Chapter 6 Summary

In late autumn 1911 Annushka is born. Frank buys a small gold cross for the baby at the behest of the babka who delivered her. Dolly and Ben ask for crosses, too. Frank asks Nellie if he should get similar crosses for Dolly and for Ben. Nellie said he had better if he does not want to be pestered. Frank does not quite believe that part. His experience with Dolly leads him to feel that she says things only once.

Nellie's brother Charlie writes regularly—to Frank rather than to Nellie. His letters generally complain about how terribly things are going in England, that the society is falling apart. His wife Grace died and he lives alone.

Frank thinks that the long-term outlook for foreigners like himself to continue to run a business in Moscow is not bright. He feels that within five...