How unfair that everything should be given to the Semyonovs and the Nikitins of this world, everything denied to such men as Trenchard, Andrey Vassilievitch and I!...
But my little grumble passed as I looked at her.
How honest and straight and true with her impulses, her enthusiasms, her rebellions and ignorances she was! Yes, I loved her and had always loved her.

That was why I had cared for Trenchard, why now I was attracted by Semyonov, because, shadow of a man as I was, not man enough to be jealous, I could see with her eyes, stand beside her and share her emotion....

But God! how that day I despised myself! "You're tired!" she said, looking at me.

"Is your leg hurting you ?" "Not much," I answered.
"Sit down here beside me." She made way for me on the sofa.

"Ivan Andreievitch, you will always be my friend ?" "Always," I answered.
"I believe you will.