Varvara Pavlovna had a habit of every now and then just touching the sleeve of the person with whom she was conversing.  These light touches greatly agitated Panshine.  She had the faculty of easily becoming intimate with any one.  Before a couple of hours had passed, it seemed to Panshine as if he had known her an age, and as if Liza—­that very Liza whom he had loved so much, and to whom he had proposed the evening before—­had vanished in a kind of fog.

Tea was brought; the conversation became even more free from restraint than before.  Madame Kalitine rang for the page, and told him to ask Liza to come down if her headache was better.  At the sound of Liza’s name, Panshine began to talk about self-sacrifice, and to discuss the question as to which is the more capable of such sacrifice—­man or woman.  Maria Dmitrievna immediately became excited, began to affirm that the woman is the more capable, asserted that she could prove the fact in a few words, got confused over them, and ended with a sufficiently unfortunate comparison.  Varvara Pavlovna took up a sheet of music, and half-screening her face with it, bent over towards Panshine, and said in a whisper, while she nibbled a biscuit, a quiet smile playing about her lips and her eyes, “Elle n’a pas invente la poudre, la bonne dame.”

Panshine was somewhat astonished, and a little alarmed by Varvara’s audacity, but he did not detect the amount of contempt for himself that lay hid in that unexpected sally, and—­forgetting all Maria Dmitrievna’s kindness and her attachment towards him, forgetting the dinners she had given him, the money she had lent him—­he replied (unhappy mortal that he was) in the same tone, and with a similar smile, “Je crois bien!” and what is more he did not even say “Je crois bien!” but “J’crois ben!”

Varvara Pavlovna gave him a friendly look, and rose from her seat.  At that moment Liza entered the room.  Marfa Timofeevna had tried to prevent her going but in vain.  Liza was resolved to endure her trial to the end.  Varvara Pavlovna advanced to meet her, attended by Panshine, whose face again wore its former diplomatic expression.

“How are you now?” asked Varvara.

“I am better now, thank you,” replied Liza.

“We have been passing the time with a little music,” said Panshine.  “It is a pity you did not hear Varvara Pavlovna.  She sings charmingly, en artiste consommee.”

“Come here, ma chere,” said Madame Kalitine’s voice.

With childlike obedience, Varvara immediately went to her, and sat down on a stool at her feet.  Maria Dmitrievna had called her away, in order that she might leave her daughter alone with Panshine, if only for a moment.  She still hoped in secret that Liza would change her mind.  Besides this, an idea had come into her mind, which she wanted by all means to express.

“Do you know,” she whispered to Varvara Pavlovna, “I want to try and reconcile you and your husband.  I cannot promise to succeed, but I will try.  He esteems me very much, you know.”