Next morning Ivan Ivanitch and Father Christopher came to say goodbye. Nastasya Petrovna was delighted to see them, and was about to set the samovar; but Ivan Ivanitch, who was in a great hurry, waved his hands and said:

“We have no time for tea! We are just setting off.”

Before parting they all sat down and were silent for a minute. Nastasya Petrovna heaved a deep sigh and looked towards the icon with tear-stained eyes.

“Well,” began Ivan Ivanitch, getting up, “so you will stay.⁠ ⁠…”

All at once the look of businesslike reserve vanished from his face; he flushed a little and said with a mournful smile:

“Mind you work hard.⁠ ⁠… Don’t forget your mother, and obey Nastasya Petrovna.⁠ ⁠… If you are diligent at school, Yegor, I’ll stand by you.”

He took his purse out of his pocket, turned his back to Yegorushka, fumbled for a long time among the smaller coins, and, finding a ten-kopeck piece, gave it to Yegorushka.

Father Christopher, without haste, blessed Yegorushka.

“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.⁠ ⁠… Study,” he said. “Work hard, my lad. If I die, remember me in your prayers. Here is a ten-kopeck piece from me, too.⁠ ⁠…”

Yegorushka kissed his hand, and shed tears; something whispered in his heart that he would never see the old man again.

“I have applied at the high school already,” said Ivan Ivanitch in a voice as though there were a corpse in the room. “You will take him for the entrance examination on the seventh of August.⁠ ⁠… Well, goodbye; God bless you, goodbye, Yegor!”

“You might at least have had a cup of tea,” wailed Nastasya Petrovna.