Page:The Russian Review Volume 1.djvu/306

274 former resentment, and your self-love, and your firm decision to hate me all your life. You were silent for a moment, then, suddenly, you began to speak hurriedly and excitedly.

"Uncle, please forgive me. . .I'll never do it again. . .And please show me the figures, after all! Please!"

Could anyone be slow in responding to such an appeal? Yet, I delayed my response. You can see what a wise uncle I am.

That morning you awoke with a new thought, a new dream, that overmastered your whole soul.

You were suddenly filled with an ambition to taste of pleasures heretofore unknown: to own your own books with pictures, your own pen-case, your own colored pencils—there was no question about their being colored—to learn how to read, draw, make figures. All this was to be acquired immediately, that very day. The moment you opened your eyes, you called me into your room and began to beg me to subscribe to a magazine for children, to buy you books, pencils, paper, and to begin immediately to teach you figures.

"But this is a holiday, everything is closed," said I, knowing perfectly well that I lied, but trying to postpone the matter until the evening or the next day; for I had not the slightest desire of going to the city.

But you began to shake your head.

"It isn't a holiday, at all!" You almost screamed this, raising your eye-brows. "I know it isn't a holiday."

"But I'm telling you it is."

"And I know that it isn't. Now, please!"

"If you are going to bother me like this," said I sternly and firmly, as all uncles say to children on such occasions, "if you are going to bother me, I won't buy you anything at all."

You became thoughtful.

"Well," said you with a sigh, "if it's a holiday, let it be a holiday. But what about the figures?" This was said in a much calmer tone. "You can show me the figures on a holiday, can't you?"

"No, he can't," said grandma. "A policeman will come and arrest you. Stop bothering your uncle."

"That isn't it at all," said I to grandma. "Only, I don't want to do it now. I'll do it to-night, or to-morrow."

"No, you'll do it now."