“Volodya,” said his mother to him at breakfast, “you must stop it,
darling; you will become a wreck if you spend your nights also with the
shadows.”
The pale lad lowered his head in dejection. His lips quivered
nervously.
“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” continued his mother. “Perhaps we had
better play a little while together with the shadows each evening, and
then we will study your lessons. What do you say?”
Volodya grew somewhat animated.
“Mamma, you’re a darling!” he said shyly.