tenderness. Marie Mironoff seemed more attractive than ever. The
idea that perhaps I saw her for the last time, gave her a touching
grace.

Alexis entered. I took him aside and told him of my conversation
with Ignatius.

"What's the good of seconds," said he, dryly. "We can do without
them."

We agreed to fight behind the haystack the next morning at six o'clock.

Seeing us talking amicably, Ignatius, full of joy, nearly betrayed us.
"You should have done that long ago, for a bad peace is better than a
good quarrel."

"What! what! Ignatius," said the Captain's wife, who was playing
patience in a corner, "I do not quite understand?"

Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became
confused and knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief:
"He approves of peace."

"With whom had you quarreled?" said she.

"With Peter Grineff--a few high words."

"Why?"

"For a mere nothing--a song."