amiss. But who is this I see? Where are we?'
These last exclamations referred to Marianna, who appeared in the doorway of her room in a sprigged chintz gown, that had seen many washings, with a yellow 'kerchief on her shoulders and a red one on her head. Tatyana was peeping out from behind her back, in simple and kindly admiration of her. Marianna looked both fresher and younger in her simple costume; it suited her far better than the long full-skirted coat suited Nezhdanov.
'Vassily Fedotitch, please don't laugh,' Marianna entreated, and she flushed the colour of a poppy.
'What a pretty pair!' Tatyana was exclaiming, meanwhile clapping her hands. 'Only you, my dear laddie, don't be angry, you're nice, very nice—but beside my little lass here you cut no figure at all.'
'And, really, she's exquisite,' thought Nezhdanov; 'oh! how I love her!'
'And look-ee' went on Tatyana, 'she's changed rings with me. She's given me her gold one and taken my silver one.'
'Girls of the people don't wear gold rings,' said Marianna.
Tatyana sighed.
'I'll take care of it for you, dearie, never fear.'
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