" I must be very careful with her," he

reflected.

"What do you read?" she asked with seeming curiosity.

" It happens that I am particularly fond of books of travel," he replied.

'-Travels in Africa, for instance?" There was quiet demureness in the tone. 'He red- dened at the not wholly unreasonable conjec- ture that she was aware not only of what he read but of how he read.

'-And are you ajso musical?" she con- tinued, in order to relieve him of his em- barrassment. At this moment Schtoltz (who had now returned from abroad) appeared on the scene.

" Ha, Ilya ! " he cried. " I have told Olga Sergievna that you adore music, and that to-night she must sing something ' Casta Diva/ for example."

'- Why did you speak for me at all ? " pro- tested Oblomov. " I am by no means an adorer of music."

"What?" Schtoltz exclaimed. "Why, the man is offended ! I introduce him as a person of taste, and here is he stumbling over himself to destroy his good reputation ! "

" I am only declining the r61e of connois-

seur," said Oblomov. '- Tis too difficult and