'I will see you home then.'

'But why have you come without a cap on?'

'That doesn't matter. I took off my neckerchief too. It is quite
warm.'

The friends walked a few paces.

'I was very stupid to-day, wasn't I?' Shubin asked suddenly.

'To speak frankly, you were. I couldn't make you out. I have never
seen you like that before. And what were you angry about really? Such
trifles!'

'H'm,' muttered Shubin. 'That's how you put it; but they were not
trifles to me. You see,' he went on, 'I ought to point out to you
that I--that--you may think what you please of me--I--well there!
I'm in love with Elena.'

'You in love with Elena!' repeated Bersenyev, standing still.

'Yes,' pursued Shubin with affected carelessness. 'Does that astonish
you? I will tell you something else. Till this evening I still had
hopes that she might come to love me in time. But to-day I have seen
for certain that there is no hope for me. She is in love with some one
else.'

'Some one else? Whom?'