She also became silent; then she laid her hand on me, and said with
her usual merriment:

"They will not beat you."

"How do you know?"

"The sergeant is a good friend of ours."

"But if your mother should complain about me?"

"Then I shall go in your stead, if they should decide to switch
you."

She laughed heartily at her own suggestion. Her laughter made me
laugh too; we both laughed, and laughed without knowing why. And in
a mood completely changed I returned to the house. After that I
felt very near to the girl.

Well, time passed, months and years: I lost track of them. But I do
remember that the time had come when I knew enough Russian to make
myself understood, and fit for any kind of work about the house and
in the field, and could give my patron entire satisfaction.

One day, I remember, I tried very hard to have my work well and
promptly done, so as to earn, for once, the good-will of Anna
herself. I felt a longing for the friendly smile of a mother. But
Anna kept going in and out, and did not pay the least attention to
me. I was sitting on the bench outside the house alone. My dog was