Page 815 sur 2288

She needed consolation. She must be calm, and get out of this

insufferable position. The thought of immediate action binding

her to her son, of going away somewhere with him, gave her this

consolation.

She dressed quickly, went downstairs, and with resolute steps

walked into the drawing-room, where she found, as usual, waiting

for her, the coffee, Seryozha, and his governess. Seryozha, all

in white, with his back and head bent, was standing at a table

under a looking-glass, and with an expression of intense

concentration which she knew well, and in which he resembled his

father, he was doing something to the flowers he carried.

The governess had a particularly severe expression. Seryozha

screamed shrilly, as he often did, "Ah, mamma!" and stopped,

hesitating whether to go to greet his mother and put down the

flowers, or to finish making the wreath and go with the flowers.