“So you won’t go?” asked Tchetchevitsin angrily. “Tell me, you won’t go?”
“Oh, dear!” wailed Volodia, weeping softly. “How can I go? I’m so sorry for mamma!”
“Paleface Brother, I beg you to go! You promised me yourself that you would. You told me yourself how nice it would be. Now, when everything is ready, you are afraid!”
“I—I’m not afraid. I—I am sorry for mamma.”
“Tell me, are you going or not?”
“I’m going, only—only wait a bit, I want to stay at home a little while longer!”
“If that is the case, I’ll go alone!” Tchetchevitsin said with decision. “I can get along perfectly well without you. I want to hunt and fight tigers! If you won’t go, give me my pistol!”
Volodia began to cry so bitterly that his sisters could not endure the sound and began weeping softly themselves. Silence fell.
“Then you won’t go?” demanded Tchetchevitsin again.
“I—I’ll go.”