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"Sonya, don't believe her, darling! Don't believe her! Do you

remember how we and Nicholas, all three of us, talked in the

sitting room after supper? Why, we settled how everything was to

be. I don't quite remember how, but don't you remember that it

could all be arranged and how nice it all was? There's Uncle

Shinshin's brother has married his first cousin. And we are only

second cousins, you know. And Boris says it is quite possible.

You know I have told him all about it. And he is so clever and so

good!" said Natasha. "Don't you cry, Sonya, dear love, darling

Sonya!" and she kissed her and laughed. "Vera's spiteful; never

mind her! And all will come right and she won't say anything to

Mamma. Nicholas will tell her himself, and he doesn't care at all

for Julie."

Natasha kissed her on the hair.

Sonya sat up. The little kitten brightened, its eyes shone, and

it seemed ready to lift its tail, jump down on its soft paws, and

begin playing with the ball of worsted as a kitten should.