"Go right away."
"Mamma! . . . let us also go with nurse . . ." begged the children, for they feared their mother.
"You will take the children along with you, nurse."
"Of course, that's understood . . . I wouldn't leave them here alone!"
She dressed the children, put on a sort of woolen dress with broad red and white stripes, covered her head with a kerchief, and went out with them.
Cabinska dressed and was about to go out, when the bell rang. A small, rather corpulent and very active gentleman pushed his way in. It was the counselor.
His face was carefully shaven, he wore gold-rimmed glasses on his small nose, and a smile, that seemed glued there, on his thin lips.
"May I come in? . . . Will Madame Directress permit it? . . . Only for a minute, for I must be right off again! . . ." he recited rapidly.
"Of course, the esteemed counselor is always welcome. . . ." called
Cabinska, appearing.
"Good morning! Pray let me kiss your little hand. . . . You look charming to-day. I merely dropped in here on my way . . ."