For Raisky the whole place, the park, the estate with the two houses, the huts, the peasants, the whole life of the place had lost its gay colours. But for Vera he would long since have left it. It was in this melancholy mood that he lay smoking a cigar on the sofa in Tatiana Markovna’s room. His aunt who was never happy unless she was doing something, was looking through some accounts brought her by Savili; before her lay on pieces of paper samples of hay and rye. Marfinka was working at a piece of lace. Vera, as usual, was not there. Vassilissa announced visitors; the young master; from Kolchino. “Nikolai Andreevich Vikentev, please enter.” Marfinka coloured, smoothed her hair, gave a tug to her fichu, and cast a glance in the mirror. Raisky shook his finger at her, making her colour more deeply. “The person who stayed one night here,” said Vassilissa to Raisky, “is also asking for you.” “Markushka?” asked Tatiana Markovna in a horrified tone. “Yes,” said Vassilissa. Raisky hurried out. “How glad he is, how he rushes to meet him. Don’t forget to ask him for the money. Is he hungry? I will send food directly,” cried his aunt after him. There stepped, or rather sprang into the room a fresh-looking, well-built young man of middle height of about twenty-three years of age. He had chestnut hair, a rosy face, grey-blue keen eyes, and a smile which displayed a row of strong teeth. He laid on a chair with his hat a bunch of cornflowers and a packet carefully done up in a handkerchief. “Good-day, Tatiana Markovna; Good-day, Marfa Vassilievna,” he cried. He kissed the old lady’s hand, and would have raised Marfinka’s to his lips, but she pulled it away, though he found time to snatch a hasty kiss from it. “You haven’t been to see us for three weeks,” said Tatiana Markovna, reproachfully. “I could not come. The Governor would not let me off. Orders were given to settle up all the business in the office,” said Vikentev, so hurriedly that he nearly swallowed some of the words. “That is absurd; don’t listen to him, Granny,” interrupted Marfinka. “He hasn’t any business, as he himself said.” “I swear I am up to my neck in work. We are now expecting a new chief clerk, and I swear by God we have to sit up into the night.” “It is not the custom to appeal to God over such trifles. It is a sin,” said Tatiana Markovna severely. “What do you mean? Is it a trifle when Marfa Vassilievna will not believe me, and I, by God--” “Again?” “Is it true, Tatiana Markovna, that you have a visitor? Has Boris Pavlovich arrived? Was it he I met in the corridor? I have come on purpose--” “You see, Granny, he has come to see my cousin. Otherwise he would have stayed away longer, wouldn’t he?” “As soon as I could tear myself away, I came here. Yesterday I was at Kolchino for a minute, with Mama--” “Is she well?” “Thanks for the kind thought. She sends her kind regards and begs you not to forget her nameday.”