As he stood there, hesitating and trying to grasp the situation more clearly, it grew, on the contrary, more and more confused.

At the same time the bells of a neighbouring church struck the hour, and the clanging tone revived in his mind the other impression, which had possessed it all day, the impression that his friends were at that moment arriving at the railway station.

The confusion in his thoughts became intolerable, and he covered his eyes with one hand, steadying himself by pressing the other against the wall.
He did not know how long he had stood thus, when an anxious voice recalled him to outer things--a voice in which love, sympathy, tenderness and anxiety for him had taken possession of the weak tones and lent them a passing thrill of touching music.
"In Heaven's name--what is it?
Speak to me--I am Vjera--here, beside you." He looked up suddenly, and seemed to recover his self-possession.
"You came just in time, Vjera--God bless you.

I--" he hesitated.

"I think--I must have been a little dizzy with the heat.