They had invited him more than
once to join them in their sprees, but he rather rudely and
disdainfully declined their invitations and even laughed at them.
"I am afraid. Your fathers may learn of your sprees, and as
they'll give you a drubbing, I might also come in for a share."
What he did not like in them was that they were leading a dissipated
and depraved life, without their fathers' knowledge, and that the
money
they were spending was either stolen from their parents or borrowed on
long-termed promissory notes, to be paid with exorbitant interest.
They
in turn did not like him for this very reserve and aversion, which
contained the pride so offensive to them. He was timid about speaking
to people older than himself, fearing lest he should appear in their
eyes stupid and thick-headed.
He often recalled Pelageya, and at first he felt melancholy whenever
her image flashed before his imagination. But time went on, and little
by little rubbed off the bright colours of this woman; and before he
was aware of it his thoughts were occupied by the slender, angel-like
Medinskaya.
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