'There are things which it is a shame to laugh at and make fun of,
African Semenitch!' said Bassistoff warmly, turning away from Pigasov.

Meanwhile Rudin had approached Natalya. She got up; her face expressed
her confusion. Volintsev, who was sitting near her, got up too.

'I see a piano,' began Rudin, with the gentle courtesy of a travelling
prince; 'don't you play on it?'

'Yes, I play,' replied Natalya, 'but not very well. Here is
Konstantin Diomiditch plays much better than I do.'

Pandalevsky put himself forward with a simper. 'You should not say
that, Natalya Alexyevna; your playing is not at all inferior to mine.'

'Do you know Schubert's "Erlkonig"?' asked Rudin.

'He knows it, he knows it!' interposed Darya Mihailovna. 'Sit down,
Konstantin. You are fond of music, Dmitri Nikolaitch?'

Rudin only made a slight motion of the head and ran his hand through
his hair, as though disposing himself to listen. Pandalevsky began to
play.

Natalya was standing near the piano, directly facing Rudin. At the
first sound his face was transfigured. His dark blue eyes moved slowly
about, from time to time resting upon Natalya. Pandalevsky finished
playing.

Rudin said nothing and walked up to the open window. A fragrant mist