you've the best heart in the world? and I've a good heart, too . . . Eh?'
Paklin held out his hand. . . . Mashurina looked at him darkly. She shook hands with him, however.
'If you positively must know my name,' she said, with the same gloomy face, 'by all means; my name's Fekla.'
'And mine, Pimen,' Ostrodumov added in his bass.
'Ah! that's very . . . very instructive! But that being so, tell me, O Fekla! and you, O Pimen! tell me why you behave with such unfriendliness, such persistent unfriendliness, to me, while I———'
'Mashurina thinks', Ostrodumov interrupted, 'and she's not the only one who thinks it, that as you look at every subject from the ridiculous side, there's no relying upon you.'
Paklin turned sharply round on his heels.
'There she—that's the mistake people are continually making in criticising me, most honoured Pimen! In the first place, I'm not always laughing; and secondly, that would not in the least prevent your being able to rely upon me, which is proved, indeed, by the flattering confidence I've more than once enjoyed in your ranks! I'm an honest man, most reverend Pimen!'
Ostrodumov muttered something between his
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