Mitya

Mitya had long been sending letters to Alyosha in his modest village, all of them the same: "Good afternoon, Alyosha, how are you? How are your hunt going? I hope you'll find time to reply to me..." and then Mitya would write about his daily life. This happened once a week. Alyosha would reply modestly on the back of the letter: "Good morning, everything is fine..."—and so it went on.
One ordinary day, Alyosha received another letter. Everything about it was as usual, except for the fact that at the end it read: "I'll be expecting you tonight at the Podvorie restaurant at 10 sharp." Alyosha read the last line several more times. It was now 9 a.m., and the next train would be at his station at 1 p.m.—he wouldn't make it; he needed to at least get ready, check in, and do some housework.
Finally, Alyosha was on the train. It turned out the train arrived at two o'clock. He left Tugarin with an old woman who loved Alyosha very much, even though they weren't related. All he had to do was arrive and check in, but he wouldn't make it by 10 p.m.
Alyosha is in the capital of Snezhnaya, standing in the very center, right next to the restaurant, and thinking.
— (I'm already late... Considering that I need to check in, I definitely won't make it. Mitya is probably tired of waiting for me...)
Alyosha was thinking to himself, when suddenly... someone grabbed him under the ribs from behind and said loudly, "Boo!.." Alyosha wasn't scared, but his fingertips tingled from the surprise, his heart started beating wildly, and he turned around.
"Hello, Alyoshenka!" A cheerful voice reached his ears; it was Mitya, with rosy cheeks and a wide smile, looking at Alyoshenka.
— So? Is the restaurant still open?
Alyosha nodded his head approvingly.
At the restaurant, Mitya reserved a private table in the very corner, where no one could hear them and where the curtains could be drawn so they wouldn't be seen. Once at the table, Mitya, like a true gentleman, took Alyosha's things and put them away, pulled out a chair for him, and he sat down.

• Order whatever you want, today is a special evening, Alyoshenka!..
  Mitya said happily and immediately called the waiter over.