Countess Lidia Ivanovna went into Seryozha's part of the house, and dropping tears on the scared child's cheeks, she told him that his father was a saint and his mother was dead.

Countess Lidia Ivanovna kept her promise.

She did actually take upon herself the care of the organization and management of Alexey Alexandrovitch's household.

But she had not overstated the case when saying that practical affairs were not her strong point.