with our new friend . . . smoke your cigarette if you like. All
the more so, as I hear," she added, turning to Nejdanov, "that
among you all young ladies smoke."

"Yes," Nejdanov remarked dryly. This was the first remark he had
made to Madame Sipiagina.

"I don't smoke," she continued, screwing up her velvety eyes
caressingly. "I suppose I am behind the times."

Mariana slowly and carefully took out a cigarette, a box of
matches, and began to smoke, as if on purpose to spite her aunt.
Nejdanov took a light from Mariana and also began smoking.

It was a beautiful evening. Kolia and Anna Zaharovna went into
the garden; the others remained for some time longer on the
terrace enjoying the fresh air. The conversation was very lively.
Kollomietzev condemned modern literature, and on this subject,
too, Sipiagin showed himself a liberal. He insisted on the utter
freedom and independence of literature, pointed out its uses,
instanced Chateaubriand, whom the Emperor Alexander Pavlitch had
invested with the order of St. Andrew! Nejdanov did not take part
in the discussion; Madame Sipiagina watched him with an
expression of approval and surprise at his modesty.

They all went in to drink tea in the drawing room.

"Alexai Dmitritch," Sipiagin said to Nejdanov, "we are addicted
to the bad habit of playing cards in the evening, and even play a
forbidden game, stukushka. . . . I won't ask you to join us, but