But though he was taking a holiday now, that is to say, he was doing no writing, he was so used to intellectual activity that he liked to put into concise and eloquent shape the ideas that occurred to him, and liked to have someone to listen to him.

His most usual and natural listener was his brother.

And so in spite of the friendliness and directness of their relations, Konstantin felt an awkwardness in leaving him alone.

Sergey Ivanovitch liked to stretch himself on the grass in the sun, and to lie so, basking and chatting lazily.