e've just managed to finish it before you came in!"
said Vera, joyfully.

"Good-morning! My head whirls so; I didn't sleep all night. I should
like to have a nap now."

"Here, on the verandah? Very well, I'll tell them all not to come and
wake you. Papa has gone out somewhere."

The servant left the room. Vera was about to follow her, but returned
and approached the prince with a preoccupied air.

"Prince!" she said, "have pity on that poor boy; don't turn him out
today."

"Not for the world; he shall do just as he likes."

"He won't do any harm now; and--and don't be too severe with him."

"Oh dear no! Why--"

"And--and you won't LAUGH at him? That's the chief thing."

"Oh no! Never."

"How foolish I am to speak of such things to a man like you," said Vera,
blushing. "Though you _do_ look tired," she added, half turning away,
"your eyes are so splendid at this moment--so full of happiness."

"Really?" asked the prince, gleefully, and he laughed in delight.

But Vera, simple-minded little girl that she was (just like a boy, in
fact), here became dreadfully confused, of a sudden, and ran hastily out
of the room, laughing and blushing.

"What a dear little thing she is," thought the prince, and immediately
forgot all about her.

He walked to the far end of the verandah, where the sofa stood, with
a table in front of it. Here he sat down and covered his face with his
hands, and so remained for ten minutes. Suddenly he put his hand in his
coat-pocket and hurriedly produced three letters.

But the door opened again, and out came Colia.

The prince actually felt glad that he had been interrupted,--and might
return the letters to his pocket. He was glad of the respite.

"Well," said Colia, plunging in medias res, as he always did, "here's
a go! What do you think of Hippolyte now? Don't respect him any longer,
eh?"

"Why not? But look here, Colia, I'm tired; besides, the subject is too
melancholy to begin upon again. How is he, though?"

"Asleep--he'll sleep for a couple of hours yet. I quite
understand--you haven't slept--you walked about the park, I know.
Agitation--excitement--all that sort of thing--quite natural, too!"

"How do you know I walked in the park and didn't sleep at home?"

"Vera just told me. She tried to persuade me not to come, but I couldn't
help myself, just for one minute. I have been having my turn at the
bedside for the last two hours; Kostia Lebedeff is there now. Burdovsky
ha