At that time Niusha,
a chambermaid, was in their service; at times they jestingly
called her signorita Anita--a seductive black-haired girl, who, if
she were to change costumes, could in appearance be taken for a
dramatic actress, or a princess of the royal blood, or a political
worker. Kolya's mother manifestly countenanced the fact that
Kolya's brother, half in jest, half in earnest, was allured by
this girl. Of course, she had only the sole, holy, maternal
calculation: If it were destined, after all, for her Borenka to
fall, then let him give his purity, his innocence, his first
physical inclination, not to a prostitute, not to a street-walker,
not to a seeker of adventures, but to a pure girl. Of course, only
a disinterested, unreasoning, truly-maternal feeling guided her.
Kolya at that time was living through the epoch of llanos,
pampases, Apaches, track-finders, and a chief by the name of
"Black Panther"; and, of course, attentively kept track of the
romance of his brother, and made his own syllogisms; at times only
too correct, at times fantastic.
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