“I remember,” answered Nikoláy. “I remember that I came to you afterwards and wanted to comfort you, but do you know, I felt ashamed to. We were terribly absurd. I had a funny doll then and wanted to give it to you. Do you remember?”

“And do you remember,” Natásha asked with a pensive smile, “how once, long, long ago, when we were quite little, Uncle called us into the study⁠—that was in the old house⁠—and it was dark⁠—we went in and suddenly there stood⁠ ⁠…”

“A Negro,” chimed in Nikoláy with a smile of delight. “Of course I remember. Even now I don’t know whether there really was a Negro, or if we only dreamed it or were told about him.”

“He was gray, you remember, and had white teeth, and stood and looked at us.⁠ ⁠…”

“Sónya, do you remember?” asked Nikoláy.