The sisters kissed one another.
“How lovely you are, and how beautifully dressed!” said Vera, making a faint attempt to smile. Her lips framed one, but her eyes were like the eyes of a corpse that no one has remembered to close. But she felt she must control herself, and hastened to present Marfinka with the bouquet.
“What a lovely bouquet! And what is this?” asked Marfinka as she felt a hard substance, and discovered the holder set with her name and the pearls. “You, too, Veroshka! How is it you all love me so? I love you all, how I love you! But how and when you found out that I did, I cannot think.”
Vera was not capable of answering, but she caressed Marfinka’s shoulder affectionately.
“I must sit down,” she said. “I have slept badly through the night.”
“Grandmother calls you to Mass.”
“I cannot, darling. Tell her I am unwell, and cannot leave the house to-day.”
“What! you are not coming?”
“I shall stay in bed. Perhaps I caught cold yesterday. Tell Grandmother.”
“We will come to you.”