In December 1871 he proposed to Nadezhda Purgold, with whom he had developed a close relationship over weekly gatherings of The Five at the Purgold household.
En decembro de 1871 pediulle matrimonio a Nadezhda Purgold, con quen mantivera unha estreita relación a través das reunións semanais dos Cinco na residencia da familia Purgold.