As they were nearing Petershof, he said half-nervously: "So my friends took you for my betrothed.

I hope you are not offended." "Why should I be ?" she said frankly.

"I was only amused, because there never were two people less lover-like than you and I are." "No, that's quite true," he replied, in a tone of voice which betokened relief.
"So that I really don't see that we need concern ourselves further in the matter," she added wishing to put him quite at his ease.

"I'm not offended, and you are not offended, and there's an end of it." "You seem to me to be a very sensible young woman in some respects," the Disagreeable Man remarked after a pause.

He was now quite cheerful again, and felt he could really praise his companion.