Sarudine. His spurs clinked, as he offered Lida
his arm.
"I hope that I may be allowed to come too," said Novikoff, meaning to
be satirical, though his face wore a tearful expression.
"Who is there to prevent you?" replied Lida, smiling, at him over her
shoulder.
"Yes, you go, too," exclaimed Sanine. "I would come with you if she
were not so thoroughly convinced that I am her brother."
Lida winced somewhat, and glanced swiftly at Sanine, as she laughed, a
short, nervous laugh.
Maria Ivanovna was obviously displeased.
"Why do you talk in that stupid way?" she bluntly exclaimed. "I suppose
you think it is original?"
"I really never thought about it at all," was Sanine's rejoinder.
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