“The inspector ordered flowers to be planted in the garden——”
“H’m, in my opinion that is superfluous. He should have had birch trees planted; that would have influenced the pupils more favourably.”
“There were birch trees already——”
“Ah! Birch trees are as valuable as the ‘Clever Reader’ and ‘Domestic Conversations.’ Are you married?”
“I SHOULD HAVE LIKED TO MARRY.”
“I should have liked to marry, but I was afraid to. The parish clerk of Ogoùrtzov offered me his sister-in-law in marriage. I knew her—she was a first-rate girl. I went to see her.”
“Was she clever?”
“A-a! Really, sir, I don’t know whether she was clever or not.”
“But you talked with her?”