Our ladies shrieked, and rushed headlong away, while the gentlemen escorting them burst into Homeric laughter.

So ended our visit to Semyon Yakovlevitch.
At this point, however, there took place, I am told, an extremely enigmatic incident, and, I must own, it was chiefly on account of it that I have described this expedition so minutely.
I am told that when all flocked out, Liza, supported by Mavriky Nikolaevitch, was jostled against Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch in the crush in the doorway.

I must mention that since that Sunday morning when she fainted they had not approached each other, nor exchanged a word, though they had met more than once.

I saw them brought together in the doorway.
I fancied they both stood still for an instant, and looked, as it were, strangely at one another, but I may not have seen rightly in the crowd.

It is asserted, on the contrary, and quite seriously, that Liza, glancing at Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch, quickly raised her hand to the level of his face, and would certainly have struck him if he had not drawn back in time.