Mayakin

Mayakin looked into his face with regret, smacked his lips and said:

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

“But what, in particular, is repulsive to the man?” asked Mayakin, calmly, without looking at Foma.

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

Foma shuddered, but Mayakin was already by his side, and pulling him by the sleeve, asked:

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

Foma stepped back and found himself side by side with a rather short, stout man, who bowed to Mayakin, and said in a hoarse voice:

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

Foma bowed to her mutely, not hearing her answer to Mayakin, nor what his father was saying to him.

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

“How do you do, Sophya Pavlovna,” said Mayakin, tenderly, approaching her with his hand outstretched.

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

“Hush,” Mayakin remarked with fright and hastily turned to look around with a kind smile on his face.

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

And Mayakin, walking beside him, kept on intrusively whispering in his ears:

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

Foma warned him, and he did it so calmly that Mayakin started back, and the wrinkles on his face quivered with alarm.

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003

“There was a man in the land of Uz,” began Mayakin, in a hoarse voice, and Foma, sitting beside Luba on the lounge in the corner of the room, knew beforehand that soon his godfather would become silent and pat his bald head with his hand.

The Man Who Was Afraid 2003