Page:The Kiss and Other Stories by Anton Tchekhoff, 1908.pdf/228

 “‘Petya, that is mean. . . . I implore you! For the love of God! be a man. . . don't say anything. . . . Honest boys do not spy. It is mean. I implore you!’

“Poor Zinotchka feared my mother as fire; my mother was a virtuous and high-principled lady. That was one reason for her fright. The second, no doubt, was that my grinning snout seemed a profanation of her first, pure, romantic love. You can imagine her feelings! Through my fault, she must have lain awake all night, for she appeared at breakfast next morning with dark blue circles round her eyes. . . . When after breakfast I came across Sasha I could not curb the temptation to grin and boast.

“‘Aha! I know. I saw you kissing Mademoiselle Zina!’

“Sasha looked at me and said —

“‘You are an idiot!’

“He was harder to frighten than Zinotchka, and the blow failed. That disappointed me. That Sasha was so bold was proof that he didn't believe I had seen the kiss. But, wait, I consoled myself; I could prove it. At lessons that morning Zinotchka kept her eyes turned away, and stammered constantly.

“She showed no fear ; but tried to placate me, gave me full marks for everything, and never once complained to my father of my tricks. Being intelligent beyond my years, I exploited her secret to my profit;