“Please don’t call me miss, Tatiana. I am dressed like a lady, but I am ... I am quite—”
Tatiana’s penetrating glance disconcerted Mariana; she ceased.
“And what are you then?” Tatiana asked in her steady voice.
“If you really want to know ... I am certainly a lady by birth. But I want to get rid of all that. I want to become like all simple women.”
“Oh, I see! You want to become simplified, like so many do nowadays.”
“What did you say, Tatiana? To become simplified?”
“Yes, that’s a word that has sprung up among us. To become simplified means to be like the common people. Teaching the people is all very well in its way, but it must be a difficult task, very difficult! I hope you’ll get on.”
“To become simplified!” Mariana repeated. “Do you hear, Aliosha, you and I have now become simplified!”
“Is he your husband or your brother?” Tatiana asked, carefully washing the cups with her large, skilful hands as she looked from one to the other with a kindly smile.
“No,” Mariana replied; “he is neither my husband nor my brother.”