Then he would know how to behave with
them, would find something to say to them. While now he could not
understand whether they were pitying him or whether they were
laughing at him, because he had lost his way and could not
conform himself to anything. As he stood awhile alone in the
middle of the room, he unconsciously resolved to leave this house
where people were rejoicing and where he was superfluous. On
reaching the street, he felt himself offended by the Mayakins.
After all, they were the only people near to him in the world.
Before him arose his godfather's face, on which the wrinkles
quivered with agitation, and illuminated by the merry glitter of
his green eyes, seemed to beam with phosphoric light.
"Even a rotten trunk of a tree stands out in the dark!" reflected
Foma, savagely. Then he recalled the calm and serious face of
Taras and beside it the figure of Lubov bowing herself hastily
toward him. That aroused in him feelings of envy and sorrow.
"Who will look at me like that? There is not a soul to do it."
He came to himself from his broodings on the shore, at the
landing-places, aroused by the bustle of toil.
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