" Denisov bent over her hand and she heard strange sounds she did not understand.

She kissed his rough curly black head.

At this instant, they heard the quick rustle of the countess' dress.

She came up to them.

"Vasili Dmitrich, I thank you for the honor," she said, with an embarrassed voice, though it sounded severe to Denisov--"but my daughter is so young, and I thought that, as my son's friend, you would have addressed yourself first to me.