Arly every day I dined at the Commandant's, where I usually passed the
rest of the day. In the evening, Father Garasim used to drop in,
accompanied by his wife, Akoulina, who was the sturdiest gossip of the
neighbourhood. It is scarcely necessary to say that every day we met,
Chvabrine and I. Still hour by hour his conversation pleased me less.
His everlasting jokes about the Commandant's family, and, above all, his
witty remarks upon Marya Ivanofna, displeased me very much. I had no
other society but that of this family within t
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