'Yes, Zoya's. What would you have? She has such fine shoulders.'

'Shoulders?'

'Well there, shoulders and arms, isn't it all the same? Elena caught
me in this unconstrained proceeding after dinner, and before dinner I
had been abusing Zoya in her hearing. Elena unfortunately doesn't
understand how natural such contradictions are. Then you came on the
scene, you have faith in--what the deuce is it you have faith in? ...
You blush and look confused, you discuss Schiller and Schelling (she's
always on the look-out for remarkable men), and so you have won the
day, and I, poor wretch, try to joke--and all the while----'

Shubin suddenly burst into tears, turned away, and dropping upon the
ground clutched at his hair.

Bersenyev went up to him.

'Pavel,' he began, 'what childishness this is! Really! what's the
matter with you to-day? God knows what nonsense you have got into your
head, and you are crying. Upon my word, I believe you must be putting
it on.'

Shubin lifted up his head. The tears shone bright on his cheeks in the
moonlight, but there was a smile on his face.

'Andrei Petrovitch,' he said, 'you may think what you please about me.
I am even ready to agree with you that I'm hysterical now, but, by
God, I'm in love with Elena, and Elena loves you. I promised, though,
to see you home, and I will keep my promise.'