"I'm very glad," replied the Head-Master's wife constrainedly. And she seated Varvara on the sofa.
Varvara sat down with obvious pleasure in the place indicated, spread out her rustling green dress, and said, trying to appear at ease:
"I've been a Mam'zell until now, but now I've become a Madam. We're namesakes—I'm Varvara and you're Varvara—and we've not been to each other's houses. While I was a Mam'zell, I sat at home most of the time. What's the good of sitting by one's stove all the time! Now Ardalyon Borisitch and I will live more socially. Grant me a favour—we will come to you and you will come to us, Mossure to Mossure and Madame to Madame."
"But I hear that you're not going to stay here long," said the Head-Master's wife. "I'm told that you and your husband are going to be transferred."
"Yes, the paper will come soon and then we shall leave here," replied Varvara. "But as the paper has not yet come, we must stay here a little longer and show ourselves."
Varvara had hopes of the inspector's position. After the wedding she wrote a letter to the Princess. She had not yet received an answer. She decided to write again at the New Year.
Liudmilla said:
"But we thought, Ardalyon Borisitch, that you were going to marry the young lady, Pilnikov?"
"What's the good of me marrying anyone else?" said Peredonov. "I need patronage."
"But how did your affair with Mademoiselle Pilnikov get broken off," Liudmilla teased him. "Didn't you pay her attentions? Did she refuse you?"