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RECOLLECTIONS OF CHILDHOOD 75
I walked along in sullen silence. This
conversation of three, in which uncle was going to talk for
Olya, taking into consideration her tastes and her
understanding, was not in the least what I wished.
It seemed to me that something had been taken from
me which belonged to me by right, which was
inviolable and precious.
"Come, Sofa, climb up on my knee," said uncle,
evidently quite unconscious of my evil frame of
mind.
But I felt so hurt that this proposal did not soften
me in the least.
"I won’t!" I answered angrily, and going off to a
corner I sulked.
Uncle stared at me with astonished, laughing eyes.
I do not know whether he understood what a feeling
of jealousy was stirring in my soul, and whether he
wished to tease me; but he suddenly turned to Olya
and said to her, "Well, if Sönya does n’t wish it, do
you sit on my knee."
Olya did not force him to repeat this invitation,
and before I had recovered myself, before I had
succeeded in realizing what was happening, she had
taken my place on my uncle’s knee. I had not in
the least expected this. It had never entered my
head that matters would take that dreadful turn. It
seemed to me, literally, as if the earth were giving
way under my feet.
I was too astounded to give voice to any protest;
all I could do was to stare, with widely opened eyes,
at my happy friend; and she, a little confused, but
much pleased nevertheless, settled herself on uncle’s
knee as if there were nothing the matter. Setting her
little mouth in a droll grimace, she tried to
communicate to her childish, chubby face an expression of
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