" "He's thinner and taller, and has grown out of being a child into a boy; I like that," said Stepan Arkadyevitch.

" Do you remember me?" The boy looked back quickly at his uncle.

"Yes, _mon oncle_," he answered, glancing at his father, and again he looked downcast.

His uncle called him to him, and took his hand.

"Well, and how are you getting on?" he said, wanting to talk to him, and not knowing what to say.