A maid, in an old yellow gown with a faded kerchief at her neck, came in with a saucer of milk and set it before the kitten. The kitten started, blinked, and began lapping. “What a pink little tongue it has!” remarked Zinaïda, putting her head almost on the ground and peeping at it sideways under its very nose. The kitten having had enough began to purr and move its paws affectedly. Zinaïda got up, and turning to the maid said carelessly, “Take it away.” “For the kitten—your little hand,” said the hussar, with a simper and a shrug of his strongly-built frame, which was tightly buttoned up in a new uniform. “Both,” replied Zinaïda, and she held out her hands to him. While he was kissing them, she looked at me over his shoulder. I stood stockstill in the same place and did not know whether to laugh, to say something, or to be silent. Suddenly through the open door into the passage I caught sight of our footman, Fyodor. He was making signs to me. Mechanically I went out to him. “What do you want?” I asked. “Your mamma has sent for you,” he said in a whisper. “She is angry that you have not come back with the answer.” “Why, have I been here long?” “Over an hour.” “Over an hour!” I repeated unconsciously, and going back to the drawing-room I began to make bows and scrape with my heels. “Where are you off to?” the young princess asked, glancing at me from behind the hussar. “I must go home. So I am to say,” I added, addressing the old lady, “that you will come to us about two.” “Do you say so, my good sir.” The princess hurriedly pulled out her snuff-box and took snuff so loudly that I positively jumped. “Do you say so,” she repeated, blinking tearfully and sneezing. I bowed once more, turned, and went out of the room with that sensation of awkwardness in my spine which a very young man feels when he knows he is being looked at from behind. “Mind you come and see us again, M’sieu Voldemar,” Zinaïda called, and she laughed again. “Why is it she’s always laughing?” I thought, as I went back home escorted by Fyodor, who said nothing to me, but walked behind me with an air of disapprobation. My mother scolded me and wondered what ever I could have been doing so long at the princess’s. I made her no reply and went off to my own room. I felt suddenly very sad…. I tried hard not to cry…. I was jealous of the hussar. V