am going to-morrow.. . . And when I come back, Marianna Vikentyevna'─(he suddenly found it awkward to use this formal address)─'I will tell you what I find out, what is decided. Henceforth everything I do, everything I think, everything, you shall be the first to know . . . Marianna.'
'Oh, my friend!' cried Marianna, and again she clasped his hand, 'and I make the same promise to you, dear.'
This last word came as easily and simply from her as though it could not be otherwise, as though it were the 'dear' of long, intimate companionship.
'Can I see the letter?'
'Here it is, here.'
Marianna skimmed through the letter, and almost with reverence she raised her eyes upon him.
'Do they intrust such important commissions to you, Alexey?'
He smiled at her in answer, and put the letter in his pocket.
'Strange,' he said, 'why, we have made known our love to each other─we love one another─and there has not been a word said about it between us!'
'What need?' whispered Marianna, and suddenly she flung herself on his neck, pressed
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