This rather spoiled the general good humor.

Grisha cried, declaring that Nikolinka had whistled too, and he was not punished, and that he wasn't crying for the tart--he didn't care--but at being unjustly treated.

This was really too tragic, and Darya Alexandrovna made up her mind to persuade the English governess to forgive Grisha, and she went to speak to her.

But on the way, as she passed the drawing room, she beheld a scene, filling her heart with such pleasure that the tears came into her eyes, and she forgave the delinquent herself.

The culprit was sitting at the window in the corner of the drawing room; beside him was standing Tanya with a plate.