CHAPTER V.
The next day Porfiry Vladimirych greeted her again with his ambiguous geniality, from which it was impossible to gather whether he wanted to show her affection or suck her blood dry.
"Well, you 'always-in-a-hurry-to-get-there,' did you sleep well? And where are you hurrying to now?" he asked her jestingly.
"Yes, uncle, I am in a hurry, indeed. I am on leave of absence, you know, and I must report on time."
"Is it to play the clown again? I won't let you."
"Whether you let me or not, I am going."
Yudushka shook his head sadly. "And what would your deceased grandma say?" he asked in a tone of kindly reproach.
"Grandma knew about it when she was alive. But why do you use those expressions, uncle? Yesterday you were sending me to the fairs with a guitar and today you speak of playing the clown. I won't allow you to talk like that to me, you hear?"
"Eh-eh! The truth hurts! Well, and I like the truth. I think that if the truth——"