"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?" She felt that the tears were coming into her eyes.

" Can I help loving him?" she said to herself, looking deeply into his scared and at the same time delighted eyes.

" And can he ever join his father in punishing me? Is it possible he will not feel for me?" Tears were already flowing down her face, and to hide them she got up abruptly and almost ran out on to the terrace.

After the thunder showers of the last few days, cold, bright weather had set in.

The air was cold in the bright sun that filtered through the freshly washed leaves.