Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 1watch vigilantly over the kids in my absence? I am going
out.’
‘And what am I going to swear for?’ laughed Agafya. ‘I
shall look after them without that.’
‘No, you must swear on your eternal salvation. Else I
shan’t go.’
‘Well, don’t then. What does it matter to me? It’s cold out;
stay at home.’
‘Kids,’ Kolya turned to the children, ‘this woman will stay
with you till I come back or till your mother comes, for she
ought to have been back long ago. She will give you some
lunch, too. You’ll give them something, Agafya, won’t you?’
‘That I can do.’
‘Good-bye, chickens, I go with my heart at rest. And you,
granny,’ he added gravely, in an undertone, as he passed
Agafya, ‘I hope you’ll spare their tender years and not tell
them any of your old woman’s nonsense about Katerina. Ici,
Perezvon!’
‘Get along with you!’ retorted Agafya, really angry this
time. ‘Ridiculous boy! You want a whipping for saying such
things, that’s what you want!’