back and crossed the road; then we stopped and went back again to the embankment; we were like children.
"I am living alone now, Nastenka," I began, "but to-morrow! Of course you know, Nastenka, I am poor, I have only got twelve hundred roubles, but that doesn't matter."
"Of course not, and granny has her pension, so she will be no burden. We must take granny."
"Of course we must take granny. But there's Matrona."
"Yes, and we've got Fyokla too!"
"Matrona is a good woman, but she has one fault: she has no imagination, Nastenka, absolutely none; but that doesn't matter."
"That's all right—they can live together; only you must move to us tomorrow."
"To you? How so? All right, I am ready."
"Yes, hire a room from us. We have a top floor, it's empty. We had an old lady lodging there, but she has gone away; and I know granny would like to have a young man. I said to her, 'Why a young man?' And she said, 'Oh, because I am old; only don't you fancy, Nastenka, that I want him as a husband for you.' So I guessed it was with that idea."
"Oh, Nastenka!"
And we both laughed.
"Come, that's enough, that's enough. But where do you live? I've forgotten."
"Over that way, near X bridge, Barannikov's Buildings."
"It's that big house?"
"Yes, that big house."
"Oh, I know, a nice house; only you know you had better give it up and come to us as soon as possible."
"Tomorrow, Nastenka, tomorrow; I owe a little for my rent there, but that doesn't matter. I shall soon get my salary."
"And do you know I will perhaps give lessons; I will learn something myself and then give lessons."
"Capital! And I shall soon get a bonus."
"So by tomorrow you will be my lodger."
51
