expressive and intelligent face, a liquid brilliance in his quick,
dark blue eyes, a straight, broad nose, and well-curved lips. His
clothes were not new, and were somewhat small, as though he had
outgrown them.

He walked quickly up to Darya Mihailovna, and with a slight bow told
her that he had long wished to have the honour of an introduction to
her, and that his friend the baron greatly regretted that he could not
take leave of her in person.

The thin sound of Rudin's voice seemed out of keeping with his tall
figure and broad chest.

'Pray be seated . . . very delighted,' murmured Darya Mihailovna, and,
after introducing him to the rest of the company, she asked him
whether he belonged to those parts or was a visitor.

'My estate is in the T---- province,' replied Rudin, holding his hat
on his knees. 'I have not been here long. I came on business and
stayed for a while in your district town.'

'With whom?'

'With the doctor. He was an old chum of mine at the university.'

'Ah! the doctor. He is highly spoken of. He is skilful in his work,
they say. But have you known the baron long?'

'I met him last winter in Moscow, and I have just been spending about
a week with him.'