Meanwhile,
Nikolai and
Arkady sit on the terrace for morning tea. A little girl servant reports that
Fedosya Nikolayevna is too ill to come to the table. As Nikolai serves his son tea, Arkady looks at him questioningly and finally ventures to ask if Fenichka won’t come because he is there. Nikolai admits that Fenichka probably feels ashamed. Arkady says that Fenichka has no reason to feel that way, both because of Arkady’s views (he “much enjoyed saying this”), and because Arkady would never dream of interfering with the ways of the household. If his father cares for Fenichka, then she must be worthy of that esteem. By the time he finishes this “lecture,” Arkady feels more confident and even “magnanimous.”