Chapter 27

           “Hehasgone!Itisover!”Annasaidtoherself,standingatthewindow;andinanswertothisstatementtheimpressionofthedarknesswhenthecandlehadflickeredout,andofherfearfuldreamminglingintoone,filledherheartwithcoldterror.

           “No,thatcannotbe!”shecried,andcrossingtheroomsherangthebell.Shewassoafraidnowofbeingalone,thatwithoutwaitingfortheservanttocomein,shewentouttomeethim.

           “Inquirewherethecounthasgone,”shesaid.Theservantansweredthatthecounthadgonetothestable.

           “Hishonorleftwordthatifyoucaredtodriveout,thecarriagewouldbebackimmediately.”

           “Verygood.Waitaminute.I’llwriteanoteatonce.SendMihailwiththenotetothestables.Makehaste.”

           Shesatdownandwrote:

           “Iwaswrong.Comebackhome;Imustexplain.ForGod’ssakecome!I’mafraid.”

           Shesealeditupandgaveittotheservant.

           Shewasafraidofbeingleftalonenow;shefollowedtheservantoutoftheroom,andwenttothenursery.

           “Why,thisisn’tit,thisisn’the!Wherearehisblueeyes,hissweet,shysmile?”washerfirstthoughtwhenshesawherchubby,rosylittlegirlwithherblack,curlyhairinsteadofSeryozha,whominthetangleofherideasshehadexpectedtoseeinthenursery.Thelittlegirlsittingatthetablewasobstinatelyandviolentlybatteringonitwithacork,andstaringaimlesslyathermotherwithherpitch-blackeyes.AnsweringtheEnglishnursethatshewasquitewell,andthatshewasgoingtothecountrytomorrow,Annasatdownbythelittlegirlandbeganspinningthecorktoshowher.