 It is immediately obvious that the businesslike and living below her means Nadezhda is the antithesis of Nikolai - she is practical, penetrating, knows all the "right people" (and she herself is such).But at the same time she is a hopeless romantic and listens to Nikolai's stories about his scientific quests.Charming Nadezhda as a salesperson is a genuine authority on the "real" life, to which she seeks to involve Nikolai, and sincerely does not understand his stubborn opposition towards her efforts.