“Ach, I can’t make you understand! You see, you are made for each other! I have often been reminded of you!⁠ ⁠… You’ll come to it in the end! So does it matter whether it’s sooner or later? There’s the featherbed element here, brother⁠—ach! and not only that! There’s an attraction here⁠—here you have the end of the world, an anchorage, a quiet haven, the navel of the earth, the three fishes that are the foundation of the world, the essence of pancakes, of savoury fish-pies, of the evening samovar, of soft sighs and warm shawls, and hot stoves to sleep on⁠—as snug as though you were dead, and yet you’re alive⁠—the advantages of both at once! Well, hang it, brother, what stuff I’m talking, it’s bedtime! Listen. I sometimes wake up at night; so I’ll go in and look at him. But there’s no need, it’s all right. Don’t you worry yourself, yet if you like, you might just look in once, too. But if you notice anything⁠—delirium or fever⁠—wake me at once. But there can’t be.⁠ ⁠…”