“We shall see. Who comes here? The king of diamonds—and near the queen of clubs. Here is one who is away, very far away, but coming nearer. He is thinking of the queen of clubs. ‘Is she waiting for me, is she waiting for me,’ he is thinking. Look for yourself, Masha. The queen of spades, emblem of all that is bad, lies across him, and thus it is easy to see that he is worrying about the dark woman, your rival. Once more I will lay the cards. Now see; the king of diamonds is thinking of a journey and of home. The dark woman is restless, she thinks of the king of diamonds, and then of the king of clubs. But how is this? The king of diamonds is close to your dark rival, and the nine and ten of diamonds on either side. A marriage!” Masha clasped her hands. “And does that leave the king of clubs to me, Anna Evauovna?” Anna Evauovna swept the cards into a heap. “God knows,” she answered. “Would you seek to know as much as He, Masha?” “May the saints forbid!” Anna Evauovna returned to her interrupted occupation, and Masha still sat gazing at her, awestruck. “Njania,” she said timidly, “is it right that a girl should keep a man dangling after her, as a lash to a whip, if she means nothing by it?” “You mean Grusha and Alioscha,” said Anna Evauovna shortly. “Is it not her own affair?” Masha blushed and hung her head. “It was Grusha I thought of,” she stammered. “You know the very hairs on our heads, Anna Evauovna.” The Njania nodded, not ill pleased. “I know what I know. Grusha thinks Ivan will marry her when he comes back from the war.” “Then why does she keep Alioscha waiting and sticking to her like a wet leaf?” cried Masha passionately. “It is wicked, Njania, if she loves Ivan.” “Who said she loved Ivan!” answered Anna Evauovna drily. “Do all girls love some one?” “Did not you say that she loved him?” stammered Masha. “I did not, my child. Njania is not to be fooled by a Grusha. Ah, but she is a girl of wits, is Grusha, and so smooth to see. In still waters, devils thrive, remember that, Masha.” Masha’s lip quivered. “But if she does not love Ivan, Njania, she may marry Alioscha.” “Perhaps, who knows! It takes a wise man to tell the future, and a wiser yet to tell a girl’s mind.” “And she will surely marry Alioscha if Ivan has forgotten her by the time he comes back,” added Masha more piteously. Anna Evauovna laughed a dry chuckle and rubbed her hand on the girl’s head. “Your wits sharpen, little Masha. You may grow as wise as Grusha some day.” “Ivan does not write to her—I know that.” “Now, now, as for writing, Masha, could Grusha read if he did? Ivan may have been fool enough to remember her but even a peasant does not like his love letters read from the house-tops.” “But Grusha could take his letters to the doctor or the deacon. They would read them to her alone.”