so that you fall behind the times.

Not that I murmur exactly; for I dare not, I dare not, but only because I've been devoured with impatience all the week...

to have things settled at last." "How so ?" "To hear my fate, Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch.

Please sit down." He bowed, pointing to a seat by the table, before the sofa.
Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch looked round.

The room was tiny and low-pitched.
The furniture consisted only of the most essential articles, plain wooden chairs and a sofa, also newly made without covering or cushions.
There were two tables of limewood; one by the sofa, and the other in the corner was covered with a table-cloth, laid with things over which a clean table-napkin had been thrown.