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Such were Sanin's thoughts, as he went to bed; but what he thought nextwhen Maria Nikolaevna knocked i-whip, when he saw her in the doorith the train of a dark-blue riding habit over her arm, with a man's small hat on her thickly coiled curls, with a veil thrown back over her shoulder, with a smile of invitation on her lips, in her eyes, over all her face--what he thought then--history does not record

'Well? are you ready?' rang out a joyous voice

Sanin buttoned his coat, and took his hat in silence Maria Nikolaevna flung hiht look, nodded to him, and ran swiftly down the staircase And he ran after her

The horses were already waiting in the street at the steps There were three of theh-bred mare, with a thin-lipped mouth, that showed the teeth, with black pro's, rather thin but beautifully shaped, and full of fire and spirit, for Maria Nikolaevna; a big, powerful, rather thick-set horse, raven black all over, for Sanin; the third horse was destined for the groom Maria Nikolaevna leaped adroitly on to herher tail, and sinking on to her haunches But Maria Nikolaevna, as a first-rate horse-woman, reined her in; they had to take leave of Polozov, who in his inevitable fez and in an open dressing-gown, came out on to the balcony, and from there waved a batiste handkerchief, without the faintest smile, rather a frown, in fact, on his face Sanin too mounted his horse; Maria Nikolaevna saluted Polozov with her whip, then gave her mare a lash with it on her arched and flat neck Thewith a s the air and snorting abruptly Sanin rode behind, and looked at Maria Nikolaevna; her slender supple figure,but easy stays, swayed to and fro with self-confident grace and skill She turned her head and beckoned hiside of her

'See no delightful it is,' she said 'I tell you at the last, before parting, you are charret it'

As she uttered those last words, she nodded her head several tiht

She seemed so happy that Sanin was simply astonished; her face even wore at times that sedate expression which children sometimes have when they are veryvery much pleased