d the children. The dishes were handed by two
footmen in swallowtails and white gloves. Every one knew that there
was an upset in the house, that Madame Kushkin was in trouble, and
every one was silent. Nothing was heard but the sound of munching
and the rattle of spoons on the plates.

The lady of the house, herself, was the first to speak.

"What is the third course?" she asked the footman in a weary, injured
voice.

"_Esturgeon a la russe_," answered the footman.

"I ordered that, Fenya," Nikolay Sergeitch hastened to observe. "I
wanted some fish. If you don't like it, _ma chere_, don't let them
serve it. I just ordered it. . . ."

Fedosya Vassilyevna did not like dishes that she had not ordered
herself, and now her eyes filled with tears.

"Come, don't let us agitate ourselves," Mamikov, her household
doctor, observed in a honeyed voice, just touching her arm, with a
smile as honeyed. "We are nervous enough as it is. Let us forget
the brooch! Health is worth more than two thousand roubles!"

"It's not the two thousand I regret," answered the lady, and a big
tear rolled down her cheek. "It's the fact itself that revolts me!
I cannot put up with thieves in my house. I don't regret it--I
regret nothing; but to steal from me is such ingratitude! That's
how they repay me for my kindness. . . ."

They all looked into their plates, but Mashenka fancied after the
lady's words that every one was looking at her. A lump rose in her
throat; she began crying and put her handkerchief to her lips.

"_Pardon_," she muttered. "I can't help it. My head aches. I'll go
away."

And she got up from the table, scraping her chair awkwardly, and
went out quickly, still more overcome with confusion.

"It's beyond everything!" said Nikolay Sergeitch, frowning. "What
need was there to search her room? How out of place it was!"

"I don't say she took the brooch," said Fedosya Vassilyevna, "but
can you answer for her? To tell the truth, I haven't much confidence
in these learned paupers."

"It really was unsuitable, Fenya. . . . Excuse me, Fenya, but you've
no kind of legal right to make a search."

"I know nothing about your laws. All I know is that I've lost my
brooch. And I will find the brooch!" She brought her fork down on
the plate with a clatter, and her eyes flashed angrily. "And you
eat your dinner, and don't interfere in what doesn't concern you!"

Nikolay Sergeitch dropped his eyes mildly and sighed. Meanwhile
Mash