Anna, who had flushed a little the instant her son came in, noticing that Seryozha was uncomfortable, got up hurriedly, took Alexey Alexandrovitch's hand from her son's shoulder, and kissing the boy, led him out onto the terrace, and quickly came back.

"It's time to start, though," said she, glancing at her watch.

"How is it Betsy doesn't come?..." "Yes," said Alexey Alexandrovitch, and getting up, he folded his hands and cracked his fingers.

" I've come to bring you some money, too, for nightingales, we know, can't live on fairy tales," he said.