"It's a good thing I did not marry her," thought Startsev.

She looked at him, and evidently expected him to ask her to go into
the garden, but he remained silent.

"Let us have a talk," she said, going up to him. "How are you getting
on? What are you doing? How are things? I have been thinking about
you all these days," she went on nervously. "I wanted to write to
you, wanted to come myself to see you at Dyalizh. I quite made up
my mind to go, but afterwards I thought better of it. God knows
what your attitude is towards me now; I have been looking forward
to seeing you to-day with such emotion. For goodness' sake let us
go into the garden."

They went into the garden and sat down on the seat under the old
maple, just as they had done four years before. It was dark.

"How are you getting on?" asked Ekaterina Ivanovna.

"Oh, all right; I am jogging along," answered Startsev.

And he could think of nothing more. They were silent.

"I feel so excited!" said Ekaterina Ivanovna, and she hid her face
in her hands. "But don't pay attention to it. I am so happy to be
at home; I am so glad to see every one. I can't get used to it. So
many memories! I thought we should talk without stopping till
morning."