"The tea is grandmother's--just a bit left in the bottom of the box. Porfiry Vladimirych was going to take the box away, too, but I wouldn't let him. 'Maybe,' I say, 'the young mistress will come and will want to have some hot tea. So let it stay here till she gets some of her own.' Well, I had no trouble with him--he even joked. 'You old rascal,' he says, 'you will use it up yourself! Be sure,' he says, 'to bring the box to Golovliovo.' I wouldn't be surprised if he sends for it tomorrow." "You should have given it to him then." "Why should we? He has enough tea of his own. And now, at least, we, too, will have some after you. Another thing, madam, are you going to make us over to Porfiry Vladimirych?" "Why, I never meant to." "Just so. We were going to mutiny, you know. If, supposing, let's say, we are put under the rule of the Golovliovo master, we will all hand in our resignations." "Why? Is uncle really so terrible?" "No, he is not terrible, but he tortures you, he is all words. He can talk a man into his grave." Anninka smiled involuntarily. It was vile dirt indeed, that oozed from Yudushka's orations, not mere babble. It was an ill-smelling wound from which the pus flowed incessantly. "And what have you decided, about yourself?" Fedulych continued to question. "Why, what was there to decide about myself?" said Anninka, a bit confused, feeling that she would again be compelled to listen to orations on the "treasure." "Aren't you really going to give up acting?" "No--that is, I haven't thought of it so far. But what harm is there in my earning my own bread?" "I don't see any good in going with a bagpipe from fair to fair to amuse drunkards. Surely you are a lady." Anninka did not reply, only knitting her brows. A painful thought drummed in her head, "God, when will I leave this place?" "Of course, you know better how to take care of yourself. But we thought you would come back to live with us. The house is warm, and roomy enough to play tag in. The late mistress looked after the building herself. And if you feel dull, why then you can go sleigh-riding. In the summer you can go to the woods to pick mushrooms." "We have all kinds of mushrooms here--lots of them," lisped Afimyushka temptingly. Anninka leaned her elbows on the table and tried not to listen. "There was a girl here," continued Fedulych cruelly. "She was a chambermaid in St. Petersburg. She says all actresses must have special passports. Every month they have to present their license at the police station." Anninka could bear it no longer. She had had to listen to such speeches all day long. "Fedulych!" she shouted in pain. "What have I done to you? Why do you take pleasure in insulting me?" It was all she could stand. She felt as if something was strangling her. Another word--and she would break down. BOOK V FORBIDDEN FAMILY JOYS CHAPTER I