"Ah, how nice of you!" she said, giving her husband her hand, and greeting Sludin, who was like one of the family, with a smile.

"You're staying the night, I hope?" was the first word the spirit of falsehood prompted her to utter; "and now we'll go together.

Only it's a pity I've promised Betsy.

She's coming for me.

" Alexey Alexandrovitch knit his brows at Betsy's name.