I expected of her--just what I expected, I cannot tell; but she is the best of women! And I had so much faith in her--when sometimes she spoke such peculiar words, all her own.

Her eyes, my dear boy, are so beautiful! Oh Lord! I was ashamed to look upon them, and as I am telling you, she would say a few words, and everything would become clear to me.

For I did not come to her with love alone--I came to her with all my soul! I sought--I thought that since she was so beautiful, consequently, I might become a man by her side!" Ookhtishchev listened to the painful, unconnected words that burst from his companion's lips.

He saw how the muscles of his face contracted with the effort to express his thoughts, and he felt that behind this bombast there was a great, serious grief.

There was something intensely pathetic in the powerlessness of this strong and savage youth, who suddenly started to pace the sidewalk with big, uneven steps.