"Yes, she promised. We both worried her so that she gave in; but she wished us to tell you nothing about it until the day."
The general watched Gania's confusion intently, and clearly did not like it.
"Remember, Ivan Fedorovitch," said Gania, in great agitation, "that I was to be free too, until her decision; and that even then I was to have my 'yes or no' free."
"Why, don't you, aren't you—" began the general, in alarm.
"Oh, don't misunderstand—"
"But, my dear fellow, what are you doing, what do you mean?"
"Oh, I'm not rejecting her. I may have expressed myself badly, but I didn't mean that."
"Reject her! I should think not!" said the general with annoyance, and apparently not in the least anxious to conceal it. "Why, my dear fellow, it's not a question of your rejecting her, it is
