Like that, God willing, if anything should happen and someone tries to go through your luggage, they won’t find it. And I’ll put the letters to your uncle in the same place – I’m sure he’ll be so pleased! I mean, it’s seventeen years now since we’ve been in touch – it’s hard to believe! Here are your scarves, and here are your handkerchiefs; Sonya still has half a dozen of them. Try not to lose them, my love, they’re the best cambric! I bought them at Mikheyev’s for two and a quarter each. Well, so much for the linen. Now for the clothes… but where is Yevsei? Why isn’t he watching? Yevsei!”

Yevsei was in no hurry to enter the room – and in even less of a hurry to enquire: “How can I be of service?”

“‘How can I be of service?’” Aduyeva retorted angrily. “Why didn’t you come to watch me pack? And now if something is needed on the journey, you’ll be turning everything upside down looking for it! Can’t tear yourself away from your girlfriend – what use are you? There’s plenty of the day still left; you’ll have time later. Is this how you’ll be looking after your master when you’re there? Now, watch me! You see, this is a good tailcoat, watch where I’m putting it! And, Sashenka, you take good care of it, it’s not to be worn every day; the cloth cost sixteen roubles a length. Put it on when you’re paying social calls on the right people, and mind where you sit, not just anywhere like your aunt, who practically makes a point of never sitting on an empty chair or sofa, but always manages to plonk herself down on a hat or something of the sort; just the other day she sat down on a plate of jam – what a disgrace! When you go out more casually, wear the tailcoat in dark red. Now waistcoats – one, two, three, four. Two pairs of trousers. These clothes should last you for three years. Whew! I’m tired, and no mistake. I’ve been running about the whole morning. You can go, Yevsei.

“Sashenka, I want to talk to you about something else. Our guests will soon be here, and we don’t have much time.” She sat down on the divan and made him sit down beside her.

“Well, Sasha,” she began after a short silence, “now you’re going somewhere entirely new and different…”

“How do you mean, ‘different’? It’s only St Petersburg, Mummy!”

“Hold on just a moment, wait until you hear what I have to say. God alone knows what lies in store for you, and what things you will be seeing, both good and bad. I only hope that Our Heavenly Father will give you strength; but you, my dear, whatever you do, don’t forget him, and remember: without faith there is no salvation anywhere or in anything. No matter how high you rise, no matter what high society you’ll be moving in – after all, we are just as good as others, your father was a member of the nobility, a major – remember to humble yourself before the Lord God, pray in happiness and in sorrow, and don’t go by that old proverb: ‘The common man never crosses himself until he hears thunder.’ Some people, when things are going well for them, never even go near a church, but when they’re in trouble – well, there they are, lighting one-rouble candles and giving alms to the poor: and that’s a great sin. And while we’re on the subject of the poor, don’t throw money away on them, and don’t give too much. There’s no point in being generous, they’ll just spend it on drink and have a good laugh at your expense. I know you have a soft heart, and you would probably give away more than just small change. So please don’t. God will give. Will you promise me you’ll attend church and go to Mass on Sundays?”

She sighed.

Alexander remained silent. He remembered that while he was studying at the university and living in the provincial capital he wasn’t too keen on going to church, and in the country he only accompanied his mother to church to please her. He was ashamed to lie, so he just kept quiet. His mother understood his silence and sighed again.

“Well, I won’t try to force you,” she continued. “You’re still young, how can you be expected to be as churchgoing as oldsters like us? I expect your duties will prevent you, and you’ll stay up late in the company of your society friends, and get up late the next morning. God will be understanding because of your youth. But don’t worry, you have a mother.