“We have already made acquaintance,” said Tushin, with a bow. “We picked up your nephew on the way. Many thanks, I need nothing, but you, Boris Pavlovich, ought to change.”
“You must forgive an old woman for telling you you are all half mad. No animal leaves his hole in weather like this. Yakob, shut the shutters closer. Fancy crossing the Volga in weather like this.”
“My carriage is solid, and has a cover. Vera Vassilievna sat as dry as if she were in a room.”
“But in this terrible storm.”
“Only old women are afraid of a storm.”
“I’m much obliged.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Tushin in embarrassment. “It slipped from my tongue. I meant ordinary women.”
“God will forgive you,” laughed Tatiana Markovna. “It won’t indeed hurt you, but Vera! Were you not afraid?”
“One does not think of fear with Ivan Ivanovich.”
“If Ivan Ivanovich went bear-hunting, would you go with him?”