XV + 

Volodya’s mother observed that he continued to play. + 

She said to him after dinner: “At least, you might get interested in something else.” + 

“In what?” + 

“You might read.” + 

“No sooner do I begin to read than I want to cast shadows.” + 

“If you’d only try something else⁠—say soap-bubbles.” + 

Volodya smiled sadly. + 

“No sooner do the bubbles fly up than the shadows follow them on the wall.” + 

“Volodya, unless you take care your nerves will be shattered. Already you have grown thinner because of this.” + 

“Mamma, you exaggerate.” + 

“No, Volodya.⁠ ⁠… Don’t I know that you’ve begun to sleep badly and to talk nonsense in your sleep. Now, just think, suppose you die!” + 

“What are you saying!” + 

“God forbid, but if you go mad, or die, I shall suffer horribly.” + 

Volodya laughed and threw himself on his mother’s neck. + 

“Mamma dear, I shan’t die. I won’t do it again.” + 

She saw that he was crying now. + 

“That will do,” she said. “God is merciful. Now you see how nervous you are. You’re laughing and crying at the same time.” + 