And so he could not make up his mind to go after her. He suddenly felt depressed and uneasy. The gentle tremor from the contact of her hand still remained on his lips, and on his forehead her kiss still burned. "How gently she kisses," Sasha mused. "Like a sweet sister." Sasha's cheeks burned. He felt deliciously ashamed. Vague reveries stirred within him. "If she were only my sister," thought Sasha tenderly, "then I might go to her and kiss her and say an affectionate word. Then I might call her 'Liudmillotchka dearest,' or I might call her by some special pet-name: 'Booba' or 'Strekoza.' And she would respond. Now that would be a joy. "But instead," thought Sasha sadly, "she's a stranger. Lovely, but a stranger. She came and she went. And it's likely she's not even thinking about me. And she's left behind her a sweet scent of rose and lilac, and the feeling of two gentle kisses--and a vague movement in the soul giving birth to a sweet vision as the waves gave birth to Aphrodite." * * * * * Soon Kokovkina returned. "Phew! how strong it smells here," she said. Sasha blushed. "Liudmillotchka was here," he said. "And she didn't find you at home, so she sat a while and sprinkled me with scent and left." "What tenderness!" said the old woman in astonishment, "and Liudmillotchka too!" Sasha laughed confusedly and ran into his own room. As for Kokovkina, she thought that the Routilov sisters were very gay and affectionate girls--and that they could captivate both the young and the old with their affectionate ways. * * * * * On the next day, from the morning onward, Sasha felt happy because he had been invited to the Routilovs. At home he waited impatiently for lunch. After lunch, blushing with embarrassment, he asked permission of Kokovkina to go to the Routilovs till seven o'clock. Kokovkina was astonished but let him go. Sasha ran off gaily. He had carefully combed his hair and put pomade on it. He felt happy and slightly nervous, as one is before something important and pleasant. It pleased him to think that he would come and kiss Liudmilla's hand and that she would kiss his forehead--and then when he left the same kisses would be exchanged. He thought with delight of Liudmilla's white gentle hand. All the three sisters met Sasha in the hall. They liked to sit by the window and look out on the street and that was why they saw him from a distance. Gay, well-dressed, chattering, they surrounded him with a noisy, impetuous gaiety--and he at once felt at ease with them and quite happy. "Here he is, the mysterious young person!" exclaimed Liudmilla.