Sergey Ivanovitch simply considers it as Kostya's duty to be his steward.

And it's the same with his sister.

Now Dolly and her children are under his guardianship; all these peasants who come to him every day, as though he were bound to be at their service.

" "Yes, only be like your father, only like him," she said, handing Mitya over to the nurse, and putting her lips to his cheek.