Kokovkina already knew what was the trouble. She had been informed even more bluntly than the Head-Master. Grushina had waited for her in the street, entered into conversation, and told her that Liudmilla had already managed to corrupt Sasha. Kokovkina was dumbfounded. When she got home she showered reproaches upon Sasha. She was all the more vexed because this had happened almost before her eyes, and because Sasha had gone to the Routilovs' with her knowledge. Sasha pretended not to understand anything and he asked: "What have I done wrong?" Kokovkina was at a loss for a moment. "What wrong? Don't you know yourself? Didn't I find you in a skirt not long ago? Have you forgotten, you shameless boy?" "Yes, but what was especially wrong with that? And didn't you punish me for it? It wasn't as if I'd stolen the skirt!" "Hark how he talks!" said Kokovkina in a distraught way. "I punished you, but not enough apparently." "Well, punish me again," said Sasha defiantly, with the look of a person unjustly treated. "You forgave me yourself, and now it wasn't enough. I didn't ask you to forgive me--I would have knelt all the evening. And what's the good of scolding me all the time?" "Yes, and everyone in town is talking about you and your Liudmillotchka." "And what are they saying?" asked Sasha in an innocently inquisitive tone of voice. Kokovkina was again at a loss. "It's clear enough what they're saying! You know perfectly well what might be said of you. Very little that's good, you may be sure. You're up to mischief with your Liudmillotchka--that's what they're saying." "Well, I won't get up to mischief again," Sasha promised as calmly as if the conversation concerned a game of "touch." He assumed an expression of innocence, but his heart was heavy. He asked Kokovkina what they were saying and was afraid that he would hear it was something unpleasant. What could they be saying? Liudmillotchka's room faced the garden; it could not be seen from the street. Besides, Liudmillotchka always lowered the blinds. And if anyone had looked in, what could they say? Perhaps something annoying and insulting. Or perhaps they were only saying that he often went there. And here on the next day Kokovkina received an invitation to go and see the Head-Master. The old woman was distraught. She did not even mention it to Sasha, but at the appointed time went quickly on her errand. Khripatch kindly and gently informed her of the anonymous letter he had received. She began to cry. "Be calm, we're not accusing you of anything," said Khripatch. "We know you too well. Of course, you'll have to look after him a little more rigorously. But I want you to tell me now what actually has taken place." Kokovkina came home with more reproaches for Sasha. "I shall write to your aunt," she said, crying. "I haven't done anything. Let Aunt come, I'm not afraid," said Sasha, and he began to cry also.