Shall I tell you how I have lived?
Very well; that is, I'll try.

I have never told any one about myself, because I have never aroused interest in anyone.

It is most offensive to live on earth without arousing people's interest in you!" "I can see by your face and by everything else that your life has not been a smooth one!" said Foma, feeling pleased with the fact that, to all appearances, life was not sweet to his comrade as well.

Yozhov drank his tea at one draught, thrust the glass on the saucer, placed his feet on the edge of the chair, and clasping his knees in his hands, rested his chin upon them.

In this pose, small sized and flexible as rubber, he began: "The student Sachkov, my former teacher, who is now a doctor of medicine, a whist-player and a mean fellow all around, used to tell me whenever I knew my lesson well: 'You're a fine fellow, Kolya! You are an able boy.