Miss Haldin thought she must go
herself. Anna was timid and slow. Time would be lost in bringing back
the answer, and from that point of view it was getting late, for it was
by no means certain that Mr. Razumov lived near by.
"If I go myself," Miss Haldin argued, "I can go straight to him from the
hotel. And in any case I should have to go out, because I must explain
to Mr. Razumov personally--prepare him in a way. You have no idea of
mother's state of mind."
Her colour came and went. She even thought that both for her mother's
sake and for her own it was better that they should not be together for
a little time. Anna, whom her mother liked, would be at hand.
"She could take her sewing into the room," Miss Haldin continued,
leading the way to the door. Then, addressing in German the maid who
opened it before us, "You may tell my mother that this gentleman called
and is gone with me to find Mr. Razumov. She must not be uneasy if I am
away for some length of time."
We passed out quickly into the street, and she took deep breaths of the
cool night air. "I did not even ask you," she murmured.
"I should think not," I said, with a laugh. The manner of my reception
by the great feminist could not be considered now. That he would be
annoyed to see me, and probably treat me to some solemn insolence, I had
no doubt, but I supposed that he would not absolutely dare to throw me
out.
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