"Pray sit down." Mr. and Mrs. Naraschievici accepted the invitation, while their daughter, a pale, plain girl of over twenty years of age, did not forget to kiss the mistress's hand. "I kiss your hand, aunt," said Ana, too, while Mrs. Naraschievici in her turn embraced her on the forehead, and could not help expressing her wonder at how tall Ana had grown and how pretty she was. Ana blushed and joined Miss Naraschievici, while the mistress's eyes shone with pleasure. "You must not tell her so; you must not turn her head," she said, just for something to say, while her mother was asking herself the question as to why on earth her grand-daughter had said that "Aunt." It is true that neither Ana nor Mistress Veta was related to the Naraschievici family; however, Mr. Naraschievici said it was "aristocratic," and all he said was right in Mistress Veta's eyes. "Is Master Dinu at home?" "No. You know what he is--he cannot bear to stay at home." As she said this, Mistress Veta approached her mother, who looked as if she could have taken the whole Naraschievici family and put them outside the door, so angry was she because they had spoilt the happy hour she had hoped to pass with her grand-daughter. "Mother," she whispered in her ear, "it would be kind if you would go downstairs to Gheorghitza, who ought to be up now." The old lady was at the door before she had finished speaking: with her hand on the latch she looked furiously at her daughter and at Mr. and Mrs. Naraschievici, choked back some words and went out. She was going away, saying to herself that she would never again set foot inside the house, when she remembered Gheorghitza. When the old lady went in Sandu was telling him tales. "Here is kind Granny, here is kind Granny," cried Gheorghitza gaily. He got up quickly, put his arms round her neck and kissed her over and over again. The old woman forgot her distress as she held Gheorghitza in her arms. He began to untie the handkerchief and feel in the pocket of her gown. "Look what Granny has brought for Gheorghitza," she said. It was her habit to bring some toy for him. Now that he had a plaything, Gheorghitza was no longer ill. His kind Granny made him forget it. The old lady watched him for some time, and then she looked at Sandu. "How is the work getting on?" "Well." "And business is profitable?" "Profitable." As Sandu said this Mistress Veta came into the ante-room, took a plateful of cakes out of a cupboard and went quickly away again. During the noise she made the old lady looked intently towards the window.