Sasha, shamefaced and frightened, looked at Peredonov and was silent.
"Well? Eh?" asked Peredonov.
"Yes," said Sasha at last.
"What red cheeks you've got," said Peredonov. "Well—a—you are a little girl? Yes? A girl, you rogue!"
"No, I'm not a girl," said Sasha, and suddenly angry at his own timidity, he asked in a shrill voice, "How am I like a girl? That's the fault of your students who try to tease me, because I don't say nasty words; I'm not used to saying them. Why should I say them?"
"Will Mamma punish you?" asked Peredonov.
"I have no mother," said Sasha. "My mother died long ago. I have only an aunt."
"Well then, will Aunt punish you?"
"Of course she'll punish me if I use nasty words. It isn't nice, is it?"
"And how will your aunt know?"