It was pleasant to think that he would take that scent home again and astonish Kokovkina. "Who would like it?" asked Liudmilla, taking the bottle and looking archly at Sasha. "I'd like it," repeated Sasha. "You like it--so you bark do you?"[2] she teased him. Sasha and Liudmilla both laughed. "So you're not afraid that I'll suffocate you?" asked Liudmilla. "Do you remember how you were afraid yesterday?" "I wasn't afraid at all," replied Sasha hotly. Liudmilla, smiling and still teasing the boy, began to sprinkle him with lilac scent. Sasha thanked her and once more kissed her hand. "And please you must get your hair cut," said Liudmilla sternly. "What's the use of wearing long locks? You only frighten the horses." "All right, I'll have my hair cut," agreed Sasha. "You're terribly severe! My hair is very short. Not more than half an inch. The inspector never grumbled at me for it." "I like young people with short hair," said Liudmilla impressively, and threatened him with her finger. "But I'm not an inspector, I've got to be obeyed!" * * * * * From that time on Liudmilla made it a habit to go frequently to Kokovkina--to see Sasha. She tried, especially at the beginning, to go when Kokovkina was not at home. Sometimes she even tried little tricks to lure the old woman out of the house. Darya once said to her: "Ah, what a coward you are! You're afraid of an old woman. You'd better go when she's at home and take him out for a walk." Liudmilla followed this advice and began to call at odd times. If she found Kokovkina at home she would sit with her for a while and then take Sasha out for a walk, in which case she always kept him for a short time only. Liudmilla and Sasha became friends with a gentle yet not tranquil friendship. Without noticing it herself Liudmilla had awakened in Sasha premature though as yet vague inclinations and desires. Sasha often kissed Liudmilla's hands and her thin, supple wrists, covered with a soft elastic skin; through her thin yellow sleeve showed her frail, sinuous, blue veins. And above were her long slender arms which could be kissed to the very elbows when the sleeves were pushed back. Sasha sometimes concealed from Kokovkina the fact that Liudmilla had been to the house. He didn't lie about it, but he kept silent. It was impossible for him to lie--as the maid-servant could easily have contradicted him. And to remain silent about Liudmilla's visits was also difficult for Sasha: Liudmilla's laughter echoed in his ears. He wanted to talk about her. But to talk about her was somehow awkward. Sasha quickly made friends with the other sisters also. He would kiss their hands and soon even began to call the girls "Dashenka," "Liudmillotchka" and "Valerotchka." [1] "Doosheet" means "to scent" and also "to suffocate." [2] There is a pun here. The phrase "ti zhelayesh" means, "You like, you want it." When split into three words, "ti zhe layesh," it means, "You do bark."