I am so absorbed in this girl that I forget about the presence of Matvey. Judging by the blush that filled her face, she did not forget about him. Matvey, as a gentleman, almost confesses his love on my behalf, and now I am ready to fall into the ground.

And why didn't I hit Sokolov right away?

But Dasha pulls herself together and, having coped with the excitement, knocks me out. She directly refuses my candidacy, citing my lame ass, and grabbing her bag, leaves us again.

Her words have a bitter taste in my mouth. I don't know what hooked me more, that she wasn't going to marry...