Meanwhile the evening had come on, Marya Dmitrievna expressed a desire to return home, and the little girls were with difficulty torn away from the pond, and made ready.

Lavretsky declared that he would escort his guests half-way, and ordered his horse to be saddled.

As he was handing Marya Dmitrievna into the coach, he bethought himself of Lemm; but the old man could nowhere be found.

He had disappeared directly after the angling was over.

Anton, with an energy remarkable for his years, slammed the doors, and called sharply, "Go on, coachman!" the coach started.