“How in the world did you find an opportunity of speaking to Miss Nadia then? especially since you are not allowed to meet.” “Oh, one can always get over the railing; then there’s that red-haired girl, she helps, and Maria Nikitishna—oh, but she’s a snake, that girl! What’s the matter? Are you afraid of the thunder-storm?” “No, I’m ill—seriously ill!” Velchaninoff had risen from his seat with a fearful sudden pain in his chest, and was trying to walk up and down the room. “Oh, really! then I’m disturbing you. I shall go at once,” said the youth, jumping up. “No, you don’t disturb me!” said Velchaninoff ceremoniously. “How not; of course I do, if you’ve got the stomach ache! Well now, Vassili—what’s your name—Pavel Pavlovitch, let’s conclude this matter. I will formulate my question for once into words which will adapt themselves to your understanding: Are you prepared to renounce your claim to the hand of Nadejda Fedosievna before her parents, and in my presence, with all due formality?” “No, sir; not in the slightest degree prepared,” said Pavel Pavlovitch witheringly; “and allow me to say once more that all this is childish and absurd, and that you had better clear out!” “Take care,” said the youth, holding up a warning forefinger; “better give it up now, for I warn you that otherwise you will spend a lot of money down there, and take a lot of trouble; and when you come back in nine months you will be turned out of the house by Nadejda Fedosievna herself; and if you don’t go _then_, it will be the worse for you. Excuse me for saying so, but at present you are like the dog in the manger. Think over it, and be sensible for once in your life.” “Spare me the moral, if you please,” began Pavel Pavlovitch furiously; “and as for your low threats I shall take my measures to-morrow—_serious_ measures.” “Low threats? pooh! You are low yourself to take them as such. Very well, I’ll wait till to-morrow then; but if you—there’s the thunder again!—_au revoir_—very glad to have met you, sir.” He nodded to Velchaninoff and made off hurriedly, evidently anxious to reach home before the rain. CHAPTER XV. “You see, you see!” cried Pavel to Velchaninoff, the instant that the young fellow’s back was turned. “Yes; you are not going to succeed there,” said Velchaninoff. He would not have been so abrupt and careless of Pavel’s feelings if it had not been for the dreadful pain in his chest. Pavel Pavlovitch shuddered as though from a sudden scald. “Well, sir, and you—you were loth to give me back the bracelet, eh?” “I hadn’t time.” “Oh! you were sorry—you pitied me, as true friend pities friend!” “Oh, well, I pitied you, then!” Velchaninoff was growing angrier every moment. However, he informed Pavel Pavlovitch shortly as to how he had received the bracelet, and how Nadia had almost forced it upon him.