Volodin's face once more assumed a comprehending and sympathetic expression.
On the way Peredonov pulled off some thistle-heads and put them in his pocket.
"What do you want those thistle-heads for?" asked Volodin with a grin.
"For the cat," answered Peredonov gruffly.
"Are you going to stick them in its fur?" asked Volodin.
"Yes."
Volodin sniggered.
"Don't begin without me," he cried.
Peredonov asked him to come in at once, but Volodin declared that he had an appointment: he suddenly felt that it wasn't the right thing not to have appointments; Peredonov's words about his affairs had inspired him with the idea that it would be well for him to visit the Adamenko girl on his own, and to tell her that he had some new, splendid drawings which needed framing—perhaps she would like to look at them. "In any case," thought Volodin, "Nadezhda Vassilyevna will ask me to have a cup of coffee."
And so that was what Volodin did. He suddenly invented another scheme: he proposed to Nadezhda Vassilyevna that her brother should take up carpentry. Nadezhda Vassilyevna imagined that Volodin was in need of money, and she immediately consented. They agreed to work for two hours three times a week, for which Volodin was to get thirty roubles a month. Volodin was in raptures—here was some cash and the possibility of frequent meetings with Nadezhda Vassilyevna.