Woloda was about to enter the University.  Tutors came to give him lessons independently of myself, and I listened with envy and involuntary respect as he drew boldly on the blackboard with white chalk and talked about “functions,” “sines,” and so forth—­all of which seemed to me terms pertaining to unattainable wisdom.  At length, one Sunday before luncheon all the tutors—­and among them two professors—­assembled in Grandmamma’s room, and in the presence of Papa and some friends put Woloda through a rehearsal of his University examination—­in which, to Grandmamma’s delight, he gave evidence of no ordinary amount of knowledge.

Questions on different subjects were also put to me, but on all of them I showed complete ignorance, while the fact that the professors manifestly endeavoured to conceal that ignorance from Grandmamma only confused me the more.  Yet, after all, I was only fifteen, and so had a year before me in which to prepare for the examinations.  Woloda now came downstairs for luncheon only, and spent whole days and evenings over his studies in his own room—­to which he kept, not from necessity, but because he preferred its seclusion.  He was very ambitious, and meant to pass the examinations, not by halves, but with flying colours.

The first day arrived.  Woloda was wearing a new blue frockcoat with brass buttons, a gold watch, and shiny boots.  At the door stood Papa’s phaeton, which Nicola duly opened; and presently, when Woloda and St. Jerome set out for the University, the girls—­particularly Katenka—­could be seen gazing with beaming faces from the window at Woloda’s pleasing figure as it sat in the carriage.  Papa said several times, “God go with him!” and Grandmamma, who also had dragged herself to the window, continued to make the sign of the cross as long as the phaeton was visible, as well as to murmur something to herself.

When Woloda returned, every one eagerly crowded round him.  “How many marks?  Were they good ones?” “Yes.”  But his happy face was an answer in itself.  He had received five marks-the maximum!  The next day, he sped on his way with the same good wishes and the same anxiety for his success, and was welcomed home with the same eagerness and joy.

This lasted for nine days.  On the tenth day there was to be the last and most difficult examination of all—­the one in divinity.

We all stood at the window, and watched for him with greater impatience than ever.  Two o’clock, and yet no Woloda.

“Here they come, Papa!  Here they come!” suddenly screamed Lubotshka as she peered through the window.

Sure enough the phaeton was driving up with St. Jerome and Woloda—­the latter no longer in his grey cap and blue frockcoat, but in the uniform of a student of the University, with its embroidered blue collar, three-cornered hat, and gilded sword.

“Ah!  If only she had been alive now!” exclaimed Grandmamma on seeing Woloda in this dress, and swooned away.