"Yes," thought Peredonov, "he might really do it. He's got such a mean face." "She has only one dress, a black one," he went on, referring to Marta. "Vershina will make her a new one," said Varvara with spiteful envy, "she'll make all her dowry for her. She's such a beauty that even the horses are frightened," she grumbled on quietly, looking maliciously at Mourin. "It's time for you to marry too," said Prepolovenskaya. "What are you waiting for, Ardalyon Borisitch?" The Prepolovenskys already saw that after the second letter Peredonov was determined to marry Varvara. They also believed in the letter. They began to say that they had always been on Varvara's side. There was no good in their quarrelling with Peredonov--it was profitable to play cards with him. As for Genya, there was nothing to do but to wait--they would have to look for another husband. "Of course you ought to marry," said Prepolovensky. "It will be a good thing in itself, and you'll please the Princess; the Princess will be pleased that you're married, and so you will please her and you'll do a good thing, yes, a good thing, and yes, really, you'll be doing a good thing and you'll please the Princess." "Yes, and I say the same thing," said Prepolovenskaya. But Prepolovensky was unable to stop, and seeing that everyone was walking away from him he sat down beside a young official and began to explain the same thing to him. "I've decided to get married," said Peredonov, "only Varvara and I don't know how to do it. I really don't know how to go about it." "It's not such a difficult business," said Prepolovenskaya. "Now, if you like, my husband and I will arrange everything. You just sit still and don't think about anything." "Very well," said Peredonov, "I'm agreeable. Only everything must be done well and in proper style. I don't mind what it costs." "Everything will be quite all right, don't worry about that," Prepolovenskaya assured him. Peredonov continued to state his conditions: "Other people through stinginess buy thin wedding rings or silver ones gilt over, but I don't want to do that. I want pure gold ones. And I even prefer wedding bracelets to wedding rings--they are more expensive and more dignified." Everyone laughed. "Bracelets are impossible," said Prepolovenskaya smiling slightly. "You must have rings." "Why impossible?" asked Peredonov in vexation. "Simply because it's not done." "But perhaps it is done," said Peredonov increduously. "I will ask the priest. He knows best." Routilov advised him with a snigger: "You'd better order wedding belts, Ardalyon Borisitch." "I haven't got money enough for that," said Peredonov, not noticing the smiles. "I'm not a banker. Only the other day I dreamed that I was being married, and that I wore a velvet frock-coat and that Varvara and I had gold bracelets. And behind us were two head-masters holding the crowns over us, singing 'Hallelujah.'"