He was no longer sure of himself.
I witnessed just at this time a little scene that surprised me.

I had been in the bandaging room alone one evening, cutting up bandages.

I was going through the passage into the other part of the house when a sound stopped me.

I could not avoid seeing beyond the open door a little scene that happened so swiftly that I could neither retire nor advance.
Marie Ivanovna and Semyonov were coming together towards the bandaging room.

She was in front of him when he put his hand on her arm.
"Do you love me ?" he said in a low voice.
She turned round to him, laughing.
"Yes," she said, looking at him.
"Then kiss me." "No, not now." "Why not now ?" "I don't want to." "Why don't you want to ?" She shook her head, still laughing into his eyes.
"But if I command you ?" "Ah! _command_!...