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'Oh, this is a treat, a real treat! That was the only thing wanting!' The dull rumble was heard a second time, rose, and fell in a crash 'Bravo! Bis! Do you re;neid yesterday? They too were overtaken by a storh' She rose swiftly to her feet 'Bring me my horse Give me your hand There, so I'm not heavy'

She hopped like a bird into the saddle Sanin toohome?' he asked in an unsteady voice

'Home indeed!' she answered deliberately and picked up the reins 'Follow hly She ca the red cross, rode down into a hollow, claain up the mountainside She obviously knehere the path led, and the path led farther and farther into the heart of the forest She said nothing and did not look round; she moved imperiously in front and humbly and sub heart Rain began to fall in spots She quickened her horse's pace, and he did not linger behind her At last through the dark green of the young firs under an overhanging grey rock, a tumbledown little hut peeped out at him, with a low door in its wattle wall Maria Nikolaevna h the fir bushes, leaped off her, and appearing suddenly at the entrance to the hut, turned to Sanin, and whispered 'Æneas'

Four hours later, Maria Nikolaevna and Sanin, acco in the saddle, returned to Wiesbaden, to the hotel Polozov met his ith the letter to the overseer in his hand After staring rather intently at her, he showed signs of some displeasure on his face, and even muttered, 'You don't mean to say you've won your bet?'

Maria Nikolaevna sied her shoulders

The sa in his own rooht, ruined

'Where are you going, dear?' she asked hi where you will be, and will be with you till you drive me away,' he answered with despair and pressed close to hin She freed her hands, laid theers She slowly turned over and twisted the unresisting hair, drew herself up, her lips curled with triumph, while her eyes, wide and clear, allutted joy of conquest The hawk, as it clutches a captured bird, has eyes like that