Kirsha knocked on the door and entered--quiet, small, troubled.
Trirodov looked at him anxiously. Kirsha said:

"There are two young women in the wood. Such an inquisitive pair. They
have been looking over our colony. Now they'd like to come here to
take a look round."

Trirodov let the pale green ribbon with a lightly stamped pattern fall
upon the page he was reading and laid the book on the small table at
his side. He then took Kirsha by the hand, drew him close, and looked
attentively at him, with a slight stir in his eyes; then said quietly:

"You've been asking questions of those quiet boys again."

Kirsha grew red, but stood erect and calm, Trirodov continued to
reproach him:

"How often have I told you that this is wicked. It is bad for you and
for them."

"It's all the same to them," said Kirsha quietly.

"How do you know?" asked Trirodov.

Kirsha shrugged his shoulders and said obstinately:

"Why are they here? What are they to us?"

Trirodov turned away, then rose abruptly, went to the window, and