“We must be patient,” said Masha, threading her needle.

“You are so — ”

“It is my nerves that won’t stand it, that’s all.”

At this moment the door of Grandmamma’s room banged, and Gasha’s angry voice could be heard as she came up the stairs.

“There!” she muttered with a gesture of her hands. “Try to please people when even they themselves do not know what they want, and it is a cursed life — sheer hard labour, and nothing else!

If only a certain thing would happen! — though God forgive me for thinking it!”

“Good evening, Agatha Michaelovna,” said Basil, rising to greet her.