"Olga Vassilyevna! But why?" exclaimed Sasha. Kokovkina rose and embraced him.
"That's enough crying," she said gently but sternly, "no one shall touch you."
"As you like," said Peredonov. "But I must tell the Head-Master. I thought it might have been better to keep at home. Perhaps your Sashenka really knows more than he'll tell. We don't know yet why he's teased with being a girl—perhaps it's for something else entirely. Perhaps it's not he who's being taught, but he who's corrupting others."
Peredonov left the room angrily. Kokovkina followed him. She said reproachfully:
"Ardalyon Borisitch, how can you worry a boy for I don't know what? It's as well that he doesn't understand what you say."
"Well, good-bye," said Peredonov angrily. "But I shall tell the Head-Master. This must be investigated."
He left. Kokovkina went to console Sasha. Sasha sat gloomily at his window and looked at the starry sky. His black eyes were now tranquil and strangely sad. Kokovkina silently stroked his head.
"It's my fault," he said. "I told him why they were teasing me and he wouldn't let it drop. He's a very coarse man. Not one of the students likes him."
The next day Peredonov and Varvara moved into their new house. Ershova stood at the gate and exchanged violently abusive words with Varvara. Peredonov hid himself behind the furniture vans.