his hand shaking unintentionally, he poured too many drops into the glass. He threw the mixture onto the floor and asked for some more water. The maid brought it.
There were in the room a child’s cot, two boxes, two armchairs, a table, a child’s table, and the little chair on which Prince Andréy was sitting.
The curtains were drawn, and a single candle was burning on the table, screened by a bound music book so that the light did not fall on the cot.
“My dear,” said Princess Márya, addressing her brother from beside the cot where she was standing, “better wait a bit … later …”
“Oh, leave off, you always talk nonsense and keep putting things off—and this is what comes of it!” said Prince Andréy in an exasperated whisper, evidently meaning to wound his sister.
“My dear, really …