Soon Liudmilla made ready to leave. It had grown quite dark. Sasha went out to escort her.
"Only as far as the cabby," said Liudmilla in a gentle voice, and looked at Sasha with her caressing eyes, blushing guiltily.
Once on the street Liudmilla became gay once more and began to cross-examine Sasha.
"Well, are you always at your lessons? Do you read much?"
"Yes, I love reading," replied Sasha.
"Andersen's fairy-tales?"
"No, not fairy-tales, but all sorts of books. I like history and poems too."
"Do you like poetry? And who's your favourite poet?" asked Liudmilla gravely.
"Nadson, of course,"[1] replied Sasha, with the deep conviction of the impossibility of any other answer.
"So, so!" said Liudmilla encouragingly. "I like Nadson too, but only in the morning. In the evening, my dear, I like to dress up. And what do you like to do?"