Twelve o’clock
The tailor met the ` kind gentlemen ' with a bow ; he , presumably , to drown his grief , but possibly to celebrate his delight at getting the furniture , had been drinking heavily ; his wife soon led him away . In the room everything was by this time ready ; a trunk , tied up with cord , stood on the floor . Bersenyev sank into thought : many memories came rushing upon him . Twelve o'clock had long ago struck ; and the driver had already brought round the horses , but the ` young people ' still did not appear . At last hurrying steps were heard on the stairs , and Elena came out escorted by Insarov and Shubin . Elena 's eyes were red ; she had left her mother lying unconscious ; the parting had been terrible . Elena had not seen Bersenyev for more than a week : he had been seldom of late at the Stahovs ' .