He very soon got shy of talking before the others. I suppose the usual camp-fire comments jarred his fine feelings. But I was left to him and truly I had to submit. You cant very well expect a youngster in Tomassovs state to hold his tongue altogether; and I suppose you will hardly believe me. I am by nature a rather silent sort of person. ldquo;Very likely my silence appeared to him sympathetic. All the month of September our regiment, quartered in villages, had come in for an easy time. It was then that I heard most of that–you cant call it a story. The story I have in my mind is not in that. Outpourings, let us call them. ldquo;I would sit quite content to hold my peace, a whole hour perhaps, while Tomassov talked with exaltation. And when he was done I would still hold my peace. And then there would be produced a solemn effect of silence which, I imagine, pleased Tomassov in a way.