But so many things may happen in between," he added huskily, with a deep-drawn sigh.
"I really believe there'll be neither life nor courage in you until you're married, Nikolai," she said, laughing; "you're so horrid to meet now, that it's enough to make one quite sad and uncomfortable the whole evening.

A nice sweetheart you are!" She swung roguishly round on her heel, with the can extended, and ran down the road, nodding a farewell.
He had not got so far as to tell her what he had originally gone up there for--the news about his mother, and, to tell the truth, he had completely forgotten it; but it would be time enough next time he met her.

And it must not be too long to that, things looking as they did now.
* * * * * A few weeks afterwards some one inquired for him.
A peasant carter, in a state of great uncertainty about his load, had stopped outside the eating-house.

Part of the load was made up of his mother's big chest, which the man had undertaken to drive to town, and leave for the meantime at Nikolai's.

Barbara herself was to follow in a day or two.
She must have some project in her head! Perhaps she was thinking of going out to service again.
And one evening when he came home he found a red wooden box and a pair of laced boots upon the chest.