There was no question that we were relieved by the absence of Semyonov and Trenchard.

Semyonov was no easy companion at any time and we had the very natural desire to throw off from us the weight of Marie Ivanovna's unexpected death.

I will not speak of myself in this matter, but for the others.

She had not been very long in their company, she had been strange and unsettled in her behaviour, she had been engaged to a man, jilted him, and engaged herself to another--all within a very short period of time.

I, myself, was occupied incessantly by my thoughts of her, but that was my own affair.