At the words, Nejdanov, who until then had scarcely noticed
Mariana, who sat a little to one side, exchanged glances with
her, and instantly felt that this solemn girl and he were of the
same convictions, of the same stamp. She had made no impression
on him whatever when Sipiagin had introduced them; then why did
he exchange glances with her in particular? He wondered if it was
not disgraceful to sit and listen to such views without
protesting and by reason of his silence letting others think that
he shared them. Nejdanov looked at Mariana a second time, and her
eyes seemed to say, "Wait a while . . . the time is not ripe. It
isn't worth it . . . later on . . . there is plenty of time in
store."

He was happy to think that she understood him, and began
following the conversation again. Valentina Mihailovna supported
her husband, and was, if anything, even more radical in her
expressions than he. She could not understand, "simply could not
un-der-stand, how an educated young man could hold such
antiquated views."

"However," she added, "I am convinced that you only say these
things for the sake of argument. And you, Alexai Dmitritch," she
added to Nejdanov, with a smile (he wondered how she had learned
his Christian name and his father's name), "I know, do not share
Simion Petrovitch's fears; my husband told me about your talks on
the journey."

Nejdanov blushed, bent over his plate, and mumbled something; he
did not feel shy, but was simply unaccustomed to conversing with
such brilliant personages. Madame Sipiagin continued smiling to