Sasha assumed an injured expression and blushed.
"What a stick-in-the-corner he is," said Liudmilla to annoy him, and nudged Sasha. "You ought to talk to your visitors."
"He's still only a youngster," said Kokovkina. "He's very modest."
"I'm modest too," said Liudmilla with a smile.
Sasha laughed and said ingenuously:
"Really, are you modest?"
Liudmilla burst out laughing. Her laughter, as always, was delightfully gay. As she laughed, she flushed very much and her eyes became mischievous and guilty, and their glance attempted to dodge those of her companions. Sasha was flustered and tried eagerly to explain.
"I didn't mean that—I wanted to say that you were very gay and not modest—and not that you were immodest."
Then feeling what he had said was not as clear as it might be, he grew more confused and blushed.
"What impertinence!" exclaimed Liudmilla laughing and flushing. "What a jewel he is!"