Although it seemed odd to hear Woloda criticising Papa’s choice so coolly, I felt that he was right.

“Why is he marrying her?” I asked.

“Oh, it is a hole-and-corner business, and God only knows why,” he answered. “All I know is that her brother, Peter, tried to make conditions about the marriage, and that, although at first Papa would not hear of them, he afterwards took some fancy or knight-errantry or another into his head.

But, as I say, it is a hole-and-corner business. I am only just beginning to understand my father “ — the fact that Woloda called Papa “my father” instead of “Papa” somehow hurt me — ”and though I can see that he is kind and clever, he is irresponsible and frivolous to a degree that —