laughing and joking, although in their hearts they did not feel very joyful, for they did not consider it a good sign when her ladyship was in good-humor, since in such cases she used to insist upon a similar state of mind on the part of those about her, and was vexed if every face did not glow with pleasure. Such a state, however, did not last very long, and was followed by great irritability. On that day everything had been very propitious: all the knaves had come out as she laid out the cards, indicating fulfillment of her wishes (she used to tell her fortune every day by cards), and the tea had been uncommonly good, for which her maid had been rewarded with especial praise and a ten-kopeck piece. With a sweet smile on her shriveled lips her ladyship was walking up and down her drawing-room, and had just stepped up to the window. Outside of it there was a little garden, in exactly the middle of which Mou-mou was lying beneath a rose bush gnawing a bone. Her lady ship saw the dog. "Dear me!" she suddenly cried, "what dog is that?"
Her poor companion, to whom the question was directed, became extremely confused. She suffered from that painful nervousness which inferiors feel when they do not know in what way the words of their superiors are to be understood. "I—I—I don't know," she stammered. "I believe it belongs to the dumb man."
"Indeed!" interrupted her ladyship. "It 'is a lovely little dog. Have it brought in. Has he had it long? Why have I never seen it before? Have it brought in."
The companion flew into the next room and gave a servant the order: "Bring Mou-mou here at once. She is in the garden."
"Ah! its name is Mou-mou?" said her ladyship—"a very pretty name."
"Yes, very pretty," replied the companion. "Be quick, Stephan."
Stephan, a sturdy young fellow who held the place of waiter, ran head over heels into the garden and tried to seize Mou-mou: she, however, slipped easily out of his hand, and ran with uplifted tail to Garassim, who at that moment was rinsing out a barrel in the kitchen, and turning it about as if it were a child's drum. Stephan was close behind the dog, and reached after it between its master's legs, but the active dog was unwilling to be caught, and kept eluding him. Garassim smiled as he watched his efforts, but finally Stephan gave him to understand, through signs, that her ladyship wanted to see the dog. Garassim was somewhat surprised, but called Mou-mou, raised her from the ground and gave her to Stephan. He carried the dog into the drawing-room and placed it on the polished floor. Her ladyship called to Mou-mou with a caressing voice. Mou-mou, having never been in so magnificent a room, was very much alarmed, and ran toward the door, but being frightened back by the officious Stephan, she crouched trembling against the wall.
"Mou-mou, Mou-mou, come here—come to your mistress," said her ladyship. "Come here, you stupid little beast! don't be afraid."
"Come, Mou-mou, come to her ladyship," repeated her companions: "come, Mou-mou."
But Mou-mou only looked around disconsolately, and did not stir from the spot.
"Bring her something to eat," said her ladyship. "What a stupid beast! Won't come to mistress? What is it afraid of?"
"She doesn't feel at home;" said one of the companions, timidly and in a conciliatory voice.
Stephan brought some milk in a saucer and placed it before Mou-mou. She did not even smell of it, but continued to tremble and to look around anxiously.
"Oh, what ails you?" said her ladyship, approaching the dog, stooping down and trying to pat it, but Mou-mou turned her head convulsively and showed her teeth. Her ladyship withdrew her hand quickly.
All were immediately silent. Mou-mou whined gently, as if she wanted to complain and apologize. Her ladyship
