In the billiard room Nejdanov came across Mariana. She was standing with her back to the window, not far from the door of Madame Sipiagina’s boudoir, with her arms tightly folded. Her face was almost in complete shadow, but she fixed her fearless eyes on Nejdanov so penetratingly, and her tightly closed lips expressed so much contempt and insulting pity, that he stood still in amazement....
“Have you anything to say to me?” he asked involuntarily.
Mariana did not reply for a time.
“No ... yes I have, though not now.”
“When?”
“You must wait awhile. Perhaps—tomorrow, perhaps—never. I know so little—what are you really like?”
“But,” Nejdanov began, “I sometimes feel ... that between us—”
“But you hardly know me at all,” Mariana interrupted him. “Well, wait a little. Tomorrow, perhaps. Now I have to go to ... my mistress. Goodbye, till tomorrow.”
Nejdanov took a step or two in advance, but turned back suddenly.
“By the way, Mariana Vikentievna ... may I come to school with you one day before it closes? I should like to see what you do there.”