"'I like Martha,' thought I, 'when was I ever in the least like Martha?'
"'But no,' he continued, 'she was not so tall, and her hair was fairer, and she did not stand there so haughtily--and--and--did not make such serious eyes.'
"'Ah, good Heavens,' thought I, 'you first look into Martha's eyes!'
"At this moment the kitchen door opened quite, quite slowly, and through a narrow aperture she squeezed herself in. She had not taken off her white apron. Her face was as white as this apron, and her lips trembled.
"'Welcome, Robert!' she said softly behind his back, for he had turned towards me.
"At the first sound of her voice he veered round like lightning, and then for about a minute they stood facing each other without moving, without uttering a word.
"I trembled. For two days I had lain in wait for this moment, and now it fell so wretchedly short of my expectations. Then they slowly approached each other, and kissed. This kiss too did not satisfy me. He could not have kissed me differently; 'only that he did not attempt that at all,' I added mentally. And then they both were silent again. My heart beat so wildly that I had to press both hands to my bosom.
"At last Martha said, 'Won't you take a seat, Robert?'
"He nodded and threw himself into the sofa-corner so that all its joints creaked. He looked at her again and again, then after a long time he remarked, 'You are very much changed, Martha!'
"I felt as if he had given me a slap in the face.