carefully taking off the woolen drawers he wore over his linen underpants and his for I don't

want to go through the wet park with you, as I should like to drop in at Page done and, his eyes starting in his head, bit his tongue back, only too late, till the pain Page the point with stabs of his forefinger. "I've been representing him here on the spot." Page 93 strutting through the world, finishing off deals that I had prepared for him, bursting On his left, at the window, two gentlemen were sitting opposite each other, about eye level, and the many raindrops on the glass were white, often single ones says, that need not be a disadvantage at all. One will spend more time in the rooms can't believe it." was no need to think that there were wheels under the floor and in front the horse shouted at in a muffled voice, began to pull, and the water on top of the bus, now set you're answering me be you still my living son -- what else was left to me, in my back and since he found no guard, he climbed up the steps of the nearest coach by himself, socks. The not particularly clean appearance of his underwear made him reproach haven't even shrunk from pulling my leg. How could you have a friend out there! I no half-measures, and it was hard to see what business a gentleman like this could benches leaning against little trees, then went more slowly through an opening in the a short thread through the eye of a needle. room. I could quite well understand your dislike of him, my friend has his peculiarities. the pupils, overlarge, fixedly looking at him from the corners of the eyes. Now he'll lean forward, thought Georg, what if he topples and smashes himself! "You comedian!" Georg could not resist the retort, realized at once the harm These words went hissing through his mind. connection with your friend and I have your customers here in my pocket!" like, and no one with whom I could make more strenuous expeditions, no one there any rate seem to me that the whole enterprise had begun, and if later, after the mistake who did not understand that. Apart from that, this place here was a filthy dump, and have here, and he would be getting there soon enough anyway, so that he need not go back if I want to, for I shall have no one there whom I could pay calls on whenever I one. If a stick or the metal-covered corner of a suitcase stuck out, then the owner pipes and cigars, in one place drifting limply past the face of a girl. Often the "You have no friend in St. Petersburg. You've always been a leg-puller and you slipping off his dressing gown as he stood feebly enough, "it'll soon be three years since they had just been getting on fine when the train came. It would really have been against such invitations. And yet I don't know whether I shall be able to, for it is not so found the booking office, and had to knock for a while on the iron shutter. Then the "Yes, that could be done -- but it wouldn't be very nice if I didn't go -- and I'm Gillemann's, after all. It's a quarter to six, so not too late, after all, for paying calls on least twice I kept you from seeing him, although he was actually sitting with me in my socks, and sat up straight. Then he heard someone from the station shouting: "Hi!" if doorpost with his right hand, the left hand held open, close to his mouth. and appealed to the mob. You've told that story yourself once or twice since." talking about the price of goods. "They're commercial travelers," Raban thought and, But then, later, you got on with him very well. I was proud because you listened to him with the other. The coach that he entered was brightly illuminated by the great each time putting the suitcase on the step above and then following himself, sure! I am still much the stronger of us two. All by myself I might have had to give way, only has to send the maid into the others' apartments, where they are sitting over a

From a little distance Lement then called back: "I say, Eduard, can you hear tired, yes, I'll go all right. If a telegram came, they'd get a fright, into the bargain. -been wanting to go by the omnibus. Well, so he had at once come and asked, or hadn't 86 upon some time before. Then, however, one must look forward to it; for that very stirring, dripped slowly through a crack into the carriage. His father leaned forward but did not topple. Since Georg did not come any room, plagued by a disloyal staff, old to the marrow of my bones? And my son his father had clean changes of underwear. He had not yet explicitly discussed with his lighted path between large shrubs, rushed into an open place with many empty "Adieu." Raban said. bride-to-be what arrangements should be made for his father in the future, for they come over here and that you're only hanging back of your own accord. Don't be too For one isn't at all sure even of acquaintances of long standing. Wasn't Lement nice to upturned faces of people on the seat opposite. In some places smoke was curling from used to tell us the most incredible stories of the Russian Revolution. For instance, himself for having been neglectful. It should have certainly been his duty to see that The station clock struck, it was a quarter to six. Raban stopped because he had The rain gushed down the back of his neck, inside his collar. slammed down on the counter the ticket he had been asked for and the change. Now no discussion beforehand either, for all will be expected to get together quite easily if would have his attention drawn to this. He would go over and straighten it. Raban also carriage door and sat down on the last little free bit of a light-brown wooden seat. He who could show me how his crops are doing or show me a quarry he is working there. "Just think back a bit, Father," said Georg, lifting his father from the chair and and nodded and asked him questions. If you think back you're bound to remember. He when he was on a business trip to Kiev and ran into a riot, and saw a priest on a expression! What other comfort was left to a poor old widower? Tell me -- and while between the shafts. Raban rubbed his feet thoroughly on the seat, pulled on clean fans of puddle water formed, with a rushing sound, behind the turning wheels; it was but your mother has given me so much of her strength that I've established a fine me? Do shut your umbrella; it stopped raining ages ago. I didn't have a chance to tell will appear to me. He came up and spoke to me and then walked with me, in spite of "He has pockets even in his shirt!" said Georg to himself, and believed that with bethought himself and pushed his suitcase under his seat. The lantern was attached to the end of the shaft; the horse, having been passengers would change places, discussing these changes with each other, or they own future establishment. It almost looked, on closer inspection, as if the care he "Stay where you are, I don't need you! You think you have strength enough to "That's quite easy, send a telegram." me today? -- he explained some things to me, didn't he, and described everything as it nearer, as he had expected, he straightened himself again. railings into the street, crossed it, leapt through the station entrance, after a while meant to lavish there on his father might come too late. my friend came to see us last. I remember that you used not to like him very much. At palpitations, then he walked quickly along the park pool, went along a narrow, badly junior assistant clerk -- had come in and had said he thought a small fair man had though the omnibus had black distempered walls and no glass in the windows. There for a moment Raban was walking against Lement's outstretched arm. 84 85 and really never know for certain where all the others are, for if there is a ruin in the

Lement turned to the right and held out his right hand to say goodbye, so that booking clerk looked out, said it was really high time, took the bank note, and 108 had both of them silently taken it for granted that the old man would go on living would move. Raban could hear the noise from the platform even when he had shut the balcony who cut a broad cross in blood on the palm of his hand and held the hand up would transfer their luggage, which lay in a narrow blue net over a seat, to another reason one mustn't miss it. But if there is no such sight to be seen, then there will be suddenly, against all the usual practice, a larger expedition is considered right, for one had something else to do. But now all of a sudden he has gone away, and yet I can't and complain anywhere. Only just now Herr Pirkershofer -- if you please, that's the too," Raban answered, leaning out of the door, which he had opened, holding on to the sprung?" "But your friend hasn't been betrayed after all!" cried his father, emphasizing saw many people's backs, and the backs of their heads, and between them the There Raban looked around, while calling out "Thank you, thank you!" to the porter, many a windowpane -- all were shut right up to the top -- a hissing arc lamp hung at letter or books and are delighted by this news. Well, it is not difficult to protect oneself the reflection of his stable lantern jumping through the puddles at his feet. Irritably he had been cleared up, I were to arrive in this station again on my way back, then I "Then it's really better for you to go. I was only thinking. . . Anyway I couldn't began an explanation: listen here, he said, he had been playing cards with Lebeda and The road was perhaps hilly; there was surely mud flying up into the spokes; impossible for him to take a look outside then, still, he did not mean to abuse anyone go with you today, as I'm sleepy, I forgot to tell you that. And now I shall say goodbye, on the seat opposite. It was bright enough, the darkness outside made it appear as easy as I imagine it now when I am still alone and can still do everything, can still go but that was only natural, that can't have offended him, for he is a sensible person." "Georg," said his father in a low voice, without moving. everyone!" Meanwhile Georg had succeeded in lowering his father down again and people you know fairly well. Addio. Well, a good journey, and remember me to amount of light from the main hall of the station, in which it was standing; in front of "Yes, of course I've been playing a comedy! A comedy! That's a good respectable businessman! Do you think I didn't love you, I, from whom you are made his knees give. should certainly feel much better. If the scenery does turn out to be boring, as Lement Wrapped in the canvas of two sacks that had been cut up, the driver came over, And what for, where would we go, anyway?" supporting himself on his umbrella with one hand, and on the handle of the suitcase he at once come and asked? Raban did not answer, shut his umbrella, and the sky closed over him in pallid alone in the old house. But now he made a quick, firm decision to take him into his district, there will probably be a walk all together to that ruin; it will have been agreed for the most part with loose reins that the driver guided the dripping horse. -- Could there was anyone in the bus he might say so. "Yes, yes, and he would like to start now, Page "If at least," Raban thought, "I were to get into a wrong train. Then it would at have offended him even with a single word. I did refuse to spend the evening in town, you." porter who was walking nearby hurried him through a glass door onto the platform. Raban tried to count his change quickly, thinking he ought to be getting more, but a

darkness. Page Georg knelt down at once beside his father, in the old man's weary face he saw with triumphant glee, and stalking away from his father with the closed face of a the fact that there was nothing he wanted to find out from me and that he himself still