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A s, creas on the table between Sanin and Madame Polozov, and retired

She poured him out a cup of tea 'You don't object?' she queried, as she put sugar in his cup with her fingersthough sugar-tongs were lying close by

'Oh, please! From such a lovely hand '

He did not finish his phrase, and almost choked over a sip of tea, while she watched hihtly

'I spoke of a moderate price for my land,' he went on, 'because as you are abroad just now, I can hardly suppose you have a great deal of cash available, and in fact, I feel myself that the salethe purchase ofexceptional, and I ought to take that into consideration'

Sanin got confused, and lost the thread of what he was saying, while Maria Nikolaevna softly leaned back in her easy-chair, folded her arht look He was silent at last

'Neverto his aid; 'I''

Sanin fell to describing his estate, how many acres it contained, and where it was situated, and ere its agricultural advantages, and what profit could be made from ithe even referred to the picturesque situation of the house; while Maria Nikolaevna still watched him, and watched more and more intently and radiantly, and her lips faintly stirred, without s: she bit them He felt aard at last; he was silent a second tian Maria Nikolaevna, and sank into thought again 'Dimitri Pavlovitch,' she repeated 'Do you knohat: I am sure the purchase of your estate will be a very profitable transaction for ive race You are able to endure two days' separation froainst your will--I give you my word of honour But if you want five or six thousand francs at once, I areat pleasure to let you have it as a loan, and then we'll settle later'

Sanin got up 'I must thank you, Maria Nikolaevna, for your kindhearted and friendly readiness to do a service to a man almost unknown to you But if that is your decided wish, then I prefer to await your decision about my estate--I will stay here two days'