"What makes you think that?"
"The fact that she is very proud—rather, that she values her independence."
"Who does not?" queried Arkady, while there flashed through his mind the thought: "Why this mention of her?" Curiously enough, the same thought occurred to Katia too. But this was not so curious as might have been supposed, seeing that when young people meet in frequent and amicable converse, identical thoughts are apt to enter their brains.
Arkady smiled, edged nearer to Katia, and said in a whisper: "Confess that you are a little afraid of her."
"Of whom?"
"Of her" repeated Arkady meaningly.
"Are you afraid of her?" countered Katia.
"I am. Please note that I believe you to be the same."
Katia raised a menacing finger.
"I am surprised at you!" she exclaimed. "Never at any time has my sister been better disposed towards you than she is now. She likes you considerably more than when you first came."