Page:Rudin - a novel (IA rudinnovel00turgrich).pdf/57

RUDIN see that willow at the corner? let’s see who can get to it first. One! two! three! and away!’

The boys set off at full speed to the willow. Bassistoff rushed after them.

‘What a lout!’ thought Pandalevsky, ‘he is spoiling those boys. A perfect lout!’

And looking with satisfaction at his own neat and elegant figure, Konstantin Diomiditch struck his coat-sleeve twice with his open hand, pulled up his collar, and went on his way. When he had reached his own room, he put on an old dressing-gown and sat down with an anxious face to the piano. 19