XXII + 

She watched Volodya at dinner. + 

“How pale and thin he has grown,” she said to herself, “since the unfortunate little book fell into his hands. He’s changed entirely⁠—in character and in everything else. It is said that character changes before death. What if he dies? But no, no. God forbid!” + 

The spoon trembled in her hand. She looked up at the icon with timid eyes. + 

“Volodya, why don’t you finish your soup?” she asked, looking frightened. + 

“I don’t feel like it, mamma.” + 

“Volodya, darling, do as I tell you; it is bad for you not to eat your soup.” + 

Volodya gave a tired smile and slowly finished his soup. His mother had filled his plate fuller than usual. He leant back in his chair and was on the point of saying that the soup was not good. But his mother’s worried look restrained him, and he merely smiled weakly. + 

“And now I’ve had enough,” he said. + 

“Oh no, Volodya, I have all your favourite dishes today.” + 

Volodya sighed sadly. He knew that when his mother spoke of his favourite dishes it meant that she would coax him to eat. He guessed that even after tea his mother would prevail upon him, as she did the day before, to eat meat. + 