“Never mind, Marfa Vassilievna. Granny is only scolding a little, as she is privileged to do.”
“What do you say, Sir?” said Tatiana Markovna, catching his words. “Come here, and since your Mama is not here, I will box your ears for you.”
“But, Tatiana Markovna, you threaten these things and never do them,” he said, springing up to the old lady and bowing his head submissively.
“Do box his ears well, Granny, so that his ears will be red for a month.”
“How did you come to be made of quicksilver?” said Tatiana Markovna, affectionately. “Your late father was serious, never talked at random, and even disaccustomed your mother from laughter!”
“Ah, Marfa Vassilievna,” broke in Vikentev. “I have brought you some music and a new novel.”
“Where are they?”
“I left them in the boat. That’s the fault of the carp. I will go and fetch them now.”
In a moment he was out of the door, and Marfinka would have followed if her aunt had not detained her.
“What I wanted to say to you is——” she began.