In vain Irishka hurried to change clothes, no one disturbed her until the very supper, to which they were invited by an unfamiliar maid with a necromashka. The marquise refused to go to the dining room, citing pain in her leg, and demanded that food be served in her room. Then she told Miranda, hushed, clinging to her in search of affection, fairy tales for a long time, sitting comfortably on a wicker sofa standing on the balcony and admiring the river, as if trying to convey slowly and smoothly flowing stream all the troubles that somehow fell on her head at once.

“Come on, dear, I’ll put you to...