"There you go! Always quarrelling!" said he, in a languid, friendly
tone. "And in Heaven's name, what about?"

"Well, the fact is, mother thinks that a Grecian nose would suit me
better, while I am quite satisfied with the one that I have got."

Sanine looked down his nose and, laughing, grasped the other's big,
soft hand.

"So, I should say!" exclaimed Maria Ivanovna, pettishly.

Novikoff laughed merrily; and from the green thicket, came a gentle
echo in reply, as if some one yonder heartily; shared his mirth.

"Ah! I know what it is! Worrying about your future."

"What, you, too?" exclaimed Sanine, in comic alarm.

"It just serves you right."

"Ah!" cried Sanine. "If it's a case of two to one, I had better clear
out."

"No, it is I that will soon have to clear out," said Maria Ivanovna
with sudden irritation at which she herself was vexed. Hastily removing
her saucepan of jam, she hurried into the house, without looking back.
The terrier jumped up, and with ears erect watched her go. Then it
rubbed its nose with its front paw, gave another questioning glance at
the house and ran off into the garden.