Zhid, Zhid."

"And what of it? Aren't you a Jew? Should I feel insulted if some
one were to call me Christian?!"

I had nothing to say. And it dawned upon me at that moment that I
was really insulting myself by objecting to being called Zhid.
True, Anna meant to jeer at me and insult me; but did it depend on
her alone?

"And what are you going to do now?" asked Marusya.

"I want to run away."

"Without telling me?"

She peered into my face, and I felt as if two streams of warmth had
emptied themselves into me. My eyes had become somewhat accustomed
to the darkness, and I could discern every movement of her body. A
delicate smile was playing around her mouth, and my feeling of
despondency was giving way before it. I felt that after all I had a
friend in the house, a good, loving, and beautiful friend.

I shuddered and broke out into tears. Then she began to play
caressingly with my hair and pat me on my neck and face. She did
well to let me have my cry out. By and by I felt relieved. She
wanted to withdraw her hand, but then I held it fast.

"So you were going to run away, and that without my knowledge?" said
she.