RUDIN
‘Ah!’ he ejaculated at last, ‘that must be interesting.’
He picked a twig and began to twirl it in the air. They walked another twenty paces.
‘What is this baron whom your mother has made acquaintance with?’ began Volintsev again.
‘A Gentleman of the Bedchamber, a new arrival; maman speaks very highly of him.’
‘Your mother is quick to take fancies to people.’
‘That shows that her heart is still young,’ observed Natalya.
‘Yes. I shall soon bring you your mare. She is almost quite broken in now. I want to teach her to gallop, and I shall manage it soon.’
‘Merci! . . . But I’m quite ashamed. You are breaking her in yourself . . . and they say it’s so hard!’
‘To give you the least pleasure, you know, Natalya Alexyevna, I am ready . . . I . . . not in such trifles———’
Volintsev grew confused.
Natalya looked at him with friendly encouragement, and again said ‘merci.’
39
