La Demande en mariage et L'Ours

Stepan Chubukov was an old landowner. He lived in a big country house with his daughter, Natalya. She was twenty-five years old and not yet married.

One morning, there was a visitor at the door. It was their neighbour, Ivan Lomov. He was a large man, but he was very nervous. That day he was wearing a black evening jacket and white gloves.

Chubukov came to meet him. "My dear friend!" he cried, and he shook Lomov's hand. "Ivan! What a nice surprise! How are you?"

"Thank you," said Lomov. "And how are you?"

"Oh, we are fine. Sit down, please. You should not forget your neighbours, you know. But why are you so dressed up? Evening jacket, gloves... Are you going to a party?"

"No, I have only come to see you, Stepan."

"Then why the evening jacket, my dear? It is as if you have come on New Year's Day!"