When Grigori returned it was already dark. She could tell by the way he walked that he was in a good temper. He did not swear at the darkness of the room, but called Matrona by her name, and then went up to the bed and sat down on it Matrona raised herself and sat by his side.
"Guess what's the latest news!" began Orloff, smiling.
"Well, what is it?"
"You are going to take a situation also."
"Where?" she asked with stammering lips.
"In the same Infirmary as I shall be in," he explained in an impressive tone of voice.
She fell on his neck, pressed him closely to her breast, and kissed his lips. He did not expect this and pushed her away. "She is only pretending," he said to himself. "The cunning creature, she does not really want to be with me! She thinks me a fool, the little serpent!"
"Well, why are you so pleased about it?" he asked in a rough voice that was hill of distrust He would have liked to have pushed her off the bed.
"I am only so pleased," she said, smiling happily.
"Don't try and humbug me; I know you!"