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20 "Take some, Viérotchka; here, take some, for health's sake! I myself have brought it to you. You see your mother looks out for you. I was sitting and thinking, 'How is it that Viérotchka went to bed without tea?' While I was drinking I was full of thought. And here I have brought it. Take it, my dear daughter [moya dotchka mílaïa]."

Her mother's voice sounded strange to Viérotchka; but in reality, it was soft and kind; it had never been so before. She looked at her mother with amazement. Marya Alekséyevna's cheeks were fiery red, and her eyes were unsteady.

"Take it. I'll sit down and look at you. When you have finished this cup, I will bring you another."

The tea, which was half-filled with delicious, thick cream, awakened Viérotchka's appetite. She lifted herself on her elbow, and began to drink.

"How delicious tea is when it is fresh and strong, and when it has lots of sugar and cream! Perfectly delicious! It is not like tea that has been drawn once, and is made with one little mean bit of sugar, and tastes like medicine. When I have money of my own, I shall always drink such tea as this is. Thank you, mámenka."

"Don't go to sleep yet; I will bring you another one." She came back with a second cup of the same excellent tea. "Drink it, and I will stay with you." She said nothing for a moment, and then suddenly she began to speak in a strange way, sometimes so fast that her words could not be understood, and the next minute drawling.

"Now, Viérotchka, you have thanked me. It's a long time since I have had any thanks from you. You think that I am cross. Yes, I am cross. But it is impossible not to be cross. But I am weak, Viérotchka! After three punches, of course I feel weak! And think how old I am. Da! and you have shaken my nerves, Viérotchka; you pained me greatly; and so I felt weak. And my life is a hard one, Viérotchka! I don't want you to live such a life. Be a rich woman! Think of the suffering that I have gone through, Viérotchka, a-a-a-and just think of it! You cannot remember how me and your father used to live before he was manager. Poor, a-a-a-and oh, how poor! and then I was honest, Viérotchka! Now I am not honest. No, I shall not take a sin on my soul, I will not tell you a lie, I will not say that I am honest now. But what's the use? That time is all past. Viérotchka, you are educated and I am not educated, but I know everything