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The governess, after saying good-morning, began a long and

detailed account of Seryozha's naughtiness, but Anna did not hear

her; she was considering whether she would take her with her or

not. "No, I won't take her," she decided. "I'll go alone with my

child."

"Yes, it's very wrong," said Anna, and taking her son by the

shoulder she looked at him, not severely, but with a timid glance

that bewildered and delighted the boy, and she kissed him. "Leave

him to me," she said to the astonished governess, and not letting

go of her son, she sat down at the table, where coffee was set

ready for her.

"Mamma! I ... I ... didn't...." he said, trying to make out from

her expression what was in store for him in regard to the

peaches.

"Seryozha," she said, as soon as the governess had left the room,

"that was wrong, but you'll never do it again, will you?... You

love me?"