Sasha looked at her with his soft, dark eyes—they suddenly became moist—and he said quietly:

"I like to caress."

"Well, you are a nice boy," said Liudmilla, putting her arm on his shoulder. "So you like to caress? But do you like to splash[2] in your bath?"

Sasha smiled. Liudmilla went on:

"In warm water?"

"Yes, in warm and in cold," said the boy shamefacedly.

"And what sort of soap do you like?"

"Glycerine."

"And do you like grapes?"

Sasha began to laugh.