very long time, shaved his broad chin carefully, and arranged his hair
curl by curl.

Alexandra Pavlovna heard his speech to the end and turned to her
brother.

'I keep meeting people to-day; I have just been talking to Lezhnyov.'

'Oh, Lezhnyov! was he driving somewhere?'

'Yes, and fancy; he was in a racing droshky, and dressed in a kind of
linen sack, all covered with dust. . . . What a queer creature he is!'

'Perhaps so; but he's a capital fellow.'

'Who? Mr. Lezhnyov?' inquired Pandalevsky, as though he were surprised.

'Yes, Mihailo Mihailitch Lezhnyov,' replied Volintsev. 'Well,
good-bye; it's time I was off to the field; they are sowing your
buckwheat. Mr. Pandalevsky will escort you home.' And Volintsev rode
off at a trot.

'With the greatest of pleasure!' cried Konstantin Diomiditch,
offering Alexandra Pavlovna his arm.

She took it and they both turned along the path to her house.

Walking with Alexandra Pavlovna on his arm seemed to afford Konstantin
Diomiditch great delight; he moved with little steps, smiling, and his
Oriental eyes were even be-dimmed by a slight moisture, though this