86 with triumphant glee, and stalking away from his father with the closed face of a lighted path

between large shrubs, rushed into an open place with many empty "If at least," Raban thought, "I were to get into a wrong train. Then it would at would move. Raban could hear the noise from the platform even when he had shut the the fact that there was nothing he wanted to find out from me and that he himself still you're answering me be you still my living son -- what else was left to me, in my back began an explanation: listen here, he said, he had been playing cards with Lebeda and 84 they had just been getting on fine when the train came. It would really have been made his knees give. me? Do shut your umbrella; it stopped raining ages ago. I didn't have a chance to tell There Raban looked around, while calling out "Thank you, thank you!" to the porter, Gillemann's, after all. It's a quarter to six, so not too late, after all, for paying calls on doorpost with his right hand, the left hand held open, close to his mouth. will appear to me. He came up and spoke to me and then walked with me, in spite of passengers would change places, discussing these changes with each other, or they says, that need not be a disadvantage at all. One will spend more time in the rooms me today? -- he explained some things to me, didn't he, and described everything as it had something else to do. But now all of a sudden he has gone away, and yet I can't haven't even shrunk from pulling my leg. How could you have a friend out there! I shouted at in a muffled voice, began to pull, and the water on top of the bus, now set "Adieu." Raban said. Page "Yes, that could be done -- but it wouldn't be very nice if I didn't go -- and I'm "Georg," said his father in a low voice, without moving. the reflection of his stable lantern jumping through the puddles at his feet. Irritably he upon some time before. Then, however, one must look forward to it; for that very railings into the street, crossed it, leapt through the station entrance, after a while On his left, at the window, two gentlemen were sitting opposite each other, fans of puddle water formed, with a rushing sound, behind the turning wheels; it was connection with your friend and I have your customers here in my pocket!" easy as I imagine it now when I am still alone and can still do everything, can still go each time putting the suitcase on the step above and then following himself, any rate seem to me that the whole enterprise had begun, and if later, after the mistake The road was perhaps hilly; there was surely mud flying up into the spokes; can't believe it." least twice I kept you from seeing him, although he was actually sitting with me in my carriage door and sat down on the last little free bit of a light-brown wooden seat. He palpitations, then he walked quickly along the park pool, went along a narrow, badly impossible for him to take a look outside then, still, he did not mean to abuse anyone a short thread through the eye of a needle. balcony who cut a broad cross in blood on the palm of his hand and held the hand up Raban tried to count his change quickly, thinking he ought to be getting more, but a saw many people's backs, and the backs of their heads, and between them the have here, and he would be getting there soon enough anyway, so that he need not go Wrapped in the canvas of two sacks that had been cut up, the driver came over, my friend came to see us last. I remember that you used not to like him very much. At should certainly feel much better. If the scenery does turn out to be boring, as Lement darkness. "You have no friend in St. Petersburg. You've always been a leg-puller and you room, plagued by a disloyal staff, old to the marrow of my bones? And my son

strutting through the world, finishing off deals that I had prepared for him, bursting "But your friend hasn't been betrayed after all!" cried his father, emphasizing supporting himself on his umbrella with one hand, and on the handle of the suitcase and really never know for certain where all the others are, for if there is a ruin in the you." when he was on a business trip to Kiev and ran into a riot, and saw a priest on a Raban did not answer, shut his umbrella, and the sky closed over him in pallid he at once come and asked? "Yes, of course I've been playing a comedy! A comedy! That's a good though the omnibus had black distempered walls and no glass in the windows. There talking about the price of goods. "They're commercial travelers," Raban thought and, for I don't want to go through the wet park with you, as I should like to drop in at and appealed to the mob. You've told that story yourself once or twice since." had both of them silently taken it for granted that the old man would go on living alone in the old house. But now he made a quick, firm decision to take him into his socks. The not particularly clean appearance of his underwear made him reproach junior assistant clerk -- had come in and had said he thought a small fair man had been wanting to go by the omnibus. Well, so he had at once come and asked, or hadn't everyone!" bethought himself and pushed his suitcase under his seat. and complain anywhere. Only just now Herr Pirkershofer -- if you please, that's the district, there will probably be a walk all together to that ruin; it will have been agreed too," Raban answered, leaning out of the door, which he had opened, holding on to the "Stay where you are, I don't need you! You think you have strength enough to "That's quite easy, send a telegram." his father had clean changes of underwear. He had not yet explicitly discussed with his no half-measures, and it was hard to see what business a gentleman like this could slammed down on the counter the ticket he had been asked for and the change. Now but that was only natural, that can't have offended him, for he is a sensible person." the pupils, overlarge, fixedly looking at him from the corners of the eyes. have offended him even with a single word. I did refuse to spend the evening in town, had been cleared up, I were to arrive in this station again on my way back, then I Page would have his attention drawn to this. He would go over and straighten it. Raban also one. If a stick or the metal-covered corner of a suitcase stuck out, then the owner like, and no one with whom I could make more strenuous expeditions, no one there Page porter who was walking nearby hurried him through a glass door onto the platform. found the booking office, and had to knock for a while on the iron shutter. Then the Lement turned to the right and held out his right hand to say goodbye, so that These words went hissing through his mind. "Then it's really better for you to go. I was only thinking. . . Anyway I couldn't for the most part with loose reins that the driver guided the dripping horse. -- Could room. I could quite well understand your dislike of him, my friend has his peculiarities. the point with stabs of his forefinger. "I've been representing him here on the spot." about eye level, and the many raindrops on the glass were white, often single ones sprung?" who could show me how his crops are doing or show me a quarry he is working there. For one isn't at all sure even of acquaintances of long standing. Wasn't Lement nice to but your mother has given me so much of her strength that I've established a fine benches leaning against little trees, then went more slowly through an opening in the with the other. The coach that he entered was brightly illuminated by the great

sure! I am still much the stronger of us two. All by myself I might have had to give way, socks, and sat up straight. Then he heard someone from the station shouting: "Hi!" if Page The lantern was attached to the end of the shaft; the horse, having been only has to send the maid into the others' apartments, where they are sitting over a for a moment Raban was walking against Lement's outstretched arm. tired, yes, I'll go all right. If a telegram came, they'd get a fright, into the bargain. -on the seat opposite. It was bright enough, the darkness outside made it appear as and nodded and asked him questions. If you think back you're bound to remember. He 108 pipes and cigars, in one place drifting limply past the face of a girl. Often the would transfer their luggage, which lay in a narrow blue net over a seat, to another stirring, dripped slowly through a crack into the carriage. himself for having been neglectful. It should have certainly been his duty to see that between the shafts. Raban rubbed his feet thoroughly on the seat, pulled on clean Georg knelt down at once beside his father, in the old man's weary face he saw His father leaned forward but did not topple. Since Georg did not come any "You comedian!" Georg could not resist the retort, realized at once the harm letter or books and are delighted by this news. Well, it is not difficult to protect oneself 93 Now he'll lean forward, thought Georg, what if he topples and smashes himself! "He has pockets even in his shirt!" said Georg to himself, and believed that with The rain gushed down the back of his neck, inside his collar. upturned faces of people on the seat opposite. In some places smoke was curling from 85 done and, his eyes starting in his head, bit his tongue back, only too late, till the pain booking clerk looked out, said it was really high time, took the bank note, and nearer, as he had expected, he straightened himself again. carefully taking off the woolen drawers he wore over his linen underpants and his back if I want to, for I shall have no one there whom I could pay calls on whenever I slipping off his dressing gown as he stood feebly enough, "it'll soon be three years since was no need to think that there were wheels under the floor and in front the horse suddenly, against all the usual practice, a larger expedition is considered right, for one amount of light from the main hall of the station, in which it was standing; in front of expression! What other comfort was left to a poor old widower? Tell me -- and while Meanwhile Georg had succeeded in lowering his father down again and respectable businessman! Do you think I didn't love you, I, from whom you are people you know fairly well. Addio. Well, a good journey, and remember me to no discussion beforehand either, for all will be expected to get together quite easily if many a windowpane -- all were shut right up to the top -- a hissing arc lamp hung at Page used to tell us the most incredible stories of the Russian Revolution. For instance, own future establishment. It almost looked, on closer inspection, as if the care he The station clock struck, it was a quarter to six. Raban stopped because he had meant to lavish there on his father might come too late. "Just think back a bit, Father," said Georg, lifting his father from the chair and From a little distance Lement then called back: "I say, Eduard, can you hear reason one mustn't miss it. But if there is no such sight to be seen, then there will be But then, later, you got on with him very well. I was proud because you listened to him against such invitations. And yet I don't know whether I shall be able to, for it is not so bride-to-be what arrangements should be made for his father in the future, for they And what for, where would we go, anyway?"

go with you today, as I'm sleepy, I forgot to tell you that. And now I shall say goodbye, and since he found no guard, he climbed up the steps of the nearest coach by himself, come over here and that you're only hanging back of your own accord. Don't be too who did not understand that. Apart from that, this place here was a filthy dump, and there was anyone in the bus he might say so. "Yes, yes, and he would like to start now,