She had not looked for such cruelty in her sister, and she was angry with her.

But suddenly she heard the rustle of a skirt, and with it the sound of heart-rending, smothered sobbing, and felt arms about her neck.

Kitty was on her knees before her.

"Dolinka, I am so, so wretched!" she whispered penitently.

And the sweet face covered with tears hid itself in Darya Alexandrovna's skirt.