"I always buy my maids' dresses myself, of some cheap material," the princess said, continuing the previous conversation.

" Isn't it time to skim it, my dear?" she added, addressing Agafea Mihalovna.

" There's not the slightest need for you to do it, and it's hot for you," she said, stopping Kitty.

"I'll do it," said Dolly, and getting up, she carefully passed the spoon over the frothing sugar, and from time to time shook off the clinging jam from the spoon by knocking it on a plate that was covered with yellow-red scum and blood-colored syrup.

"How they'll enjoy this at tea-time!" she thought of her children, remembering how she herself as a child had wondered how it was the grown-up people did not eat what was best of all--the scum of the jam.